Association of University Centers on Disabilities

10/30/2025

Today's episode features Secretary Elizabeth Groginsky, who's leading the nation's first cabinet-level early childhood department in New Mexico.

When she arrived in 2019, New Mexico ranked 50th in child wellbeing, nutrition, education, and poverty. The governor's response? "We have to do something monumentally different."

Their solution: Build a comprehensive prenatal-to-5 system that starts with valuing the workforce. "How can we expect a different result when the people here, the caregivers don't even have what, you know, their basic needs met."

Listen to the full episode now: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2cEkmd2LEf3tnXDLJPWQSt?si=EibPrdXoRhK1KS28pCI8YA

10/30/2025

🧠 What looks like a behavior problem may actually be a sign of brain injury.

Brain injury is a hidden but common consequence of domestic and intimate partner violence. Yet, many never receive screening or support.

💻 Through OBISSS (Online Brain Injury Screening and Support System), UMKC-IHD’s TBI State Partnership Program is helping advocates recognize these signs and connect survivors to care.

🤝 When we understand what brain injury really looks like, survivors get the support they deserve.

🔗 Learn more and access resources: https://linktr.ee/MOBIRF
📞 If you or someone you know needs help, call the National DV Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788.

Brain Injury Association of Missouri National Association of State Head Injury Administrators - Nashia Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services

10/30/2025

Don't forget to join us tomorrow to learn more about motor functioning and PKU!

Motor functioning: https://umsystemprotected.zoom.us/meeting/register/2vmdG8LBSliq-gwHPGK4sA

PKU:
https://umsystemprotected.zoom.us/meeting/register/vtF7-oKpQqCSBXx1jmC9Og

10/30/2025

🗣️ Government Shutdown: What It Means for Us
Congress couldn’t agree on a budget, so the government has shut down. Many federal workers are being furloughed without pay, and vital programs like SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food assistance) are at risk. Starting in November, millions of people could lose food benefits.

We have power. Contact your members of Congress and share how this shutdown affects you and your community.
— Liz Weintraub, Senior Advocacy Specialist, AUCD

10/30/2025

For nearly three decades, Brian McKay, PhD, professor of ophthalmology and physiology, has been studying how to protect aging eyes from macular degeneration, the leading cause of vision loss in older adults.
Now that research is reaching the public.
With support from Tech Launch Arizona, Dr. McKay’s work has led to the launch of MaculaPM™, a new supplement developed by the startup Aging Health Sciences to support long-term eye health in older adults. By combining L-dopa and melatonin — two compounds shown to promote retinal health — the supplement offers a proactive, noninvasive option for maintaining vision.

🔗 Learn more: https://bit.ly/4nnIXWd

10/30/2025

Empowering Multilingual Learners: Separating Myths from Facts in Early Childhood

The Myth vs. Fact series from the Early Childhood Center (ECC) helps families and educators separate myths from research-based truths about supporting multilingual children

Home Language: Building a Strong Foundation debunks the idea that speaking a child’s home language delays English. In fact, it strengthens communication, family bonds, and bilingual growth (https://go.iu.edu/8w07).

Challenging Bias and Misconceptions About Language tackles myths like the belief that children get “confused” by hearing more than one language, showing how bilingualism supports flexible thinking and social growth (https://go.iu.edu/8w08).

Effective Classroom Strategies for Multilingual Learners highlights practices that help all children thrive—like visuals, peer modeling, and intentional language supports (https://go.iu.edu/8w09).

Together, these myth-busters promote equity, understanding, and high expectations for multilingual learners.

Learn more about the work of ECC by visiting https://go.iu.edu/8w04

10/30/2025

Inclusive Higher Education at a Crossroads: 15 Years of Growth, Innovation, and the Challenges Ahead submit to https://go.hawaii.edu/hUr.

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Over the past 15 years, the Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities (TPSID) initiative—alongside a growing network of inclusive higher education programs—has helped reshape what’s possible for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities in college. Through TPSID grants and broader institutional efforts, hundreds of programs have emerged across the country, offering access to academic coursework, campus life, and employment pathways once considered out of reach. Yet today, this momentum faces serious challenges. Shifting federal priorities, policy uncertainty, and limited long-term funding options are raising critical questions about sustainability and equity. This strand will bring together TPSID and non-TPSID programs, researchers, advocates, and students to reflect on the field’s growth, share effective models, and plan for the future. We’ll explore how to protect gains made, deepen inclusion, and ensure that inclusive higher education remains a growing and viable option for all. Read more at https://go.hawaii.edu/xom.

Question about this strand? Contact Eric Folk efolk@hawaii.edu & Dr. Beth A. Myers bemyers@syr.edu.

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41st Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability
May 27-30, 2026
Honolulu, Hawaiʻi (in person with virtual options) pacrim.coe.hawaii.edu
email listserv: http://eepurl.com/g79LAX

10/30/2025

In New Jersey, people can self-direct all or some of the Home and Community Based Services, made available through the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) Supports Program or Community Care Program. Supports Brokers can help people who choose to self-direct to coordinate and maintain their self-directed services. The Boggs Center is excited to share “Supports Brokers: Assisting and Empowering You to Self-Direct,” a new one-page fact sheet to help people with disabilities and families better understand self-direction and the roles and responsibilities Supports Brokers.
https://boggscenter.rwjms.rutgers.edu/resources/publications/supports-brokers-assisting-and-empowering-you-to-self-direct

10/30/2025

Researchers at the KU Life Span Institute have been working to understand how learning develops and matures across infancy. Learn how you and your baby can be a part of advancing science: https://ilearn.ku.edu/

10/29/2025

Join us tomorrow, October 30, for a Circle of Indigenous Empowerment Webinar! This virtual workshop will be presented by Megan Dicken, Public Health and Aging Associate at the International Association for Indigenous Aging. The presentation will help participants understand and implement the Wandering Toolkit to assist elders with dementia at risk of wandering.

The webinar will be held on Zoom from 11am-12pm. Visit bit.ly/WanderingToolkit or scan the QR Code to register.

10/29/2025

The online conversation about disability is TODAY!!!
Join on Zoom https://tinyurl.com/ydbxwrup Password 846707.
Topics will include disability representation in video games and disability portrayed in monster films among other contemporary issues. Faculty and students from NAU’s disability studies program and faculty and students from the disability studies program at King’s University College at Western University in Canada will participate in the discussion.

10/29/2025