Center for Disability and Education

04/16/2026

'What sort of buildings do we build?' Self-Advocacy on the Move to Include Podcast.

1 like. "'What sort of buildings do we build?' Self-advocacy on the Move to Include Podcast"

04/15/2026

“It is time for the Administration to refocus on improving opportunities and outcomes for individuals with disabilities instead of eliminating funding that promotes education, employment and community living,” said Stephanie Smith Lee, policy and advocacy co-director of the National Down Syndrome Congress, in an April 8 statement.

The FY27 budget proposal, however, would make changes that have advocates concerned about accountability and federal supports.

04/13/2026

Great News! The region's largest safety net dental provider has received a $2.16 million federal grant to help train its residents on how to better treat individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and certain medical conditions, like HIV and diabetes.

The award to Eastman Institute of Oral health will be used to create a community-based training model to improve practitioners' dental skills and knowledge when treating this population.

The Eastman Institute of Oral Health received a $2.16 million federal grant that will help train dentists on how to better treat individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

04/11/2026

🐶🐱 Happy National Pet Day! 🐾

Behind every great leader… is a pet who thinks they’re in charge.

Today, the Director and Associate Directors of the Center for Disability and Education are sharing their beloved pets—the real MVPs of their homes! From morning walks to mid-day interruptions (we mean support), these companions keep life full of joy.

Swipe through to meet Martha and Marys pets.🐾

👇 We’d love to see yours—share your pet photos in the comments!

04/07/2026

We have exciting news from the Warner School of Education and Human Development!

In the 2026 U.S. News & World Report rankings, Warner has risen to #74 among graduate education programs nationwide—a jump of 26 spots in just one year and an impressive 62 spots over the past six years.

This continued upward momentum reflects the dedication of faculty, staff, and students, as well as a shared commitment to innovation, research, and impact in education and human development.

With a wide range of graduate programs preparing leaders across PK–12 education, higher education, counseling, and policy, Warner’s growth signals not only national recognition but meaningful contributions to the field.

Another reason we are happy to call University of Rochester - Warner School of Education home!

The University of Rochester’s Warner School of Education & Human Development continues its impressive rise in the U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate School Rankings. In the 2026 rankings, the Warner School is now ranked No. 74 among the top Graduate Education Programs in the country.

04/07/2026

The Coalition for Disability, ACPA: College Student Educators International is offering a 21-Day Challenge. Here is the description from the registration form:

Starting April 13, 2026, participants will receive emails on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays with suggested readings, podcasts, videos, reflections, and activities to deepen personal understanding and connections. The Challenge concludes on June 1, 2026.

Note: The Challenge will not run on May 25 in observance of Memorial Day. As a result, it has been extended by one day and concludes just after the end of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage month, Jewish American Heritage month, Mental Health Awareness month, and Military Appreciation month (May).

This program can be experienced individually or with a group. It is free and does not require ACPA membership to participate. Each day a person receives an email, they will be encouraged to select at least one option listed to further educate themselves about the email's topic. So, in a sense, it is a bit of a choose your own adventure learning experience.

You can register here: bit.ly/21DDC2026

04/02/2026

The language used by political leaders helps shape the society we live in. How disability is discussed matters because it influences policy decisions, public perception, and everyday experiences.

Words carry weight. They shape understanding, signal priorities, and affect how people are treated. Thoughtful, respectful language can lead to stronger policies, while careless rhetoric can reinforce harmful assumptions and lead to misguided decisions.

Disability Discourse Matters is an initiative that collects and examines statements by political leaders about disability, building a dataset that captures how disability is represented in public dialogue. Over time, this work will support deeper analysis of how shifts in language connect to changes in law, policy, and public attitudes.

The language political leaders use shapes the society we live in. How people with disabilities are talked about can influence policy, public perception, and daily life. Words carry weight - they inform understanding, set priorities, and affect how individuals are treated. Thoughtful language can lea...

04/02/2026

Thank you Move to Include for sharing important stories like Conans.

Gillis first learned the art of self-advocacy through a home video his father made of a family trip to the local library in Honeoye Falls about 16 years ago.

Sticking up for yourself is a life skill not often found in any curriculum, and there’s no one way to do it. Gillis’ has focused on education, architecture, and rethinking the definition of disability.

03/30/2026

03/12/2026

Today marks the 36th anniversary of the Capitol Crawl. A powerful Civil Rights protest that had an impact because of brave protestors.

Meet the protesters who crawled their way into history—and changed how all Americans live.

02/17/2026

Are you in Rochester, New York? The City of Rochester is hosting a Zoom meeting on Thursday to gather input on making pedestrian areas more accessible.

Its draft ADA Transition Plan plan lays out ways the city intends to remove physical barriers and improve access to sidewalks, crosswalks, bus stops, and other pedestrian spaces.

02/16/2026

Colleague and friend of the Center, Cindi May, shared her thoughts with Inside Higher Ed.

Sociability is not the same as hireability. Colleges can take concrete steps to make the academic hiring process fairer for neurodivergent candidates.