Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Service

Early Childhood Intervention:

• • Children Adopted from China - The purpose of this project was to gather information about the experiences of families who have adopted children from China and to make this information available to families with an adopted child or who wish to adopt a child from China, early intervention service personnel, and Part C coordinators.
  • A Parent to Parent Model of Service Coordination for Families of Preschool Age Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder - The purpose of the research project was to examine the effects of a culturally compatible parent to parent model of support and service coordination for 108 families who lived in Hartford or New Britain, CT and had a preschool age child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
  • A Social Competence Curriculum for Toddlers and Preschoolers Demonstrating Mental Health and Behavioral Problems - The Social Competence Curriculum for Toddlers and Preschoolers Demonstrating Mental Health and Behavioral Problems was a three-year project funded by the Office of Special Education Programs, US Department of Education.
  • Birth to Three CT Early Intervention Supervisors Institute - The purpose of the training was to provide supervisors with strategies to enhance their ability to supervise staff's portfolio work samples and observations leading to a credential, and to assist in continuous improvement of the IFSP and services to families.
  • Center to Inform Personnel Preparation Policy and Practice in Early Intervention and Preschool Education - The purpose of the Center was to collect, synthesize and analyze information related to (a) certification and licensure requirements for personnel working with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers who have special needs and their families, (b) the quality of training programs that prepare these professionals, and (c) the supply and demand of professionals representing all disciplines who provide both ECSE and EI services.
  • Connecticut Birth to Three System Evaluation Project - A multi-faceted, multi-year evaluation of the Connecticut Birth to Three System was undertaken at the request of the state legislature in order to explore the costs, service delivery, and outcomes of Birth to Three services.
  • Connecticut Pyramid Model: A Community of Practice Model for Young Children’s Social Emotional Development - This education initiative of the Center for Excellence is funded by the State Department of Education. The goal is to help early childhood special education professionals to create learning environments where children are engaged, they feel good about coming to school, and where educators are able to teach children.
  • Early Intervention for Latino Families Project - The purpose of this research project was to study an alternative service delivery model for infants, toddlers, and their families who were eligible for early intervention services under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
  • Early Intervention in Natural Learning Environments - The Early Intervention in Natural Learning Environments was a three-year project funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs.
  • Early Intervention Systems for Homeless Children and Families - The Center conducted two studies about the early intervention system for homeless children and families
  • Enhanced Child Find Through Newborn Hearing Screening - The Enhanced Child Find Through Newborn Hearing Screening was a four-year project funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs.
  • Enhancing Peer Relationships in Natural Environments in Urban Communities - This model demonstration project was a four-year grant funded by the Office of Special Education Programs. The purpose of this project was to increase the number of children receiving early intervention services in community activities with their typically developing peers.
  • Evaluation of the Early Childhood Consultation Partnership - This model demonstration project was a four-year grant funded by the Office of Special Education Programs. The purpose of this project was to increase the number of children receiving early intervention services in community activities with their typically developing peers.
  • Innovative Community of Practice - UCONN UCEDD was selected to develop state-level innovative practice groups, strategically working across and aligning early childhood sectors, to support parents of young children by leveraging the AUCD network centers and programs to increase workforce capacity for implementation, evaluation, and dissemination of evidence-based programs for parents of young children who may have behavioral concerns.
  • Map to Inclusive Child Care - This was a three-year project funded by the Child Care Bureau, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The goal of this project was to provide technical assistance to states as they included children with disabilities (from birth through 12) in child care settings, including designing, implementing, and evaluating policies and practices.
  • Pediatric Residency Training Program on Children with Disabilities and Their Families - The goal of this three year project was to train and inform pediatric residents of relevant issues in the development and provision of services to children with disabilities and special health care needs. Within each module, the residents participated in different practicum experiences that enhanced their awareness and ways of interacting with children with disabilities and their families, as well as the systems with which they are involved.
  • Preventing Shaken Baby Syndrome: A Comparison of Two Parent Education Programs - This study took place within the Nurturing Families Network Intensive Home Visiting Programs, funded by the Connecticut Children’s Trust Fund, which is a secondary prevention program that targets first time mothers who screen as being at-risk for child maltreatment.
