RQ 2026: See you in Baltimore!

 

The countdown is on! In just a few days, we'll be welcoming attendees from across the country to Reimagining Quality 2026 in Baltimore.   We're looking forward to an engaging and memorable conference. Before you arrive, here are a few helpful reminders: Still need to register? If you missed online registration, don't worry! On-site registration will be available at the Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel. Plan your conference experience. Review the Schedule at a Glance to map out the keynote presentations, breakout sessions, exhibits, and networking opportunities you don't want to miss. Attending a pre-conference session? Be sure to arrive early on Sunday to check in before your session begins. A special thank you to our sponsors for their generous support for Reimagining Quality 2026. Their partnership helps make this conference possible!

Safe travels, and we'll see you in Baltimore!

What's new at Family Connection in September

 

Helping families start the school year strong Family Connection of South Carolina has been busy helping families understand IEPs, 504 plans, evaluations and reevaluations and school services, as well as helping parents and guardians prepare for meetings with school and healthcare professionals. Sometimes that means walking families through complicated processes. Other times, it means helping a parent determine the next question to ask—or simply reassuring them that they do not have to figure it out alone. Here are a few examples of success we've had in the last few weeks! Continue Reading

	Youth in Action LOOK! Participant Grace participated in the Little Lobbyists internship program this summer and shared her experiences in this blog. We're so proud of this high school student for spending her summer advocating for others!

Happy 31st Anniversary! Family Connection Team Member  Lisa is celebrating her 31st anniversary with our organization! She is Family Connection's statewide parent-to-parent program manager. Congratulations, Lisa!

Join Taylor for Buddy Walk! Taylor is absolutely one of the happiest people you will ever meet! She’s extremely motivated to be all she can be and she never uses Down Syndrome to stop her from doing anything. There’s a YES with Taylor for every NO she was given! She loves fashion, her family and friends, but most of all she loves Jesus with her whole heart.  Taylor is the perfect example of why there’s nothing DOWN about this girl, except a diagnosis!   Register today and join us Sunday, November 1, 2026 Families, friends, neighbors, schools, businesses, and community partners come together to celebrate every Buddy, while raising awareness and supporting Family Connection's mission of connecting families across South Carolina. Buddy Walk® was established in 1995 by the National Down Syndrome Society. Whether this is your first Buddy Walk or your family's favorite fall tradition, you'll find a welcoming community ready to celebrate alongside you.  Team registration and fundraising are open and you can sign up today!

Upcoming Education Trainings Registration information here   Welcome to SC - the Healthcare Edition Thursday, Oct. 8 | 12:00 - 12:30 pm --- It's All About Progress monitoring progress through IDEA Wednesday, Oct. 21 | 12:00 - 12:30 pm

Save the Date - Hopes & Dreams 2027 Thursday, April 8, 2027 Family Connections' Hopes & Dreams Conference brings together parents, students, professionals, exhibitors, and sponsors for a day of learning and collaboration!

© Family Connection of South Carolina All Rights Reserved. 1800 St Julian Pl., suite 104, Columbia, SC 29204

Register today for AUCD’s 2026 Conference!

 

November 8-11 | Washington, D.C. Register for AUCD’s 2026 Conference

AUCD welcomes all Network members, non-network organizational partners, experts from all across the disability field, individuals with disabilities, family members, students, and trainees to learn and grow together at its annual conference in Washington, DC! Registration Closes October 28, 2026

View Registration Information AUCD 2026: Apply for a Conference Scholarship!

To make sure the conference is accessible to all, AUCD will provide a reduced registration fee for students, individuals with disabilities, and family members of individuals with disabilities. This year, AUCD is offering two types of Scholarships: Conference Scholarships and Emerging Leaders Conference Scholarships. Apply by October 1, 2026

View Scholarship Information AUCD 2026: Book your hotel stay!

AUCD's conference will take place at the The Westin Washington, DC Downtown Hotel. AUCD has a room block for $280/night for single or double occupancy.  The Westin DC has 23 ADA rooms, 10 of which have roll-in showers. All of the hotels' roll-in shower rooms are in AUCD's room block. Room block closes on October 16th.

View Hotel Information

AUCD 2026: Become a Sponsor or Exhibitor

Partner with AUCD at the 2026 Conference. Sponsorship provides opportunities to connect with more than 1,000 Network members, including researchers, practitioners, advocates, people with disabilities, families, students, and community leaders. Your support helps foster learning, collaboration, and networking across the disability field. Sponsor or Exhibit Today!

View Sponsorship Information AUCD | 1100 Wayne Avenue, Suite 1000 | Silver Spring, MD 20910

September 2026 Leadership in IDD

 

Perspectives Commentary from the field

Advancing Person-Centered Sensory Supports Through Technology   Frederick Covington, OTD    Effective support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) must be grounded in evidence-based practice, person-centered planning, and a commitment to improving quality of life. Sensory integration differences are well documented in people with IDD, which  influence regulation, communication, behavior, and participation in everyday activities.   Advances in assistive and environmental technologies enable the creation of individualized sensory spaces that integrate adjustable lighting, therapeutic sound, tactile experiences, and more. Evidence-informed sensory modulation strategies can be embedded into environments that are adaptable, accessible, and responsive to individual sensory profiles. These supports can be implemented across settings and across the lifespan.   Technology-enabled sensory spaces that prioritize user control promote autonomy, self-regulation, and self-advocacy. From a policy and systems perspective, integrating technology-supported sensory environments into service models represents a scalable and sustainable strategy that supports participation, reduces behavioral escalation, and advances equitable access to individualized support for people with IDD.

Notables  Recent awards, accolades, appointments, and other honors

Kristen Padilla, PhD, Awarded the 2026 Helen G. FitzSimmons Leadership Award from the Texas Chapter of AAIDD

Trevor Parmenter, PhD, FAAIDD, Appointed Patron of the University of New England (NSW, Australia) Faculty of Medicine and Health Research Centre

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!