AUCD 2024 Conference
With a theme of Stronger Together: Creating a More Inclusive World, this year's Conference focuses on the core of the AUCD Network, recognizing that collaboration is critical to advance the rights and opportunities for and with people with disabilities through research, training, education, and service. We hope you will join us this November in Washington, D.C. where Network members across diverse disciplines and backgrounds and members of the disability community will come together stronger than ever as driving forces to create positive change and to build a more inclusive world for all. Learn more and submit a proposal by June 20.

Dr. Sarah Smith Announced as New Director of the New Hampshire-Maine Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities
(NH-ME LEND)

NH-ME LEND is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Sarah Smith as New Hampshire-Maine Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (NH-ME LEND) Director, while also maintaining her current role as associate professor in the University of New Hampshire’s Occupational Therapy department. Dr. Smith’s background includes 15 years as a pediatric occupational therapist focusing on children with autism and their families.

IHD's Dr. Ronda Jenson Appointed Program Director for Federal Division of Equity for Excellence in STEM

Dr. Ronda Jenson, professor of psychological sciences in the NAU School of Social and Behavioral Sciences and research director at the Institute for Human Development (IHD), has accepted an appointment with the National Science Foundation (NSF) as a program director in the Division of Equity for Excellence in STEM (EES), Directorate for STEM Education (EDU). Dr. Jenson’s appointment is through an Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) appointment to the NSF.

Iowa Names 2024 Healy Award Recipients

Each year, the Center for Disabilities and Development (CDD, Iowa’s UCEDD) names recent graduates of the Iowa LEND program as recipients of the Alfred Healy Leadership Award in Developmental Disabilities. The Alfred Healy Leadership Award seeks to nurture in its recipients a life-long commitment to leadership in developmental disabilities to carry on Dr. Alfred Healy’s legacy for future generations. Dr. Healy was a world-renowned pediatrician and educator who devoted his life to caring for children with developmental disabilities. He served as the director of Iowa’s UCEDD from 1977 until he retired in 1998.

HRSA Features Two Ohio Families Supported by Ohio Family to Family

Ohio Family to Family (F2F) is dedicated to providing support and resources to families navigating health challenges. From understanding healthcare systems to peer and emotional support, F2F is there for every step of the journey. People who staff these centers have the personal experience (or lived experience) to help families navigate complex—often disparate—challenges related to health, education, and social services. The staff are trusted sources of information and support in stressful times.

How Did Employment Consultants Adjust to COVID-19?

John Butterworth recently co-authored an article published in the Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation that examined how employment consultants and employment program managers adjusted to provide services to jobseekers and employees with intellectual and developmental disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

How Families Can Empower Youth with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) from Racially and Ethnically Diverse Backgrounds

This brief shares the perspectives and experiences of culturally and linguistically diverse family members of four youth who shared their employment and community engagement stories. It outlines the pivotal role these families played to support youth with IDD to find and maintain competitive integrated employment and to meaningfully engage with their communities. It draws from in-depth, semi-structured interviews with youth with IDD, their family members, and job coaches. 

Iowa's Blueprint for Change Creates Collective Impact

The Center for Disabilities and Development (CDD), Iowa’s UCEDD, has been serving as the backbone for Blueprint for Change, the state’s grant program funded through the Disability Innovation Fund (DIF). Iowa was one of 14 states awarded a DIF grant; in Iowa, the Blueprint for Change focuses on improving employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities, and supporting systems change to promote ongoing competitive integrated employment for all.

Iowa’s Blueprint for Change is founded on the collective impact model.

Mental Health Awareness Month Support from the University of Kentucky Human Development Institute (HDI)

The University of Kentucky Human Development Institute (HDI) values the mental health of all individuals and promotes access to mental health through our mission to advance efforts that build inclusive communities, address inequities, and improve the lives of all people who experience disability. HDI believes mental health is health and we work for full access to mental health services and supports for all people with disabilities.

Showcase 2024: A Big Success for Missouri’s Institute for Human Development

The LifeCourse Nexus at the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s Institute for Human Development hosted its 8th annual Charting the LifeCourse (CtLC) Showcase in Kansas City April 22-25. Amazing speakers filled the Showcase including keynote speaker Chris Worth, a CtLC Ambassador/Fellow and a PhD student at the University of Missouri-Saint Louis. Chris spoke about his journey of self-discovery and expression through outlets such as art.

Special Journal Issue Focuses on Mental Health, Intellectual/Developmental Disability

Articles in the latest Developmental Disabilities Network Journal examine health care, self-determination, building neuro-inclusive communities, trauma-informed care and more. This special issue was a collaborative venture with the National Research Consortium on Mental Health and Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities.

