Partnership for People with Disabilities: A University Center on Development Disabilities at Virginia Commonwealth University 2023-2028 - The Partnership for People with Disabilities, Virginia’s university center for excellence in developmental disabilities (UCEDD), proposes to continue its efforts of the past 37 years to ensure our goal that people with developmental disabilities and their families participate in the design of, and have access to quality health care, early intervention, education, and individualized community supports that promote self-determination and full community participation. We will work towards this goal through a series of objectives that continue and expand interdisciplinary pre-service training and continuing education; research, evaluation and policy; community services; and information dissemination in the areas of health, early childhood, education, and community living. Outcomes related to these activities will include an increased number of preservice and community-based professionals that are trained in evidence-based and promising practices that support people with disabilities and their families across the life course; improved academic and wellness outcomes for children and youth with disabilities; expanded inclusive and personal opportunities for people with disabilities throughout their lives; improved emotional and system navigation support for parents of children with disabilities; stronger collaborative planning and action among DD network partners, and improved stakeholder participation. Products developed to support the Partnership’s goals, activities, and outcomes include engaging print documents (brochures, booklets, newsletters, infographics, curriculum modules, fliers, posters, academic journals, book chapters, reports, newspapers, and magazines) and electronic/social media products (websites, web courses, video material, listservs, Facebook, Twitter, REELS, and blogs).
