The theme of the 2006 AUCD Annual Meeting and Conference is: Forging New Partnerships for New Challenges Through Research, Education and Service.
The disability community is facing many of the same challenges that significantly influence and change the fiber of our nation as a whole. AUCD's network is called upon —if not required—to examine, create and enhance non-traditional partnerships for these new challenges facing our nation and communities.
The Annual Meeting and Conference provides an opportunity to celebrate our partners and to explore how partnerships, networks and other formal and informal collaborations can help realize the vision of full participation of persons with disabilities and their families. Our real and potential partners include individuals with disabilities and their families; our universities and centers; state, international, national and local agencies; policymakers; advocates, and others who care about the current and future status of our nation and communities.
Working with persons with disabilities and their families, we as university centers and as individuals have the ability to strengthen existing networks, leverage formal and informal collaborations and create new partnerships in research, education and service.