University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD)

What is a UCEDD?

The University of Missouri-Kansas City Institute for Human Development (UMKC IHD) houses the federally designated University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) for the state of Missouri.

Authorized under the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (Public Law 106-402), the Missouri UCEDD is part of a network of sixty-seven university-based centers in every state and territory of the United States. The Association for University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) connects the UCEDD network.

UCEDDs facilitate the flow of disability-related information between community and university. The Center exemplifies the University of Missouri–Kansas City’s goals of academic excellence and helping people reach their potential in the communities where they live.

Who does the UCEDD serve?

The UCEDD primarily serves people with developmental disabilities and their families. But we offer support to all people with disabilities and their families. Our goal is to promote independence, productivity, and inclusion of individuals with disabilities into communities of their choice.

What does the UCEDD do?

The UCEDD works with local, state, and national organizations to support people with developmental disabilities by building programs and activities designed to promote self-determination and independence, and become more integrated and included in all facets of community life.

From Birth: The UCEDD applies resources for the support of families and professionals who work together to meet the needs of infants, children, and teens with special needs.

Through Adulthood: The UCEDD provides training and technical assistance to people and systems working to enhance the community integration, inclusion, independence, and productivity of adults with disabilities.

And into Maturity: The UCEDD guides the development of exemplary systems and services designed to enhance the lives of people aging with developmental disabilities.