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New Law in CT to support transitional needs and life skills development for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities

The Resources for Persons with an Intellectual or Developmental Disability bill introduces a plan to establish a Transitional Life Skills College program that will help provide transitional tools and life skills development for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

 To read more about this bill, click here: https://search.cga.state.ct.us/2023/PA/pdf/2023PA-00137-R00HB-05001-PA.pdf

Danté Quintin Allen confirmed as Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration at the U.S. Department of Education

The Senate has confirmed Danté Quintin Allen as Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration at the U.S. Department of Education. Secretary Cardona issued the following statement:

“With the confirmation of Mr. Danté Allen as commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration, the Department of Education is gaining a passionate advocate for students and individuals with disabilities and a proven leader with vast public and private sector experience. Mr. Allen joins our Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services after an impressive run as executive director at CalABLE, where he helped empower thousands of Californians with disabilities and their families to invest in themselves and their financial futures. I look forward to working together with Mr. Allen to provide individuals with disabilities and all students with equitable access to the education and training they need to find good-paying jobs; achieve economic security; and lead healthy, independent lives.”

To learn more about this, click here!

UConn UCEDD joins the Disability community in mourning the loss of Andrés Gallegos

The National Council on Disability (NCD) has lost its Chairman Andrés J. Gallegos, 62, of Illinois, who passed away Dec. 1.

Chairman Gallegos led NCD, an independent, non-partisan federal agency responsible for making recommendations on national disability policy to the President, Congress, federal agencies, state, territorial, tribal and local authorities.

To read more about Chairman Gallegos, please click here.

AIR to Launch New Center Helping Leaders Establish Inclusive Learning Environments for Students with Disabilities

The American Institutes for Research (AIR) is launching a federally funded center that helps leaders to establish and maintain inclusive learning environments and improve outcomes for students who receive services and support under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). AIR and five partners have been awarded a five-year, $15 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services to establish and develop the Lead IDEA Center

AIR will lead the center in partnership with the University of Connecticut (UConn), True North Evaluation, University of Illinois Chicago’s Center for Urban Education Leadership, Boston University, and the National Association of Elementary School Principals. Abby Foley, senior researcher at AIR, will lead the center as project director. In addition to Bateman, co-principal investigators are Lynn Holdheide, AIR managing technical assistance consultant, and Mary Beth Bruder, UConn professor of pediatrics.

To learn more about this, please click here.

UCONN UCEDD at Association of University Centers on Disabilities Conference

UCEDD staff and students attended the AUCD conference “Emerging Leaders: Shaping the Future” in Washington DC this week.

Presentations:

  • OSEP Model Demonstration Project – Developing Identification, Screening, Referral and Tracking Systems for Infants and Toddlers

Posters:

  • The use of Intelligence Quotient as an Eligibility Criterion for Intellectual and Developmental Disability Services: A Review of the States
  • Accommodations and Accessibility of COVID-19 Vaccinations for People with Disabilities in CT
  • Local Health Departments Inclusion of Persons with Disability: Results from a Training Needs Assessment in Connecticut
  • The Availability of Information on Accomodations for Students with Disabilities on Medical School Website

Staff and Students also visited Capitol Hill for the Address for Closing Plenary, speakers included Senator Tammy Duckworth, Assistant Secretary Katy Neas, Peter Mills, Chief Legal Aid at Senator Murphy’s office and Senator Bob Casey.