Texas A&M University Aggie ACHIEVE Student Spotlights

May 1 has been declared Inclusive Postsecondary Education Day or IPSE Day. The first IPSE Day was held in 2020 and was spearheaded by the Southeast Postsecondary Education Alliance (SEPSEA) to celebrate and bring awareness to inclusive postsecondary education (IPSE) programs, students, staff, and alumni across the Southeast and the country. IPSE programs, like Aggie ACHIEVE provide opportunities for study beyond high school to students who historically have not been presented with these possibilities. These programs change lives by making college accessible for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

UConn UCEDD Celebrates "This-Ability" Art Exhibit

The UConn Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) celebrated the opening of the This-Ability art exhibit at UConn Health. A collaboration between the UConn UCEDD and Art Connection Studio (ACS), the exhibit features art created by artists from ACS, a vocational art program for people with disabilities. The reception welcomed Bruce T. Liang, MD, CEO of UConn Health, Jeffrey Hines, MD, Chief Diversity Officer of UConn Health, and Andre Rochester, UConn Health’s Art Curator and local artist.

University of Miami Mailman Center for Child Development hosts annual ArtAbilities Award Ceremony

Fifteen talented artists with disabilities, ages 9-20, from Miami-Dade County Public schools were selected to be recognized at the annual Mailman Center ArtAbilities Award Ceremony. The evening featured an exhibition of the young artists’ professionally framed and matted artwork, musical entertainment, face painting, and food, culminating with an awards ceremony.

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center Introduces Updated IDD Toolkit for Healthcare Professionals

The Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) recently worked with collaborators to update its Health Care for Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Toolkit for Primary Care Providers.The IDD Toolkit is a website that provides information for the primary care providers of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

13th Annual Ohio MCH LEND Poster Symposium

LEND trainees, faculty, and guests recently gathered at The Ohio State University Medical Center to celebrate the work of LEND trainees from Cincinnati Children’s and The Ohio State University Nisonger Center. The LEND posters showcased a range of projects addressing several themes such as community resources, accessibility, inclusion, dental services, mental health, and sensory processing in children with prenatal opioid exposure.

Her Calling: Helping Families

Bruktawit Zewdie (MN LEND 2022-23) is helping a teleoutreach center learn the experiences of families of children on the autism spectrum who have been waitlisted for evaluation or intervention. During her fellowship, Zewdie became interested in the work of the TeleOutreach Center at the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain. The center supports researchers in using telecom technology to increase participation in clinical research.

Megan Fayard, PATHS Class of '23

Hi, my name is Megan Fayard. In May 2023, I graduated from PATHS, with a certificate as Direct Support Paraprofessional. My classes at A&M and my internship at Charlotte Sharp Children’s Center really helped prepare me for working as a teaching assistant. I applied for lots of jobs and had several interviews, and luckily, I got a job in my dream district, Round Rock ISD, and in my dream grade level, Pre-K.

Sonoran Center Trainees Present Disability Research and Outreach Activities at Annual Symposium

The UArizona Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities trainees had the opportunity to share their accomplishments at the annual Trainee Symposium. Colleagues, friends, and Sonoran Center staff were in attendance as over 20 trainees presented their work. This year’s cohort included students from the Undergraduate Certificate in Developmental Disabilities, the Disability Policy Fellowship, the Diversity Fellowship, and the Interdisciplinary Approach to Disability Internship.

2024 AUCD Emerging Leader Map: Accepting Submissions

We are seeking submissions from Emerging Leaders for the 2024 AUCD Emerging Leaders Map. The theme, "Celebrating Inclusivity Across Communities," aims to highlight how trainees and early career professionals foster a sense of belonging and uniquely contribute to greater inclusion in their disciplines. To submit your profile to be featured on the 2024 Map, click here. The deadline to fill out the survey is Friday, May 31st, 2024. You will be notified that your profile is accepted prior to publishing the map in June!

It Take All of Us: Community Care + Mental Health
Friday, June 14, 2024, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM ET, Virtual
Disability advocates and community members will discuss the importance of understanding social drivers of health, like our community connections. Learn more about the role that the All of Us Research Program may play in improving health. ASL and CART will be provided, and reasonable accommodations are available upon request.

Inclusive Health and Disability Virtual Symposium
Friday, June 14, 2024, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM MT, Virtual
The symposium will offer a unique collaborative opportunity to increase the understanding of the healthcare experiences and needs of individuals with disabilities among healthcare professionals with the goal of building healthcare professionals' capacity to provide accessible, high-quality, and culturally humble healthcare for people with disabilities. 

AIR-P Research Day at Autism CARES Meeting 2024: Translating Research to Community Impact
Monday, July 22, 2024, Virtual
The Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health (AIR-P) will be hosting its 7th semi-annual Research Day on July 22, 2024, in conjunction with the 2024 Autism CARES Meeting. This virtual event is an opportunity to highlight research related to the physical health and overall well-being of autistic individuals. The 2024 theme is "Translating Research to Community Impact" and will feature poster presentations from across the nation. This virtual event is open to all.