University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service (UCEDD) Program

University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service (UCEDD) Program is sponsored by Administration for Community Living (ACL). This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes.

A **. gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. * Program and Policy Areas 1.

ACL A to Z: Programs, Networks, & Focus Areas 3. Aging and Disability Networks 1. Aging and Disability Resource Centers 3.

Area Agencies on Aging 4. Assistive Technology Network 5. Centers for Independent Living 6.

Protection and Advocacy Systems 7. Senior Centers and Supportive Services for Older Adults 8. State Councils on Developmental Disabilities 10.

University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities 4. Caregiving and Direct Care Workforce 1. Advancing State Implementation of the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers 3.

Lifespan Respite Care Program 4. National Family Caregiver Support Program 5. RAISE Family Caregiving Advisory Council 6.

Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren 5. Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia 6. Connecting People to Services 1.

ADRCs/No Wrong Door System 2. Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act 3. State Health Insurance Assistance Program 7.

Consumer Choice and Control 1. Person-Centered Planning 2. Supported Decision Making 3.

Transportation Research and Demonstration Program 4. Veteran Directed Care Program 1. Supporting Grassroots Advocacy 2.

President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities (PCPID) 11. For American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians 3. Chronic Disease Self-Management 4.

Falls Prevention Program 14. Program Evaluations and Reports 15. Protecting Rights and Preventing Abuse 1.

Alternatives to Guardianship 2. Elder Abuse Prevention 3. Elder Justice Coordinating Council 4.

For People with Disabilities 5. Help America Vote Act Programs 7. Long-Term Care Ombudsman 8.

Senior Medicare Patrol 9. Supporting Adult Protective Services 16. Research and Development 1.

Advanced Rehabilitation Research and Training (ARRT) Program 2. Disability and Rehabilitation Research Program 3. Field-Initiated Projects Program Rehabilitation Research 5.

Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center Program 6. Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) Program 7. Small Business Innovation Research Program 8.

Switzer Research Fellowship Program 17. Retirement Planning and Pension Support 18. Support for People with Limb Loss, Paralysis and TBI 1.

Limb Loss Resource Center 2. Paralysis Resource Center 3. Traumatic Brain Injury 19.

Strengthening the Aging and Disability Networks 1. Aging and Disability Evidence-Based Programs and Practices 2. Duals Demonstration Ombudsman Program Technical Assistance 3.

Improving Business Practices 4. Improving Quality of Services 5. National Resource Centers 6.

Person-Centered, Trauma-Informed Service 7. Projects of National Significance 21. Volunteer Opportunities and Civic Engagement * Data, Research & Issues 2.

The State of the States in Developmental Disabilities 3. NIDILRR Publications and Resources 4. Profile of Older Americans 3.

Issue Briefings and Other Reading 4. Events and Observances 5. Speeches and Testimony 2.

Ready-to-publish materials 2. Articles, Infographics, and Fact Sheets 2. Communicating with Older Adults 1.

About Community Living 2. About the Aging and Disability Networks 3. Mission, Vision, & Priorities 7.

Policy and Regulations 9. Reports to Congress and the President 1. Developmental Disabilities Act 3.

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act 5. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) 7. Medicare Improvements for Patients & Providers Act 8.

Public Health Service Act 2. Program and Policy Areas 3. Aging and Disability Networks 4.

University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Services (UCEDDs) # University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Services (UCEDDs) ## Program and Policy Areas * ACL A to Z: Programs, Networks, & Focus Areas * Aging and Disability Networks * Aging and Disability Resource Centers * Assistive Technology Network * Centers for Independent Living * Protection and Advocacy Systems * Senior Centers and Supportive Services for Older Adults * State Councils on Developmental Disabilities * University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities * Caregiving and Direct Care Workforce * Advancing State Implementation of the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers * Lifespan Respite Care Program * National Family Caregiver Support Program * RAISE Family Caregiving Advisory Council * Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren * Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia * Connecting People to Services * ADRCs/No Wrong Door System * Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act * State Health Insurance Assistance Program * Consumer Choice and Control * Person-Centered Planning * Supported Decision Making * Transportation Research and Demonstration Program * Veteran Directed Care Program * Supporting Grassroots Advocacy * President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities (PCPID) * For American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians * Chronic Disease Self-Management * Falls Prevention Program * Program Evaluations and Reports * Protecting Rights and Preventing Abuse * Alternatives to Guardianship * Elder Justice Coordinating Council * For People with Disabilities * Help America Vote Act Programs * Long-Term Care Ombudsman * Supporting Adult Protective Services * Research and Development * Advanced Rehabilitation Research and Training (ARRT) Program * Disability and Rehabilitation Research Program * Field-Initiated Projects Program Rehabilitation Research * Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center Program * Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) Program * Small Business Innovation Research Program * Switzer Research Fellowship Program * Retirement Planning and Pension Support * Support for People with Limb Loss, Paralysis and TBI * Limb Loss Resource Center * Paralysis Resource Center * Strengthening the Aging and Disability Networks * Aging and Disability Evidence-Based Programs and Practices * Duals Demonstration Ombudsman Program Technical Assistance * Improving Business Practices * Improving Quality of Services * National Resource Centers * Person-Centered, Trauma-Informed Service * Projects of National Significance * Volunteer Opportunities and Civic Engagement [](https://acl.

gov/programs/aging-and-disability-networks/national-network-university) ### _Embedded in universities and communities — engaging people with I/DD through research, education, and service in ways no one else can_ Find a UCEDD near you at dial.

gov * 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.

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 * 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.

_Last modified on 08/21/2026_ ACL was created around the fundamental principle that all people, regardless of age or disability, should be able to live independently and participate in their communities. [](https://www. facebook.

com/aclgov)[](https://www. youtube. com/@AoA25)[](https://www.

linkedin. com/company/aclgov/)