University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service - Section 1: Project Relevance and Current Need As Michigan’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD), the Michigan Developmental Disabilities Institute (MI-DDI) works to promote the self-determination, independence, productivity, and community participation of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families. MI-DDI is conceptualized as a community-based UCEDD, focusing its programs on the development of innovative approaches for supporting individuals and families in communities. The mission of our UCEDD is to contribute to the development of accessible communities and quality of life for people with I/DD and their families through a statewide program of interdisciplinary preservice preparation, community services, research, and information dissemination. 1A. Description of State Needs Michigan is the 10th largest state in the nation, with an area of 58,216 square miles and a population of 10.1 million (U.S. Census, 2020). Michigan has 83 counties divided into two separate land masses, the Upper and Lower Peninsulas. The Upper Peninsula and the northern and western sections of the Lower Peninsula are rural. The Lower Peninsula contains the majority, 75%, of Michigan’s population, with population density at its peak in the southeastern tri-county area of the state, which represents about 40% of the state population, including the city of Detroit. Michigan’s public education system serves 1.5 million students in 56 intermediate school districts, 537 local school districts, and 293 charter schools (Michigan Department of Education [MDE], 2021). Michigan has experienced a prolonged and significant economic downturn. The state ranks 39th among states that experienced large deficits and has had one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022). Consequently, the caseload for family assistance continues to rise as the number of children living in high-poverty areas in Michigan has increased by 78,000 since 2000 (Michigan League for Public Policy [MLPP], 2021). The percentage of children born with low birth weight is 8.7%, with a slight decrease in the infant mortality rate to 6.6% (MLPP, 2021). Michigan currently ranks 28th in child indicators of well-being (MLPP, 2021). About 51% of Michigan school-age children receive free or reduced-price lunch (MLPP, 2021). Children with disabilities are substantially represented among children from low-income families, as 80% qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The incidence of disability is higher in urban and low-income areas of the state, with one out of five youth in Detroit having a disability (MLPP, 2021). About 78,000 Michigan children between the ages of 0 and 18 were uninsured in 2019 (Children’s Defense Fund, 2021). The stresses associated with poverty also affect child safety. About 205,000 children in Michigan were living in homes with investigated families, with 14% of those investigations resulting in confirmed cases of neglect or abuse (MLPP, 2021). For the 2020–2021 school year, 202,475, or 13.4%, of Michigan students were eligible for special education under the following categories: specific learning disability, 27.1%; speech and language impairment, 26.4%; other health impairment, 14.1%; autism spectrum disorder, 10.9%; cognitive impairment, 8.4%; emotional impairment, 5.3%; early childhood developmental delay, 3.7%; severe multiple impairment, 1.5%; hearing impairment, 1.2%; physical impairment, 0.7%; visual impairment, 0.4%; traumatic brain injury, 0.2%; and deaf-blindness, 0.0%.
