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September 2025 I Volume 11 I Edition 9
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Spark Connections and Lightning Talks
AUCD is excited to bring the National Network together through two upcoming Virtual Network Connection Sessions! These events are designed to showcase the inspiring work of UCEDDs, LENDs, and IDDRCs while fostering collaboration across the network. The sessions will feature Lightning Talks, where centers can submit one slide and a 2-minute presentation to spotlight work that sparks pride and energy, followed by Bright Spark Chats, small-group discussions to exchange ideas and build meaningful connections. Registration is only required for presenting centers, with slides due to events@aucd.org by October 6, 2025.
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Honoring the Contributions of Americans with Disabilities to the Workforce
and National Progress through UCEDDs
Tuesday, October 28, 2025, 2:00 - 3:00 PM ET
AUCD is excited to organize and host this year's National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) Webinar. This year’s webinar will connect disability employment to America’s 250th anniversary, exploring the past, present, and future of inclusive employment. The program highlights the role of University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDDs) in driving progress through research, policy, innovation, and partnerships.
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Sandra Friedman, MD, MPH is retiring and stepping down from the Director role of JFK Partners’ UCEDD
and LEND programs. Judy Reaven, PhD, will serve as Interim Director. Dr. Friedman has been with the
AUCD network for over 30 years, initially at a LEND trainee and then LEND faculty at Boston Children’s
Hospital/Harvard Medical School (HMS) and with JFK Partners-at the University of Colorado School of
Medicine (UCSOM) since 2009, initially as Associate Director and then Director. She leaves a legacy of
educating and training LEND and UCCEDD trainees and establishing new training programs for medical
residents and fellows in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities at BCH/HMS and Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics at UCSOM/Children’s
Hospital Colorado, respectively.
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The ArizonaLEND program is proud to announce Chelsea Carr, PhD, BCBA-D, as its new training director. Dr. Carr brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the role and has been a valued member of the ArizonaLEND faculty since 2021. A Board-Certified Behavior Analyst, she has extensive expertise supporting families of children with neurodevelopmental disabilities and earned her doctoral degree in Special Education with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis.
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Dr. Daniel Armstrong Appointed to the Board of The Children's Trust
Dr. Daniel Armstrong, Director of the Mailman Center for Child Development, has been appointed as a member-at-large on the Board of The Children’s Trust of Miami-Dade for a three-year term. The Children’s Trust is a tax-supported organization established by a voter referendum in 2002 that funds more than $200 million of programs for children in Miami-Dade County. The Mailman Center and Department of Pediatrics have received significant funding since the inception of The Children’s Trust to support children with disabilities, special health care needs, and those facing significant social challenges.
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What do Tennesseans with disabilities and their families need to lead full, meaningful lives? Nearly 1,500 people across the state shared their experiences, priorities, and hopes through a collaborative needs assessment led by the partners that comprise the Tennessee Developmental Disabilities (DD) Network, including the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (VKC) (TN IDDRC, UCEDD, LEND).
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The Michigan Developmental Disabilities Institute (MI-DDI) at Wayne State University is Michigan’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD), dedicated to promoting community inclusion and improving quality of life for people with disabilities and their families. Through research, training, technical assistance, and advocacy, MI-DDI strengthens disability services and supports statewide.
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“Trina Spencer, director of the Juniper Gardens Children’s Project at the KU Life Span Institute, and her doctoral student investigated the impact of an AAC narrative intervention on autistic children’s communication. They co-authored a paper published earlier this year in Augmentative and Alternative Communication.
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“I want disabled people to hold their head up high all over the world, and know that just because they are disabled, that doesn't mean they have to give up on their goals.” Jaylin, a 2025 Think College Policy Advocate and current student in the UMSL Office of Inclusive Postsecondary Education, continues to champion advocacy for individuals with disabilities. He was recently featured in Take 5 With Skye, a series hosted by Skye VanLanduyt of the UMKC Institute for Human Development that highlights self-advocacy and empowerment. This summer, Jaylin also completed a paid internship with the UMKC IHD team.
