About Us/Our Initiatives
The Human Development Center (HDC) was established in 1974 and became a University Centers of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, Education, Research and Service (UCEDD) in 1984. HDC is a member of AUCD , a national network of 67 UCEDD programs. The Mission of the Human Development Center (HDC) is to provide leadership and innovation in interdisciplinary education, community service, research, and to disseminate information to strengthen and increase the capacity of local communities to support and include individuals with [developmental] disabilities and their families in all aspects of life in the community.
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Early Childhood Initiatives
- Early Head Start Child Care Partnership (Description, Website)
- Inclusive Practices in Early Childhood (IPEC) (Description, Website)
- Early Learning Center (ELC) (Description, Website)
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K-12 Education
- Louisiana Autism Spectrum and Related Disabilities Project (LASARD) (Description, Website (external, opens in new tab), Brochure)
- Louisiana DeafBlind Project for Children and Youth (LADBP) (Description, Website, Brochure)
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Transition, Employment, and Careers
- Postsecondary Apprenticeship for Youth (PAY Check) (Description, Website, Brochure)
- Employment First (Description, Website, Brochure)
- West South Central Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WSC-WIPA) (Description, Website, Brochure)
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Interdisciplinary Initiatives
- Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) (Description, Website, Brochure)
- Interprofessional Preparation Program (IPP) (Description, Website)
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Diagnostic Clinic Initiative
- Autism Spectrum Disorders Interdisciplinary Diagnostic Clinic (Description, Website)
The Organization of HDC Leadership
Early Childhood Initiatives
HDC's Early Childhood Initiatives, which target children between the ages of 1 and 5 years, are being re-established within HDC. Prior to the destruction of the facilities that housed HDC, Early Childhood Initiatives were among the most productive of all HDC program areas.
Early Head Start Child Care Partnership
HDC's Early Head Start Partnership provides free, high-quality, and comprehensive Early Head Start center–based child development services for more than 200 children from birth to three years of age as well as their families. HDC works with community childcare agencies to educate children and support families while also providing training, technical assistance, and resources to our partner agencies and their staff. The partnership is designed to increase the capacity of partner agencies to provide high-quality childcare to all of the families and children they serve.
Inclusive Practices in Early Childhood
The Inclusive Practices in Early Childhood program (IPEC) offers early childhood services to providers who want to effectively include children with disabilities. Our services are available to all early childhood providers and families.
We offer training, technical assistance, and coaching to ensure your program facilitates access, promotes participation, and identifies supports needed for young children with disabilities to reach their full potential.
Early Learning Center (ELC)
HDC's Early Learning Center (ELC) is an on-site facility that works near equivalently to each of the participant centers in the Early Head Start Partnership. Unlike Early Head Start, however, the participants must be children of active LSUHSC employees. The Early Learning Center is a separate initiative from Early Head Start and is funded through an entirely different grant.Top
K-12 Education Initiatives
HDC's K-12 Education Initiatives are designed to build knowledge and capacity of professionals involved in K-12 Education by:
- Preparing personnel to work in K-12 Education settings (pre-service)
- Providing Continuing Education and Technical Assistance to educators, administrators, and policymakers regarding best practices for evidence-based and inclusive education
- Provide community trainings for families, advocates, and other non-educators
Louisiana Autism Spectrum and Related Disabilities Project (LASARD)
PLEASE NOTE: The Web site for LASARD is outside of LSUHSC's domain and opens in a new tab.
The goals of the Louisiana Autism Spectrum and Related Disabilities Project (LASARD) include:
- Improve educational practices and outcomes for students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and related disabilities
- Develop statewide capacity to provide high quality educational programs for these students
Louisiana DeafBlind Project for Children and Youth (LADBP)
DeafBlindness is a condition in which both a hearing and vision loss are present at the same time. The combined effects of these losses, even if both are mild, create unique challenges for the child, family, and educator. The Louisiana DeafBlind Project for Children and Youth (LADBP) provides technical assistance and training to families, service providers, educators, and systems who support children and youth with deafblindness. The project promotes making high quality services available and encourages systems changes.
Transition, Employment, and Careers Initiatives
HDC's Transition, Employment, and Careers (TEC) includes a portfolio of projects and initiatives designed to build knowledge and capacity of secondary and post-secondary educators, community providers, employers, and self-advocates/advocates. The primary focus is to support job seekers with disabilities to obtain and maintain community employment outcomes.
Employment First
The HDC Employment First page provides an online learning directory, national employment news feeds, and links to local, state, and national resources. Topics include job development, job site training, fading supports, natural supports, and follow-along. The Employment First initiative is also resposible for statewide Employment Specialist Core Training (40 hours) as well as training on special supported employment topics (5 hours). Both are offered throughout the state. The Employment First Web site lists current training locations and dates.
West South Central Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WSC WIPA)
West South Central Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WSC WIPA) provides information to Social Security beneficiaries, ages 14–64, who wish to work or work more. It gives information about the impact of working on the benefits they receive. Benefit specialists are trained and certified by the Social Security Administration. Information and guidance provided to beneficiaries is based on a detailed analysis of all the benefits they receive. This results in a plan, including identification of Social Security and other work incentive options. This allows beneficiaries to work or work more while preventing loss of health benefits and/or overall income.
Postsecondary Apprenticeship for Youth (PAY Check)
The Postsecondary Apprenticeship Pilot for Youth (PAY Check) program is an innovative collaboration between the LSUHSC-Human Development Center (HDC), Louisiana Rehabilitation Services, Delgado Community College, two public school systems, one public Charter school association, and the University Medical Center-New Orleans.
PAY Check is a 3-5 semester program wherein students select courses at Delgado Community College related to UMC targeted apprenticeship areas, participate in professional career development activities, learn community and work skills, and gain employment experience through a paid apprenticeship at the University Medical Center.
Interdisciplinary Initiatives
HDC's Interdisciplinary Initiatives are led by teams that come from a variety of fields, including other HDC initiative areas. HDC provides two interdisciplinary training programs as well as one interdisciplinary clinic.
Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND)
HDC's Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) is an interdisciplinary training program with an interdisciplinary faculty including representatives from both within HDC and from Schools and Departments outside of HDC. The LEND program prepares trainees from various fields to become leaders in the field of developmental disabilities with an emphasis on early childhood and life course theory. In 2016 and again in 2021, HDC received a five-year grant to expand the scope and scale of this interdisciplinary training effort. There are several dozen LEND grants provided to organizations across the United States. Although the LEND grants are provided by AUCD, and many of the recipients are UCEDDs, not all of the recipients are UCEDDs.
Interprofessional Preparation Program
The LSU Health New Orleans’ Interprofessional Preparation for Related Services Personnel Serving Children With Disabilities Who Have High Intensity Needs, shortened to Interprofessional Preparation Program (IPP), is a scholarship program training related services personnel in interprofessional evaluation and management of school-age children with disabilities presenting with high-intensity needs.
Diagnostic Clinic Initiative
Autism Spectrum Disorders Interdisciplinary Diagnostic Clinic
The ASDID clinic is a program of the LSUHSC Human Development Center. The purpose of the interdisciplinary diagnostic clinic is:
- To provide outstanding services to families of children suspected of having autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
- To provide high quality information, training, and supervision to pediatric medical residents, graduate students, professionals, and families about best practices in interdisciplinary teaming and evaluations and family partnerships.
The clinic team works together to engage in best practices for ASD assessment, diagnosis, and support for children and their families.