2024 AUCD Annual Report

Stronger TogetherThree panelists from the AUCD 2024 Opening Plenary sit and smile together, an ASL interpreter stands behind them.

2024 emphasized the strength of the AUCD Network when working together to advance research, training, education, and service for and with people with disabilities. By focusing on the core of what makes the AUCD Network succeed, we celebrate the unity that drives the advancements of every researcher, practitioner, teacher, student, community advocate, and supporter.

AUCD Central Office Initiatives

More on the AUCD 2024 Conference

The AUCD 2024 Conference took place November 3-6, 2024, in Washington, D.C. and brought together nearly 700 attendees. With a theme of Stronger Together: Creating a More Inclusive World, the 2024 Conference focused 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. At the Conference, AUCD held four main plenary sessions, 64 concurrent sessions, 155 poster sessions, and countless other meetings and networking opportunities. Based on attendee feedback, we know that it was an engaging and meaningful experience. We also saw an uptick in our social media engagement leading up to and throughout the Conference. Overall, we had a reach of more than 40,000. This means, social media content containing #AUCD2024 reached nearly 40,000 timelines, whether on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or other social media channels.

Utah UCEDD and LEND Promote Resources in the Community

A group of adults and children play under a large, multicolored parachuteAUCD UCEDD and LEND at Utah State University’s Institute for Disability Research, Policy & Practice started the Cache County Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visit program in 2024. The program promotes family resilience and healthy child development through home visits, family connection groups, and access to helpful resources from the community.

“It’s about empowering parents with knowledge, helping them make an informed decision about what is best for them,” said Tressa Johnston, the program administrator.

The focus of the program is on family well-being, supporting both parents and children through the early years of child development, and strengthens families through guiding parents on developmental changes and parenting strategies. The program is able to refer families to other community organizations and resources if a child needs more developmental support.

The program supports a wide variety of families, as long as they have one child in the home who is under the age of six. These could include first-time parents, military families, foster or temporary caregivers, and families of infants with low birth weight.

“Having something research-backed and evidence-based helps them build their family,” Johnston said. “It supports child development and helps them make sure their children are ready for school. We all wonder how to balance family and work, school and family. This will help.”


Network Initiatives