2023 AUCD Annual Report

2023 Letter from the Executive Director

For AUCD and members, 2023 was focused on real change and not just checking the inclusion box. We repeatedly highlighted the next generation of leaders and amplified their voices. And as always, we focused on advancing policies, practices, and research for and with people with disabilities and their communities. This year, AUCD adopted a definition of equity (separate and distinct from inclusion), launched a new strategic planning process, and continued developing emergency preparedness resources for people with disabilities, their families, and communities. It has been a busy and rewarding year, and it is important we keep that focus on engaging in conversations around what real inclusion means for people with disabilities.

AUCD’s eighth annual AUCD for All Gala was in-person for the first time since the pandemic and celebrated Creating Inclusive Communities across our Network and beyond. Inclusive communities foster an environment where it is encouraged to self-disclose your disability without fear of exclusion. Inclusive communities are communities that embrace our intersectionality and involve people with disabilities in research. They ensure physical, policy, and attitudinal barriers are removed. They create systems that work for people with disabilities.

The AUCD 2023 Conference focused on the theme Emerging Leaders: Shaping the Future and welcomed attendees from across the United States and internationally. As Conference Chair Derrick Willis noted, “We have made tremendous strides, but we still have a lot of work to do. And it is you sitting here that is going to take us to that next level that is necessary for us to be successful in creating environments for all people to live inclusive lives.” At this year’s Conference, storytelling played a big role in creating Network connections, sharing lived experiences, and practicing advocacy—all motivating us to continue shaping the future of disability policies, practices, and research.

Three years have passed since the start of the pandemic, and the AUCD Network continues to prioritize spreading accurate and accessible information and resources on vaccine outreach to ensure people with disabilities have equal access to all vaccines.

Without the support and knowledge from AUCD’s Network of UCEDDs, LENDs, and IDDRCs, progress would look different. With these collaborations, progress looks like inclusive research, inclusive post-secondary education programs, inclusive communities, and so much more that bolsters our framework of improving policies, systems, and standards of practice where people with disabilities are not only supported and given access but are also a vital part of creating solutions. 2023 has strengthened connections across the Network that reinforce our collaborative mission, continuing to build on past successes to ensure a brighter future for us all.

Sincerely,

John Tschida  
AUCD Executive Director 

2023 Network Products and Activities

In FY23, more than 1.9 million people and organizations received technical assistance from AUCD Network members. More than 750 thousand received continuing education and more than 155,000 families received clinical services such as diagnostic evaluations for developmental disabilities, therapies, and more.

One of the strategic goals of AUCD is to conduct and apply research and share knowledge. Collectively, AUCD Network members produced more than 12,700 expert products each year, including newsletters, books and book chapters, conference presentations, academic and online courses, fact sheets, and press communications. These items reach tens of millions of people, educating them on evidence-based information and guiding them to resources available for people with disabilities and their families.

2023 Network Training Impact

AUCD Emerging Leaders are a part of a community that includes current trainees from AUCD Network sites; former (i.e. alumni) trainees; early career professionals from all health and related disciplines, including self-advocates and family members; and others that are relatively new to the disability field. This group of passionate individuals from every U.S. state and territory grows by the thousands each year. Together, this Emerging Leaders Community shares a passion to serve, research, and educate to make positive changes with and for people with disabilities and their families.

“In 2023, the AUCD Network collectively trained 5,046 trainees in more than 48 different disciplines.”

Every year, the AUCD Network of Programs graduates more than 5,000 leaders in their respective health, allied health, general studies, and education fields. These trainees have engaged in intensive, curricular and research experiences in order to increase their knowledge and grow their leadership skills, and many more who have engaged with our Programs in shorter term experiences.

2023 Financials

AUCD is a 501(c)3 organization with a $12 million budget. The majority of AUCD’s income comes from grants and contracts; and the remainder comes from things like membership dues, event registrations, and private donations. AUCD works to keep our operations efficient, using the maximum available resources to further the goals of our strategic plan. 

2023 Revenue

• AUCD FY2023 revenue was $12,082,577 compared to $13,825,539 in FY2022​.
• Year-end unrestricted net assets were $4,311,600 which is $558,435 more than the prior year​.
• AUCD’s reserve fund now exceeds 4 months.

2023 Passed through Funding

• AUCD passed to its members $5.6 million in funding compared to $7.6 million of funding in the previous year (due to expiring grant awards)​.
• AUCD FY24 projection is over $3.9 million passed to members​.
• Membership dues are unchanged for FY24​.

Outreach and Engagement in 2023

Part of the work of the AUCD office is to amplify the incredible advances – in research, policy, clinical practice, service to the community, and more – that are happening at our member Centers and Programs. By doing so, we can continue to change perceptions about the ways people with disabilities and their families prefer to be and should be included in their communities. To that end, we communicate regularly with our 14,000 email subscribers and on social media where messages regularly reach over 250,000 people per month.