At the Center for Disabilities and Development (CDD), we work together so that Iowans with disabilities and their families enjoy healthy, independent lives in the community.

CDD is home to Iowa's tertiary level evaluation and diagnosis center and clinics, Iowa's University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD), Iowa's Leadership Education in Developmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) program, and Iowa's Hawkeye Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center (Hawk-IDDRC). 

Main entrance to the Center for Disabilities and Development

CDD Clinical Services

The Center for Disabilities and Development Clinical Services are delivered at a variety of clinics based at CDD. Clinicians interact to provide patients and families the benefits of multidisciplinary care. 

Taking Charge of My Health webinar session

Iowa's UCEDD

Iowa's University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) provides services and supports, training and information, for Iowans with disabilities, their families and providers.

ILEND trainee cohort 2024-2025

Iowa's LEND

The interdisciplinary LEND program improves the lives of people with disabilities across the lifespan by training pre-service professionals to assume leadership roles in their disciplines.

Girl's profile over an colorful puzzled background used for webinar promotion

Hawk-IDDRC

Based at CDD, Iowa's Hawkeye Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, the Hawk-IDDRC, is one of only 15 IDDRCs in the country. 

Top of Mind at CDD

Every day at the Center for Disabilities and Development, we focus on our far-reaching vision of all people with disabilities living healthy and independent lives. But throughout each day, we focus on the many things we can do to bring that vision to life. We keep these things “top of mind” to guide us in our work. As we work together in 2025, CDD is keeping “accessibility” top of mind. We are prioritizing accessibility awareness and practice in our work each day. 

Accessibility Tip Sharing for Your Practice

Different document formats pose different accessibility challenges and opportunities. Check out these UI articles that showcase tips and techniques for accessibility across a spectrum of document formats, tools, and technologies.

Accessibility@IOWA - Document Accessibility

Main entrance to the Center for Disabilities and Development

23 %

of Iowans have a disability

Campers from Iowa's 2023 National Summer Transportation Institute explore bridges in Kent State Park

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CDD is celebrating 75 years of service to Iowans with disabilities

Mike Hoenig demonstrates Braille to school children

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Iowa's UCEDD manages federal, state and community contracts

Have you seen us lately? CDD celebrates seven decades!

2024 CDD Annual Report

CDD Spotlight

The CDD Spotlight highlights unique services and programs, trending topics, policymaking at the state and federal levels, and disability issues we emphasize in our daily work.

We built a CDD Spotlight Archive where you can find previously spotlighted features, revisit news about services and programs, and find updated information.

Visit the Spotlight again soon to see what's new!

UI Staff Excellence Awards Are Announced in Spring 2025

Judy Warth Receives Staff Council Award

Following 30 years of service to people with disabilities, CDD program manager Judy Warth has been honored with the 2025 Board of Regents Staff Excellence Award.

Hawk IDDRC pilot grant researcher looks in microscope

IDDRC Announces 2025 Winners!

Our Hawk-IDDRC has identified two innovative research projects to receive funding as pilot grant projects. One could become the next Hawk-IDDRC Research Project.

Events

Graduate Student Session with Mark Simpson-Vos, Obermann Editor-in-Residence promotional image

Graduate Student Session with Mark Simpson-Vos, Obermann Editor-in-Residence

Thursday, April 17, 2025 10:00am to 11:00am
111 Church Street
This interactive talk for PhD and MFA students in the writing disciplines will outline the publishing process for first books. The session will guide graduate students through the steps of the academic publishing process, with a focus on demystifying the journey from dissertation/thesis to manuscript to published book. Key topics will include identifying the right academic publisher, understanding peer review, negotiating contracts, and building a strong proposal. Led by Mark Simpson-Vos, Senior...
"Beyond Crisis: Restoring the Creative Partnership between Authors and Publishers" - Lecture by Mark Simpson-Vos promotional image

"Beyond Crisis: Restoring the Creative Partnership between Authors and Publishers" - Lecture by Mark Simpson-Vos

Thursday, April 17, 2025 3:30pm to 4:30pm
111 Church Street
At this public lecture, Mark Simpson-Vos — Senior Executive Editor at University of North Carolina Press — will discuss the way commentators have since the 1970s routinely trotted out the idea that scholarly publishing is in crisis, and how the stance of publishers in particular has been to shrug off such ideas. In this moment, however, it is impossible to ignore the deep strains within the scholarly publishing ecosystem, amidst increasingly turbulent times for American higher education. Lament...
Faculty Book Proposal Workshop with Mark Simpson-Vos promotional image

Faculty Book Proposal Workshop with Mark Simpson-Vos

Friday, April 18, 2025 9:00am to 12:00pm
111 Church Street
For this workshop, 4–5 UI faculty members will submit book proposal drafts for a collaborative feedback session led by Mark Simpson-Vos, Senior Executive Editor at University of North Carolina Press. The session is designed to help authors write a compelling book proposal, with a focus on crafting a strong pitch, identifying target audiences, and outlining the project’s structure. The workshop’s goal is for participants to walk away with a strong and cohesive book proposal, increasing their...

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CDD serves patients and families, community members, pre-service trainees, and researchers.

About CDD