The Center for Disabilities and Development is committed to maintaining a welcoming and diverse community of students, faculty and staff, with equal opportunity for all persons. We strive to maintain an environment of inclusion, where individual differences are respected and all feel welcome.

Trained interpreters provide real-time interpretation and translation services for patients in our clinic who are non-English speaking or who have hearing impairments.

Visitors using our websites will find the option to convert the sites into multiple languages using Google translator. Our statewide information and referral service about disability supports or assistive technology has language line translation for all callers.

We enhance the diversity of trainees in CDD’s Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) training program by partnering with Upward Bound program to recruit students. We provide training programs and activities that provide interactive opportunities with minority and underserved populations throughout Iowa. We participate in career days for secondary students with an emphasis in school districts that serve under-represented populations in health-related fields.

We provide ongoing staff development to enhance cultural responsiveness, using annual presentations, online self-assessment surveys, web links, training modules and video clips.