Newsletter

Shaping the Future: LEND Scholar’s AUCD 2023 Experience

Each fall, the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) gathers their network members for a conference in Washington, D.C. Their shared goal is to advance policies and practices that improve the health, education, social, and economic well-being of all people with developmental and other disabilities.

The Human Development Center is proud to participate in the conference by sending our Louisiana LEND and Interprofessional Preparation Program scholars as well as various HDC staff and faculty to connect, share, and grow with our national disability community. The 2023 AUCD theme was “Emerging Leaders: Shaping the Future.

We asked LEND scholar and self-advocate Jakeel Abdullah to share his AUCD experiences with us.

HDC’s IPP scholars chosen for poster presentation at 2023 Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) Conference

Scholars Madison Humphries and Mary Katherine Hadden of HDC’s Interprofessional Preparation Program (IPP) were chosen to present at the 2023 OSEP Combined Leadership and Project Directors’ Conference on July 24-26 in Arlington, VA.

Questions to ask Employment Vendors

HDC forms Plain Language Task Force

Inspired by advocates at the 2022 AUCD conference, HDC creates a Plain Language Task Force to make our information more accessible.

HDC at AUCD 2022

Create a STAR Plan with PAY Check

STAR Plans help our PAY Check participants set goals for themselves in adulthood and realize the steps needed for success. Follow along with Transition Specialist Michael Curry to create a STAR Plan for yourself!

LADBP launches DeafBlind Intervener Training pilot

The Louisiana DeafBlind Project for Children and Youth (LADBP) launch a Deaf-Blind Intervener Training Pilot, aiming to encourage school districts and educators across the state to invest in skilled interveners. LADBP’s Rose Angelocci, Ph.D. and Nicky Gillies, MSNIC are currently working with a paraprofessional in St. Bernard Parish to trial this new training program.

New school year update with HDC’s Early Childhood Initiatives

The Early Childhood (EC) initiatives at the Human Development Center are hard at work bringing quality, inclusive education to early learning centers in New Orleans. Here’s a quick update from the three EC projects:

HDC Spotlight: Germaine Collins, BA

Germaine Collins is a teacher in the Human Development Center’s Early Learning Center (ELC). Located on the first floor of the Human Development Center (HDC) building, the ELC provides high-quality, inclusive early care and education for infants and toddlers. Our teachers are highly qualified professionals who are trained to implement a developmentally appropriate, evidence-based curriculum for infants and toddlers, including those with disabilities and special health care needs.

IPEC’s Evidence Based Practices

The Human Development Center’s Early Childhood (EC) initiatives are leading by example, and aim to bring Early Childhood Evidence-Based Practices statewide.