.
This post-baccalaureate program is focused on enhancing the knowledge, skills, and competence of practitioners and administrators working in the CT Birth to Three System. Completion of the training program provides knowledge that can be applied to the CT OEC Birth to Three certification under the supervision of a program administrator.
If you have any questions, please contact Jill Isenberg at 860-679-1561 or email JIsenberg@uchc.edu
The statewide rollout of Connecticut’s Yellow Envelope Program & Community Training Symposium will be held on January 14, 2026, at the Legislative Office Building, Hearing Room 1A. This event will be from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, and is open to the public, but individuals with disabilities, disability rights or related advocacy organizations, first responders, and legislators are encouraged to attend. Limited seating is available, and registration is required, so please be sure to REGISTER! If you have any questions, please contact: TJ Nuccio at: thomas.nuccio@cga.ct.gov
This post-baccalaureate program is focused on enhancing the knowledge, skills, and competence of practitioners and administrators working in the CT Birth to Three System. Completion of the training program provides knowledge that can be applied to the CT OEC Birth to Three certification under the supervision of a program administrator.
If you have any questions, please contact Jill Isenberg at 860-679-1561 or email JIsenberg@uchc.edu
Three UConn School of Social Work MSW students are serving as 2025-26 Connecticut Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (CT LEND) Fellows, gaining interdisciplinary training to enhance health care delivery for individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their families.
UConn Today
As CT LEND Fellows, Alison Fox, Quinn Meehan, and Grace Hartmann are completing more than 700 hours of coursework, research, advocacy, and community practicum experiences working with infants, children, youth, and adults with developmental disabilities, including autism, across state and local settings.
Each Fellow brings unique strengths to the program: Alison Fox focuses on trauma-informed engagement and educational advocacy. Quinn Meehan, who identifies as disabled and autistic, works on disability justice and health policy internship
and Grace Hartmann emphasizes compassionate clinical practice and life-saving social work.
The CT LEND program, directed by Mary Beth Bruder, provides comprehensive interdisciplinary training that promotes cultural competency, family-centered care, and collaborative service integration across agencies and communities.
This post-baccalaureate program is focused on enhancing the knowledge, skills, and competence of practitioners and administrators working in the CT Birth to Three System. Completion of the training program provides knowledge that can be applied to the CT OEC Birth to Three certification under the supervision of a program administrator.
If you have any questions, please contact Jill Isenberg at 860-679-1561 or email JIsenberg@uchc.edu
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.
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
On November 29, 1975, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act was signed into law. Today, this law, now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), ensures all infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities and their families have access to special education, related services, and early intervention that meet their needs.
Authorized under the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (DD Act), the UConn UCEDD aims to assure that individuals with developmental disabilities and their families participate in the design of and have access to needed community services, individualized supports, and other forms of assistance that promote self-determination, independence, productivity, and integration in all facets of community life.
Although the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (DD Act) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) are separate federal laws, they are deeply interconnected in purpose, history, and impact. Both were created to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities and ensure access to services that support full participation in community life.
Both laws are grounded in the belief that individuals with disabilities:
have the right to self-determination,
should be supported to live, learn, and participate in their homes and communities, and
must have access to services that are individualized, equitable, and culturally responsive.
IDEA guarantees educational rights and access to specially designed instruction and early intervention for eligible infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities.
The DD Act funds UCEDDs, Protection & Advocacy Systems, and DD Councils, which work to improve systems, strengthen training, and promote inclusive practices across the lifespan.
While IDEA focuses on service delivery within education systems, the DD Act focuses on system improvement, capacity-building, and ensuring rights and access across all community settings.
UCEDDs were established under the DD Act and play a major role in:
preparing the workforce that provides IDEA early intervention and special education services,
conducting research and evaluation that strengthens IDEA implementation,
supporting families who navigate IDEA rights and services, and
promoting inclusive policies that align with IDEA’s goals.
IDEA ensures that young children receive the early supports that promote development, learning, and future independence.
The DD Act ensures that individuals and families have access to lifelong supports, community inclusion, advocacy, and leadership opportunities.
Together, these laws form a coordinated federal commitment to helping individuals with disabilities thrive—from early childhood through adulthood.
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.
People with disabilities in Connecticut are at heightened risk from the upcoming SNAP benefit cuts, even though they are technically exempt from new federal work requirements. Under the changes taking effect in November 2025, Connecticut households that include a person with a disability could still lose an average of nearly $200 a month in food assistance due to reduced federal funding. While the state’s SNAP rules allow higher income limits for households with disabled members, the overall reduction in funds—about $11 million to $15 million less per month statewide—will strain resources and increase food insecurity for those already facing higher living and medical costs. Advocates warn that people with disabilities, who often depend more heavily on consistent access to food, transportation, and specialized diets, may be among the most affected groups if Connecticut cannot offset the federal cuts.