Friday, May 22, 2026

May 2026 Leadership in IDD

 

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Perspectives

Commentary from the field 

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Enhancing DSP Training to Support Quality of Life

Kelly Thacker, MA

Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities

 

Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) play a crucial role in promoting quality of life for the people with developmental disabilities (DD) they support each day. Despite their critical role, training for DSPs across the country is often insufficient for the complexity of the work. DSPs are routinely expected to support individuals with significant medical, behavioral, and communication needs with minimal instruction. Without training to promote high expectations and quality of life, DSPs tend to prioritize compliance and task completion over person-centered outcomes, an approach that limits opportunities for those they support to exercise autonomy, build meaningful relationships, and fully participate in their communities. Inadequate training also contributes to high turnover among DSPs, which disrupts care continuity and undermines the stability and well-being of those relying on DSP supports.

National investment in standardized, competency-based training can improve service quality, support professionalization of the workforce, and ensure that people with DD receive supports that promote dignity, independence, and meaningful lives.

2026 AAIDD Annual Meeting Member Highlights

Join us June 22-24,2026 in Chicago for this historic event and explore these sessions and many more as we celebrate 150 years of progress. Register today! 

Vincent M. Chesney, MS, FAAIDD, will be giving the Presidential Address: 150 Years of Progress

Vincent Bemmel, PhD, will be moderating and Karen Harvey, PhD, FAAIDD, will speaking on the plenary, Real-World Insights on Working with AI and Technology to Elevate Human Potential

Frank Symons, PhD, FAAIDD, Amy S. Hewitt, PhD, FAAIDD, Colleen Thoma, PhD, FAAIDD, and LaRon Scott, EdD, FAAIDD, will be speakers for the pre-conference session, Writing for Publications

Susan Copeland, PhD, FAAIDD, will be a speaker for the pre-conference session, The Story Behind the Story - Pivotal Moments in Special Education: Stories From our Foundational Leaders

AAIDD is looking to feature notables and perspective pieces from our members in the field! Send us your commentary to be featured in a future Leadership in IDD Newsletter.

Click here to submit your work to be featured.

Produced by AAIDD, this monthly digest features the recent (first made available within last 3 months) and emergent (will be available within the next 4-6 weeks) work of AAIDD members only. Journal articles, while important, are not featured in this publication. 

View the archive of the Leadership in IDD newsletter here.

Not yet a member? Join AAIDD online!

Tuesday, May 19, 2026

May 2026 FYI: Grow Your Impact with AAIDD Membership

 

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April AAIDD Highlights

Benefits AAIDD members are enjoying this month

This May, take the next step in your professional journey with AAIDD membership

Unlock exclusive access to professional webinars, leading IDD journals, networking opportunities and more. Discover all the membership benefits waiting for you this month.

Join AAIDD Today!

AAIDD 150th Annual Meeting 

AAIDD Members receive discounted conference registration 

Register today for the AAIDD 150th Annual Meeting!

Don’t miss this historic sesquicentennial event bringing together leaders across the IDD field. Become an AAIDD member to take advantage of discounted registration rates.

Register today!

AAIDD Webinars 

Ongoing professional education 

Why pay $10? Members receive registration at no cost for all AAIDD webinars

Identifying Suicide Risk in Youth with IDD

AAIDD Webinar

May 13, 2026 2:00-3:00 pm Eastern 

Register Here
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Building Key Skills for People with IDD Through Improvisation

AAIDD Webinar

May 27, 2026 2:00-3:00 pm Eastern 

Register Here
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Palliative Care Trajectories for Adults with Intellectual Disability

AAIDD Webinar

June 9, 2026 12:00-1:00 pm Eastern 

Register Here
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New NADSP Code of Ethics for Direct Support Professionals

AAIDD Webinar

July 23, 2026 2:00-3:00 pm Eastern 

Register Here
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AAIDD Journals

Leading Peer-Reviewed Journals in the IDD Field

Access articles at no cost for AAIDD Members 

The May 2026 Issue of the American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AJIDD) is Available Now! 

Read AAIDD Journals 
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Ready to Take the Next Step?

Join AAIDD and enjoy all these member benefits and more!

