Staff members of the Institute collectively played a key role in the 2022 AUCD Conference, held in Washington, DC, November 13-16.

AUCD (Association of University Centers on Disabilities) is a national organization that supports and promotes a national network of university-based interdisciplinary programs. As Pennsylvania's University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Service, the Institute on Disabilities at Temple University is an AUCD member and has been a part this annual event as attendees and presenters. This year was no exception.  

Here are some highlights of awards and presentations:

Awards

• Katey Burke, PhD, Associate Director – Young Professional Award

  Kathryn (Katey) Burke, PhD, the Institute's Associate Director was awarded the 2022 Young Professional Award - presented to a person in the field of disabilities "under the age of 40 who has demonstrated dedication and commitment to people with developmental disabilities and their families through work as a bridge between the academic sector and the community."

  The full story about Katey Burke's award is available on the AUCD website.

• Sarah Mueller – Gold Star Award

  Sarah Mueller, former University Center of Excellence on Developmental Disabilities Trainee at the Institute, was awarded the AUCD Gold Star Award, presented to a Capitol Hill staffer who exemplifies a true partnership in crafting strong public policy.

  After leaving the Institute, Sarah was the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Disability Policy Fellow at the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pension (HELP) and now serves as a Disability Policy Advisor for HELP. 

• US Congressman Mike Doyle – Congressional Champion Award

  Mike Doyle, currently serving his fourteenth term in Congress representing the 18th District of Pennsylvania, which includes the City of Pittsburgh and 53 other communities in Allegheny County, was awarded the Congressional Campion Award, "given to a Member of Congress who has spent their career in public service working to pass public policies that improve the lives of people with disabilities."

The full story about the awards for Representative Doyle and Sarah Mueller is available on the AUCD website.

Presentations and Moderating

• Sally Gould-Taylor, PhD, Executive Director, moderated the plenary session: Leading Change Session: To Live, Move, and Have Fun in the World

  Addressing the social determinant of health, "social and community context," and the importance of ensuring that people with disabilities receive support in all places where they live, work, learn, and play.

• UCEDDs and Inclusive Higher Education: What's Happening & What Are the Possibilities for Collaboration?

  Susanna Miller-Raines, MSW, Regional Alliance Manager, Institute for Community Inclusion/Boston Children's Hospital, joined with Kathryn Burke, PhD, Associate Director and others.

  Examples of collaborations between UCEDDs and inclusive higher education programs at the national, state and university levels.

• Kim Singleton, MS, CCC-SLP, Senior Director of Assistive Technology – TechOWL, presented: Let's Be Clear: Making "AUCD Speak" Language Inclusive

  Discussion about changing our written and spoken communication to fit the audience. Techniques and tools to incorporate more accessible language in our conversations.  

Poster Session Presentations

• What's up, Doc: An exploration of access and communication in healthcare settings by race and ethnicity in the IM4Q sample

  Jenifer Taylor Eaton, M.Ed. Educational Psychology, Lead Research Associate; James Lemanowicz, M.B.A., Assistant Director of Research; and Kathryn Burke, PhD, Associate Director

  Past research has found that people of color with disabilities often have different healthcare experiences than white people with disabilities. This study explores these differences in the Philadelphia IM4Q sample.

• Using Peer Support to Engage Young Adults with IDD in Research to Improve Health and Well-being during Transition to Adulthood

  Taye Hallock, MSW, Health Equity Coordinator; Eva Weiss, PhD, Director of Research; Shawn Aleong, BA student, Temple University, and graduate of Institute's L&CS program.

  The Institute and the REACH Lab (Research, Engagement, and Advocacy for Community Participation and Health) of the College of Public Health at Temple University partners to identify opportunities and strategies for using peer support to facilitate the inclusion of transition aged youth with IDD in research.

• National Initiative to Address COVID-19 Health Disparities Among Populations at High-Risk and Underserved: Efforts Across Two UCEDDs

  Taye Hallock, MSW, Assistant Director of Health Equity; Kathryn Burke, PhD, Associate Director; Sally Gould-Taylor, PhD, Executive Director; Kim Singleton, MS, Sr Director of Assistive Director, TechOWL, join presenter Rachel Byers, Master of Public Health, Institute for Disability Research, Policy & Practice, Utah State University.

