Association of University Centers on Disabilities

What Association of University Centers on Disabilities does

Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) is a 501(c)(3) national membership association founded in 1971 that coordinates a network of 143 university-based interdisciplinary centers operating in every US state and territory. Its mission is to advance policy and practice for people with disabilities and their families by connecting academic research, clinical service, and professional training programs. AUCD's deliverables are documented in the NIRS database (Network Information & Resource System), which captures program outputs across technical assistance (513,000+ recipients), continuing education (965,000+ participants), clinical services to 177,000 families, expert products (13,900+), and trainees across 47+ disciplines. Its sub-brand programs include AIR-P (Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health, run with UCLA as NCC under HRSA UT2MC39440), NCRN (National Center for Disability, Equity, and Racial Justice, run with Morehouse School of Medicine under HHS OMH/NIMIC), the AUCD Leadership Academy in Atlanta, and the Emerging Leaders Community. Annual convening is the AUCD Conference, scheduled November 8-11, 2026 in Washington DC with expected attendance of approximately 1,020.

AUCD's business model is a federated non-profit model with diversified revenue streams. Primary funding flows through federal cooperative agreements and grants from the Administration for Community Living (ACL), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB), and the HHS Office of Minority Health. Secondary revenue is generated through membership dues from 143 institutional member centers, conference registration fees (general $800, student $300), Leadership Academy tuition ($1,250 per participant), and sponsored programming such as the Disability Policy Fellowship and Disability Policy Seminar. The associated network represents roughly $700M in aggregated resources across member institutions. Headcount is 11-50 employees, consistent with a lean national coordinating body rather than a direct service provider.

Operationally, AUCD acts as convenor, technical-assistance broker, policy advocate, and research network operator across its federally funded programs. It is statutorily anchored through the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act and related federal disability legislation, which underwrites its role as the de facto national coordinator between federal agencies and university-based disability programs.

Name

Association of University Centers on Disabilities

Legal name

Association of University Centers on Disabilities

Website

https://aucd.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AUCD is a national non-profit membership association, founded in 1971, that coordinates 143 university-based disability centers across all US states and territories, delivering federally funded research, training, technical assistance, and policy advocacy for people with disabilities and their families.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Research and Advocacy Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Business Associations (813910), Professional Organizations (81392), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093)

akta.pro primary industry

Autism Teacher Training & Professional Development (EDAKAKAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

AAC (Augmentative & Alternative Communication) Devices, Apps & Training (EDAKAIAB), AAC (Augmentative & Alternative Communication) & Speech/Language Therapy Tech (EDAFAKAB), Assistive Technology (AT) & AAC Services (EDAJAKAF)

Keywords

• Disability research networks
• Developmental disabilities training
• Policy advocacy services
• Workforce capacity building
• Membership association services

Headquarters

HQ city

Silver Spring

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership and Association Dues: AUCD operates as a membership-based national association. Network members (UCEDDs, LENDs, IDDRCs) participate through association membership, with each center paying membership dues or being funded through federal grants that support AUCD network activities.
2. Conference Revenue: Registration fees for the annual AUCD Conference generate revenue. General registration is $800, federal employees $800, students/self-advocates/family $300, with free admission for federal TA meetings and personal care attendants. Additional revenue from sponsorships and exhibitor booths ranging from $2,000 to $40,000.
3. Federal Grants and Contracts: AUCD receives federal funding through Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Administration for Community Living (ACL), and other agencies. Programs like AIR-P (HRSA award UT2MC39440), NCRN (HHS Office of Minority Health NIMIC), and network core grants support operations and research activities.
4. Leadership Academy Fees: The AUCD Leadership Academy charges $1,250 per selected participant for the week-long intensive training experience paired with year-long pre and post interactions. Program develops leadership skills among disability network professionals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

AUCD is a national, nonprofit membership association that supports a network of 143 University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDDs), Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LENDs), and Intellectual and Developmental Disability Research Centers (IDDRCs) across all U.S. states and territories. The association provides network members with research, training, education, and service programs related to developmental disabilities, supported by federal funding from ACL, HRSA, and MCHB. AUCD operates program initiatives including AIR-P, NCRN, the Leadership Academy, the Emerging Leaders Community, and an annual national conference.

