University of Delaware Center for Disabilities Studies

08/29/2025

Congratulations to 𝗪𝗲𝘀 𝗚𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗼𝗻, 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗺 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗿, on his presentation today at the 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗡𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 at the University of Rhode Island!

Wes joined a panel of university leaders from the northeast region who are driving inclusive programming for neurodivergent students in higher education.

The 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗺 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘀 program, overseen by CDS, provides a system of support and career development for undergraduate students with autism. While participating in typical college life, students also benefit from coaching, peer mentoring, and career-building opportunities.

We’re proud to see 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗺 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘀 represented in this important conversation about creating more inclusive academic environments! Learn more at https://www.cds.udel.edu/spectrumscholars/.

08/28/2025

A big thank you to the members of Senator Chris Coons’s staff who visited CDS today!

We were honored to welcome Health and Education Policy Adviser Katie Pannell, Legislative Aide Kailyn Broughton, and Stars of Valor Fellow Maya Perez-Diaz. They sat down with our team to learn more about the work we do to support people with disabilities and their families.

The visit also included a stop at our Assistive Technology Resource Center — a vital program that has thrived thanks to Senator Coons’s longstanding support.

We’re grateful for the continued partnership with our federal delegation and look forward to what we can accomplish together.

08/26/2025

“This program is a valuable addition to other statewide initiatives promoting the inclusion of Delawareans with disabilities."

CDS is honored and proud partner with agencies interested in making interactions between law enforcement and people with disabilities a safe experience.

Delaware has launched the Blue Envelope Program, a new statewide community initiative designed to help drivers with autism and other disabilities navigate interactions with law enforcement more confidently and safely. […]

08/25/2025

Join us in welcoming the 2025 cohort of 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀:𝗔𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘀 to the University of Delaware!

This unique program, introduced by CDS in 2018, builds a supportive and strong community for people with disabilities.

Students come from all different majors but share a passion for thinking about how to create an accessible and inclusive world. Through a mix of coursework, research and lived experience, Scholars are empowered to thrive and empower others — both in and beyond the classroom.

𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗨𝗗! 💙💛

08/21/2025

Mark your calendar! Registration for Delaware's premiere disability conference opens in September.

With a theme of “Moving Forward Together” the 2026 LIFE Conference will feature sessions including:
❎Expanding Decision-Making Options for People with Disabilities
❎Smart Home Innovations for AAC Users
❎Advocacy 101: How to Speak Up and Make a Difference
❎Parenting with a Disability

Check https://lifeconferencede.org/ for registration details!

🚨 SAVE THE DATE! 🚨
The 2026 LIFE Conference is happening January 21, 2026 – and this year’s theme is “Moving Forward Together”! 🎉

📍 Bally’s Dover Conference Center
🕗 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Join individuals with disabilities, family members and caregivers, service providers, and community members from across Delaware for a powerful day of connection, learning, and networking. You won’t want to miss this chance to unite under our 2026 theme and move forward together!

📅 Mark your calendar now – registration will open soon!

08/19/2025

We were honored to welcome Amber Ray, Health Policy Adviser and Alicia Porile, Legislative Assistant for Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester, to the Center for Disabilities Studies (CDS)!

During the visit, members of the leadership team shared the many ways CDS supports not only people with disabilities, but also current educators, future teachers and other members of the community including first responders.

Alicia and Amber also toured our Assistive Technology Resource Center, where they saw firsthand how innovative tools empower individuals to thrive at home, in the workplace, and in other aspects of everyday life.

Thank you, Alicia and Amber, for taking the time to learn about our work and for your commitment to inclusive policy and advocacy!

08/15/2025

🎓𝐂𝐋𝐒𝐂 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐧𝐬!🎓

Our Career & Life Studies Certificate (CLSC) program is the ONLY college experience in Delaware designed specifically for students with intellectual disabilities — and this year’s incoming students are ready to go after wrapping up their three-day on-campus orientation.

