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Since its founding in 1993, the Center for
Disabilities Studies has influenced policy
and practice for persons with disabilities
in such key areas as:
• Health and well-being
• Community-based services
• Early intervention for young children
• Inclusive education
FUNDING
The Center for Disabilities Studies is funded in part
by the Administration on Developmental Disabilities,
the U.S. Government organization responsible for
implementation of the Developmental Disabilities
Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000, known as
the DD Act. Other sources of funding are grants and
contracts from federal and state agencies, disabilities
organizations, and foundations, and donations from
individuals.
The mission of the Center for Disabilities
Studies at the University of Delaware is
to enhance the lives of individuals and
families in Delaware through education,
prevention, service, and research related
to disabilities. We promote independence
and productivity so individuals and
families can fully participate in the
life of the community.
• Transition from school to work
• Employment, housing, and
transportation
CENTER FOR DISABILITIES STUDIES
College of Human Services, Education and
Public Policy
University of Delaware
461 Wyoming Road
Newark, DE 19716
The Center for Disabilities Studies
works with and on behalf of:
Phone: 302-831-6974
Fax:
302-831-4690
TDD:
302-831-4689
• People of all ages with developmental
and acquired intellectual, physical,
psychiatric, and sensory disabilities
www.udel.edu/cds
• Families and caregivers of people with
disabilities
• Federal, state, and local government
agencies
• Community organizations
it
www.udel.edu/cds
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The Center for Disabilities Studies is one
of 67 University Centers for Excellence in
Developmental Disabilities. It is a member
of the Association of University Centers
on Disabilities, a national network of
interdisciplinary centers advancing policy
and practice for and with individuals with
developmental and other disabilities, their
families and communities.
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER—The
University of Delaware is committed to assuring equal opportunity to all persons
and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, gender, genetic information, age, religion, national origin, veteran or disability status, or sexual orientation in its educational programs, activities, admissions or employment practices
as required by Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and other
applicable statutes. Inquiries concerning Section 504 compliance and information
regarding campus accessibility should be referred to the Office of Disability
Support Services (DSS), (302) 831-4643, located at 119 Alison Hall. Inquiries concerning Title VII and Title IX should be referred to the Office of the Assistant Vice
President for Affirmative Action, (302) 831-8735, located at 124 Hullihen Hall.
For more information about CDS visit
April 13, 2009
Direct production questions to:
Donna Perzel 302-762-4119
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The Center for Disabilities Studies
engages in projects that cut across
age, disability, and life domain.
COMMUNITY AND FAMILY EDUCATION
AND SUPPORT
• Conducts a variety of education and outreach
programs
• Connects families with community resources for
medical care and other special needs
• Operates assistive technology resource centers
throughout Delaware
Adult
UNIVERSITY EDUCATION
• Coordinates the University of Delaware
undergraduate minor in disabilities studies
School Age
• Provides assistantships for graduate study
• Facilitates the National Leadership Consortium
on Developmental Disabilities to cultivate future
leaders in the field of developmental disabilities
RESEARCH AND EVALUATION
Early Childhood
To improve the quality of programs that
support children from birth to early elementary
school, the Center for Disabilities Studies:
• Unites multiple perspectives within focused
research projects
• Enhances provider skills through professional
development
• Engages in long-term applied research
• Documents program outcomes through evaluation
activities
• Carries out demographic research regarding
employment, health, and education
DISSEMINATION AND ADVOCACY
• Increases awareness of disability-related issues and
services through websites, newsletters, research
articles, an annual report, and speaking engagements
• Represents the interests of people with disabilities
to state agencies, community organizations, and
public officials
To ensure learning environments that promote
the academic and social success of all children,
the Center for Disabilities Studies:
• Provides professional development and technical
assistance to educators and other professionals
to facilitate positive and inclusive education
experiences for children with and without disabilities
• Advances access to the general education
curriculum for students with significant cognitive
disabilities through the development, distribution,
scoring, and reporting of alternate assessments
• Partners with New Directions Early Head Start
to empower and support infants, toddlers, their
families, and pregnant women in their homes and
at child care centers
• Promotes accessibility of instructional materials
for students who have print disabilities
• Engages in collaborative research with the University
of Delaware Early Learning Center and the Delaware
Institute for Excellence in Early Childhood
• Conducts evaluations to determine program impact,
identify unmet needs, and provide data for ongoing
quality improvement
To enable and empower adults with disabilities
to thrive in their personal lives and in their
communities, the Center for Disabilities Studies:
• Collaborates with schools and health care
organizations to help teens and young adults
transition from school to work and from the
pediatric to the adult health care system
• Provides supports in the areas of housing,
transportation, employment, health and well-being,
and daily living
• Conducts and evaluates programs that pioneer
new approaches to the delivery of high quality
services for individuals with disabilities and
their families
“
All of us do not have equal
talent, but all of us should
have an equal opportunity to
develop our talents.
— JOHN F. KENNEDY
CDS Brochure_4 panels_Final size 4 x 9
Double Gate fold
April 13, 2009
”
Direct production questions to:
Donna Perzel 302-762-4119