University of Delaware Center for Disabilities Studies

University of Delaware Center for Disabilities Studies We support the inclusion, empowerment and well-being of people with disabilities and their families.

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This year’s cohort of 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗡𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 (𝗟𝗘𝗡𝗗) trainees had a...
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/

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

Students, staff and volunteers of our Career & Life Studies Certificate (CLSC) program partnered with Special Olympics D...
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.

Thank you to those who joined 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗺 (𝗗𝗡𝗘𝗔) last week for the “Evidence-based Worksho...
03/05/2026

Thank you to those who joined 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗺 (𝗗𝗡𝗘𝗔) last week for the “Evidence-based Workshop Series: Introductory Practices” day-long event to learn more about autism and ways to support people with autism.

DNEA Director Alisha Fletcher led a virtual session of the workshop, while Nicole Ferrara, implementation coach (pictured), led a group of 30 participants through the program in person.

The morning introductory session included conversations about the history and core characteristics of autism, as well as general tips and considerations when supporting people with autism. The afternoon session provided an overview of evidence-based practices that are most effective when supporting individuals with autism.

𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗶𝘀 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵 (𝗗𝗗𝗔𝗠)This year’s theme, “𝙒𝙚’𝙧𝙚 𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙚: 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙣, 𝙉𝙤𝙬, 𝘼𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨,” is a power...
03/03/2026

𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗶𝘀 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵 (𝗗𝗗𝗔𝗠)

This year’s theme, “𝙒𝙚’𝙧𝙚 𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙚: 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙣, 𝙉𝙤𝙬, 𝘼𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨,” is a powerful reminder that people with developmental disabilities are, have been and will always be important members of our communities.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂?

Here at CDS, we work to enhance the lives of individuals with disabilities and their families by promoting empowerment, opportunity, accessibility and inclusiveness, so everyone can fully participate in, and enrich their communities.

Congratulations to 𝗔𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗮 𝗙𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿, director of the 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗺 (𝗗𝗡𝗘𝗔), for writing about ...
02/28/2026

Congratulations to 𝗔𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗮 𝗙𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿, director of the 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗺 (𝗗𝗡𝗘𝗔), for writing about her work focused on strengthening communication between autistic people and first responders.

Alisha contributed to Issue 17 of the 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘶𝘮 𝘉𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘯, titled 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘉𝘦𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘚𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮.

She wrote about three impactful DNEA programs serving Delaware communities, including its 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺, its 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀 and its participation in the 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺, a Delaware partnership that promotes safe, clear and respectful communication between law enforcement and drivers with autism and other disabilities.

You can read Alisha's work at https://bit.ly/4b48Wy6

Students in UD's speech language pathology (SLP) master's program aural rehabilitation class visited the 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃...
02/21/2026

Students in UD's speech language pathology (SLP) master's program aural rehabilitation class visited the 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 (𝗔𝗧𝗥𝗖) this afternoon. Students learned about, and had the opportunity to try out, some assistive technology tools used to help people with hearing and other disabilities.

Our two ATRCs, one in Newark and one in Milford, house an assortment of equipment, software and toys, from communication devices and items that support people with vision and hearing loss to modified eating utensils and textured playthings.

CDS is proud to announce we are now leading the Family SHADE (Support & Healthcare Alliance Delaware) project!Under the ...
02/12/2026

CDS is proud to announce we are now leading the Family SHADE (Support & Healthcare Alliance Delaware) project!

Under the leadership of CDS associate director Dr. Sarah Mallory and health promotion implementation coach Ashley Clark, Family SHADE will continue its mission of improving the quality of life for children and youth with special health care needs, and their caregivers, by connecting families and providers to information, resources and services; and advocating for solutions to recognized gaps in services.

We’re grateful for our invaluable partnerships with the Delaware Division of Public Health - DPH and the Parent Information Center of Delaware who help make the success of the program possible.

02/10/2026

𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 (𝗔𝗧) 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗝𝗮𝘇𝗺𝗶𝗻 is back with her latest video! This month, Jazmin talks about an historic development in the disability world that will help her achieve her dream of working with students like herself.

It’s a win-win for Jazmin as she’s spreading the word about the importance of AT while being a positive role model.

𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗡𝗘𝗔 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲-𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀.The Delaware Network for Excellence in Autism (DNEA...
02/03/2026

𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗡𝗘𝗔 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲-𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀.

The Delaware Network for Excellence in Autism (DNEA) will host a day-long workshop on autism and practices that can be used to support people with autism. The morning session will include content about disability-friendly language, the history of core characteristics of autism and general tips and considerations when supporting people with autism.

The afternoon session will provide an overview of evidence-based practices that are most effective when supporting individuals with autism including prompting, reinforcement and visual supports.

This event is 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 and open to the public, though registration is required. The training will be held in room 132 at the CDS offices on Wyoming Road. Attendees may opt to join virtually, via Zoom.

To learn more and to register, visit https://tinyurl.com/ywc5a6nt

Officially unveiled in August 2025, Delaware’s 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 may soon become part of state law.The blue envelope...
01/31/2026

Officially unveiled in August 2025, Delaware’s 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 may soon become part of state law.

The blue envelope is kept in a vehicle’s glove compartment and holds important documents such as a driver’s license, registration, insurance card, and relevant health or emergency information. Its blue color serves as a visual cue to law enforcement that a driver or passenger may have a disability and may not respond in a typical manner.

This program is a partnership among CDS, the Delaware State Police, the Delaware Association of Chiefs of Police, the Office of Highway Safety and the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles.

If passed, House Bill 277 would require Blue Envelopes to be made available to anyone upon request.

Learn more at http://bit.ly/3Z9qNOo

CDS associate director Dr. Sarah Mallory moderated a LIFE Conference session called “Expanding Decision-Making Options f...
01/21/2026

CDS associate director Dr. Sarah Mallory moderated a LIFE Conference session called “Expanding Decision-Making Options for Individuals with Disabilities: Delaware’s Legal Support Choices.” Joining her were Ashley Clark, CDS health promotion implementation coach, self and family advocates, and representatives from Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. - CLASI.

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The University of Delaware’s Center for Disabilities Studies works to enhance the lives of individuals with disabilities and their families through education, advocacy, service and research. It promotes empowerment and opportunity, accessibility and inclusiveness, so all may fully participate in – and enrich – their communities.