Early Childhood Personnel Center

15/12/2025

Happy Hanukkah! May these eight nights be filled with warmth, happiness, and sweet moments to remember. Wishing peace, joy, and light to all who celebrate!

20/03/2025

We are deeply saddened by the passing of H. Rutherford “Rud” Turnbull III, a true pioneer in disability rights, law, and policy, and a guest faculty for many years at the UConn UCEDD. Rud’s extraordinary impact has shaped generations of advocates, professionals, and families, and his legacy will continue to inspire and guide the field.

Rud was instrumental in shaping key legislation, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). He had a remarkable ability to translate complex legal principles into policies that advanced the rights and dignity of individuals with disabilities. Motivated by his son Jay, who had intellectual disabilities and autism, Rud’s work was deeply personal. Alongside his wife Ann, he championed family-centered care and the quality of life for individuals with disabilities and their families.

Over the years, Rud (and Ann) graciously presented to UConn UCEDD trainees from our LEND, ECiDC, Aspiring Leaders, and many more. Rud shared his expertise on IDEA, families, ethics, leadership and civil rights. Their words of wisdom inspired countless emerging leaders, leaving a lasting impact on our trainees, faculty, and staff.

Rud Turnbull’s legacy lives on through the lives he touched, the laws he helped shape, and the countless professionals he mentored. We are forever grateful for his passion, advocacy, and unwavering dedication to advancing disability rights. Rud has been a guiding light for so many, and his legacy of wisdom, kindness, and unwavering advocacy will continue to inspire us all. His impact will be felt for generations to come.

https://www.specialeducationtoday.com/p/h-rutherford-turnbull-iii1937-2025

25/12/2024

Happy Holidays from the Early Childhood Personnel Center!

10/12/2024

on the Developing Child at Harvard University Serve & return interactions—which are responsive, back-and-forth exchanges between a young child and a caring adult—help build and strengthen neural connections in a child’s brain. 🧠

Learn more in the full video here:

Serve and return interactions shape brain architecture. When caregivers are responsive to children's signals, they help them build critical skills.

10/12/2024

The foundations of mental health begin in early childhood. When we provide children with appropriate supports and interventions early on, we can help foster their healthy development. Watch the full video to learn more: https://bit.ly/childhoodmentalhealth

Early experiences—including children’s relationships with parents, caregivers, relatives, teachers, and peers—interact with genes to shape the architecture of the developing brain. This video explains how improving children’s early environments can prevent initial difficulties from destabili...

10/12/2024

🌟 ECIPC is HIRING! 🌟
Are you experienced in developing materials for early childhood intervention (ECI) children with disabilities (birth to five)? We're looking for you!
Can you commit to 10 to 20+ hours per month to create impactful materials and modules for IHE programs in EI/ECSE?
We also have part-time positions to help us to provide Technical Assistance to IHE programs in EI/ECSE.
Please submit a 1-2 paragraph statement of interest, your curriculum vitae or resume, and examples of your work (e.g., course materials, syllabi, journal articles, or training materials). Mary Beth Bruder - bruder@uchc.edu
Apply by December 31, 2024.
Please share with any interested colleagues!

11/11/2024

Today we honor and extend our gratitude to all veterans for their service, sacrifices, and bravery 🇺🇸

05/11/2024

Happy Election Day! Go out and exercise your right to vote! 🇺🇸

01/11/2024

Data shows that schools across the country struggled to fill teaching positions, especially for special education.

Schools struggled to fill teaching positions — especially those focused on serving students with disabilities — even as classes got underway this fall, data shows.

30/10/2024

Dyscalculia is a learning disability in math that impacts students’ ability to learn and retain basic math facts. Here’s what educators should know about this learning disability.

Dyscalculia impacts 5 to 8 percent of students. Here's what educators need to know about this disability and how to support students who have it.

24/10/2024

A new report shows that finding childcare for children with disabilities is more difficult due to a variety of reasons: limited spots, information is hard to find, lack of full-time programs, among others. What resources are available?

Year-long waits, cold calls that end in goose chases, and a lot of worry. While many parents struggle to find child care, parents of children with disabilities (and parents with disabilities themselves) often face additional challenges.

24/10/2024

Mary Beth Bruder presenting action planning and scaling up.