Dr. Verity Rodrigues, a faculty member at the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, and Dr. Nina Zuna, Associate Director of the Texas Center for Disability Studies UCEDD/LEND, co-lead the Interdisciplinary Translation Collaborative (ITC), a cross-institutional initiative involving trainees from both universities.
Launched during the 2025–2026 academic year, the ITC provides students with a cross-university learning experience in which they work in interdisciplinary teams to explore shared areas of interest related to supporting children and youth with disabilities and their families. UT Austin ACCESS students—scholars participating in a U.S. Department of Education personnel preparation grant—complete this collaborative project as one of their training grant requirements.
Our inaugural cohort did an outstanding job developing resource tip sheets focused on social and mental health topics to support school-age children. Please feel free to download and share these resources widely!
Adapting the CASEL Framework for Students with IDD
Supporting the Regulation of Children with IDD and Trauma in School Settings
Mental & Behavior Health for Students with IDD: Conversation Skills Activity
