Autism rates across the country continue to climb, but for the first time, the demographics of children diagnosed with the developmental disability are starting to shift in a big way, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
A report out on March 23rd the federal agency’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report shows that 1 in 36 children, or 2.8%, have autism.
On March 21 we celebrate World Down Syndrome Day! This is a day to come together to celebrate Down syndrome and raise awareness. There are many ways to get involved with the National Down syndrome Society (NDSS) on World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD)
The odd socks campaign was conceived as the 3 strands of Chromosome 21 just happen to look like socks.
Use #WorldDownSyndromeDay to post on social media
The World mourns the passing of Judy Heumann, Disability Rights Activists 
Judith “Judy” Heumann—widely regarded as “the mother” of the disability rights movement—passed away in Washington, D.C. on the afternoon of March 4, 2023. Judy was at the forefront of major disability rights demonstrations, helped spearhead the passage of disability rights legislation, founded national and international disability advocacy organizations, held senior federal government positions, co-authored her memoir, Being Heumann, and its Young Adult version, Rolling Warrior, and was featured in the Oscar-nominated documentary film, Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution.
March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
‘At UConn inclusion and belonging is woven into everything we do’
UConn School of Medicine’s Mary Beth Bruder, Ph.D. has been awarded a $10 million federal grant by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education, to provide technical assistance to increase equity in the delivery of early childhood intervention services to infants and young children from diverse backgrounds who have disabilities or developmental delays.
The new Early Childhood Intervention Personnel Development Equity Center is national in scope, and will be working with state systems of early childhood intervention, and institutions of higher education (IHE) who prepare the workforce to provide these services.
UConn Health continues to be a leader in preparing adults with disabilities for the workforce.
Read story on UConn Today
In just one hour, we’ll cover the answers to these questions, and more:
• What are ABLE accounts?
• Who is eligible?
• How can I use the money in an ABLE account?
• What are the features and benefits of the ABLEnow program?
• How can I learn more and open an account?
For more information on ABLEnow, please visit ablenow.com.
Jan 17, 2023 12:00 PM inEastern Time (US and Canada)
Disability Rights Connecticut is pleased to announce our Education Rights Clinic. The clinic will be open to students and families of students with disabilities, including students with special education needs or students who have or may need 504 plans.
Clinic appointments will provide an opportunity for callers to talk with advocates, law students, and attorneys. In a one-hour virtual meeting, clinic attendees will receive counsel and advice and short-term service related to their child’s special education needs free of charge.
To learn more Link
Native American Tribal Nations and the History in Connecticut
Cedric Woods, PhD
Director, Institute for New England Native American Studies, UMass Boston