Center on Disabilityand Developmentat Texas A&M University

Michael R. Benz, Ph.D., DirectorCenter on Disability and Development

Amy Sharp, Ph.D., Associate

DirectorCenter on Disability and Development

Center on Disability and Development

Mission and Goals of the CDD

• Mission• Promote inclusive communities and better lives for

people with disabilities and their families through education, research, service, and outreach

• Goals• Improve education services and outcomes• Enhance community quality of life

Center on Disability and Development

History of the Center

• Established and funded in 2005 as University Center for Excellence in Disabilities

• Part of a National Network of 67 similar Centers in medical schools and major universities

• Approved in 2007 by Board of Regents to operate as the Center for Disability and Development (CDD)

• Texas AgriLife Extension Service is a key TAMUS organizational partner

Center on Disability and Development

Prevalence of Disability • School-age population

• National (2008) = 7.1 million (9%)• Texas (2008) = 517, 534 (9%)

• General adult population• National (2010) = 33.4 million (15%)• Texas (2010) = 2.6 million (14%)

• Factors affecting prevalence• Baby Boomers• Returning veterans• Changes in definition

Pre-service Preparation and Continuing Education Program Highlights

• Training for master and doctoral students

• Annual conferences• Texas Transition

Conference• Southwest Conference on

Disability• Texas Youth Leadership

Forum

• Continuing education• Person-Centered

Practices Institute• PATHS: Postsecondary

access and Training in Human Services

Center on Disability and Development

ResearchProject Highlights

• Language development and literacy

• Project WORLD (Words of Oral Language and Literacy Development)

• Early Reading Intervention• Promoting Adolescents’

Comprehension of Text

• Education outcomes• Autism• Bullying• Transition

• Disaster recovery and quality of life

• Project REDD (Research and Education in Disaster and Disability)

• Mobile Tips Tips for First RespondersCenter on Disability and Development

Community ServicesServiceHighlights

• Autism Assessment and Intervention Clinic*

• Texas AgrAbility Project

• Disability Training Network

• Brazos Valley Center for Independent Living

Center on Disability and Development

Outreach ProgramsHighlights

• Aggie Ability Awareness

• Aggie Guide Dogs and Service Dogs

• Camp LIFE

• Family Support Network

Center on Disability and Development

Information DisseminationHighlights

• CTSP (Career and Technical Education Special Populations) Training and Resource Center link

• Directory of Community Resources in Texas link

Center on Disability and Development

Center on Disability and Development

Summary of CDD Structure• 24 discrete multi-year projects address CDD

goals across education, research, service, and outreach

• 13 CDD faculty/staff members and 13 Affiliated faculty members

• 3 doctoral fellows

• 28 graduate students from 6 disciplines

• Ave. 15,500 individuals served annually by CDD projects

Center on Disability and Development

External Funds Leveraged by the CDD

CDD Fiscal Year

Core Grant Funds

Annual External Funds Leveraged

Ratio of External Funds to Core

Funds

FY07 $500,000 $2,690,155 $5.38

FY08 $490,000 $2,711,893 $5.53

FY09 $520,000 $4,073,329 $7.38

FY10 $528,000 $4,460,770 $8.45

FY11 $535,000 $4,169,000 $7.79

Center on Disability and Development

Aggie Ability Awareness

• Attitudes and Perceptions | A look at how mainstream culture

• History of Disability | Evolution of disability over history.

• Disability Types and Definitions | The strengths and challenges

• Legal Issues | A lesson on disability law: ADA & IDEA

• Fact | Learn the myths and facts surrounding the ADA.

• Etiquette & Respect | People 1st

• Accommodations | A discussion of Universal Design

• Discrimination | Institutional discrimination

• Panel of Experience | Ask questions and listen

Center on Disability and Development

Aggie Ability Awareness

• A new tradition in disability consciousness for the Texas A&M Community

• Aggie Ability Awareness (AAA) is a voluntary and interactive 3-hour seminar designed to increase knowledge, awareness, and respect for people with disabilities among students, faculty, and staff at Texas A&M University.

• AAA seeks to promote positive, equitable, accepting attitudes towards people with disabilities.

• Aggieability.tamu.edu

Center on Disability and Development

Contact Information

Center on Disability and Development

• Cdd @ tamu.edu

• 979-845-4612

• Cdd.tamu.edu

Amy Sharp• sharp @ tamu.edu