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Contact Information:

Center for Disabilities
Pediatrics - Sanford School of Medicine of The University of South Dakota
1400 West 22nd Street
Sioux Falls, SD 57105
phone: 605-357-1439
phone2: 1-800-658-3080 (V/TTY)
fax: 605-357-1438
cd@usd.edu

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Last Modified: 07/28/06

about the center for disabilities

The Center for Disabilities is a division of the Department of Pediatrics at the Sanford School of Medicine of The University of South Dakota.  The Center for Disabilities is South Dakota's University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Service (UCEDDERS) sometimes referred to as University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD).

Like other UCEDDs the Center for Disabilities receives core funding from the Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD) which is housed within the United States Department of Health and Human Services.  This funding is minimal but critically important and powerful.  This investment accesses and utilizes the university and other state and national resources, making significant impact on the lives of people with disabilities and special health care needs and their families.

The Center for Disabilities is assisted by the Center for Disabilities Consumer Advisory Committee.  The Consumer Advisory Committee is composed of at least 55% individuals with disabilities and/or family members of individuals with disabilities; representatives of South Dakota Advocacy Services; representatives of the South Dakota Council on Developmental Disabilities; representatives of self-advocacy organizations; representatives of the state agencies providing services for people with disabilities; representatives of local agencies concerned with providing services for people with disabilities; representatives of private non-profit groups concerned with providing services to people with disabilities; and representatives of higher education.  Center for Disabilities Consumer Advisory Committee members are appointed by the Center for Disabilities Executive Director.

To accomplish its mission, the Center for Disabilities conducts diverse yet integrated activities through academic training, community service, information dissemination, and research/evaluation, all reflecting state-of-the-art knowledge and experiences in the area of disabilities.

The Center for Disabilities four core functions (or focus areas) work together to accomplish its mission.

The four core focus areas are:

• Academic Training
  The Center for Disabilities provides interdisciplinary preservice preparation of graduate students and fellows.  Emphasis is placed on the interdisciplinary preparation of leadership personnel.  Traineeships are tailored to the student with site specific training opportunities available.
• Community Services
  Community Education: The Center for Disabilities provides community and outreach training that allows access to training in a variety of disability areas through conferences, workshops and seminars.  Programs offered vary depending on current training needs of practicing professionals.
  Technical Assistance: The Center for Disabilities provides technical assistance on a wide range of disability issues to consumers, families, agencies, and professionals in the health and education fields.
  Services and Supports: The Center for Disabilities provides diagnostic services and supports through a variety of programs and through contractual agreements with various agencies.
• Information Dissemination
  The Center for Disabilities provides South Dakota and the Northern Plains region easy access to current disability information. In January of 1998, the Center for Disabilities became a partner in the Wegner Health Science Information Center (Wegner Center).  The Center for Disabilities collection was incorporated into the Wegner Center collection.  This partnership allows Center for Disabilities consumers to have access to the Wegner Center collection as well as the Center for Disabilities collection.
• Research and Evaluation
  The Center for Disabilities staff and graduate students conduct research on a wide range of topics.
• Disability Services at The University of South Dakota
  The Center for Disabilities is responsible for the administration of Disability Services at The University of South Dakota.  Disability Services ensures that students, faculty and staff at The U who have disabilities receive the accommodations to which they are entitled.