Center for Leadership in Disability

Join GaLEND in an Audiology Continuing Education event!

One out of 4 children who seek hearing health care has a developmental disability. Moreover, often children have not received a formal diagnosis at the time of their hearing evaluation. As a result, audiologists are uniquely positioned to assist in early identification of developmental disabilities through universal screening efforts. This presentation will focus on reviewing best-practice processes and tools for screening development.

Please visit https://bit.ly/GaLENDcourses to learn more and register for the course.

Julie!

Julie Eshleman, a Georgia LEND Fellow, explains in that the proposed AI Civil Rights Act of 2025 would set guardrails around how AI is used. It would require bias checks, make sure people can ask for a human review, and allow individuals to take legal action if they are harmed.

But these rules alone are not enough.

To make digital tools fair for everyone, we also need to include disabled people in designing AI, make sure insurance and Medicaid cover AI powered assistive tech, and improve internet access for all communities.

Civil rights in the 21st century must include the right to an unbiased, accessible digital world, Julie writes.

📣 Get involved by asking how AI is used in decisions that affect you, pushing for transparency, and supporting policies that promote true inclusion.

Read full blog post: https://bit.ly/4djhp30

Center for Leadership in Disability
The People of Georgia LEND



ID: Split graphic with a blue left panel and a portrait on the right. The left panel reads “AUCD Policy Talk” and includes a quote: “The very features that make AI powered assistive technologies beneficial, its ability to personalize and adapt, are also the sources of its greatest risks.” — Julie Eshleman. The bottom text reads “Safe and Fair AI.” The right side shows Julie Eshelman, a professionally dressed person with long hair featuring pink highlights, wearing glasses and a dark blazer against a neutral indoor background.

In recognition of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, the Center for Leadership in Disability reaffirms its commitment to ensuring inclusion, access, and opportunity for individuals with developmental disabilities. This month reminds us to center and celebrate individuals with developmental disabilities and their families as key partners in our work.

Visual Description: A selection of 5 photos from CLD events over the years.

Image 1: Two people enjoying music, one playing the guitar and the other who appears to be signing along.

Image 2: A child in a wheelchair pictured with five firefighters in front of a firetruck.

Image 3: Two Leadership Academy participants admiring an exhibit at the Civil Rights Museum.

Image 4: Darien Todd, CLD team member, with a family speaking with a State Representative in front of the Georgia Capitol.

Image 5: A family, two adults and three children, pose to take a family photo.

The 2026 Association of University Centers on Disabilities AUCD) Leadership Academy will be held in Atlanta on June 7-12, 2026. There is a webinar coming up on Thursday, January 29, 2026 from 4:00-5:30 pm (Eastern) to learn more about the Leadership Academy and to hear from academy alumni about their experience. Register for the webinar here: https://www.aucd.org/event/2026-aucd-leadership-academy-informational-webinar

The Application for the 2026 Academy is available until Monday, March 2, 2026 at 5pm.

Please send questions about the 2026 AUCD Leadership Academy to [email protected] .

Image Description: The 2025 AUCD Leadership Academy cohort in front of a AUCD backdrop.