UArizona Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities

UArizona Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities Expanding possibilities and enhancing independence through education, research and service. http://www.aucd.org

Over the past 16 years the University of Arizona Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities, part of the Department of Family and Community Medicine in the College of Medicine – Tucson, has been hard at work to make its vision a reality – to ensure individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities have the supports they need to fully participate in the vibrant life of our community.

To accomplish this goal, the Sonoran Center has focused on capacity building, infrastructure development, and fostering leadership to establish itself as a recognized leader in disability within Arizona and across the nation. University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) like the Sonoran Center exist in every state to serve as a resource for people in the areas of education, research and service relative to the needs of people with developmental disabilities. Authorized by the Developmental Disabilities and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 and funded by the Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, there are 67 UCEDDs in the United States and its territories. To learn more about the network of UCEDDs, see the Association of University Centers on Disabilities' website.

Save the Date! Join us for the Arizona Refugee Disability Roundtable Resource Fair. This will be a virtual fair that wil...
06/17/2026

Save the Date! Join us for the Arizona Refugee Disability Roundtable Resource Fair. This will be a virtual fair that will take place on Thursday July 9th from 9am-10:30am (MST) where participants will get the opportunity to learn, share, and explore resources to support refugees with disabilities and their families in Arizona!

In this interactive online session, you're invited to:
- Take part in a guided discussion with Sonoran Center experts about the needs of refugees with disabilities and emerging challenges.
- Learn practical strategies for helping refugees with disabilities access needed services and supports.
- Join small group discussions with Refugee Roundtable members on special topics such as Employment, Education, and Health.
- Make connections with local experts in refugee and disability services.
- Explore resources available to support refugees with disabilities.

Register today for our virtual fair at: bit.ly/RefugeeRoundtable
Learn more about the Roundtable’s work here: bit.ly/refugee_disability

This virtual resource fair highlights the importance of supporting refugees with disabilities by connecting them to resources, services and community networks that promote inclusion and empowerment.

Today is Neurodiversity Pride Day, a day to honor the brilliance and celebrate the creativity and contributions of indiv...
06/16/2026

Today is Neurodiversity Pride Day, a day to honor the brilliance and celebrate the creativity and contributions of individuals with neurodivergent minds.

For more info and events check out https://neurodiversityprideday.com

"Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better." - Maya Angelou. Thank you AnnaMaria L...
06/15/2026

"Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better." - Maya Angelou. Thank you AnnaMaria Lopez, Pre-ETS Vocational Specialist, for sharing this inspiring quote with us.

Join us on June 23rd for a Circle of Indigenous Empowerment Webinar! This virtual workshop will be presented by Agnes At...
06/13/2026

Join us on June 23rd for a Circle of Indigenous Empowerment Webinar! This virtual workshop will be presented by Agnes Attakai, Native Initiatives Program Director. This presentation will help participants uncover how mental health includes how people feel, think, and react. More than one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness. Research shows that American Indians and Alaska Natives experience higher rates of serious mental illness than almost all other ethnic groups.

This webinar will be held on zoom from 11am-12pm AZ (MST).
Register today at: bit.ly/ResilienceandMentalWellness

This week's Employer Spotlight for our Summer Work Program series is The Lemon Grove located in Yuma, AZ. The Lemon Grov...
06/13/2026

This week's Employer Spotlight for our Summer Work Program series is The Lemon Grove located in Yuma, AZ. The Lemon Grove is a local market and community gathering space that showcases Yuma’s agricultural heritage through fresh produce and local goods. The staff is extremely friendly and made us feel welcome and comfortable as soon as we arrived. We look forward to working with you this summer!

To learn more about the Sonoran Center's Summer Work Program, visit: bit.ly/SonoranSwp

Meet Michael, our first student worker spotlight for this year's Summer Work Program! Michael is working at The Hacienda...
06/13/2026

Meet Michael, our first student worker spotlight for this year's Summer Work Program! Michael is working at The Hacienda at the River in Tucson, AZ. We appreciate Michael's hard work and positive attitude this summer!

Learn more about The Hacienda at the River's work at www.watermarkcommunities.com.

To learn more about the Sonoran Center's Summer Work Program, visit: bit.ly/SonoranSwp

Welcome to our series featuring our Summer Work Program where we highlight the students and employers participating in t...
06/13/2026

Welcome to our series featuring our Summer Work Program where we highlight the students and employers participating in the program! The Summer Work Program focuses on providing students with intellectual and developmental disabilities the support they need to fully participate and gain some work experience with our partners throughout the state.

This summer we have a team of three students working at the Sonoran Center to gain experience in design and communications. Blake, Lawrence and Sydney will be creating the SWP series!

The team will highlight “Student Worker Spotlights,” along with “Employer Spotlights” showcasing their achievements every week.

To learn more about the Sonoran Center's Summer Work Program, visit: bit.ly/SonoranSwp

Please register and join us! This conference is FREE!
06/11/2026

Please register and join us! This conference is FREE!

Are you registered?

We are so excited to announce that we are bringing the African American Conference on Disabilities back this summer at our upcoming two-session FREE virtual conference on Tuesday July 14th , 2026!

Registration is open: https://givebutter.com/2026SummerAACD

Secure your ticket today! Once you order your free ticket, a Zoom link will be emailed to you. ASL and CART will be offered at both informative sessions-speakers will be announced very soon- stay tuned for some exciting announcements!

Join us for the 2026 National American Indian Disability Symposium, a two-day virtual gathering focused on community, ki...
06/10/2026

Join us for the 2026 National American Indian Disability Symposium, a two-day virtual gathering focused on community, kinship, and inclusion. This is a virtual event that will take place on July 16th and 17th from 8am-4pm (MST).

Register in advance at: bit.ly/NativeSymposium26

"People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel....
06/08/2026

"People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." - Maya Angelou. Thank you, Loretta Alvarez, Transition Program Manager, for sharing this meaningful quote with us!

Address

1521 E Helen Street
Tucson, AZ
85721

Telephone

(520) 626-0442

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