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November 2024 I Volume 10 I Edition 11 |
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New Three-Year Strategic Plan Launched for AUCD
During the AUCD 2024 Conference, AUCD released its new three-year strategic plan. The Plan focuses on the core of the Association and its Network to promote community inclusion and quality of life for people with developmental and other disabilities and their families. Eighteen months in the making, the Plan was approved by the AUCD Board of Directors on September 9, 2024. |
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Congratulations to AUCD Policy Innovation Director, Denise Rozell! Denise received the George Jesien National Leadership Award, which honors dedicated individuals “who reflect significant work either at the federal level or across state lines, in terms of advocacy, assistance, and/or research on inclusive higher education.” Denise accepted her award at the 2024 State of the Art Conference on Inclusive Postsecondary Education and Individuals with Intellectual Disability in late October in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. |
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Congratulations to the AUCD 2024 Awardees who were honored and celebrated during the AUCD 2024 Conference on Monday, November 4. The AUCD Awards recognize people, programs, and organizations for their leadership and contributions to the disability community. AUCD awardees offer an outstanding example in leadership, advocacy, research, policy, and practice. Their work creates more diverse and inclusive communities for people with disabilities, their families, and communities. Awards are given in 10 categories and honor members of the AUCD Network, collaborating partners, and local, state and federal partners. Congratulations, awardees! |
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Leadership Changes at The Boggs Center (NJ UCEDD/LEND)
The Boggs Center on Disability and Human Development, New Jersey’s federally designated University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, Education, Research and Service (UCEDD) and home to New Jersey’s Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (NJLEND) program, has reorganized its leadership structure to ensure continued growth and success following the retirement of founding Executive Director Deborah M. Spitalnik, PhD. The Boggs Center is pleased to announce that Colleen McLaughlin, MEd, has been designated UCEDD Director and Deputy Director of The Boggs Center. In addition, Carrie Coffield, PhD, has become Director of NJLEND, The Boggs Center’s Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities Program. Carrie has served as Training Director of NJLEND since its inception in 2016. |
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The University of Missouri-Kansas City's Institute for Human Development is launching "WeSaid at the UCEDD," a new effort that offers a speakers' bureau, technical training center, a video series and a podcast series to support people with lived experience in developmental disabilities. |
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Continuing efforts to identify hearing loss in infants and young children nationwide, the National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management (NCHAM) officially launched at Utah State University in October 2024 as part of the Institute for Disability Research, Policy & Practice (IDRPP). NCHAM continues to offer a number of products and services to promote evidence-based research and practices related to early identification of hearing loss among infants and young children. |
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A four-year, $7.2M National Center on Accessible Digital Education Materials & Instruction (NCADEMI, pronounced n-CAD-emy) officially launched at Utah State University in October 2024. The national center is part of USU’s Institute for Disability Research, Policy & Practice (IDRPP) and is funded by the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) within the U.S. Department of Education. |
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Institute for Community Inclusion Program Director Lori Cooney, MEd, co-authored a new article in the Journal of Special Education Technology with colleagues Olivia Hester, PhD, from The University of Alabama and Don McMahon, PhD, from Washington State University titled, “Navigation Support for Students with Intellectual Disability Using Mobile Devices.” |
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Access the Think College Snapshot, “Higher Education Access for Students with Intellectual Disability in the United States,” to get data as recent as August 2024 on markers of inclusive higher education programs, including the number of programs that are designated as Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary (CTP) programs, which states have higher education consortia, programs awarded TPSID funding, and which states have passed legislation related to higher education for students with intellectual disabilities.
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The ATRC website is designed to be a one-stop resource for users seeking information on accessible transportation options, services, and policies. Visit the site to browse accessibility basics and promising practices, check out upcoming and past events, and learn about the work of the ATRC.
