In this special episode, Matt interviews Derek Nord and Randall Owen about something they all have in common - their jobs as Directors of University Centers on Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDDs). They discuss how they ended up working within this system, the valuable services and research they and their centers provide to their communities, and what is unique about the UCEDD system. DDNJ was created to highlight the work done in UCEDDs and other disability network programs. View the full transcript in English or Spanish.
"There are 68 UCEDDs-at least one in every US state and territory-that facilitate the flow of disability-related information between community and university. UCEDDs work with people with disabilities, members of their families, state and local government agencies, and community providers in projects that provide training, technical assistance, service, research, and information sharing, with a focus on building the capacity of communities to sustain all their residents." -AUCD
Dr. Derek Nord is a nationally recognized scholar and leader in disability research, public policy, and systems change. He serves as Director of the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community (IIDC), Indiana’s federally designated University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities and is a professor in the IU School of Education. His work focuses on improving how systems support the full inclusion and participation of people with disabilities in all areas of life, including education, employment, health, and community living. With a focus on applied research and partnership, Dr. Nord leads efforts that inform policy, strengthen practice, and remove barriers across state and national service systems. Dr. Nord’s research explores how disability policy, service systems, and community practices interact to shape real-world outcomes. His work has directly informed policy discussions at the state, federal, and international levels, including in reports to the U.S. Congress and President, briefings with lawmakers, Medicaid redesign efforts, and global initiatives led by UNESCO. He is also known for his data-driven work on employment, inclusion, guardianship reform, and long-term services and supports. Under Dr. Nord’s direction, the IIDC works in close collaboration with state agencies, educators, researchers, advocates, and people with disabilities to advance its mission: ensuring that individuals of all ages and abilities are fully included in community life. He oversees a multidisciplinary team of experts who lead nationally recognized work across a broad range of issues, from early childhood and education to employment, health equity, and systems innovation. Through research, training, and technical assistance, the IIDC supports meaningful change in policy and practice throughout Indiana and beyond.
Randall Owen, PhD, is the Director of the Nevada Center for Excellence in Disabilities at the University of Nevada, Reno. Randall is an Associate Professor of Special Education and Disability Studies in the College of Education and Human Development. He has served in these roles for almost 5 years. Randall’s scholarly interests are in inclusion practices for people with disabilities, including regarding students with disabilities in STEM, education in general, healthcare services and policies, the role of family, and the employment of people with disabilities. Randall’s work seeks to amplify the voices of people with disabilities and ensure that they are directly included in decisions that impact them. He teaches courses in Disability Studies to graduate students about the lived experiences of people with disabilities. He also teaches a course on grant writing. Randall is a product of the UCEDD network. He completed his graduate training at the Institute on Disability and Human Development (Illinois’ UCEDD) at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He earned a Masters degree in Disability and Human Development (2007) and PhD in Disability Studies (2011). After completing the PhD, Randall stayed with IDHD as a postdoctoral research associate, clinical faculty, and eventually the Associate Director. With the exception of one year away (2019-2020), Randall has been employed in the AUCD network since 2005. He is also part of UNR’s LEND faculty.
