UConn UCEDD

Today we welcomed Cohort 4 of the Connecticut Aspiring Leaders in Special Education at their Orientation Retreat!

Big changes are coming to special education in Connecticut.

CT lawmakers have passed sweeping legislation to:
✅ Freeze private special ed tuition for 2025–26
✅ Create a universal rate system for transparency
✅ Expand in-district supports with $60M in new funding
✅ Audit private programs & improve oversight

While some celebrate better cost control & local investment, others worry about rushed timelines and weakened protections for families. 💬

Let’s keep students at the center of this conversation.

📰 Read more:

Why CT special education funding bills are dividing advocates The controversial bills would change how Connecticut’s private special education programs are funded and may bill for services.

The Ride Ahead, a new PBS documentary premiering on July 21st, explores transitions for adults with disabilities. The documentary features Samuel Habib, who has a rare genetic disorder, as he navigates his early 20s, including his desire to move out of his parents' house, start a career, and begin dating.

PBS Documentary Explores Transition To Adulthood For Young People With Disabilities For individuals with disabilities, the road to becoming an independent adult can be challenging. A new film finds one man on the cusp of this transition seeking advice from notable disability activists.

UCEDDs have been advancing disability rights for over 60 years. Now, they’re at risk—and we need your voice.

The FY26 budget proposal calls for eliminating UCEDDs as independent programs, folding them into a single budget with four other distinct disability programs. This change would dismantle decades of research, training, and services that UCEDDs have built across every U.S. state and territory.

This threatens:
• Services for people with disabilities
• Disability research and training
• State and federal partnerships
• Compliance with the DD Act

We must protect the independence and impact of UCEDDs.

Contact your Senators and Representatives today and urge them to protect UCEDDs!

https://www.aucd.org/speak-up-for-ucedds

July is Disability Pride Month!

Disability Pride Month is a time to celebrate the strength, identity, and diversity of people with disabilities. It's about shifting the focus from pity or stigma to empowerment, visibility, and inclusion.

Disability is a natural part of the human experience — and this month, we uplift voices, share stories, and recognize the contributions of disabled individuals in every community.

Join us in honoring disability as a vital part of diversity.

Happy 4th of July!

Wishing everyone a happy, safe, and fun day! 🇺🇸☀️

AUCD’s statement is a forceful alert: these cuts to Medicaid—not only unprecedented but systemic—threaten crucial services for people with disabilities and marginalized communities. They mark a significant rollback in the social safety net with long-term consequences, and AUCD pledges sustained advocacy to counter them. To see full statement, click here:

AUCD News | AUCD Statement on Historic Cuts to Medicaid AUCD’s Community Inclusion Team supports the University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) Network in partnership with the Administration for Community Living.

“Without UCEDDs, we are not going to be as effective, as efficient, and as rooted in the needs of the disability community; that’s essential to make sure we’re embodying the purpose of the DD Act…and we want to continue that work.” – Dr. Karrie Shogren, Director of KU Center on Disabilities (KUCD)

📻 KUCD Director Dr. Karrie Shogren and UMKC Institute for Human Development Director Dr. George Gotto were interviewed by KCUR 89.3 about the proposed elimination of funding for University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDDs).

Listen to the full interview here: https://www.kcur.org/podcast/up-to-date/2025-07-02/trump-budget-missouri-kansas-developmental-disability-centers

Disability Pride Month is observed in July to recognize disability history, celebrate disability culture and visibility, and honor the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ❤️🌟

The 2025 theme, “We Belong Here, and We’re Here to Stay,” emphasizes that people with disabilities are key members of every community. As disability rights face growing threats, it is important to push back against ableism and exclusion.

Discover ways you can celebrate Disability Pride Month here:

Why and How to Celebrate Disability Pride Month Disability Pride Month, celebrated every July, is a time to recognize the history, achievements, experiences, and struggles of people with disabilities. It affirms that disability is a natural and valuable part of human diversity.

A new inclusive playground is now open at Seymour Park in Newington for all ages and abilities.

Newington unveils playground at Seymour Park for people of all ages, abilities The new playground features the first ADA accessible charcoal grill, ready to be adjusted according to people’s height.

Join the Center for Children’s Advocacy for a Utility Clinic 💡

📅 Wednesday, July 9
⏰ 2:00-5:00 PM
📍 HRA Community Room, 180 Clinton St., New Britain, CT