Come work with us! KUCD is seeking an Office Manager to support the work of our research center. Learn more and apply at bit.ly/kucdofficemgr.

The State of the States team recently held the Technology First for Kansans (T1K) Think Tank. The T1K Think Tank generated solutions to ongoing systemic challenges in technology access for people with disabilities across the state of Kansas. Learn more about T1K @ bit.ly/tech1ks.

2 members of The State of the States’ PA Tech Accelerator program recently gave testimony at State Representative Joseph Hohenstein's annual Disability Summit! View their testimonies @ bit.ly/patechtestim..., starting at the 58:39 mark. Learn more about Tech Accelerator @ bit.ly/patechaccel.

KUCD partnered with Kate and Jack, graduates from the University of Iowa REACH Program, to present "Self-Determination in Inclusive Postsecondary Education for Students with Intellectual Disability" as part of the Inclusive National Higher Education Forum - INHEF webinar series in Ireland!

We're less than a month away from the 2025 Inclusive Education Institute! Join KUCD, KU Council for Exceptional Children, and KU Special Education on October 11. Learn more and save your spot at bit.ly/inclusive-education-institute.

This week, KUCD Assistant Research Professor Lauren Bruno, PhD, and Assistant Researcher Ben Edwards visited St. Louis and presented at the 20th annual Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment Conference!

We're so proud of KUCD Research Aide Sean Tyree for sharing his story! Today, Sean testified on Capitol Hill before the Joint Social Security and Work & Welfare Subcommittee. Sean shared about his own career journey and the importance of supports and services for people with disabilities.

Did you know that The Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (DD Act) is the reason we have the many programs for people with disabilities to be included and thrive? This includes the UCEDDs and the Projects of National Significance (PNS). Learn more @ bit.ly/sots_dd.

Do you receive adult Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) in Kansas? Do you want to help make technology accessible for everyone? Join the Technology First for Kansans (T1K) Advisory Council! For more information, contact Kaley Day at [email protected]!

Want to learn more about technology access in Kansas? Check out these virtual training sessions from the Technology First for Kansans (T1K) Project! You can learn more and sign up for these webinars at rockcha.lk/t1ktcm!

Many people with intellectual and developmental disabilities want to work and be active in their communities—but too often face obstacles to this goal. @kucdisabilities.bsky.social is helping change that. Learn more: https://loom.ly/LPdCg5Y

Today, the KUCD team trained partners from the Kenya Network of Women and Girls with Disabilities on the Self-Determined Learning Model of Instruction (SDLMI)! This ongoing collaboration is part of Elizabeth Ombati's partnership with Evan Dean and KUCD through the Professional Fellows Program

Researchers with @kucdisabilities.bsky.social are helping Kansas become a “technology first” state. A new $1M grant will expand access for people with #disabilities statewide. 🔗 Details: https://loom.ly/2OjxLTA

At the Office Of Special Education Programs Project Director’s Meeting starting off by looking back at the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (50 years old!). This act is CRITICAL for ALL children and young people, especially those with disabilities, their educators, families, & communities

The State of the States and Assistive Technology for Kansans (ATK) projects recently received a $1 million supportive technology grant by KDADS. Learn more @ bit.ly/tfirstks. Learn about State of the States @ stateofthestates.ku.edu. Learn about ATK @ atk.ku.edu.

The annual Capacity Building Institute (CBI) brings together Community Teams and Transition Councils from across the state of Kansas! 🌻 This event provides professional development, networking, and collaborative planning to improve post-school outcomes for youth with disabilities.

Principal Investigator Dr. Shea Tanis of the State of the States team presented at the 2025 Provider Alliance Conference, discussing wearable technology, wellness, Smart Homes, and accessible communities. Learn more @ bit.ly/tpacon. Learn about State of the States @ stateofthestates.ku.edu.

This past weekend, KUCD was proud to join disability advocates from across Kansas to celebrate #DisabilityPrideMonth and the 35th anniversary of the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

KUCD Director Karrie Shogren and Research Aide Sean Tyree were invited to join Governor Laura Kelly and leaders in the disability community from across Kansas to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

A Lawrence celebration also aims to generate awareness of progress still needed 35 years after the Americans with Disabilities Act passed. lawrenceks.news/3UkFUlD

Curious about how new federal policies will impact people with #disabilities? Karrie Shogren, director of the KU Center for Disabilities, spoke with KCUR 89.3 FM about how the recently passed budget will impact families and individuals across Missouri and Kansas. 🔗 https://loom.ly/5G9aSSo

The ADA guaranteed equal opportunity for people with disabilities in public accommodations, employment, transportation, state and local government services, and telecommunications. Now, 35 years later, it's ingrained in how America builds buildings and does business. https://loom.ly/I0Mr2Yw

This week, disability advocate Liz Weintraub, author of All Means All: My Life in Advocacy, joined KUCD’s Lunch and Learn Series to discuss her book and experiences as part of AUCD’s disability policy team. Sign up for Liz’s plain language summaries @ bit.ly/aucddpn.

This week, during KUCD’s Lunch and Learn Series, we were joined by disability advocate Liz Weintraub, author of the book, All Means All: My Life in Advocacy. Check out Liz’s story @ bit.ly/lweintraub.

