AUCD Network Information Request: Disability Curricula Integration in Medical Educational Programs

In work supported by the WITH Foundation, AUCD seeks to understand how AUCD Network members, many of whom are embedded within university medical schools and centers, integrate disability curricula in medical educational programs. Please complete a brief survey by Friday, September 5, 2025, and an AUCD staff member will be in contact with you to learn more about your program.

Call for Nominations: 2025 AUCD Awards

Nominations due by Friday, September 12, 2025
AUCD is proud to announce that nominations are now open for the 2025 AUCD Awards, celebrating individuals and programs that have made outstanding contributions to the disability community. These prestigious awards recognize leadership, dedication, and innovation across a wide range of areas, including advocacy, research, diversity, and international service. Anyone in the AUCD Network is welcome to submit nominations across ten award categories. This year, the nomination process includes a few updates to make it more accessible and streamlined, such as short-answer questions and a simplified application format. Award recipients will be honored during a virtual ceremony later this fall. Submit an award nomination today!

AUCD Network Information Request: Information Sharing and Dissemination about Inclusive College for Students with Intellectual Disabilities Questionnaire

In work supported by Think College, AUCD seeks to understand how AUCD Network members, many of whom are or are connected to physicians serving individuals with intellectual disabilities, are obtaining and sharing information about expectations following high school and into adulthood, including inclusive college, with families and people with disabilities of all ages. Share among colleagues as appropriate. Please complete a brief survey by Friday, September 19, 2025.

New Executive Director at National Center for START Services®

Julie Lago, MSW, LICSW began her role this month as the new Executive Director of the National Center for START Services® (NCSS) at the Institute on Disability (IOD) at the University of New Hampshire. A dedicated social worker and leader with nearly 25 years of experience in the disability field, Lago brings deep expertise in clinically informed program development. In her new role, Lago will lead a team of approximately 40 NCSS staff in advancing their mission to improve care for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities and mental health needs (IDD-MH) and their families through fidelity to the START model.

AUCD Welcomes Dr. Elizabeth Cleveland as AUCD's Interim Associate Director

Sandy Root-Elledge, Interim Executive Director of the Association of University Centers on Disability (AUCD), announced today that Dr. Elizabeth Cleveland, PhD, CCC-SLP, has been appointed as AUCD's Interim Associate Director in a part-time capacity. Elizabeth Cleveland, PhD, CCC-SLP is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), where she also serves as Director of Training for the Arkansas Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) program. She currently chairs AUCD’s Special Interest Group on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD).

Welcoming the Fall 2025 PFP East African Disability Rights Fellows

The Institute for Community Inclusion at UMass Boston is excited to welcome the Fall 2025 cohort.This year’s group includes 10 outstanding leaders from Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda who will complete four-week fellowships at host sites across the U.S., co-developing inclusive civic engagement projects with their mentors. The program is funded by the U.S. Department of State and implemented in partnership with the African Disability Forum (ADF). To learn more or apply to be a host site, please contact Dr. Heike Boeltzig-Bown at heike.boeltzig@umb.edu.

Accessible Podcast - Voices of the Network: Start with Connection with Dr. Marcia Moriarta

Check out the latest episode of the Accessible Podcast, where George and Amelia talk with Dr. Marcia Moriarta, director of the University of New Mexico Center for Development and Disability (UNM CDD), about how meaningful human connection can transform disability services, prevent crises, and improve lives. This conversation highlights how UCEDD and LEND programs, including those at UNM CDD and the UMKC Institute for Human Development, are putting people first and building more responsive, person-centered systems of support. 

Introducing the Credential Pathways Stories: Showcasing the Impact of Higher Education for Students with Intellectual Disability

Think College is excited to launch a new publication series: Credential Pathways Stories. This series is designed to shine a spotlight on the transformative role that higher education can play in the lives of students with intellectual disability. One of the most tangible outcomes of higher education for students with intellectual disability is the earning of industry-recognized or college-issued credentials. These credentials help students gain valuable skills that are directly aligned with workforce needs. Even more importantly, they enable students with intellectual disability to access meaningful employment after graduation.

VKC Researcher Explores How Elementary School-aged Peers Can Be Taught to Support Minimally-speaking Peers in the Classroom

A new study published in Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools explores how elementary school-aged peers can be taught to support classmates with autism who are minimally speaking. The research was conducted by Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (VKC)(TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND) member Elizabeth Biggs, PhD, and demonstrates that peers can learn and apply responsive interaction strategies — called the “Ways to Talk and Play” — to foster play and communication using augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).

Iowa’s UCEDD Provides Training and Technical Assistance for a New Statewide System

Iowa’s UCEDD received an award from Iowa HHS to provide training and technical assistance for a new statewide aging and disability resource center network. At the end of last year, Iowa’s UCEDD was awarded a grant from the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to serve as the Technical Assistance and Call Center for Iowa’s new Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) Network. The UCEDD assembled a staff to establish the new ADRC Network, bringing together aging and disability partners across the state to provide specialized training and technical assistance.

$750,000 Grant Aims to Improve Employment for People with Disabilities

This fall, the Center for Employment & Inclusion at the Institute for Disability Research, Policy & Practice will begin research into an innovative approach to employing people with significant support needs. A nearly $750,000 Field Initiated Projects grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research will fund a randomized, controlled trial study on customized employment. The grant is administered by Tim Riesen, the Research & Training Division director at the IDRPP.

Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities (MT UCEDD) Celebrates Recipients of the 2025 Community Investment Fund

In 2015, the Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities (RIIC) established the Community Investment Fund (CIF). CIF awards support innovative projects or programs that help Montanans with disabilities live, learn, work, and recreate alongside people without disabilities. Consumer Advisory Council (CAC) members developed and regularly update the CIF guidelines and application process; design and disseminate advertising materials through websites, social media, listservs, and public television stations; and use their leadership and advocacy skills to review applications, evaluate proposals, and award funds.

Kennedy Krieger Researchers Advance Biomarker Tools for Children with Sturge-Weber Syndrome

Researchers at Kennedy Krieger Institute published a review highlighting 25 years of progress in developing biomarker tools to improve early diagnosis and treatment for children with Sturge-Weber syndrome. The study emphasizes the use of MRI, EEG, and blood and urine markers to detect the condition before symptoms appear. These advances could help predict outcomes and guide early, personalized care.

Integrating Trauma Awareness Into Early Language Support

Children with language delays are more vulnerable to trauma—and trauma can impact language development. Waisman Center at University of Wisconsin-Madison investigator Rebecca Alper shares how SLPs can support caregivers with trauma-informed strategies to boost early language learning.

New Tools For School

Students are going back to school. Consultant Jill Pring (MN LEND 2024–25) supports about 300 students receiving special education services, including those identified as having autism or other developmental disabilities or emotional behavioral disorder. “I feel more confident going into this school year than probably any other, because LEND gave me such an interdisciplinary perspective,” she said. “To have a year where I could think beyond the boundaries of education and look at how a child might be seeing multiple providers and how their family might have a variety of needs…to be able to have a year when I could view things through different lenses gives me a lot of energy going into this year.”

Transforming Sleep Apnea Care for People with Down Syndrome: $10.4M Research Grant Awarded

Dr. Daniel Combs, associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Tucson and ArizonaLEND alum (2012-2013), and the research team were recently awarded a $10.4 million grant from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). The grant will be used to evaluate a precision medicine approach to make obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) treatment more effective for people with Down syndrome.

OHSU UCEDD – A Summer Intern’s Reflection

Nihitha Vimalan, a summer intern at OHSU's UCEDD, gained valuable insight into inclusive and person centered care. She led a book donation project at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, collecting over 180 children’s books that represented diverse ages, cultures, and abilities. She also observed a multidisciplinary team at the Down Syndrome Clinic and supported accessible storytelling through Go Baby Go. Her experience strengthened her passion for health equity and inspired her future in medicine.

My Summer at AUCD

This summer, Rincon Jagarlamudi served as a Policy Intern at the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), where he contributed to national disability advocacy efforts. Through experiences ranging from writing plain language policy content to participating in congressional meetings and supporting campaigns like “Speak Up for UCEDDs,” Rincon deepened his understanding of accessible communication and the policymaking process. As he begins medical school this fall, Rincon carries forward a strong commitment to disability-inclusive policy and advocacy in his future career.

AUCD FASD SIG & FASD United:
Trainee Mini Conference

September 16-17, 2025, Washington, DC

Join fellow LEND, DBP, UCEDD, and IDDRC trainees for the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Special Interest Group Trainee Mini-Conference Trainee Mini-Conference. This special event offers a unique opportunity to connect, learn, and lead alongside peers and professionals in the disability field. Hosted during FASD United’s National Impact Week, trainees can also attend related events including the Red Shoes Gala and policy-focused sessions.

2025 Mountain State Conference on Disabilities (MSCD)

September 18-19, 2025, Morgantown, WV

The Mountain State Conference on Disabilities is hosted by disability partners across the state including the WVU Center for Excellence in Disabilities, the West Virginia Developmental Disabilities Council and Disability Rights of WV. This conference will explore strategies and services that support people with disabilities of all ages and their families by focusing on ways to improve care, communication and self-determination through best practices. It will also highlight the lived experiences of people with disabilities, their caregivers and families.

Room to Grow: Journey to Cultural and Linguistic Competency Conference

Tuesday, September 30, 2025, 3:00 - 4:30 PM ET

This year, the Room to Grow conference is centered on utilizing developmental frameworks, practical tools, and evidence-based practices to strengthen mentorship across clinical, academic and research settings. Topics will cover mentoring relationships as a crucial foundation in navigating the stages of professional development, mitigating challenges pertaining to stereotypes and imposter syndrome, and harnessing the potential of the growth mindset to promote success. Event Flyer

Education Policy Basics: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and the Current Environment

Tuesday, September 30, 2025, 3:00 - 4:30 PM ET

Why is the Federal government important in education policy for students with disabilities? What does the Department of Education do and what do states control? What changes are coming and what do they mean? And how does all of this influence the lives and independence of people with disabilities living in the community? Trainees are invited to join the AUCD Policy team, in partnership with the Community Living Policy Center within the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy at Brandeis University, to learn more about Education Policy and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Join us and learn more! 

26th Annual Chronic Illness and Disability Conference: Transition from Pediatric to Adult-Based Care

October 23–24, 2025, Virtual & In-Person 

Baylor College of Medicine’s Annual Chronic Illness and Disability Conference: Transition from Pediatric to Adult-Based Care brings together healthcare professionals, youth and young adults with chronic conditions, and family members to strengthen transition practices. Held in-person and virtually, the conference features interdisciplinary sessions on building effective care models, addressing systemic barriers, and supporting successful transitions to adult healthcare.