  Representatives from two UCEDDs will detail how they are addressing these health disparities by 1) building multidisciplinary teams; 2) collecting and using data to improve programs; and 3) establishing infrastructure for continued health equity efforts beyond current COVID-19 relief funding.

• Powered by People in PA: using peer-to-peer mentoring and supports brokers to increase health equity opportunities in self-direction

  Jamie Ray-Leonetti, JD, Associate Director of Policy along with Marian Frattarola-Saulino, MSW, Jennifer Weise, BFA, Values Into Action, Media, PA

  Discussion of NCAPPS self-direction learning collaborative including 1. Strategies for developing supports broker competencies; 2. Plans to use supports brokers to identify natural supports to promote self-determination; and 3. Development of a peer-to-peer mentoring program.

• U.S. Migration Policy as Public Health Policy and the Experiences of Disabled Migrants and Migrants in the Direct Care Workforce

  K. Eva Weiss, PhD, Director of Research and Evaluation; Grace Fay Cooper, PhD Candidate, Temple University, joined by Mustafa Rfat, MSW, MPA, Global Research on Inclusion and Disability, Washington University in St. Louis, MO.

  Emerging leaders share actionable information about the enduring ableism of U.S. migration and health care policies.

• "Ask me About College" – How Policy Advocacy in Inclusive College Programs Impacts Self-Determination and Well-Being for ALL Students

  Jamie Ray-Leonetti, JD, Associate Director of Policy was joined by Kyle Sheaff, L&CS student, Institute on Disabilities at Temple University;

  Personal experiences of two students with disabilities who participated in Think College public policy work educating legislators about the importance of inclusive college and its positive impact on their self-determination and wellness.

Hill Visits

After the AUCD Annual Conference, a select group of Institute leaders visited the offices of select Pennsylvania legislators.

Executive Director Sally Gould-Taylor, PhD, Associate Director Katey Burke, PhD and Associate Director of Policy Jamie Ray-Leonetti, JD, joined Shawn Aelong, BA student at Temple University to meet with the staff of policymakers on the Hill.

The goal of the visits was to discuss AUCD policy priorities for people with disabilities including health equity, insuring community living options, mental health needs post COVID-19 and addressing the direct support workforce crisis.

• The group visited the staff of Bob Casey, US Senator from Pennsylvania;
• Brian Fitzpatrick, US Representative from Pennsylvania;
• Congressman Brendan Boyle, Representing Pennsylvania's 2nd District;
• Congressman Dwight Evans, Representing Pennsylvania's 3rd District; and
• Representative Madeleine Dean, Representing Pennsylvania's 4th District.

Photos

Institute on Disabilities Executive Director Sally Gould-Taylor, PhD, stands at a podium in front of a microphone to moderate a panel discussion.

Jamie Ray-Leonetti, Associate Director of Policy, Institute on Disabilities; Kyle Sheaff, Temple University; and Bridget Brown, University of Illinois-Chicago, Darien.

Sally Gould-Taylor, PhD, Executive Director; Shawn Aleong, BA Student, Temple University; Katey Burke, PhD, Associate Director; Jamie Ray-Leonetti, Associate Director of Policy stand outside of the office of Brian Fitzpatrick, US Representative from Pennsylvania during an afternoon of visits in Washington, DC.

Jenifer Taylor Eaton, M.Ed. Educational Psychology, Lead Research Associate speaking in front of her poster, "What's up, Doc: An exploration of access and communication in healthcare settings by race and ethnicity in the IM4Q sample."

Taye Hallock, MSW, Health Equity Coordinator stands in front of her poster, "Using Peer Support to Engage Young Adults with IDD in Research to Improve Health and Well-being during Transition to Adulthood" discussing with another person.

Kathryn (Katey) Burke, PhD, Associate Director, stands in front of an AUCD banner holding the 2022 Young Professional Award along with AUCD Executive Director John Tschida.