Join the ELEVATE Transition Doctoral Fellowship program, study with leaders like Dr. Val Mazzotti and Dr. Karrie Shogren, and earn your degree at a #1 ranked university in Special Education! Find more information and apply at: kucd.ku.edu/elevate

“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 staff recently attended the 2025 AAIDD Conference in Washington, DC! We presented on several KUCD projects and the impacts of our work. Gina Kim also received the AAIDD Student Award - congrats, Dr. Kim! Learn more about the AAIDD conference @ bit.ly/2025_aaidd.

Did you know that the State of the States project, housed at KUCD, is a Project of National Significance (PNS)? Learn more @ bit.ly/sots_pns.

🌻 KUCD supports communities across Kansas! As the UCEDD in the state of Kansas, our mission is to strengthen communities so that everyone can learn, work, feel included, and thrive. The dots across this map represent hundreds of collaborations with communities big and small across our home state.

Increased #accessibility across #Kansas is designed to ensure everyone can enjoy the outdoors. KU researchers have highlighted accessible recreation opportunities in Kansas. 🌳 https://loom.ly/tQJLS90 #GreatOutdoorsMonth #FindYourPark #Disibility

The State of the States project, housed at KUCD, was featured in this article from Georgia Public Broadcasting about affordable housing and independent living in Georgia: www.gpb.org/news/2025/06... Learn more about State of the States at stateofthestates.ku.edu

One in every 23 Kansas jobs is supported by the @universityofkansas.bsky.social, a new study has found. The study also shows that for every $1 invested in KU, taxpayers gain $2.90 in added tax revenue and public sector savings. news.ku.edu/news/article...

Come work with us! KUCD is seeking a Research Project Coordinator. Learn more and apply at bit.ly/kucdrpc

As our capacity is growing, so is our team — consider applying for one of three roles we’re hiring! Learn about the Plain Language Specialist, Policy Analyst, and Executive Assistant roles here: autisticadvocacy.org/2025/05/job-...

Rebecca Townsend received the Dr. Kenneth R. Klamm Award in memory of Dr. Floyd G. Hudson in recognition of her work as a doctoral student in Special Education at KU and as a University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) trainee at KUCD. Congratulations, Rebecca!

Join the team at KUCD! We're hiring for three roles! Find more information and apply at the links below: • Research Project Manager - bit.ly/teamhugpm • Postdoctoral Researcher (Postdoc) - bit.ly/kucdpostdoc • KUCD Office Manager - bit.ly/kucdoffice

Community partnerships are critical to enhance the impact of research. My Transition My Career is a project led by KUCD’s Community Engagement team, focused on supporting youth as they transition from school to adulthood.

We're looking for a Postdoctoral Researcher (Postdoc)! Join our team and support research on self-determination, transition and community engagement. 👉 Learn more and apply at bit.ly/kucdpostdoc

Come work with us! KU Center on Disabilities (KUCD) is seeking an Office Manager to support the work of our Center. To learn more and apply, visit bit.ly/kucdoffice. Application reviews begin May 26!

The team that develops NSHD are people with disabilities from across the U.S. with many different backgrounds and stories. Share your story: kuhealthsurvey.org #disability #DisabilityRepresentation #research #ResearchMatters

We’re hiring a Research Project Manager! Work directly with Dr. Maria Hugh and colleagues across KU Center on Disabilities to advance critical research, studying practitioner supports for evidence-based practice use for children with autism. Learn more and apply at bit.ly/teamhugpm

We had so much fun at the Kansas premiere of The Ride Ahead! We had a packed house at Liberty Hall, with over 200 people joining KUCD, 24 event sponsors, and the film’s co-directors, Dan and Samuel Habib for the film.

Happy Autism Acceptance Month! KUCD Communications Specialist Austin Myers discusses his experience of masking in the workplace. Curious about masking and want to learn more? Check out this article: kadiant.com/post/resources-for-understanding-masking #AutismAcceptanceMonth

Are you interested in pursuing a career in special education, with a focus on transition-related services and research? Join the ELEVATE Transition Doctoral Fellowship program! Don’t wait - applications are due May 1st, 2025. Find more information at: kucd.ku.edu/elevate

Just one week until #TheRideAhead! Register now at kucd.ku.edu/rideaheadfilm

Drs. Jennifer Kurth and Lisa Didion were interviewed for NPR, highlighting the work of KU’s Department of Special Education and their unified degree program! Check it out: www.npr.org/2025/04/15/n...

Here is a sneak preview of some of the raffle prizes you could win at The Ride Ahead film screening! Join us on Monday April 28 from 4:00-6:30 at Liberty Hall to see the film for free and meet co-directors Samuel and Dan Habib. 👉 Learn more and save your spot: kucd.ku.edu/rideaheadfilm

This week, our Education & Training team trained 20 people from the Council for Intellectual Disability in Australia on implementing the Self-Determined Learning Model of Instruction (SDLMI)! Learn more about self-determination research and find resources at selfdetermination.ku.edu

Check out @kucdisabilities.bsky.social film screening event! The Ride Ahead documentary follows Samuel Habib, a typical 21-year-old who is itching to move out, start a career, and find love. But no one tells you how to be an adult, let alone an adult with a disability. news.ku.edu/news/article...

KUCD Director Dr. Karrie Shogren received the International Research Award as part of the Premio Inclusione 3.0 initiative at the University of Macerata in Italy. This award recognizes KUCD’s focus on promoting inclusion and a project to translate self-determination resources into Italian.