Last week 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. Direct input was sought and received from all parts of the AUCD Network. The feedback, thoughtful ideas, and insights shaped robust ongoing conversations concerning our collective mission, vision, and value statements. It also guided the development of five goals and numerous objectives that acknowledge our current political, economic, and university-based environments.
The goals set the stage for a unified Association and Network, one that AUCD’s Board leadership hopes will strengthen the bridge between Centers and Programs and the community, bringing together resources to achieve meaningful change.
Multiple in-person meetings were held at the AUCD Conference to preview the Plan. More virtual meetings will soon be scheduled in December and January for Network members to learn more.
View AUCD’s Mission, Vision, Goals, and Values below along with a corresponding graphic. All of this information can also be found on our Mission, Vision, and Goals page on our website along with a plain language version. AUCD is grateful to the University of Kentucky’s Human Development Institute for designing the graphic and creating the plain language version of our Plan.
Visual Description
Five vertical rectangles sit next to each other, the first, third, and fifth are light blue and the second and fourth are white with a light blue line around the rectangles. The first rectangle has an icon of four hands linking together in a circle and reads: Goal 1 - AUCD leads Network efforts in diversity, equity, inclusion, and access. Rectangle two has an icon of two people sitting together at a table and talking, one of the people uses a wheelchair. The text on rectangle two reads: Goal 2 - AUCD strengthens Network Members. The third rectangle has an icon with a text box surrounded by a circle with three icons of people around the text box. Rectangle three reads: Goal 3 - AUCD strengthens ties among Network Members, governments, corporations, and communities. Rectangle four pictures an open hand with a dollar bill above the hand. Rectangle four reads: Goal 4 - AUCD seeks funding to continue work throughout the Network. Rectangle five pictures a white board with symbols, gears, and a arrow moving up on the screen. Rectangle five reads: Goal 5 - AUCD carries out a plan to achieve growth in developmental and other disabilities.
Our Mission
AUCD’s mission is to amplify and advance the work of the AUCD Network to promote community inclusion and quality of life for people with developmental and other disabilities and their families.
Our Vision
AUCD envisions a future where people with developmental and other disabilities live the lives they want in fully inclusive and accessible communities.
Our Goals
- AUCD leads Network efforts in diversity, equity, inclusion, and access.
- AUCD strengthens Network member organizations within their university and other settings to ensure autonomy and sustainability.
- AUCD facilitates education, connections and collaborations among member organizations, as well as governmental, disability, corporate, and other community partners.
- AUCD seeks funding opportunities to sustain the organization and support the work of the Network.
- AUCD implements a comprehensive operational plan to achieve sustainable growth and innovation in the field of developmental and other disabilities.
Our Values
- The view of disability as a natural part of the human experience across all ages, cultures, and identities within the contexts of their communities
- The equitable participation of people with disabilities, family members, trainees, staff, and faculty in their programs, governance, research, and leadership
- Self-determination of people with disabilities
- Individual and family-centered care
- The broad cultural and linguistic diversity in our nation, its territories, and tribal communities
- Diversity that is inclusive of race, ethnicity, culture, age, disability, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation and socio-economic status
- Cultural and linguistic responsiveness, humility, and competence in our services and supports, training activities, research, and dissemination efforts.
- The recognition of interdependence and mutual reliance of all individuals within the contexts of their communities
