OHSU LEND-UCEDD Trainee Amplifies Community Priorities

Led by LEND Health Administration and Social Work Trainee Libby Quinn, OHSU Institute on Development and Disability opted to submit public comment as an organization on the recent proposed ruling for updates to Section 504. [alt text: Libby Quinn, a light skin woman with wavy blonde and brown hair wears a turtleneck and smiles for a professional headshot in an outdoor setting against cement terraced grass]

In Memoriam: Dr. Steven E. Brown

Aloha, it was with great sadness and heavy heart to hear this past week of the death of Dr. Steven Brown. Steve served for many years as a professor of Disability Studies at the Center on Disability Studies, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa. He was lead investigator on numerous projects working to improve the quality-of-life experience for persons with disabilities across the globe. Further, Steve was respected internationally as an activist and advocate for the rights of all persons with disabilities.

Iowa Creates a New Vaccine Clinic for Patients with Unique Needs

Iowa's Center for Disabilities and Development (CDD) has a new vaccine clinic for children and some adults with unique needs, including sensory issues, anxiety, and other disabilities. Earlier this year, the mother of a child with autism got in touch with CDD, looking for a place to get her child vaccinated against Covid-19. CDD clinical nurse manager Sheree Murphy, RN, took up the challenge, and enlisted the help of UCEDD program coordinator, Anne Crotty, MPH.

JFK Partners' Colorado Office of Employment First Celebrates National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) with Development of Video Minis

October was National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) which commemorates the many contributions of people with disabilities to America's workplaces and economy. This year's theme, "Advancing Access and Equity," recognized the importance of ensuring all people have equal opportunity to contribute their skills and talents to our workforce.

Request for Proposals: A national partnership to develop an approach and plan to advance peer-support models for augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device users

AUCD is seeking proposals for a contracted entity to fulfill a scope of work central to an effort federally funded by the AoD, Administration for Community Living (ACL) that will seek to co-create a nationwide comprehensive, consensus-based peer support model to advance the use of AAC. This one-year planning project is anticipated to yield a rich source of recommendations for peer support models anticipated to improve the lives of AAC users.

2023 Young Professional Award

The Young Professional Award is presented to a person in the field of disabilities under the age of 40 who has demonstrated dedication and commitment to people with developmental disabilities and their families through work as a bridge between the academic sector and the community. The 2023 AUCD Young Professional Award was presented to Jacy Farkas, MA, during the AUCD Awards Ceremony on November 7, 2023.

UCEDD Resource Center ExceLens Series: AUCD Emerging Leader: Blake Warner

Honoring the theme of the AUCD Annual Conference, this edition of ExceLens is excited to feature AUCD Emerging Leader Blake Warner. Blake has previously completed two years of SD LEND and is currently serving as a UCEDD trainee and completing a predoctoral internship at the UCLA Tarjan Center. Blake is passionate about advocacy and policy reform efforts, particularly for LGBTQ+ individuals in the disability community. The AUCD Community Inclusion Team was able to sit down with Blake and learn more about his interests, goals, and experience so far as an AUCD Emerging Leader. Please read on to see the highlights from Blake's interview!

Announcing the 2023-2024 Emerging Leaders Community Interns

The Emerging Leaders Community is excited to announce 3 Interns for the 2023-2024 training year! These trainees will serve as visible ambassadors to the broader AUCD network, interacting with AUCD staff at all levels and the AUCD Board of Directors' Emerging Leaders Representative.

AUCD Partners with USAging

AUCD is thrilled to be a partner with USAging for the Aging and Disability Vaccination Collaborative, thanks to vital funding from the Administration for Community Living. AUCD's selected Network Centers and Programs are providing needed flu and COVID-19 shots to people with disabilities and older adults to help keep them healthy.

The State of the States in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Awarded a 5-Year Grant

The State of the States in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (State of the States) has been awarded a 5-year grant from the Administration on Community Living (ACL) that will continue to support spreading their knowledge of data regarding IDD services and supports. The grant totals $450,000 per year over a period of 5 years and will be used toward information dissemination activities such as quarterly webinars, project reports, customized data briefs, data visualization, and more.