UCEDD Leadership: A Guide to the Next Generation

The purpose of this guide is to provide a university search committee with an overview of the roles, functions, and expectations for the leadership of a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD). A UCEDD is a unique entity funded by the federal government to serve as a bridge between the university and its academic pursuits and the real and practical needs of children and adults with developmental disabilities in their respective states. The UCEDD should be viewed as a major support and a resource to the entire state in working to improve the lives of people with developmental disabilities, their families, and those individuals and organizations who work on their behalf. The 67 UCEDDs nationwide work in concert with other partners who make up the Developmental Disabilities Network in the state and operate under the auspices of the Developmental Disabilities Act of 2000, which defines its mission and governs its funding and priorities.

This guide will outline the federal requirements for UCEDDs and UCEDD Directors, as well as best practices gleaned from across the UCEDD network in the process of selecting a new UCEDD Director. The guide is broken into two sections-first an overview of the legal requirements of a UCEDD under the DD Act and related regulations, and second a synopsis of best practices for UCEDD Directors from across our network, along with suggested ideas for search committee consideration. Appendices provide additional information on federal legislation, technical assistance resources available from the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), and Director job descriptions from other UCEDDs of various university administrative homes.

This report was published by the Association of University Centers on Disabilities and funded by the Administration on Developmental Disabilities through technical assistance contract HHSP23320082917YC.