The National Council on Disability (NCD) has posted a Request for Information in the Federal Register seeking public comments on the need for improved disability clinical-care and competency training for medical and healthcare professionals to help inform an upcoming policy brief. Comments are due by January 6, 2026.

1. What are the challenges and obstacles for schools within the US to adopt and incorporate an appropriate disability clinical care curriculum over the course of their students’ training?
2. What is the connection between clinical confidence and changes in behavior and attitudes among healthcare providers?
3. What are the transferable skills that clinicians can learn from “disability competency training” to apply to all other patient populations (for instance people who are elderly, those with complex and chronic co-existing conditions, etc.)?
4. What are the existing curriculum resources that can be adopted and incorporated into current provider training?
5. What are examples of existing curriculum or standards of learning inclusive of disability clinical care/competency training that could be consulted for development of new required standards of learning across medical schools; and/or adopted wholesale as part of a program’s education of medical professionals?

The information provided will be kept confidential and will not be attributed to specific individuals or organizations.

Electronic comments and information must be submitted by 11:59 EST on January 6, 2026 via email to NCD Senior Attorney Advisor Amged Soliman at asoliman@ncd.gov

No one should have to worry about where their next meal will come from. 
If you or someone you know needs food assistance, help is available.
 Visit 211CT.org or call 2-1-1 to find local food pantries, meal sites, and grocery programs near you.

• To find food pantries located throughout the state, click here and enter the zip code or town where you are seeking help, or dial 2-1-1.
• To find a location to get a free meal, click here and enter the zip code or town where you are seeking help, or dial 2-1-1.

Congratulations to our newest cohort of graduates!
This dedicated group includes teachers and administrators currently serving in Connecticut’s special education system who are preparing to step into leadership roles as Special Education Directors across the state. This initiative is vital, as Connecticut faces a limited pool of qualified candidates—due to the state’s many school districts, a retiring generation of special education leaders, and a growing number of students eligible for services under IDEA.

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.

Connecticut has created the CT Transition Community of Practice (CoP) to centralize all activities, resources, and initiatives related to secondary transition and to provide information and support to students, families, and professionals. The CoP is comprised of multiple stakeholder groups that have come together with a single focus: enhancing the transition of youth with disabilities to adult life. Come learn what we are all about! See how your ideas fit into Connecticut’s overall plans and help us plot our course for improving student outcomes. To learn more visit CT SDE or  SERC

https://www.epilepsy.com/

Governor Lamont Proclaims October as Disability Employment Awareness Month

Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he has proclaimed October 2023 as Disability Employment Awareness Month in Connecticut in recognition of all Connecticut residents with disabilities in the workplace and in honor of their many accomplishments. #NDEAM #access #equity

“Disability Employment Awareness Month celebrates the important role of workers with disabilities, past and present, and showcases supportive, inclusive employment policies and practices that benefit employers and employees in Connecticut,” Governor Lamont said. “I am proud of the way that Connecticut has been a leader in protecting the rights of people with disabilities when it comes to employment issues, and particularly proud of the many businesses in our state that make every effort to include people of all abilities as valued members of their workforces.”

To read the proclamation