Current Trainings
Iowa National Summer Transportation Institute
Free summer STEM camp
Sunday, June 22 – Friday, June 27, 2025
The Iowa National Summer Transportation Institute (INSTI) is a free STEM summer camp for students entering 9th, 10th, or 11th grade, and will be held on the University of Iowa campus.
Students of color, young women, and youth with and without disabilities are encouraged to apply.
Join us for 5 days of learning focused on STEM Education, careers in the transportation industry, leadership, college readiness, and more!
INSTI is hosted by the University of Iowa REACH Program, in collaboration with the Civil Rights Bureau of the Iowa Department of Transportation and funded through the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).
To apply, contact kathryn-abrams@uiowa.edu or view the application form.
A Clinical Perspective on Hearing Loss and Co-occurring Disabilities
Enhancing Communication Through Pediatric Audiology Practice
Thursday, May 15, 2025 – 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Join Dr. Shannon Culbertson, a pediatric audiologist at UNC Hospitals, for an AUCD virtual training on treating pediatric patients with hearing loss and co-occurring disabilities.
With expertise in diagnostics, hearing aids, inpatient care, and pediatric cochlear implant research, Dr. Culbertson is passionate about helping children with multiple disabilities reach their communication potential. Her personal experience with hearing loss and craniofacial differences adds valuable insights to her work and this training.
Expanding Your Reach: Tools and Benefits of the Iowa Brain Injury Resource Network (IBIRN)
Brain Injury Alliance Iowa
Wednesday, May 28, 2025 - 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
Presented by: Courtney Sand, MS, LBA, BCBA, CBIST, Training and Education Coordinator, Brain Injury Alliance Iowa
*Iowa Board of Certification approved for 1.0 hour Generic.
Mindspring Hosts Webinars & Events
Free Training Opportunities
May 2025 dates
Webinar Series
Mindspring provides free mental health education opportunities to the public through webinars on a wide variety of mental health topics. Webinars are hosted every Tuesday and Thursday from 12:00pm-1:00pm, and Wednesday from 10:00-11:00pm and 12:00pm-1:00pm CST.
All webinars are free and open to the public. Webinars are recorded and emailed to all registrants. Certificates of attendance are administered to anyone who participates in the live webinar and completes the survey at the end.
Upcoming Events
Let’s Plan Together: Creating Change with the Iowa DD Council
Thank you to everyone who already filled out our state plan survey and shared feedback
Friday, May 30, 2025 - 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
Every five years the Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council (DD Council) writes what is called a State Plan. It describes what work we will do and how we will spend the federal money we get.
Now, we're hosting a webinar so you can share your thoughts directly with our team.
We will work on self-advocacy, but we may choose to also work on employment, community living, education, health, housing and transportation.
SAVE THE DATE: 2025 Make Your Mark! Self-Advocacy Conference
It’s Time to Advocate: GAME ON!
September 18-19, 2025
Holiday Inn & Suites Des Moines-NW
4800 Merle Hay Rd, Urbandale, IA
The Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council (DD Council) Make Your Mark! Conference is geared toward Iowans with disabilities who want to be more involved in advocacy at a local, state, or federal level. Parents, family members, caregivers, direct support professionals, and other disability advocates are also expected to be in attendance.
Apply to Become a Presenter
We are interested in presentation ideas that help people with disabilities learn how to be more involved in their communities, become leaders, and advocate for themselves and others.
Presentations should focus on one of the following categories:
- Community Inclusion
- Advocacy
- Volunteerism
- Grassroots Organizing
- Employment and Financial Independence
- Leadership
- Self-Determination
- Self-Care or Wellbeing
All presenter applications must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on May 23, 2025.
Registration is Now Open for the 2025 SOAR Conference
Seeking Opportunities for an Advocacy Revolution
October 3-5, 2025
Embassy Suites by Hilton – Omaha Downtown
Old Market, 555 S. 10th St., Omaha, NE 68102
This event brings together self-advocates with disabilities from around the Midwest to exchange ideas and learn from each other about advocacy.
Participating States: Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wyoming
Training Sources
Health Care Provider Training
Free suite of videos
Assuring Access to Quality Health Care for Persons with Disabilities is a free suite of videos aimed at educating current and future health care professionals on strategies to effectively communicate with and accommodate patients with a variety of disabilities.
Empowering Families in Special Education: Navigating Resources for Your Student
The Iowa DD Council hosted a discussion with the Iowa Department of Education, ASK Resource Center, Disability Rights Iowa, and Health and Human Services. They discussed resources and tools available for your family and how to advocate for the services your child needs.
Disability Exchange Podcast
The Disability Exchange (DX) podcast is produced and presented by the University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, Iowa’s UCEDD, at the Center for Disabilities and Development. Join UCEDD staff and podcast co-hosts, Mike Hoenig, Laury Scheidler and Judy Warth, for this engaging series.
All episodes of the DX podcast are available on the Anchor by Spotify platform.
Or search for “Disability Exchange” wherever you get your podcasts. And find links to a variety of other platforms on the DX Anchor by Spotify page. DX is not yet available on Apple podcasts.
Joanna Sabha produces the DX podcast for the UCEDD. Get in touch with her if you have questions or would like to learn more about it at Joanna-sabha@uiowa.edu or 319-356-1347.
Download transcripts of new podcast episodes, below, or catch up with episodes from previous seasons.
Access to Training
Our Training Sources page provides links to a variety of training resources that are available on an ongoing basis. Most of these resources are online, available any day, any time. Check websites for fees associated with the trainings.
The Conner Training Connection makes every effort to assure these listings are up-to-date. Visit our Training Sources page.
Training Calendar
Please visit our interactive calendar to find trainings on disability-related topics, including autism, brain injury, mental health, self-advocacy and transition. We invite you to share trainings with us and others using the "Add Event" button on this calendar.
Please visit our Contact Us page on this website for more information or support.