Embedded in universities and communities — engaging people with I/DD through research, education, and service in ways no one else can
68 UCEDDs
- At least one in every state and territory
- University-based, community-focused\
- Local roots, national reach
Advancing the Vision of the Developmental Disabilities Act
UCEDDs achieve the vision of the DD Act by working to:
Learn what works through community research and innovative test models that are practical, relevant, and useful for people with I/DD.
Teach people with I/DD the skills to thrive in their communities, while preparing a new generation of professionals to understand and respond to their emerging needs.
Meet unmet community needs through clinics, day care, counseling, technical assistance, and other services.
Launch local pilots and programs that expand across states and the nation to reach more people with I/DD.
A Sound Investment
UCEDDs use federal funding for core operations and generate 7 times that amount through partnerships and grants that support their work.
Source: Association of University Centers on Disabilities
50% of individuals with I/DD have received direct services through activities led by former UCEDD trainees over the past five years.
Source: Trainee Survey, 2021–2025
8,000 Direct Support Professionals have been trained by UCEDDs to address a growing national workforce shortage.
Source: FY 2024 Annual Report
Rooted in Communities, Guided by the People They Serve
Research What Works
- Identify best practices for individuals and communities at the local, state, and national levels
- Develop and test models to determine what delivers the greatest impact for people with I/DD
- Address all areas of community living — including health, early intervention, education, employment, housing, recreation, transportation, and disaster response
Teach the Next Generation
- Recruit and train professionals in classroom and clinical settings to serve people with I/DD, and equip them to train others in their field
- Teach people with I/DD the skills needed to live, work, and participate fully in their communities
Deliver Much-Needed Services
- Provide diagnoses, screenings, assistive technologies, and therapies through clinics
- Offer early childhood education programs that promote learning and social engagement
- Promote exercise and wellness for youth and adults through recreational programs
- Share critical information and support disaster planning, response, and recovery
People with I/DD Advance the Work of UCEDDs by:
- Serving on advisory councils and helping set priorities
- Participating in research
- Teaching and training others
Championing Health and Wellness
The Kentucky UCEDD has partnered with local, state, and national organizations — including the American Heart Association — to help people with disabilities make healthier choices through adaptive videos, graphic recipes, accessible website resources, and professional training.
The Georgetown UCEDD's Maternal, Infant, and Family Health, Well-Being & Nutrition Initiative offers the Parenting Support Program, an evidence-based home-visiting program funded by the DC Department of Health. The program serves pregnant and parenting individuals with intellectual disabilities and their children from birth to age five, including consultation with a postpartum doula.
The Wyoming UCEDD promotes health management and independence through Living Well, a series of 11 in-person or virtual community workshops that give participants tools to manage their health, make healthy lifestyle choices, increase physical activity, improve nutrition, and support healthy relationships.
Health Matters, developed at the Chicago UCEDD, helps improve the health of individuals with I/DD through a 12-week course focused on healthy eating, portion control, regular physical activity, and community support. The program has expanded to 35 states and reached more than 10,000 individuals with I/DD.