AUCD Connects National Disability And Health Experts With CDC

Online, May 14, 2010 (Newswire.com) - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Adriane Griffen, [email protected]
May 18, 2010 On Site Phone: 202-210-1546

AUCD CONNECTS NATIONAL DISABILTY AND HEALTH EXPERTS WITH CDC

SILVER SPRING, MD - Today the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) will welcome over 100 disability and health leaders from around the nation to Atlanta, GA, as it kicks off a three day event, "Connecting to Reach Our Full Potential." Held in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD), this gathering of key disability and health leaders with potential public health partners will focus on critical issues from health care reform and policy to emergency preparedness for the over 54 million Americans who live with a disability.

With growing public health concern of disability and the impact of social isolation, obesity and nutrition, and smoking, good health is still a frontier for many Americans who have a disability. "It is critical that we examine effective health promotion and wellness programs for people with disabilities. We are pleased to facilitate this event with CDC which will engage partnerships with universities and state health departments to provide more and better programs and services for a wide range of disabilities across the lifespan," said Dr. George Jesien, PhD, AUCD's Executive Director.

This Disability and Health Partners Meeting, "Connecting to Reach Our Full Potential," brings key disability and health leaders together with potential general public health partners for the first-time. Attendees will include Disability and Health State Implementation Projects, Public Health Practice and Resource Centers, State Health Departments, and officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The meeting will take place at the Marriott Atlanta Buckhead, 3405 Lenox Road, NE, Atlanta, GA, on May 18 - May 20, 2010. Agenda highlights include: Health Care Reform and Accessibility Panel (May 18, 8:30am), Helping Hands Award - recognizing Walgreens Distribution Center (May 18, 12noon), Adaptive Dance Workshop (May 18, 6pm), Disability Surveillance Web Demo (May 19, 9am), Nia & Chi Walking & Wheeling (May 19, 12:45pm), Adapted Yoga (May 20, 8:30am), and Emergency Preparedness Action Steps (May 20, 9am).

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. AUCD is a nonprofit network of university-based interdisciplinary centers and programs working to advance policy and practices for people living with disabilities and their families. For more information on the Disability and Health Partners Meeting, "Connecting to Reach Our Full Potential," or AUCD please visit www.aucd.org.
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