$1Million Dollars Awarded for Disability Research

Online, August 17, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Today the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), a nonprofit network of university-based interdisciplinary centers and programs working to advance policy and practices for people living with disabilities and their families, announced funding for six research projects through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD).

"At a time when resources are becoming harder and harder to find, we are pleased that we are able to continue offering researchers this potential opportunity in collaboration with CDC," said George Jesien, PhD, AUCD's Executive Director. Research topics include autism, early hearing loss detection, fragile x, and health surveillance of intellectual disabilities.

The University of Oregon's University Center of Excellence on Developmental Disabilities is receiving two research awards focusing on the CDC "Learn the Signs. Act Early." campaign, an initiative that educates parents on developmental milestones, early warning signs of developmental delay and autism spectrum disorders, and how to take action with professional advice if a delay is noted. The University of Georgia's Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service will examine the gaps in parent knowledge of developmental delays.

"These research awards are a vital part of AUCD's efforts to strengthen the nation's capacity to provide programs and services for a wide range of developmental disabilities across the lifespan," says Jesien. Health surveillance of adults who have intellectual disabilities is the focus of the research collaboration of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center at the University of Massachusetts Medical School's Center for Developmental Evaluation and Research (CDDER) and the Human Services Research Institute (HSRI). The Sonoran University Center of Excellence on Developmental Disabilities at the University of Arizona will investigate methods for detecting hearing loss in infants with their award. The UNC Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities in collaboration with RTI International will research the nature and consequences of fragile x, both for affected individuals and their families.

Since 2002, AUCD has worked collaboratively with CDC's NCBDDD to strengthen public health activities in the areas of birth defects, developmental disabilities, and health promotion for people living with disabilities. For more information on the research awards, visit AUCD at www.aucd.org.
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