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 Since its establishment in the early 1960s, the has evolved from a federal effort initiated under President John F. Kennedy’s first Panel on Mental Retardation to strengthen research, training, and services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The panel’s recommendations eventually led to the creation of 19 University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDDs) through the federal passage of the DD Act in 1963. The University of Tennessee Center on Developmental Disabilities is a member of this inaugural cohort of disability centers and has been a member of AUCD since its inception. 

Over time, the AUCD network expanded to include Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) programs, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Centers (IDDRCs), and other training initiatives. Throughout the decades, AUCD has grown into a national membership organization that brings together and supports a decentralized network of university-based and medical center–focused interdisciplinary centers across all U.S. states and territories. 

AUCD’s mission is to amplify and advance the work of its Network to promote full community participation and improve the quality of life for people with disabilities and their families. To that end, AUCD supports its member centers through policy advocacy, technical assistance, networking, dissemination of data and best practices, leadership development, and cross-center coordination. The scope of the Network is substantial, currently encompassing 68 UCEDDs, 60 LEND programs, and 15 IDDRCs, among other specialized training programs. Each constituent center engages in a combination of training, research/applied scholarship, community service, technical assistance, and information dissemination, acting as a bridge between a university environment and real-world community needs.