University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities

Welcome

We hope you find our website informative, inspiring and illustrative of our long-standing commitment to improving health and quality of life for Oregonians with disabilities, and their families, across the lifespan.

We listen to our community and encourage you to contact us with any comments, questions or concerns you might have related to the UCEDD or people experiencing disabilities in our state.

Two UCEDD Co-Directors — Co-directors: Rhonda Eppelsheimer, M.S.W./L.C.S.W. (right)
and Melanie Fried-Oken, Ph.D., C.C.C./Sp. (left)

Who we are

University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities are organizations, located at universities across the nation, that focus on improving the lives of people with disabilities and their families. Through education, service, research and outreach activities, they work to be instrumental in changing policy, providing training, and educating the public about disability issues.

The OHSU UCEDD was one of the first UCEDDs created, and celebrates a nearly 50-year history in Oregon. We are instrumental in developing and leading disability research and outreach efforts to improve the lives of people with disabilities and their families across the State of Oregon.

What's happening - current news

The UCEDD team went to Salem for the DD Coalition GO! Project Advocacy Day. We supported our network partners and visited six legislative offices including meeting with Speaker Kotek. We educated legislators about our work, the OHSU LEND Program, the Oregon DD system, and more.

Four Wheeling Through Life

Jan Staehely - UCEDD Staff, Communication Consultant and Blogger, writes about her life in her blog Four Wheeling Through Life. "I have a disability called Cerebral Palsy. Since all four of my limbs, plus my speech is affected by the disability, doctors say that I am severely disabled. However, if you ask me, I will tell you that there are people living with more complex disabilities than me."