  • Research and Training Center on Service Coordination  - The goal of the Center was to examine the status of service coordination for children with disabilities and their families receiving early intervention services under Part C of IDEA. There were three strands of participants: families, service providers and system administrators. Members of these three groups participated in all Center activities.
  • Routes to Successful Inclusion - Routes to Successful Inclusion is a web toolkit for caregivers of children birth to age five.
  • The National Landscape of Team Practices for Infants and Young Children with Disabilities under IDEA - The purpose of this project was to conduct a national assessment of the status of interdisciplinary team practices for infants and young children with disabilities in Part C and Part B, Section 619 programs under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
  • The Role of Families in their Children’s Learning - The purpose of this study was to identify, develop, and evaluate strategies and approaches to promote and enhance the learning and development of young children with or at risk for disabilities.
  • Act Early Response to COVID-19 - In response to the COVID 19 Pandemic we are providing support for early childhood systems in Connecticut through Act Early to support recovery and strengthen resilience skills, behaviors, and resources of children, families, and communities during mitigation and recovery efforts.
  • Connecticut Mental Health Champion- Connecticut was selected as a Children’s Mental Health Champion by the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) National Center on Disability in Public Health through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Mental Health Champions provides support for children and families due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has had a negative impact on the wellbeing in our states’ communities. Champions were tasked to develop state-specific work plans to address mental health needs, through promotion, prevention, and systemic collaboration (e.g., school, healthcare, and community) to promote better connections between these systems.
• Health:
  • Expanding COVID-19 Vaccine Access for People with Disabilities - This resource library is intended for vaccine site coordinators and personnel, vaccine providers, health care providers, public health and emergency management personnel, individuals with disabilities, and families.
  • National Core Indicators Survey - The UConn UCEDD is pleased to partner with the UConn Health Center on Aging to collect data for the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) via the National Core Indicator Survey. This is an opportunity for people with disabilities to provide feedback on the quality of their experience receiving services and supports through DDS. The information collected through the NCI survey allows DDS to set improvement targets and compare the experience of people in CT to states across the country.
  • Special Olympics Connecticut Research Project - Special Olympics Connecticut (SOCT) is working with the University of Connecticut Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) to analyze data on their Unified Fitness Clubs program, which is a fitness program being piloted in Connecticut for Special Olympics International.
  • Special Olympics CT Health Communities Project - From 2013-2016, the UCEDD provided technical assistance to Special Olympics Connecticut (SOCT) on its Healthy Communities project made possible by the Golisano Foundation in collaboration with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. SOCT Healthy Communities, an extension of the Healthy Athletes® program, was to assure year-round health care and prevention programming in CT to individuals with intellectual disabilities. The SOCT Healthy Athletes® components to receive the greatest focus were Special Smiles (dental), Opening Eyes (optometric and ophthalmological), and Fit Feet (podiatric).
  • Disability Content in Public Health and Healthcare Training - The UConn UCEDD and CT LEND work with local, state, and national partners to integrate disability content and competencies into public health and healthcare training programs. This work includes curricular development and support, faculty development, technical assistance, research projects, work groups, and dissemination activities.
  • CT KASA – Transition to Adult Healthcare - Connecticut Kids As Self Advocates (CT-KASA) created three information booklets on health care transition: one for youth with or without disabilities; one for parents of youth with or without disabilities; and one for primary health care providers. These booklets offer strategies and resources to help young adults with or disabilities, their parents, and their primary health care providers prepare for the transition to adult health care process.
  • Health Care Survey of Adults with Disabilities in Connecticut - A series of surveys were conducted with adults with disabilities living in Connecticut to assess their experiences with the health care system.
  • The CT Family-to-Family (F2F) Health Information Network  - This project was a collaboration with FAVOR, Inc. (a family advocacy organization), PATH/FVCT, the Department of Public Health Title V program, the CT Family Support Network and the CT Family Support Council. The project employed six parents as Family to Family Health Information Specialists.
• Schools:

• • Coaches Academy Project  - Coaches Academy was a three-year project funded by the Connecticut Department of Education. The purpose was to increase the number of educators qualified to serve as Instructional Coaches to support the education of children with significant disabilities in general education settings.