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Daniel Armstrong, PhD and Meghan McCormick, MD Receive Batchelor Foundation Award
The Batchelor Foundation has awarded Daniel Armstrong, PhD, and Meghan McCormick, MD, a $250,000 Batchelor Children's Survivorship Program Fund Grant in support of their multi-tiered approach to childhood cancer survivorship. This award recognizes the dedicated work and exceptional promise to advance research and patient outcomes.
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The call for proposals for the 2026 START National Training Institute is now open through November 7, 2025! Share your work with a national audience and help us build the agenda for our virtual event on May 12-14, 2026, hosted by the National Center for START Services at the Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire. This year’s theme, "Values in Action: Holding Hope, Building Belonging," reflects our commitment to creating environments where people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and mental health needs (IDD-MH), their families, and their supporters feel connected, valued, and supported. Proposals are open to all. Previous experience with START not required.
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BoggsCast is back with the launch of Season 5! The Boggs Center’s podcast highlights best practices, success stories, and possibilities for innovation through conversations with state and national experts. The season opener features Aaron Kalinowski, Self-Advocate and Podcaster; Nathan Gerhard, Associate Executive Director at Keystone Human Services; Martin Noah, Senior Director of Information Technology at The Arc of Essex County; and Meghan O’Sullivan, Sales Director at SimplyHome. Together, they discuss how enabling technologies are expanding independence and choice for people with disabilities, sharing insights on person-centered approaches, organizational strategies, and success stories.
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Osahon Akpata-Tanious (MNLEND 2024-25) will become executive director of Foster Advocates on September 22, the Saint Paul non-profit organization announced. In a statement, Foster Advocates’ board of directors cited Akpata-Tanious’ background in both finance and public service as she prepares to lead the organization, which supports Minnesota’s more than 10,000 children in foster care through direct services and policy advocacy. In addition to her experiences as a Minnesota Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (MNLEND) fellow, she also recently graduated from the University of Minnesota Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs with a master’s degree in public policy. Previously, she earned a certificate
from the College of Education and Human Development in disability policy and services.
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23rd Annual Autism Conference
Friday, October 17, 2025, Virtual
The 23rd Annual Autism Conference: Breaking Barriers, Building Futures celebrates 30 years of impact through Kennedy Krieger’s Center for Autism Services, Science, and Innovation (CASSI™), offering evidence-based strategies and inclusive practices for professionals, families, and advocates. Attendees can access dynamic breakout sessions, extended learning opportunities, and keynote presentations—on October 16 and on-demand through December 31, 2025.-Kennedy Krieger
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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.
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Collaborative Strategies for Success: Healthcare and Educational
Interventions for Children Impacted by Substance Exposure
November 7, 2025, Cincinnati, OH
Registration is now open for the 2025 Next Step Collaborative Conference, Collaborative Strategies for Success: Healthcare and Educational Interventions for Children Impacted by Substance Exposure. This in-person event will be held on November 7, 2025, at Cincinnati Children’s and will bring together professionals and family members to share research, strategies, and caregiver supports for children affected by prenatal substance exposure or parental substance use disorders. Attendees will gain valuable knowledge, build cross-disciplinary connections, and strengthen skills to make a positive impact in their communities. Continuing education credits will be available.
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Texas Transition Conference
February 18-20, 2026
The Texas Transition Conference (TTC) is a three-day event offering valuable information and strategies to support youth with disabilities in their journey from school to successful adult lives. It covers these core content areas: Student-Focused Planning, Interagency Collaboration, Student Development, Family Involvement and Program Structure.
The conference is for a wide range of participants, including educators, transition professionals, service providers, families, individuals with disabilities, employers, policymakers, and community partners.
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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 and the 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 not to be inferred.
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