Request for Proposals: NIRS Technical Assistance

The UCEDD Resource Center (URC) is seeking a consultant to support improvements to our technical assistance (TA) related to NIRS. The consultation will contribute to improving the quality of NIRS TA through developing recommendations for the type and delivery of TA resources and developing consistency in branding and formatting for NIRS TA Resources.

New Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Will Build Statewide Capacity to Serve Iowans

The Center for Disabilities and Development (CDD), Iowa's UCEDD, has been awarded a grant from the Iowa Department of Human Services to establish a Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health in Iowa. CDD will collaborate with the Iowa Consortium for Substance Abuse Research and Evaluation to create the new Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health to develop and implement evidence-based practices to support individuals with serious mental illness (SMI), serious emotional disturbances (SED), and co-occurring conditions.

OHSU UCEDD Celebrates 50 Years

The Institute on Development & Disability at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) UCEDD celebrated big last month. In a March tradition, Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month was highlighted in a university sponsored event - this year, Pediatric Grand Rounds. A slice of the UCEDD's work in communication access was the focus of the event, alongside some history of the Institutes longest running program and founding center making its mark on campus with the construction of the Child Development and Rehabilitation Center 50 years ago.

KUCDD's Evan Dean Receives Fulbright Scholar Award in Iceland

Kansas University Center on Developmental Disabilities Associate Director Evan Dean, Ph.D., has been granted a Fulbright Scholar award in Iceland. Dean and his family have settled near the University of Akureyri, Iceland, where he is serving with the researchers and faculty in the Occupational Therapy department.

WIHD Develops Post-COVID Roadmap to Recovery and Resilience

WIHD took on the challenge of strategic planning during these uncertain times in order to be well-positioned to respond to whatever scenarios may arise over the coming years. This effort culminated in the development of what we are calling our Post- COVID Roadmap.

Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities (MT UCEDD) Announces Recipients of the 2021 Community Investment Fund

The Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities established the Community Investment Fund (CIF)to support innovative projects or programs that help Montanans with disabilities live, learn, work and play alongside people without disabilities. This year Children's Special Health Services matched Rural Institute funds so awards were given to three projects: Kalispell Mosaic Mural, Pumpkins for a Cause and BASE Film Making Extravaganza.

Iowa's UCEDD Promotes Reading and Disability Representation as It Turns 50

Founded in 1972, the Center for Disabilities and Development (CDD/Iowa's UCEDD) is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. As part of the celebration, the UCEDD is making a contribution to the Disability Resource Library (DRL) at CDD. The UCEDD will purchase a series of books for the DRL that promote reading and disability representation in books.

Request for Applications- Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Coaches

The UCEDD Resource Center (URC) launched a multi-pronged technical assistance initiative to support UCEDDs in implementing the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Action Plan. In continuation of this initiative, the URC is seeking applications from UCEDD leaders across the AUCD network to serve as Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion coaches. Coaches may provide individualized coaching to network members, respond to rapid response requests, and support implementation of the technical assistance initiative by presenting at webinars and supporting content of the ED&I Action Plan Implementation groups.

Dr. Erin Vinoski Thomas Named Associate Director of CLD

Dr. Erin Vinoski Thomas has been named as the Center for Leadership in Disability (CLD)'s new Associate Director. Dr. Vinoski Thomas also currently serves as the CLD�s Director of Health and Wellness and a Research Assistant Professor within Georgia State University�s School of Public Health.

2020-2021 UCEDD Resource Center (URC) Evaluation Report

In 2020-2021, the UCEDD Resource Center (URC) accomplished all our goals from the prior year. The first full year of website analytics data from all three URC websites has been leveraged for strategic decision-making. An accessibility evaluation for online communications was completed in August 2021 and will inform improvements to be implemented in the coming year. The global survey was adapted into Spanish and plain language to ensure linguistic accessibility in our data collection process.