University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Service

The mission of the Kennedy Krieger Institute UCEDD is to act as a change agent to increase the capacity of the community to incorporate state-of-the-art advances so that persons of any age with, or at risk for, developmental disabilities can achieve independence, productivity, integration and inclusion within their communities. The UCEDD is committed to contributing to the knowledge-base of the field of developmental disabilities through their university and community-based activities, including accessible, culturally competent and interdisciplinary training, service provision, technical assistance, demonstration projects, product dissemination, research, advocacy and interagency collaboration. Activities of the UCEDD are concerned with advocacy, capacity building, and systemic change. The activities also address the UCEDD functions of research, training, community service and technical assistance, and dissemination.

The Kennedy Krieger Institute UCEDD is committed to the formation of community-based service systems which: place primary responsibility for decision making with the consumer; recognize and support the family/caregiver as an individual’s fundamental support system; advocate for the legal and human rights of all individuals; ensure consumer participation in the design and delivery of services and supports; and support the formation of community networks and collaborations which place primary and final responsibility for service delivery in the generic service sector.