The University of Connecticut’s (UConn) Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) is pleased to announce that Bethanne Vergean who is an Early Childhood Specialist at the UCEDD has been selected to be the Connecticut Act Early Ambassador for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Act Early is a national campaign aiming to improve early identification of children with autism and other developmental disabilities so children and families can get the services and support they need. Continue reading →

The National Survey of Children’s Health, funded and directed by HRSA MCHB, provides national and state level estimates of key measures of child health and well-being. This data is essential to understanding the health status and health services needs of children across the nation and in your state and community. Continue reading →

Individuals with and without disabilities answer the question – “What is a great life to you?”

Created by the Connecticut Department of Developmental Services Continue reading →

Written by: New York Times Op-Ed Contributor Dr. Chris Kaposy, who is a bioethicist

My wife’s ultrasound turned up something abnormal in the baby’s heart — an otherwise innocuous feature that correlates with genetic conditions such as Down syndrome. A series of tests confirmed that our son indeed had Down syndrome. We were given the option of abortion, but my wife, Jan, already regarded him as our baby, and a few months later Aaron was born. Continue reading →

By Josh Kovner, Hartford Courant

The leader of a group serving people with intellectual disabilities in the Farmington Valley told Sen. Ted Kennedy Jr. and other legislators on Tuesday about an internship program that so far has developed about 20 motivated workers, all of whom have gotten jobs at competitive wages.

Stephen Morris, executive director of The Arc of Farmington Valley, had struck a chord, making it plain that this training course, called Project Search, differs markedly from others because it takes place inside a host business and stresses independent, mainstream work, rather than group employment. Continue reading →

The UConn University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) joined sister agencies of the CT Developmental Disabilities Network (DD Network) at a legislative breakfast in the Legislative Office building on 2/21/18. Continue reading →

Congratulations to the scholars in the Early Intervention Credential Program for successfully completing the year-long program! Continue reading →

Musical theatre student Evan W. Gadda has heard stories about Burning Man but hasn’t made the journey himself. He is asthmatic. and because of cerebral palsy, paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair, so making the trip to Black Rock City has been deemed impossible, until now. Through a HTC Vive VR headset, he was able to attend the desert event virtually. Continue reading →

The Early Childhood Personnel Center (ECPC), funded by the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services, Department of Education, will continue and build on the work of the current Early Childhood Personnel Center to increase the capacity of State IDEA Part C and B/619 administrators, along with administrators in other early childhood service sectors and early childhood faculty teaching at institutions of higher education to improve outcomes for young children with disabilities and their families across the country. Continue reading →

By Steve Silberman

Diane Craglow was caring for a 14-year-old autistic boy named Connor Leibel in Buckeye, Ariz., one day in July. They took a walk to one of his favorite places, a park in an upscale community called Verrado. She was not hesitant to leave Connor alone for a few minutes while she booked a piano lesson for his sister nearby, because he usually feels safe and comfortable in places that are familiar to him, and he learns to be more independent that way.

When Ms. Craglow returned, she couldn’t believe what she saw: a police officer looming over the now-handcuffed boy, pinning him to the ground against a tree. Connor was screaming, and the police officer, David Grossman, seemed extremely agitated. Continue reading →