Product overview

AUCD is a national association supporting a network of University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDDs), LENDs, and IDDRCs across all U.S. states and territories. Its core technology product is the NIRS (Network Information & Resource System), which encompasses a searchable database for projects and products and associated data management tools for network members. AUCD also operates a password-protected Directors' Resources Portal for exclusive member content. Beyond technology products, AUCD runs major programs including the AIR-P (Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health), the National COVID-19 Resiliency Network (NCRN) with a mobile app and call center, the AUCD Leadership Academy, and the Emerging Leaders Community. AUCD organizes an annual conference in Washington, D.C., with hundreds of presentations and over 1,000 attendees. The organization does not operate a public-facing software product platform with APIs, marketplace integrations, or AI-powered features.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• National COVID-19 Resiliency Network (NCRN): A network coordinated by Morehouse School of Medicine that mitigates COVID-19 impact on racial and ethnic minority and rural populations.
• Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health (AIR-P)
• AUCD Leadership Academy

Products and services

• NIRS (Network Information and Resource System) Search A searchable database enabling users to find projects and products across the AUCD Network, with filtering by state, program type, dataset type, core functions, target audiences, funding sources, and publication years.
• Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health (AIR-P) An interdisciplinary, multicenter research network coordinated by UCLA under HRSA funding, focused on increasing life expectancy and quality of life for autistic individuals through life-course intervention research, with collaborating research entities, monthly webinars, and pilot funding programs.
• National COVID-19 Resiliency Network (NCRN) A national network providing multilingual COVID-19 resources, a call center (1-877-904-5097), a downloadable mobile app, Regional Community Coalitions, a podcast, and dissemination campaigns targeting racial and ethnic minority and rural populations.
• AUCD Leadership Academy A year-long leadership development program for current and emerging leaders from disability networks (UCEDDs, LENDs, IDDRCs) and partner organizations, with a $1,250 participation fee per selected participant.
• AUCD Annual Conference AUCD's flagship annual national conference in Washington, D.C., featuring plenary sessions, poster presentations, awards ceremonies, council meetings, and exhibitor booths with registration fees ranging from $300 (students/self-advocates) to $800 (general/federal).
• AUCD Emerging Leaders Community A community platform for current and former trainees affiliated with AUCD Network Centers, providing access to events, leadership opportunities, and peer engagement to promote collaboration and advocacy within the disability community.
• AUCD Directors' Resources Portal A password-protected member portal exclusive to AUCD association members, providing exclusive documents, guidelines, templates, organizational announcements, and opportunities for collaborative partnerships.
• NIRS Products Dataset A dataset capturing materials and deliverables produced and disseminated by AUCD Network Centers and Programs, including academic courses, books, chapters, conference presentations, newsletters, fact sheets, and web-based products.
• NIRS Projects Dataset A dataset capturing funding and collaboration efforts, core functions, areas of emphasis, target audiences, and geographic scope of projects undertaken by AUCD Network Centers and Programs for each reporting period.
• Interdisciplinary Technical Assistance Center (ITAC) on Autism and Developmental Disabilities An MCHB-funded resource center at AUCD supporting Autism CARES programs (LEND and DBP programs), providing a platform for grantees to access events, engage with peers, and discover resources.
• National Capacity Building Center on Disability in Public Health (NCBC) An AUCD-led national initiative designed to strengthen the capacity of the public health workforce to fully include people with disabilities in public health programs, policies, and practices, rooted in evidence-based capacity-building methods and a strong equity-driven mission.