• • Disability Awareness at the University of Connecticut, Storrs - The purpose of this project was to assess current awareness of disability issues and the impact on student and faculty interactions with students with disabilities.

• • Families as Partners - This project was funded by the Connecticut Children's Trust Fund. The purpose of the project was to increase the number of families from different backgrounds who are satisfied with their participation in the Individualized Education Program (IEP) planning process.

• • Juvenile Justice Project - The purpose of this project was to investigate the collaboration between Connecticut's juvenile justice system and public schools from the perspective of probation officers.

• • Secondary Transition Project - The purpose of the study was to gather information on post-school outcomes for students with disabilities who had exited the special education system.

• • Self-Determination - This one-day training program is designed to familiarize educators with issues pertaining to self-determination (SD) and how to include SD skill-building and opportunities for your students.

• • Service Provision for Children Affected by Cornelia de Lange Syndrome – Study 1 - The goal of the project was to gather information on children and families' experiences with the educational and medical systems in order to develop guidelines for educators and families.

• • Service Provision for Children Affected by Cornelia de Lange Syndrome – Study 2 - The purpose of this study was to continue to increase our knowledge about children affected by Cornelia de Lange Syndrome (CdLS) and their families by gathering information on the educational and therapeutic experiences of children and their families.

• • Student Technical Assistance Response (STAR) Teams - The purpose of this project was to develop, implement and evaluate a Student Technical Assistance Response (STAR) Team that provides technical assistance to school districts and parents of children with significant disabilities in general education settings.

• • The Development of Friendships in Youth with Disabilities - The purpose of this project was to better understand friendships for children with disabilities.

• • Think College Initiative - Think College demonstration projects funded under federal grants since 2010 have shown that individuals with ID who attend college show many gains (e.g., academic, in independence, socially, and in obtaining employment) as compared to adolescents and young adults with ID who do not have this opportunity.

• • Transition Skills Training for Parents - This one-day training program is offered with the goal of preparing families of children with disabilities to advocate for their children as they transition from the K-12 system to life as a young adult in the community.

• • Webinar Series on Transition from School to Adulthood - These three webinars will help youth and families, as well as service providers and school staffs,

Quality of Life:

• • Adulting- The Adulting curriculum was developed to support adolescents and young adults in creating a clear vision for life after high school. The program consisted of nine interactive workshop sessions focused on self-determination and self-advocacy, building social connections, supported living, money management, competitive integrated employment, access to higher education, health, and citizenship. Grounded in the Charting the LifeCourse framework, the training emphasized full community inclusion and provided practical supports to build participants’ knowledge and skills for successful adulthood. A complementary “Adulting for Adults” version was also created to support adults with disabilities preparing to transition into independent living.
  • Customized and Customizing Employment - In addition to numerous trainings and collaboration with multiples state agencies provided by the UCEDD, Customized Employment now is an official initiative of the CT Departments of Developmental Services and Education and the state Bureau of Rehabilitation Services. Most recently, the UCEDD produced a toolkit for families about how to take the lead in customizing employment for their family members with disabilities. These activities were funded by the CT Council on Developmental Disabilities.
  • Discover Learn Work Career Training Services - From 2012-2018, the UCEDD had provided community training and technical assistance to Discover Learn Work (DLW) Career Training Services, a service of Ability Beyond, Inc., one of our community partner organizations.
  • Self-Determination - This one-day training program is designed to familiarize educators with issues pertaining to self-determination (SD) and how to include SD skill-building and opportunities for your students.

