University of Delaware Center for Disabilities Studies

04/06/2026

Join us to celebrate inclusion, opportunity and the impact of Inclusive Postsecondary Education (IPSE) programs at the University of Delaware!

The 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗖𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲 (𝗖𝗟𝗦𝗖) program at the Center for Disabilities Studies will hold our 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗣𝗦𝗘 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 on 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟭, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲!

Students, staff, faculty, families, program partners, and community supporters are all welcome to join us for an afternoon of connection and celebration.

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻: May 1, 2026 | 3-5 p.m.
𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: Trabant University Center

𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱!
The event is FREE but space is limited, so register soon to reserve your spot! http://bit.ly/4sRxYI8

04/03/2026

Mark your calendar!

CDS is happy to join with the Association of Assistive Technology Act Programs (ATAP) in celebration of 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗧 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟮𝟮, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲.

Through the Delaware Assistive Technology Initiative (DATI) housed within CDS, we work to raise awareness of AT and connect people with the tools they need in order to work, learn and thrive.

You can learn more about DATI and our Assistive Technology Resource Centers by visiting https://www.cds.udel.edu/at/dati/.

Our April 2026 National AT Awareness Day Theme: “Assistive Technology. Everywhere. Everyone.”

Assistive Technology (AT) isn’t just wheelchairs and screen readers. It also includes tools, devices, software, remote monitoring, and everyday technology such as smart home devices and wearables, that empower people of all ages and abilities to live, learn, work, and participate fully in every aspect of life.
Why do we say everyone? Every person on the planet will either need assistive technology for themselves or know someone who does. Most are using AT right now! Our goal is to build AT awareness now, so everyone knows about it before they need it, and NO ONE goes without!



Image Description: Mostly a black and white image with National AT Awareness Day, April 22, 2026, at the top. assistive technology. everywhere. everyone. in the middle, and the ATAP logo at the bottom with a four-color square.

04/02/2026

𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗺 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗗𝗮𝘆!

CDS and its units work to create welcoming communities, accessible learning environments, and meaningful opportunities for autistic people:

* The 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗺 (𝗗𝗡𝗘𝗔) provides evidence‑based training and technical assistance to educators, health care providers, service organizations, and families across the state.

* 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗺 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘀 supports UD undergraduates on the autism spectrum through coaching, peer mentoring, academic support, and career readiness programming.

CDS also engages in research, policy work, and community education to strengthen access, inclusion, and disability awareness statewide.

Today and every day, we celebrate the diversity of the autism spectrum and the many ways autistic people contribute to our classrooms, workplaces, and communities.

04/01/2026

Our 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 & 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗖𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲 (𝗖𝗟𝗦𝗖) program partnered with UD’s Panhellenic Council to sponsor the Rock Your Socks Campaign at the Trabant University Center today!

Brightly colored socks were sold in support of World Down Syndrome Day, and there were lots of fun activities for those who stopped by the kiosk.

03/27/2026

𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 (𝗔𝗧) 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗝𝗮𝘇𝗺𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘆 is back with a new video.

Thanks to the work and funding of a state agency and insurance company, Jazmin was able to get her AT device with help from the Delaware Assistive Technology Initiative (DATI).

03/26/2026

Family SHADE is looking for parent and family advocates to share their voice and perspectives as part of the 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗦𝗛𝗔𝗗𝗘 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 (𝗙𝗟𝗡).

The Family SHADE Leadership Network is a group of parents and caregivers of children and youth with special healthcare needs that work to ensure families remain central to the systems that serve children and youth in Delaware.

Being part of the FLN provides you with an opportunity to:

● Meet regularly with fellow family advocates
● Strengthen your leadership skills and experiences
● Better understand and improve the system of care for children and youth with special health care needs in Delaware

There are many ways to get involved in the FLN (including paid opportunities!)

Complete the FLN interest meeting form to sign-up for a brief meeting time with Family SHADE staff to learn more: https://bit.ly/4t4X7yJ

For questions or accommodations, please reach out to the Family SHADE team at familyshade@udel.edu.

03/23/2026

Members of Delaware’s 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗡𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 (𝗟𝗘𝗡𝗗) cohort are in Washington, DC for the 2026 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝗦𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿.

LEND equips trainees with the skills, hands‑on experience and interdisciplinary collaboration needed to transform systems of care for individuals with disabilities and their families.

During the seminar, they’ll learn directly from national experts, connect with policymakers and bring back insights to strengthen programs and policies right here in Delaware.

03/21/2026

“You are blessed, You are great. You are not alone. You are powerful.” — Amit Ray

Let's come together this World Down Syndrome Day to raise awareness about the 2026 theme, "Together Against Loneliness." Families who have a child with Down Syndrome may feel like they don't know what to do or where to go for help. Support and resources are available via the Down Syndrome Association of Delaware, Parent Information Center of Delaware, and University of Delaware Center for Disabilities Studies. https://bit.ly/3ZWMmSK

03/19/2026

Are you a high school student with disabilities wondering if college life is right for you?

The University of Delaware Center for Disabilities Studies offers a great way to find out with 𝗨𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿, a two-week exploratory and discovery learning opportunity for high school students with disabilities, ages 16 to 22.

Participating students will live on campus and participate in program activities from July 6 - July 17, including job shadowing, college visits and workshops covering goal setting, self-advocacy, career exploration and more.

𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱? 𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗟𝗬 𝗡𝗢𝗪!

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗨𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟭, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲. Click to learn more and to apply before it’s too late! https://bit.ly/41g8fNo

03/13/2026

This year’s cohort of 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗡𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 (𝗟𝗘𝗡𝗗) trainees had a hands-on lesson in assistive technology today.

Led by Senior Assistive Technology Manager Madeline Laquer and Augmentative and Alternative Communication Specialist Hannah Mennella (a 2022 LEND graduate), trainees sampled switch activated toys, assistive technology for reading and augmentative and alternative communication devices.

LEND is an interdisciplinary training program designed to improve the health of children with disabilities and their families by providing graduate-level training to professionals, students, family members, and self-advocates, focusing on culturally competent, family-centered care.

Learn more about LEND at https://www.cds.udel.edu/lend/

03/09/2026

The Delaware Network for Excellence in Autism (DNEA) will once again conduct 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗽𝘀 for autistic drivers and passengers.

In partnership with the Delaware Natural Resources Police, Delaware State Parks, and New Castle City Police Department, the 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 trainings will help people with autism feel more comfortable during interactions with law enforcement.

The DNEA will hold the next Practice Traffic Stop on 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟭, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 at 𝗟𝘂𝗺𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸 from 3-7 p.m. The event will take place 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲.

𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱! 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆!

For more information and to register, visit https://bit.ly/4kUHxD5

03/05/2026

Students, staff and volunteers of our Career & Life Studies Certificate (CLSC) program partnered with Special Olympics Delaware (SODE) and took part in the “Spread the Word: Inclusion” campaign in the Trabant University Center yesterday.

“Spread the Word: Inclusion” is a campaign to promote inclusion, acceptance, respect and friendship for individuals with developmental disabilities and eliminate the use of the hurtful, derogatory "R" word.