AUCD Celebrates Congressional Passage of the Autism CARES Act! The Senate has officially passed the Autism CARES Act of 2024. This bipartisan and bicameral legislation is vital for sustaining and enhancing the critical monitoring, training, and research programs led by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. These efforts support children and adults with autism, individuals with other neurodevelopmental disabilities, and their families. Programs like Connecticut’s LEND and Learn the Signs Act Early are directly impacted by this important act. A heartfelt thank you to the Senators for their dedication and hard work!

Click here to learn more about the Autism CARES Act.

Exciting News! Bethanne Vergean, our dedicated Connecticut Learn the Signs. Act Early Ambassador, joined her fellow ambassadors from across the country in Atlanta this week for the annual meeting hosted by the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

This inspiring gathering is all about sharing knowledge, building connections, and strengthening our commitment to early childhood development. We’re thrilled to bring back fresh insights and strategies to support families and young children here in Connecticut!

Earlier this week, faculty and staff from the University of Connecticut Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) participated in the 2024 Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) Conference, held from November 3-6 in Washington, D.C.

During the AUCD Poster Symposium, UCEDD faculty member Dr. Tara Lutz and graduate assistant Holly Labrecque presented their research. Dr. Lutz’s poster, titled “UConn UCEDD’s Certificate of Interdisciplinary Disability Studies in Public Health: A Follow-Up Evaluation,” provided insights into the outcomes and impact of the certificate program. Ms. Labrecque’s poster, “Accredited Master of Public Health Programs: A Scoping Review of Required Courses,” offered a comprehensive analysis of the curricula across accredited MPH programs.

The AUCD Conference is an annual event that brings together over 1,100 researchers, policymakers, practitioners, advocates, and students to promote innovative thinking in disability policy, research, and advocacy. This year’s theme, “Stronger Together: Creating a More Inclusive World,” emphasized the importance of collaboration in advancing the rights and opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

Dr. Lutz serves as the Training Director at the UConn UCEDD and coordinates the Certificate of Interdisciplinary Disability Studies in Public Health. Her areas of interest include integrating disability education into public health and healthcare training programs.

The Certificate of Interdisciplinary Disability Studies in Public Health is a 12-credit graduate-level program offered entirely online. It uses the 10 Essential Public Health Services as a framework to study the health and well-being of people with disabilities and their families.

Participation in the AUCD Conference provided UCEDD faculty and staff with valuable opportunities to share their work, engage with peers, and contribute to the ongoing dialogue on creating a more inclusive world for individuals with disabilities.

Today, we welcomed our new cohort of the CT Early Childhood Intervention Leadership Academy! Jill Isenberg and Ashlee Houle welcomed everyone and provided an overview of what to expect from the program.

Trainees also got to know themselves through the True Colors assessment, administered by staff member, Darla Gundler. True Colors is a great way to learn about your own personal leadership and learning styles, values, and strengths!

Mary Beth Bruder, PhD, gave trainees a history of early intervention and information about the current state of the field, defined leadership, spoke about action planning and individualized professional development plans, and concluded by discussing capstones.

​

October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month, a month to celebrate those with Down Syndrome, break down barriers, and foster inclusion and connections. In honor of this important month, we sat down with Paula DeMichiel, our Administrative Program Coordinator, who is the mother of Danny, a 13-year-old with Down Syndrome. Paula describes Danny, the youngest of four children, as funny, kind, and hard-working, with a love for dogs and horses.

Paula and Danny recently attended the 2024 Step Up for Down Syndrome Walk, an annual walk hosted by the Down Syndrome Association of Connecticut. Paula highlights how rewarding the event was; not just in the joy of seeing children proudly cross the finish line and receive their well-deserved medals, but in the connections made between children and other families. “It is helpful to have other people walking in your shoes,” Paula tells us.

When asked what Down Syndrome Awareness means to her, Paula answers simply: “I don’t know what it means to me or our family, because it’s just a normal part of our life.” Paula emphasizes that though Danny has different needs than her other children, he is not treated any differently. What Paula would like to see most for the future of Down Syndrome Awareness, though, is inclusion, especially from other children in school. “Make friends with someone who is different from you. At school, if someone is different from you, befriend them, include them, talk to them,” she advises.

Although Danny’s Down Syndrome is a normal part of her family’s everyday life, Paula acknowledges how it has shaped her life, specifically, in igniting her passion to work at the UConn UCEDD­—“It’s why I’m here every day, not just for my son, but for all the children out there. I feel honored to be a part of the UConn UCEDD.”

On Wednesday, October 9, 2024, a non-partisan forum with candidates/surrogates for President, Vice-President, United States Senate and all five Connecticut Congressional Seats answering questions on disability topics, will be taking place at the Bristol Event Center in Bristol, CT. Diane Smith will be moderating this event and will be asking questions that have been developed in advance by the Cross Disability Lifespan Alliance.

Registration for this event is open and can be completed by clicking here for English speakers or by clicking here for Spanish speakers.

UConn Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) faculty, staff, and graduate students attended the 2024 Division for Early Childhood Conference (DEC) in New Orleans, LA. Faculty, staff, and graduate students presented multiple sessions about various projects, including the Early Childhood Intervention Personnel Center for Equity (ECIPC-Equity) and Learn the Signs. Act Early. (LTSAE). Our presentations featured:

• Bethanne Vergean, CDC Learn the Signs. Act Early. Developmental Milestones for
Families, poster session
• Mary Beth Bruder, PhD, “Let’s Play Together: Engaging Families and Young Children
in Inclusive Play Using Technology”
• Mary Beth Bruder, PhD, Bethanne Vergean, “A Tale of Two Tools:  CDC Milestones & ASQ-3”
• Mary Beth Bruder, PhD, and Darla Gundler, “An Overview of the Early Childhood
Intervention Personnel Center for Equity”

We want to welcome our 2024-2025 CT LEND trainees! ✨ Trainees were introduced to LEND staff and met past trainees to hear about what they can expect from the program. Our Director, Mary Beth Bruder, PhD, provided an overview of the UConn UCEDD and CT LEND. We are so excited to spend the school year with our new trainees!

Over the course of Monday, July 15 and Tuesday, July 16, the third cohort of the Connecticut Aspiring Leaders Academy met for their orientation retreat!