DDNJ Author Insights

In this episode, Matt interviews two more directors of Developmental Disabilities Councils, in our series about DD Act programs. Our guests are, Christine Pisani, who is Executive Director of the Idaho Council on Developmental Disabilities , and Libby Oseguera, the Executive Director of the Utah Developmental Disabilities Council . They talk to us about their backgrounds, how they ended up in thei...

In another special episode about the Developmental Disabilities Network, Matt interviews Talley Wells about his experience with a state disability council. Along with UCEDDs, and Protection & Advocacy agencies, each state has a disability council. Talley shares his impressive history in the disability field and how the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities (NCCDD) supports peopl...

In this special episode, Matt interviews Derek Nord and Randall Owen about something they all have in common - their jobs as Directors of University Centers on Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDDs). They discuss how they ended up working within this system, the valuable services and research they and their centers provide to their communities, and what is unique about the UCEDD system....

In this episode we hear from three of the authors (Hannah, Sahana, and Shelly) about their article titled " Disability Education in Medical Schools: A Paradigm Shift for Inclusive Care " published in the Fall 2024 issue of the Developmental Disabilities Network Journal. Full transcripts of this episode are available here in English and in Spanish . Dr. Hannah Ship is an Internal Medicine Resident...

In this episode, Matt talks to Megan Best, Amanda Johnston, Sarah Demissie, coauthors on the article, " Conducting a Pilot Evaluation of a Civic-Engagement Program for Youth with Disabilities " which was published in the fall 2024 issue of DDNJ. The researchers behind this article discuss why it is important for individuals with disabilities to be engaged in self-advocacy, what policies impact peo...

In this episode, Matt interviews Drs. Mary Beth Bruder and Tara Lutz from the University of Connecticut Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UConn UCEDD); Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities program (UConn LEND) about their article, " Barriers to Health Care Among Adults with Disabilities in Connecticut " in the Fall 2024 issue of the Developmental D...

In this episode, we hear from Micah Peace Urquilla (they/them) about the Person Experiences Interview Survey (PEIS), a tool developed to engage patients with IDD in their own care. We talked about how the mental healthcare system has more barriers and is more difficult to navigate and receive quality care for people with disabilities. We also discussed how the PEIS aims to engage patients with IDD...

Our Winter 2023-2024 special issue was dedicated to the wellbeing and mental health aspects of persons with IDD. We were interested in all facets of this topic, with a particular focus on engagement with people with IDD, integrated wellbeing and mental health assessment and treatment approaches, inclusive research, and positive mental health. We were lucky to have Drs. Joan Beasley and Luke Kalb s...

In this episode Matt interviews Julia and Paritosh about their recent article entitled " Reimagining Disability, a Call to Action " Published in the 2023 open issue of DDNJ. In this article and in the podcast, they discuss why professionals across various fields should move towards the social model of disability, rather than the medical model. This conversation provides more insight into why they...

In this episode, Matt Wappett interviews Drs. Richard Chapman and Jessica Schuttler about their recent article, Applying the Self-Determined Learning Model of Instruction to the Psychotherapeutic Context for People with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities . They talk about how this model was and can be used in clinical practice and the importance of self-determination, as well as the motivatio...

In this episode, we hear from Shari Cooper self-advocate and author of Loving My Skin: A Self-Advocate’s Perspective from Dayton, Ohio.  Shari has worked in the disability field a very long time, tells us how she became involved in self-advocacy, and how she thinks it could be valuable for others to become involved. You can listen to this episode here or check out a transcript in English or Spanis...

In this episode, Matt interviewed Tawara Goode about the article she coauthored in the special issue of DDNJ focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion. This article was entitled, " Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Developmental Disabilities: The Essential Role of Leadership for Cultural and Linguistic Competence " We learned what lead Tawara to do this work, more information about t...

In this episode, we hear from two of the authors of the article titled, "Paths to Equity: Parents in partnership with UCEDDs fostering Black family advocacy for children on the autism spectrum" which was published in the 2023 special issue on diversity, equity, and inclusion. We were so thrilled to discuss this important work with Ida and Dr. Morgan and also learn more about them as people and why...

In this episode, Dr. Matt Wappett interviews Nathan Rabang and Vanessa Hiratsuka about their recent article in the Developmental Disabilities network journal special issue on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Their article was entitled Disability Decolonized: Indigenous Peoples Enacting Self-determination and can be found here . A quote from their article that gets at the core of our conversation...

For this episode of the Developmental Disabilities Network Journal (DDNJ) Author Insights podcast, we are bringing our listeners something a little different. We've had the immense privilege to have Jacy Farkas and Dr. Lydia Ocasio-Stoutenburg work with us as guest editors on the upcoming special issue of the DDNJ, focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Be sure to watch for the publication o...

In this episode, we talked to Tabitha and Bob about their recent article in DDNJ titled, " Collaboration between Secondary Special Education Teachers and Community Rehabilitation Service Providers: A Focus Group Analysis " - a full transcript of this podcast is available in English and in Spanish . Bob Morgan is a Professor in the Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation at Utah State Un...

We interviewed Dr. Sarah Behrens about her recent article in the DDNJ Family Perspectives on Developmental Monitoring: A Qualitative Study Dr. Behrens is a recent University of Kansas Medical Center graduate in Therapeutic Science with a research emphasis on early identification practices for young children and their families. She has a master's in social work and is a former LEND trainee. Serving...

In this episode we interviewed Dr. Parthenia "Parthy" Dinora and Molly Dellinger-Wray to learn about the Leadership for Empowerment and Abuse Prevention (LEAP) program which is an abuse prevention intervention for people with intellectual disabilities. Parthy and Molly were co-authors on an article about this program and you can find the article about this program in the most recent issue of the D...

This episode is an interview with Dr. Samantha Ross and her coauthor, Bridgette Schram, about their article entitled "Promoting Inclusion of Adults with Disabilities in Local Fitness Programs: A Needs Assessment." This article can be found in the most recent issue of DDNJ, Volume Two, Issue One . So, by way of introduction, Dr. Samantha Ross is an assistant professor in the Physical Education Teac...

Welcome to the inaugural episode of the DDNJ Author insights podcast. We are excited to welcome you to this new series of interviews with authors published in the Developmental Disabilities Network Journal, adding another level of accessibility and insight to the world of disability research.    In this episode, Dr. Matthew Wappett, Editor in Chief of the DDNJ and Executive Director of the Institu...