Watch Highlights for the 2021 Gala here:
AUCD for All 2021 Virtual Gala: – YouTube

View and download 2021 Gala Participants Toolkit at the link below:
Tool Kit for Virtual Gala April 14_2021

When:
Wednesday, April 14, 2021

7-8pm ET – Gala Social Hour – exclusively on Zoom!

8-9pm ET – Gala program – on the AUCD’s Facebook Live, AUCD4ALL Gala website, and YouTube Channel

The Gala Social Hour and Program will include captioning, ASL interpretation (imbedded for the recorded program) and audio descriptions when possible so that all can participate! If you have a question about Gala accessibility, please email aucdinfo@aucd.org.

8pm – order of Gala Program Speakers:
Tawara Goode (AUCD Board President & DC UCEDD) – welcome
John Tschida – welcome and committee/sponsor thank you’s
George Jesien (past AUCD ED) – AUCD history and important contributors
Carol Salas (AUCD Board & PR UCEDD) – Emcee and program start
Honoree Karen Irick (Jeiri Flores and Richard Ferrante intro)
Tim Shriver – featured speaker (Shawn Aleong intro)
Honoree Rep. Blunt Rochester (Bill Kiernan intro)
Gala entertainment – Peter Ogik
John Tschida – talk about AUCD current impact and moving forward
Carol Salas – program close

Can’t attend the Gala, but still want to support AUCD?

Click here to donate.

About:
In 1963, President John F. Kennedy signed what is now known as the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act, which authorized the first university-based entities for individuals with developmental disabilities. This historic legislation was the beginning of a network of centers embedded in higher education and supported by federal funds to conduct research and provide training and clinical services for people with developmental disabilities and their families. This interdisciplinary approach provided a new way to look at the whole person and the whole family as a means of improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.

The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) was originally formed in 1971 to represent this network with the federal government and constituent organizations and agencies. In 2021, AUCD celebrates its 50th anniversary as a diverse network of people with disabilities, families, educators, researchers, advocates, and professionals, and grows leaders who have the skills to make a difference throughout the world. In partnership with people with disabilities, AUCD promotes inclusion, dignity, respect, equity, justice, health, and well-being across the lifespan in all communities.

AUCD provides:

• Leadership on major social problems affecting all people living with developmental or other disabilities or special health needs
• Advocacy with Congress and executive branch agencies that fund and regulate programs used by people with disabilities
• Networking and partnering with other national organizations to advance the network’s national agendas
• Promoting communication within the network and with other groups by collecting, organizing, and disseminating data on network activities and accomplishments
• Technical assistance provision on a broad range of topics

Watch this video to learn more about AUCD.