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Diabetes is a disease that occurs when your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high. Take steps to manage diabetes and prevent diabetes health problems with tips from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), available here. |
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The new issue of Frontline Initiative offers direct support professionals (DSPs) information about the latest digital tools that assist people with disabilities to live more independently and raises awareness about the digital divide leaving some of them behind. Published by the Institute on Community Integration (ICI). |
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iGROW Central Texas had their first parent training on Monday, October 21st at the Lee County Youth Center. Approximately 40 parents, educators and students were in attendance from La Grange, Giddings and Lexington I.S.D.s. Aimee Ortiz-Day, Director of Person Centered Planning and Family Outreach for the Center on Disability and Development, shared a brief overview of Person Centered Thinking with the families to make them aware of the plan their child will develop as part of the iGROW Program. |
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The HOPS Project is a two semester (approximately 32 weeks) training program whose purpose is to provide instruction and support individuals with disabilities to gain the necessary skills and experiences in work readiness in order to successfully transition into competitive integrated employment in the horticulture industry. Students have the option to become certified on the state/national level. |
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A grant from the Institute of Education Sciences to two Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) researchers will support a new project to develop and test a program that can support teachers in providing information on adult services to students with autism spectrum disorders and their parents during transition planning activities. |
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YOU.SLEEP.STAY. is a new feature documentary available for educational use. The film uplifts the story of a deaf, intellectually and developmentally disabled elder as he prepares to move after living in a State institution for over 70 years. Exploring his distinct experiences of time, community, and language, the film deals with themes of home, family, inclusiveness and accessibility. The artistic approach and powerful emotional storytelling make it ideal for educational use, and align it with AUCD's mission to promote community inclusion and quality of life for people with developmental and other disabilities and their families. If you missed YOU.SLEEP.STAY. at the AUCD Conference, or would like to find out more about bringing the film to your University, please contact director David Grabias (david@artifactla.com) and impact producer Saelyx Finna (saelyx@contextmoves.com) for a link to view the film and for more information. |
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As interest in medical cannabis grows among autistic youth and their families, many are eager for clinicians to enhance their understanding and knowledge of this treatment option. Autistic Youth and Their Parents Are Excited About Medical Cannabis, But Clinicians Need More Research Many autistic teens and young adults are eager to explore medical cannabis to help with managing mental health such as anxiety and mood, but there are still significant gaps in the research. Dr. Ben Yerys, psychologist and Director of the PASSAGE Program at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, an AUCD IDDRC Network site, discusses the current landscape and what this means for families navigating this journey.
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Alexandra "Allie" Hayes is an advocate for herself and other individuals with Down syndrome in her hometown of Troy, Michigan. Allies reflects on the importance of independence, employment, and diversity in the workplace. The article is her reflection and thoughts on the importance of independence, employment, and diversity in the workplace. |
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Fort in a Storm
Deqa Farah (MN LEND 2020–21), a mother of a child with autism, opened a practice last summer to serve children with autism and their families. “I understand the stress that is tearing people’s lives apart.” |
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Call for Participation and Feedback on a Prototype Project for Switch Users by Jaclyn Larson an ArizonaLEND Faculty
Jaclyn Larson, MPH, is Advocacy and Family discipline faculty for the ArizonaLEND Program and is passionate about accessibility and design. She is also the parent of a child with neurodevelopmental disabilities who uses an Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) device. Her son, Aidan, uses switches to access his AAC device. Jaclyn has been developing a prototype of an enclosure for Jellybean switches to be used with commercially available mounting equipment. She is currently looking for individuals who would like to test the design and provide feedback. |
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Launching Call for Host Application for Spring 2025 Professional Fellowship Exchange
Apply by January 31, 2025
Is your UCEDD or LEND eager to drive global change in disability inclusion? Host a Fellow from the prestigious Professional Fellows Program on Inclusive Civic Engagement (PFP)! The PFP supports mid-career disability rights professionals from East Africa to participate in a 5-week Fellowship in the US in Spring 2025. As a host, the PFP will match you with a Fellow whose interests align with your organization, fostering a powerful exchange of knowledge and practices in disability-inclusive civic engagement. |
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Neurodiversity - The Transition to Adulthood: for Practitioners, Therapists, Families and Other Providers
Friday, December 06, 2024, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM ET
The conference will examine the transition process from a lifespan perspective. It will review what different providers, therapists, and families should know about transition care, transition-related systems, available programs and resources, and how to access them, including mental health care. It will include families and self-advocates sharing their lived experience with transitions. |
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Insights & Perspectives from Self-Advocates!
Thursday, February 27, 2025, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM ET
Hosted by the Institute for Human Development (IHD) at Northern Arizona University, Amplifying Voices of Disability is a virtual day of learning focusing on timely, hot-button issues from the point of view of those with lived experience of disability.
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Disability Policy Seminar
April 7-9, 2025, Washington, DC
The Disability Policy Seminar is the premier opportunity to cultivate support on Capitol Hill and amplify the concerns of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) before Congress. The seminar brings together passionate advocates, including people with disabilities, experts, and professionals in the field, to learn about key issues and advance the grassroots movement for people with IDD. |
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Gatlinburg Conference
April 7-10, 2025, San Diego, CA
The Gatlinburg Conference on Research and Theory in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities is one of the premier conferences for behavioral scientists conducting research on intellectual and developmental disabilities. It has a rich history that started in Gatlinburg, Tennessee in 1967, and the name of its original location remained. Each year, Gatlinburg Conference brings together scientists from around the world to gather to discuss research and collaborations in the field. |
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Items may be submitted for consideration via the AUCD Public Promotion Page. Submissions are due on the second Friday of the month. AUCD 360 is promoted on the last Friday of the month.
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AUCD | 1100 Wayne Avenue, Suite 1000 | Silver Spring, MD 20910 |
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This newsletter is in part supported by the Administration on Community Living (ACL) through a technical assistance contract for the URC, Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) through a technical assistance contract for the ITAC, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for a National Professional Organization for Persons with Developmental Disabilities. The content of this material does not necessarily reflect the views and policies of any federal agency. No official support or endorsement by federal agencies is intended nor should be inferred. |
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