Iowa's University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD)
Center for Disabilities and Development
The Center for Disabilities and Development (CDD) has been designated as Iowa's University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) since 1972. Established by the Iowa Legislature in 1947 as the University Hospital School, CDD has evolved over the years in response to every major advance in disability policy in the United States from being a residential school to serving as Iowa's tertiary level diagnosis and evaluation center supporting Iowa schools and community programs.
It is CDD’s designation as Iowa’s UCEDD that allows us to continue to broaden the scope of our mission and activities to improve the quality of life for Iowans with disabilities and their family members. We achieve this through:
- University training for future professionals
- Community training
- Clinical services and direct community supports
- Technical assistance to state and local agencies/organizations to improve services and build community capacity
- Research and policy analyses to identify emerging best practice and model services
- Statewide information and referral services for assistive technology and disability services