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Dear Friends and Colleagues,
It is my pleasure to welcome you to the University of Washington Institute on Human Development and Disability (UW IHDD). Founded in 1963, the UW IHDD is one of the few centers in the United States composed of three major federally funded core programs, a Eunice Kennedy Shriver Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center (IDDRC), a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD), and the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND), combined in one comprehensive center. Together, these core programs advance knowledge related to human development and disability through rigorous research and training and translates this knowledge into effective interventions and policies to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities and their families.
Scientific discovery is the mission of the IDDRC– discovering why child development goes awry, discovering ways to prevent developmental disabilities, and discovering treatments and interventions–so that children and adults with disabilities can live, learn, work, and enjoy their lives with their families and friends in their own communities. The UW is home to some of the brightest minds in the fields of psychology, neurology, genetics, pediatrics, and education. The IDDRC supports their collaborative work through four research cores.
The UCEDD mission is to train professionals within an interdisciplinary framework, provide clinical services, develop programs to be used as models in the community, and to evaluate and disseminate information. Advocacy and policy development on behalf of the community of individuals with disabilities are also important functions of the UCEDD.
The LEND program is a graduate level, interdisciplinary training program that prepares health professionals for leadership roles in providing health care for individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their families. LEND fellows deepen their training in neurodevelopmental disabilities and engage in individualized leadership training.
Together, the IDDRC, UCEDD, and LEND programs support a wide range of research, clinical service, professional training, dissemination, and community outreach activities. The work that we do at the UW IHDD is essential to advancing our understanding of human development and disability. Over 600 people, including 127 faculty members from 32 academic departments, work through the IHDD on a broad spectrum of problems relevant to individuals with developmental disabilities. Through our research, clinical services, and educational programs, we are making a positive impact on the lives of individuals with disabilities and their families.
Thank you for your interest in the UW IHDD. I invite you to explore our website to learn more about our programs and services, and to join us in our mission to create a world where everyone is valued and supported.
Sincerely,
Sandra Juul, MD, PhD
Director, Institute on Human Development and Disability