University of Delaware Center for Disabilities Studies

09/03/2026

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires schools to provide transition services like career exploration and vocational training, while Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 helps ensure individuals with disabilities are not discriminated against in employment settings that receive federal financial assistance.

“𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝘁 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸: 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗔 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟱𝟬𝟰” is the second segment of our “Powering Futures: Let’s Work Together” Lunchtime Learning series.

Led by Amy Dwyre D’Agati, senior faculty specialist in the College of Education, University of Maryland (UMD), and staff at the Center for Transition and Career Innovation, this FREE webinar will examine the benefits—and challenges—of preparing for and acquiring meaningful employment after school, and how schools and state agencies can work with families to offer resources and make the transition process go smoothly.

𝗥𝗘𝗚𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗡𝗢𝗪!
𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: September 23, 2026
𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲: 12–1 p.m.

For more information and to register, visit: https://www.cds.udel.edu/poweringfutures

09/02/2026

𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆!

The Delaware Network for Excellence in Autism (DNEA) is holding another Live Practice Traffic Stop.

This program allows autistic drivers and passengers to work with the police in a safe, friendly space to practice a live traffic stop. It’s a great way to meet the police and ask them questions.

𝗪𝗵𝗼: Autistic drivers and passengers of all ages (Must be Delaware residents)
𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: Cape Henlopen State Park
𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻: Tuesday, September 29, 2026 – 3-7 p.m. (rain or shine)

The program is conducted through a partnership with the Delaware Natural Resources Police, Delaware State Police & New Castle City Police.

The program is 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 but registration is required and limited spots are available.

For more information and to register, visit https://bit.ly/46lzHN8

08/31/2026

“Through my disabilities studies minor, my eyes have really been opened to how behind our society is in being able to welcome all kinds of people—not just those who are fully-abled and neurotypical.”

That’s just one of the discoveries that Jackson Chandler, a junior in the University of Delaware College of Education & Human Development at the University of Delaware, made during his summer research program.

For the twelfth straight year, the 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗼𝗿 is the number one minor at the University of Delaware, with 𝟯𝟯𝟴 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 from 𝟰𝟳 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿𝘀 representing 𝟳 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲𝘀.

Read more about Jackson’s work at

University of Delaware junior Jackson Chandler studies the college experiences of autistic students who also identify as Black or trans.

08/28/2026

Su***de is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Mental health matters. And 988 provides judgment-free support 24/7.

The goal of 988 Day (held on 9/8) is to raise awareness about the 988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline. Help us spread the word that help is just three numbers away.

For more information, please visit DE.gov/988.

08/25/2026

“𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀: 𝗟𝗲𝘁’𝘀 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗧𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿” is a FREE, three‑part virtual Lunchtime Learning series leading up to a full‑day, in‑person event focused on employment for individuals with disabilities. Each webinar will explore a different federal law shaping disability employment: the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).

The first installment of our series, “The ADA, the ABLE Act, and the Future of Disability Policy in America,” led by Sara Hart Weir, executive director of the Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities, will combine policy insight with powerful lived experience perspectives to examine both the progress achieved and the challenges that remain.

The webinar is 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 but registration is required.

𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: Wednesday September 9, 2026
𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲: 12–1 p.m.

For more information and to register, visit: https://www.cds.udel.edu/poweringfutures

This series is presented in collaboration with the University of Delaware Center for Disabilities Studies, Delaware Division of Developmental Disabilities Services - DDDS, Delaware Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. - CLASI's Disability Rights Delaware.

08/20/2026

The University of Delaware Center for Disabilities Studies (CDS) is partnering with the Delaware Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (DSAMH) to raise awareness of the mental health needs of people with disabilities and to promote the use of 𝟵𝟴𝟴 among Delawareans with disabilities and their caregivers.

Delawareans with disabilities can 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹 or 𝘁𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝟵𝟴𝟴 or 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝘁 at 𝟵𝟴𝟴𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲.𝗼𝗿𝗴 if they need crisis support. Caregivers can also call or text 988 if they are worried about a loved one. 988 is available 24/7 and connects people with trained crisis counselors who can help with mental health-related distress.

Options are available for Spanish-language and Deaf/hard-of-hearing individuals.

For more information, please visit DE.gov/988.

08/18/2026

Do you use a smartphone but sometimes get overwhelmed by it? If so, our upcoming 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 Lunchtime Learning webinar is for you.

Register today for 𝗕𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗰 𝟯: 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗽𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻.

Join us next week to learn how the BlindShell Classic 3 phone supports individuals who prefer a simpler, more accessible alternative to traditional smartphones. The BlindShell Classic 3 is an award‑winning phone built for blind and visually impaired users. With full voice guidance and easy, tactile controls, it makes staying connected simple and stress‑free.

𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟮𝟲, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲, 𝟭𝟮–𝟭 𝗽.𝗺.

Register for this free virtual event at cds.udel.edu/blindshell

08/17/2026

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗖𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲 (𝗖𝗟𝗦𝗖) 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿!

We recently welcomed new CLSC students and their families to Newark for their on-campus orientation. Students were able to tour Disability Support Services, have a meal in the Caesar Rodney Dining Hall, set up electronic devices with the help of our information technology team and learn more about living on and off campus.

CLSC offers individuals with intellectual disabilities academic, career and independent-living instruction at UD that prepares them for future employment or further education.

We're looking forward to working with these amazing students. 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗛𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀!

Learn more about CLSC by visiting https://www.cds.udel.edu/clsc/

08/12/2026

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) fundamentally reshaped civil rights and accessibility in America, laying the groundwork for transformative policies like the ABLE Act, which expanded opportunities for financial independence and long-term economic stability for people with disabilities and their families.

Led by Sara Hart Weir, executive director of the Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities, this FREE Lunchtime Learning webinar on the ADA, the ABLE Act, and the future of disability policy in America will combine policy insight with powerful lived experience perspectives to examine both the progress achieved and the challenges that remain.

This conversation will challenge attendees to think beyond accessibility alone and toward a future where disability policy fully supports employment, economic advancement, independence, and true community inclusion.

𝗥𝗘𝗚𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗧𝗢𝗗𝗔𝗬!
𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: Wednesday, September 9, 2026
𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲: 12–1 p.m.
For more information and to register, visit: https://www.cds.udel.edu/poweringfutures

Registration is required and must be completed by Wednesday, August 26, 2026.

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Powering Futures: Let’s Work Together is a three‑part virtual Lunchtime Learning series leading up to a full‑day, in‑person event focused on employment for individuals with disabilities. Each webinar will explore a different federal law shaping disability employment: the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).

This series is presented in collaboration with the University of Delaware Center for Disabilities Studies, Delaware Division of Developmental Disabilities Services - DDDS, Delaware Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. - CLASI's Disability Rights Delaware.

08/07/2026

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿’𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗡𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 (𝗟𝗘𝗡𝗗) 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝘀!

LEND programs provide graduate-level, interdisciplinary training to future clinicians, educators, advocates, self-advocates, and family members, designed to improve the health of children with disabilities and their families.

Trainees spent the year learning, developing leadership skills, and gaining hands-on experience through 26 educational seminars, family and self-advocate mentoring experiences, faculty coaching, observances and field experiences, and attending conferences.

Graduates presented their final projects and celebrated their accomplishments at today’s LEND symposium.

Learn more about LEND at https://www.cds.udel.edu/lend/