• • Partners in Policy Making - The goal of Partners in Policymaking is to foster collaboration among people with disabilities, family members of children with disabilities, and policy makers at national, state and local levels. Partners in Policymaking trainings teach people to be leaders in shaping policy for people with disabilities and their families. Graduates of past Partners in Policymaking trainings in Connecticut have become involved in key policy and advocacy roles in the state.
  • Partners for Inclusive Communities Training - The UConn UCEDD developed materials and recruited guest speakers for two Partners for Inclusive Communities Trainings funded by the CT Council on Developmental Disabilities. Both trainings, conducted in Spring 2021, were six sessions long and addressed foundations of community inclusion, inclusive education including Think College, community living, Employment First, and impactful leadership.

• • Support to People First of CT  - Since 2018, the UCEDD has provided support to People First of CT, the state’s premier self-advocacy group.

• • Proud Parents Advocacy Organization - The UCEDD participated at the beginning of this CT Council on Developmental Disabilities funded project that brought together families whose parents have differing abilities to support them in preventing disruption of their families. The result was a website containing plain language resources chosen by parents with differing abilities to help parents be the best parents they can be.

• • Community-Integrated Personal Assistance Services and Supports (C-PASS) - Community-Integrated Personal Assistance Services and Supports (C-PASS) was a three-year project funded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS). The purpose of this project was to develop an infrastructure to promote the effective recruitment and retention of personal assistants.

• • CT Family Support 360: A Planning Grant - The purpose of the Family Support project was to plan multi-agency partnerships to design a one-stop Center to assist poor or underserved families with a child or adult member with a developmental disability to preserve, strengthen and maintain their family unit.
  • Faith Based Initiative The purpose of this project was to promote disability inclusion within diverse faith communities by increasing access to inclusive worship, faith formation, and congregational supports through education, outreach, and partnership with faith leaders and community stakeholders.
  • Finding Available, Affordable and Accessible Housing in Connecticut - University of Connecticut A.J. Pappanikou Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service received funding from the Council on Developmental Disabilities to develop a 'one-stop shopping' resource for people with disabilities and their families/friends/significant others seeking available, affordable, and accessible housing.

• • First Responder Resources - Designed for Municipalities, First Responders, and CERTs as well as People with Disabilities and Their Families, Friends, Assistants, and Other Support Providers.

• • Health and Nutrition at Group Homes Needs Assessment - Staff at the UCEDD conducted needs assessment to determine if a future nutrition education intervention is necessary and worthwhile for group home staff. The research goal of this project is to determine the need for a nutrition and food safety training for the staff of individuals residing in three group homes of a non-profit group home agency located in Connecticut.

• • Including People with Disabilities in Disaster Preparedness Planning - In 2005, the Connecticut Developmental Disabilities Network, a partnership among the Connecticut Council on Developmental Disabilities, the UCEDD and the Office of Protection and Advocacy for People with Disabilities published A Guide for Including People with Disabilities in Disaster Preparedness Planning.pdf.

• • Library Inclusion for Everyone - The A.J. Pappanikou Center for Excellence on Developmental Disabilities collaborated with the Connecticut State Library System and the Office of Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities for this project. The purpose to this project was to improve the accessibility of Connecticut libraries for people with disabilities through the provision of information and technical assistance to librarians.

• • Mind the Gap: A Reference Guide for People with Physical Disabilities - This project was a trainee grant sponsored by Easter Seals Project Action (Accessible Community Transportation in Our Nation) and the Association of University Centers on Disabilities.

• • Plan for the Achievement of Transportation Coordination in Human Services Grant (PATHS) - The project was designed to help create a responsive, comprehensive and coordinated community transportation system for people with disabilities.

• • Real Choice Systems Change - The grant was designed to improve the capacity of Connecticut's communities to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities and their families by supporting the development of model communities that fully demonstrate accessible, appropriate, and quality community living opportunities for people with disabilities.
  • A Family Guide to Postsecondary Transition - Program is for families and other caregivers to gain knowledge about current thinking and evidence-based practices in order to play an active role in their adolescent’s or young adult’s transition from school-based services to adult life