In addition to UD’s New Student Orientation, CLSC Summer Session provides the chance for students to:

🔹 Explore campus and learn their way around
🔹 Get connected to UD’s Wi-Fi and online systems
🔹 Attend info sessions from campus partners like Disability Support Services, the Career Center, Counseling Center and Residence Life
🔹 Start building friendships and confidence for the semester ahead!

CLSC students are full members of the UD community — taking classes, joining clubs, holding internships, and living on or off campus.

With person-centered planning and individualized coaching, students build skills, independence, and lasting connections.

𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐔𝐃!

08/14/2025

Thank you to WMDT for highlighting the Practice Traffic Stop program!

The Delaware Network for Excellence in Autism (DNEA), in partnership with the Delaware Natural Resources Police, Delaware State Parks, and New Castle City Police Departments, conducts these trainings to help people with autism feel more comfortable during interactions with law enforcement. The sessions allow autistic drivers and passengers to work with the police in a safe, friendly environment to learn about and practice a live traffic stop.

The DNEA will hold the next Practice Traffic Stop on Thursday, October 23 from 3-7pm at Cape Henlopen State Park. Visit https://bit.ly/3HfNPxU for more information and to sign up.

LEWES, Del. – A local organization is teaming up with police to help people living with autism be more comfortable behind the wheel. On October 23rd, the Delaware Network for Excellence in Autism is hosting a live practice traffic stop program. Folks with Autism can experience a mock traffic stop,...

08/13/2025

We were thrilled to welcome Hatti Specter, Legislative Aide to Rep. Sarah McBride, to the Center for Disabilities Studies!

Hatti met with members of our team, explored the Assistive Technology Resource Center, and learned about the many ways CDS supports Delaware’s disability community. From inclusive education to community living and cutting-edge technology, we were proud to share the full scope of our work and its impact across the state.

Thank you, Hatti, for taking the time to connect with us.

08/12/2025

Universal design for learning (UDL) is a teaching approach that works to give all students the opportunity to exceed by offering information through multiple methods, allowing them to learn in a variety of ways.

Dr. Sarah Curtiss, assistant professor in the College of Education and Human Development’s School of Education recently used UDL to tackle an important and sensitive subject.

Puberty education can be uncomfortable for many students and teachers, given the sensitive and sometimes emotionally-charged nature of the content. The barriers to this important health topic can be even greater for students with disabilities, who may struggle to learn in a traditional, lecture-styl...

08/05/2025

👏 Hats off to the 10-member troop of educators from the Seaford School District for completing their two-day SPEACS Summer Boot Camp!

Led by AAC specialist Hannah Mennella, MTSS-TA Center instructional coach Angelia Wilt and Seaford Middle School teacher Cat McMahon, this immersive training focused on building communication-rich classrooms for students with significant disabilities.

Over two informative days, Seaford paraprofessionals and teachers, along with the director of special education, learned how to support students who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), and got hands-on experience with AAC devices at the Delaware Assistive Technology Initiative (DATI) Milford Assistive Technology Resource Center.

Through a partnership with the Delaware Department of Education, the SPEACS (Systematic Process for Enhancing and Assessing Communication Supports) initiative equips educators with tools, strategies, and coaching to foster language-rich environments and strengthen student literacy and communication access.

08/01/2025

Congratulations to Dr. Sarah Curtiss, assistant professor in the College of Education and Human Development’s School of Education, for two recent article publications.

The first, “Mixed-methods Study of Autistic and Non-Autistic Community Member Participation in Autism Research” (https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613251348543) published in Autism, examines the inner workings of research studies with autistic and non-autistic community partners.

The second article, “Verse and Voice: A Guide for Poetic Inquiry in Transformative Educational Research” (https://doi.org/10.1177/14687941251350886) published in Qualitative Research, looks at the use of poetic inquiry, a method of creating poetry from research data as an alternate form of analysis.