What is a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service?

University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service (UCE) are discretionary grant programs under the Administration on Developmental Disabilities, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The purpose of this discretionary program funded under what is known as the D.D. Act, and which also funds Developmental Disability Councils PL 98-527 and Protection and Advocacy programs in all states and territories is to provide for operational and administrative support to University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service in the States as part of a national network to support interdisciplinary training, exemplary services, technical assistance, and information/dissemination activities. In 2001, the reauthorization of the D.D. Act changed the name of University Affiliated Programs to University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service.

The mission of University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service (UCE) is to serve as liaisons between academic expertise and institutions of higher learning and service delivery systems so as to positively affect the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families by increasing their independence, productivity, and integration into communities.

The UCE have evolved considerably during their history since 1963. Fifield and Fifield, in their 1995 historical survey of UCE, consider their evolution to have occurred within three periods. The first period authorized under PL (1963-1974) emphasized development of programs within Universities at which clinical services, diagnosis and treatment, and the training of personnel and centralized expertise were provided. These original programs were turned university Affiliated Facilities. Also authorized under this legislation was the Mental Retardation Research Centers. The second part (1975-1986) emphasized community-based service, developmental concepts, providing services through a person's full life span, and emerging environmental concerns. This period included the expansion of the definition of developmental disabilities to include autism and learning disabilities. It also saw the creation of three major components of the present developmental disabilities system: State Developmental Disabilities Planning Councils, Protection and Advocacy Agencies, and University Affiliated Facilities (renamed as University Affiliated Programs (UAPs) and renamed again in 2001 to University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service (UCE)). The third period (1987-present) has emphasized a consumer focus, as exemplified by the completion of an extensive national consumer satisfaction evaluation study ("The 1990 Report"), and brought the issues of consumer empowerment, independence and inclusion into major focus.

Currently, UCE engage in four broad tasks: conducting interdisciplinary training, promoting exemplary community service programs, providing technical assistance at all levels from local service delivery to community and state governments, and conducting research and dissemination activities. UCE provide community training and technical assistance to family and individual support service organizations, working with individuals with developmental disabilities, family members of these individuals, professionals, paraprofessionals, students, and volunteers. Direct exemplary service programs and the provision of training and technical assistance may include activities in the areas of family support, individual support, personal assistance services, clinical services, prevention services, health, education, vocational and other direct services. The UCE continue to contribute to the development of new knowledge through research, development of field testing of models, and the evaluation of existing as well as innovative practices.

Over the past decade, the network of UCE has increased from 40 at the time of the 1987 reauthorization of the D.D. Act to its present total of 61, with 60 additional training initiative projects in the areas of early intervention, community services, positive behavioral supports, assistive technology, community transition, the Americans with Disabilities Act, aging, and special concerns. Fiscal year 1995 marked the completion of the legislative mandate that every State and Territory be served by at least one university affiliated program, and saw the addition of the Guam UCE. This expansion and development of new programs is concurrent with an increased impetus for excellence, accountability, and involvement of consumers and consumer organizations.

(This description is from the Administration on Developmental Disabilities website www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/add/states/uap.htm)

JFK Partners

University of Colorado Denver

13121 E. 17^th Ave, C234

Aurora, CO 80045

This site designed and hosted by Electronic Storefronts, Inc