Association of University Centers on Disabilities

12/13/2025

12/12/2025

With a grant from Braden’s Hope, KU Cancer Center program will facilitate the transition of pediatric cancer survivors to adult survivorship care.

12/12/2025

We’re thankful for the amazing resources from the NCSACW that empower providers to better support families affected by substance use disorder. These fact sheets and tools are a game-changer for improving outcomes for children and families. 💡💙
➡️ Read the NCSACW Fact Sheets: https://buff.ly/FF3W5av
➡️ Explore additional resources: https://buff.ly/5Ltm8FG

12/12/2025

Don't miss this two-part webinar series on aging and intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) happening next month!

It's perfect for families, self-advocates, professionals, and community partners looking for knowledge and next steps for building a strong future.

Register at https://bit.ly/kcddfutureplanning

12/12/2025

Dec. 1, 2025 WASHINGTON–The National Council on Disability (NCD) is requesting information to help inform an upcoming policy brief. The request for information (RFI) concerns the need for disability clinical care and competency training of medical professionals. With respect to the status of disab...

12/12/2025

This is Erin Donahoe, an Occupational Therapist trainee. At the beginning of the year, we asked our trainees questions to get to know them better. Here are some of Erin’s answers:

What is something that people would never guess just by looking at you?
I like bouldering (rock climbing without a rope), but I’m afraid of heights.

If you could use magic to do one mundane task for the rest of your life, what would it be? (Bonus question: What would you name the spell?)
To mount tubeless tires on my bike! It’s a bit of a bear. Perhaps set-o bead-o?

What would be the tagline to the sitcom of your life?
“Well, we tried”

What does true leadership mean to you?
You have to show up for others if you expect them to show up for you.

What is your aim for this year?
I’m looking forward to the opportunity to interact with so many different trainees from different disciplines. Interprofessional collaboration is the backbone of the health and human service professions, and it’s an incredible opportunity to have the designated time and space to engage in these conversations with others of different backgrounds.

12/12/2025

🎥 New from Disability Policy for All with Liz!
Liz Weintraub interviews Sandy Root-Elledge, AUCD’s Interim Executive Director, about her first year in the role, some disability policy issues from 2025, and what she hopes to see in 2026. A quick, powerful look at how AUCD’s network can shape policy at the state and federal levels. 🔗https://youtu.be/BUQcO1WNAGQ

12/12/2025

Autistic children are more likely to experience gastrointestinal (GI) problems. Researchers at LASR at KU: Laboratory of Affective Sensory Research are working to better understand why.

Their research could help improve understanding of the GI issues autistic youth experience, the connection between brain and gut, and potential treatment.

Learn about options for participating in the study at https://loom.ly/lb_0c-s

12/12/2025

The VKC is thrilled to announce that our own Pablo Juárez, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA, co-director of the VKC University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) and Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders (TRIAD), has been confirmed as president-elect of the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD).

We cannot think of a person more qualified for the job. We are so proud of you, Pablo! Learn more about the new appointment here: https://vkc.vumc.org/news/4198

AUCD is a national network dedicated to advancing policy, research, education, and service to improve the lives of people with disabilities and their families. Juárez’s election to this role reflects his longstanding commitment to innovation in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Learn more about AUCD here: https://www.aucd.org/home

12/12/2025

DID YOU KNOW? Ed Roberts

Ed Roberts, the first wheelchair user to attend UC Berkeley in 1962. Berkeley soon admitted more students with disabilities, who formed The Rolling Quads, a group that pushed for curb cuts and broader accessibility.

In 1977, Roberts led the 504 Sit-In, occupying a federal building for 28 days to demand enforcement of Section 504, which prohibits discrimination on any program receiving federal funding.

This activism helped pave the way for the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Who are we? partnership.vcu.edu

The Partnership is affiliated with: VCU School of Education Association of University Centers on Disabilities Virginia Department of Education - VDOE

12/12/2025

From the very beginning of community-based services, the workforce supporting people with IDD had to do more, from identifying early signs of illness to implementing complex behavior support plans. In the new Impact, ICI Director Amy Hewitt and National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals - NADSP CEO Joe Macbeth discuss why the push to professionalize the role of direct support professionals was such an important idea on the road to building inclusive communities. Published by ICI. https://z.umn.edu/atvy

12/12/2025

Did you miss The Boggs Center’s Fall 2025 Developmental Disabilities Lecture Series? Check out the recordings and handouts for Direct Support Workforce Solutions: Strategies for Individual and Collective Action Toward Workforce Stability; Remote Support Services and Other Technology Examples from the Smart Home Discovery Place; Safe, Connected, and in Control: Trauma Responsive Care for People with Dual Diagnosis; and Spirituality and Belonging: Pathways into Community: https://boggscenter.rwjms.rutgers.edu/resources/video-library