AAIDD's mission is to promote progressive policies, sound research, effective practices, and universal human rights for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Become a member today!

Join AAIDD!

AAIDD 150th Annual Meeting - Pre-Conference Sessions

 

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AAIDD 150th Annual Meeting: Pre-Conference Sessions

The 150th AAIDD Annual Meeting offers engaging pre-conference sessions before the first poster reception designed to enrich your conference experience! These dynamic 90-minute sessions offer a unique opportunity to explore critical topics in IDD, several with CEs! Don’t miss this chance to gain valuable insights, engage with experts, and set the stage for a truly impactful conference.

Monday, June 22, 2026

Sessions With CEs

Learners who complete the requirements will receive a certificate listing 1 CE for the following disciplines: APA, ACE, CAMFT, IACET, and SLP. CEs are available through Catalight; they require a separate registration and fee of $30.  

1:00 - 2:30 pm

Prescribing Psychologists

Derek Phillips, PsyD, MS, Executive Director, Fairleigh Dickinson University

From Margins to Meaning: The Evolution of Supporting People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in Hospice and Palliative Care 

Arlen Gaines, PhD, MSW, Director of Social Work, Palliative Care

 

When Seconds Matter: Using AI and Information Exchange to Improve Emergency Care for People with Developmental Disabilities

Donnie Woodyard, Jr., MA, Executive Director, United States EMS Compact

Doug Kerwin, Vice President of Engineering, Adworthy

Sessions Without CEs

1:00 - 2:30 pm

Writing for Publications

Frank Symons, PhD, FAAIDD, University of Minnesota; Editor of AJIDD
Amy S. Hewitt, PhD, FAAIDD, University of Minnesota; Editor of IDD
Colleen Thoma, PhD, FAAIDD, Virginia Commonwealth University (emeritus); Co-Editor of Inclusion
LaRon Scott, EdD, FAAIDD, University of Virginia; Co-Editor of Inclusion

 

SECP Research Colloquium
This session is organized by the AAIDD Student and Early Career Professional (SECP) and Research Interest Networks 

4:00 - 5:00 pm

The Story Behind the Story

Pivotal Moments in Special Education: Stories From our Foundational Leaders

Susan Copeland, PhD, FAAIDD, University of New Mexico   

Diane Ryndak, PhD University of North Carolina Greensboro   

Jorden Morales    PhD, Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind   

Dale Baker, PhD, St. Bonaventure University

Shea Head, PhD   

Somer Matthews, PhD, Southern Oregon University     

Learn more about our pre-conference sessions here

Register

Monday, May 18, 2026

Webinar Friday May 22: The ABC's of AAC

 

Join us for part 2 of the ABC's of AAC


Register today to gain the tools and confidence to support your child’s communication journey:

Description:

After receiving an Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) device, many parents ask the same question: “We have the device—now what?” If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Learning how to effectively use and model AAC in everyday life is a key step in supporting your child’s communication success.

We invite you to join session 2 of this webinar series designed specifically for parents and caregivers navigating this next stage. This series focuses on practical, easy-to-implement strategies that you can begin using right away—at home, at school, and in your community.
In addition to hands-on guidance, you will be introduced to a valuable AAC training tool developed by Allie Taylor, a former South Carolina LEND trainee, with mentorship from Rachell Johnson through the South Carolina Assistive Technology Program. This resource was created to help families better understand and confidently use AAC in daily life.
Who Should Attend:
Parents and caregivers of AAC users, family members, speech-language pathologists, and other professionals supporting AAC users.
Presenter:
Rachell Johnson, MCD, CCC-SLP, ATP
Program Manager, South Carolina Assistive Technology Program (SCATP) and South Carolina LEND Faculty Member

Friday, May 15, 2026

AAIDD 150th Annual Meeting - Registration & Hotel Reminders

 

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Registration Reminder

Registration rates for the AAIDD 150th Annual Meeting increase on May 18, 2026. Register today to secure early-bird pricing for this historic event!

Register

Hotel Reminder

The deadline to reserve your room at a discounted rate is May 27, 2026.

Book your stay at the Hilton Chicago today and enjoy exclusive savings while staying just steps away from all the conference action.

Book a Room

Thank You to Our Sponsors!

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