Quantifiable outcome

• 513,000+ people and organizations received technical assistance from AUCD Network
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024UCLA serves as the National Coordinating Center (NCC) for the Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health (AIR-P). Under the direction of Dr. Alice Kuo, UCLA leads an interdisciplinary, multicenter research network to increase life expectancy and quality of life for autistic individuals through innovative life course intervention research.
• AJ Drexel Autism InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner in the AIR-P research network contributing to autism intervention research focusing on physical health across the lifespan. Collaborates with other CREs on multi-site studies and research translation.
• Kaiser Permanente Northern CaliforniacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner in AIR-P research network contributing healthcare systems expertise and data for autism physical health research. Provides clinical settings for research implementation.
• MathematicacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Research partner in AIR-P network providing evaluation and research methodology expertise. Contributes to AIR-P infrastructure and research activities.
• Morehouse School of MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Leads the National COVID-19 Resiliency Network (NCRN), coordinating a strategic network of national, state/territorial/tribal and local organizations to mitigate COVID-19 impact on racial and ethnic minority and rural populations. Part of HHS Office of Minority Health's NIMIC initiative.
• AIR-P Collaborating Research Entities (CREs)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 202414 university-based research centers including Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities (UNC), Center for Human Development (UAA), Center on Human Development and Disability (UW), Indiana Institute on Disability and Community, Institute on Community Integration (UMN), Institute on Disability and Human Development (UIC), JFK Partners (CU), Kansas University Center on Developmental Disabilities, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Mailman Center (UM), Rose F. Kennedy Center (Montefiore), Sonoran Center (U of Arizona), UC Davis MIND Institute, and University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Receive annual infrastructure funding to implement multi-site research.
• Administration for Community Living (ACL)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Primary federal funder of UCEDD network through Developmental Disabilities Act. ACL's Administration on Disabilities provides core grant funding supporting research, training, education, and service for people with disabilities across the nation.
• Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Federal agency providing funding for LEND programs and AIR-P network through Maternal and Child Health Bureau. Supports training of professionals to work with children with neurodevelopmental disabilities and autism.
• Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Supports Autism CARES programs including LEND and DBP programs. Provides funding for interdisciplinary training in neurodevelopmental disabilities and supports maternal and child health engagement initiatives.
• Center for Leadership in Disability (CLD) at Georgia State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Collaborates with AUCD to deliver the Annual AUCD Leadership Academy. CLD hosts the week-long intensive training program and provides ongoing program administration and coaching support for year-long leadership development.
• National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH)supportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Developed #BeAGoodRelative Campaign toolkits promoting COVID-19 and influenza vaccinations in urban Indian communities. Created four videos promoting staying up to date on vaccinations.
• National COVID-19 Resiliency Network Community Partners (300+)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2024Over 300 local and national community-based organizations collaborate with NCRN to expand delivery of culturally and linguistically designed COVID-19 resources, increase vaccine access, and address health disparities in underserved communities.
• Tuskegee University - National Center for Bioethics in Research and Health CaresupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Commissioned by NCRN to construct an ethics assessment tool evaluating perceptions about social justice, beneficence, agency, and respect for persons related to COVID-19.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Autism Society of America: National autism-focused membership and advocacy organization with overlapping AIR-P/LEND community and federal advocacy footprint, but narrower focus on autism spectrum specifically versus AUCD's broader developmental disability mandate.
• Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL): Nonprofit focused on quality assurance and accreditation for intellectual and developmental disability service providers — comparable niche overlap with AUCD's UCEDD service-delivery members and similar nonprofit funding model.

Direct peers

• National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD): National membership association for state and territorial Developmental Disabilities Councils funded under the same DD Act framework as AUCD's UCEDDs. Directly comparable in mission, federal funding base, and advocacy posture toward people with developmental disabilities.
• American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR): National membership association representing community-based disability service providers — overlapping mission of supporting disability services infrastructure, federal advocacy, and member training/conferences for the I/DD community.
• American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD): Professional association focused on intellectual and developmental disabilities research, practice, and policy — directly comparable to AUCD in producing expert publications, training professionals, and convening annual conferences for the IDD field.
• National Disability Rights Network (NDRN): National membership network of Protection & Advocacy systems for people with disabilities — directly comparable in operating a federally affiliated, state-by-state member network to deliver disability services and advocacy.
• The Arc of the United States: National advocacy and service organization for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families — overlapping constituency (self-advocates, families), federal advocacy focus, and chapter-based distribution model analogous to AUCD's UCEDD network.
• United Cerebral Palsy (UCP): National disability services and advocacy organization with affiliate network serving people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities — comparable affiliate-network model, federal advocacy work, and service-delivery research dissemination.

Broad incumbents

• Special Olympics International: Large international nonprofit serving people with intellectual disabilities through sports, health, and leadership programs — comparable in mission alignment with AUCD's disability population, federal grant model, and large-scale program infrastructure.
• Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP): National membership association for state maternal and child health programs — directly comparable as a federally affiliated, member-driven association that shares MCHB funding partnerships with AUCD's LEND/Autism CARES portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/aucdnetwork
• Facebookfacebook.com/AUCDnetwork
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aucd
• Instagraminstagram.com/AUCDpix

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Association of University Centers on Disabilities