KUCDD Advisory Group Honored for Leadership in Disability Education

A University of Kansas advisory group largely comprised of people with developmental disabilities was recently recognized for its leadership and advocacy by the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD).

The AUCD honored the Kansas University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (KUCDD) – Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities (LEND) Consumer Advisory Panel with the 2023 Gordon Richins Award for Leadership and Advocacy on Nov. 7th. The award recognizes exemplary practices by an organization that includes people with disabilities and family members in projects and initiatives within an AUCD center, like KUCDD. The award is named after Gordon Richins, a long-time leader, mentor and friend in the AUCD network and beyond, the organization announced.

At KU, the Consumer Advisory Panel advises leaders, researchers and staff in the Kansas University Center on Developmental Disabilities (KUCDD) and the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities, or Kansas LEND, about issues that are important to people with developmental disabilities and their families in Kansas.

According to the AUCD and KUCDD Director Karrie Shogren, who nominated the KUCDD-LEND Consumer Advisory Panel, they have self-initiated projects that have had significant and positive impacts in Kansas and beyond, such as creating “Good Communication for Good Health,” a video to educate medical providers about communicating with people with disabilities. They also created COVID-19 educational resources and videos, and developed materials to support people who use alternative and augmented communication devices on college campuses.  

“KUCDD-LEND CAP provides exemplary leadership and advocacy and acts as an example to the community and AUCD network,” the statement by AUCD said.