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Dr. Erin Vinoski Thomas Announced as Director of the Georgia State University Center for Leadership in Disability
Following an intensive national search, Dr. Erin Vinoski Thomas was selected to lead the Center for Leadership in Disability (CLD) at Georgia State University. The CLD is one of 67 University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDDs) in the U.S., funded by the Administration for Community Living, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The CLD is situated in the Mark Chaffin Center for Healthy Development, a University Research Center housed in the School of Public Health.
”Erin’s prior role as CLD Associate Director, and more recently as Co-Interim Director throughout the past year of transition, underscores her dedication and leadership acumen. I look forward to her new role in leading the CLD into a bright and thriving future,” said Dr. Kathleen Baggett.
Dr. Vinoski Thomas is a Research Associate Professor in the Department of Health Policy & Behavioral Sciences in the School of Public Health at Georgia State University. She joined the GSU School of Public Health and CLD in 2019 as a faculty member and was appointed as CLD's Associate Director in 2021. Her research and programmatic initiatives focus on promoting health equity for adults with disabilities. She has
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secured over $7 million in external funding since her appointment in 2019, including a $2.9 million cooperative agreement with CDC to lead Georgia's statewide disability and health program (2021-2026) and CLD's recently funded $3.2 million UCEDD grant (2024-2029).
"It is truly an honor to serve as CLD's Director," said Dr. Vinoski Thomas. "I look forward to working with our strong leadership team, staff, community advisory council, and partners within and outside the university to continue positively impacting the lives of Georgians with disabilities and their families."
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Stories of Impact
This report titled Stories of Impact was released in April 2024 for the AUCD.
The report discusses CLD's mission of translating research into sustainable community practices that improve the lives of Georgians with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families through interdisciplinary training, community service, research, and information dissemination.
CLD’s historical impact across these core functions can be described as impressive. Our activities have positively affected thousands of individuals and hundreds of specific locations (e.g., homes, classrooms, childcare settings, community-at-large, etc.) across Georgia annually. It is an accomplishment that speaks to partnership – with individuals who participate in projects and their families, service and support providers, community programs, and state agencies. Our history has shown that with the proper support, people will engage in health promotion, disparities can be reduced, and infant mental health will improve through thoughtful engagement of the provider community.
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Students, including those with autism, will receive individualized behavior support in their schools, and individuals will become more independent in the social domain and more engaged in decision-making and policy. These are, in essence, the reason and purpose for UCEDDs and LENDs. Selected examples of program impact are provided in the pages of this report. Read More | |
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2024 Babies Can't Wait Conference
The second BCW conference, held June 1-4 at the Marriott Perimeter Hotel, launched with Family Day. Family Day included a sensory room, petting zoo, crafts, music, exhibitors, superheroes, food, Dunwoody' firetruck, and more. Dunwoody's Mayor Lynn Deutsch opened the Conference by sharing her experiences with the Babies Can't Wait program.
For the next three days, the BCW conference offered a range of early intervention and education sessions facilitated by subject matter experts. The Conference celebrated and acknowledged the valuable early intervention work in Georgia while looking ahead to more accessible, inclusive, and culturally relevant practices and services.
"Last year was great, but year two was amazing! From the food to the venue to the keynote speakers and the reception on Sunday night. I appreciate the time and effort made by the state team, GSU, and all volunteers. Awesome job!" said one attendee.
The 385 conference attendees included early interventionists, educators, family members, and stakeholders dedicated to supporting early intervention and education in Georgia. BCW and DPH were proud to partner again with the Georgia State University Center of Leadership and Disability.
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“This was my first time attending, and I was so impressed by the quality of sessions and the
knowledge provided," said another attendee. "I left feeling like I had new tools and ideas to use with my program.”
Babies Can’t Wait (BCW) is an early intervention program that seeks to improve the potential of infants and toddlers with special needs by providing various services. BCW accomplishes this goal by providing early childhood identification and screening services to families throughout Georgia at no cost. Visit the BCW website to learn more.
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Annual Autism Conference & Expo
The tenth Annual Autism Conference & Expo welcomed more than 130 participants on May 4. The event provided an opportunity to share knowledge and resources about support for individuals with autism and their families in Georgia. Twelve breakout sessions and over fifteen speakers, exhibitors, and sponsors shared resources throughout the day.
This year's theme, 'Firm Foundations,' highlighted the indispensable role of the Georgia Department of Public Health and the Georgia Department of Special Education. These institutions are the bedrock support for individuals with autism. These departments are responsible for critical programs such as Babies Can't Wait (Part C) and Special Education (Part B). Their collaborative efforts with health care, social services, universities, researchers, policymakers, teachers, and interventionists ensure effective services across the lifespan for families of individuals with autism.
Dr. Micole Talley was the keynote speaker for the event. She is the former Early Childhood Project Manager at CLD and a content expert in early childhood, special education, equity, and providing services to individuals with disabilities.
The conference was a platform for learning and a vibrant hub for collaboration. Attendees, presenters, speakers, and exhibitors actively networked and shared resources, fostering community and collective effort in autism support.
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2024 AUCD Leadership Academy
In June, the 2024 AUCD Leadership Academy held its week-long program designed to enhance the skills of current and emerging leaders from the disability network.
The trainees toured the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. They learned about the history of the civil rights movement—discussions centered on advocacy, independent living, and the disability rights movement today.
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The abstract, "Inclusion in an Interdisciplinary Leadership Training Program: Perspectives From Self-Advocates," was published in the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) journal in the Spring. Allison Wayne, a GRA on the GaLEND evaluation team and a LEND alum, was the lead author. She is pursuing her Ph.D. in school psychology at the GSU College of Education and Human Development.
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IDEAL hosted the National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC) on April 9th. The NDSC presented four IDEAL Students with scholarships. Congratulations to Rahul Sivatour, Cameron Kindree, Oluremi Ademola-Dada, and Angad Sivakumar. | | | | |
The annual networking event, led by Molly Tucker, Project SETA and PEERS project manager, included Project SETA, PEERS, and IDEAL students. Students learned the importance of networking, elevator speeches, and social etiquette during the event. | | | | |
The IDEAL students finished the summer social skills and life skills program with a trip to the Georgia Aquarium. Students learned about employment opportunities at the aquarium and enjoyed a fun-filled day with lots of fish. | |
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The Office of the Provost announced this year’s winners of the university’s faculty awards, recognizing faculty achievement and excellence. Congratulations to CLD's new director, Dr. Erin Vinoski Thomas, on receiving the Non-Tenure Faculty Award!
This award recognizes a non-tenure track (NTT) faculty member for outstanding achievements in their assigned areas of specialty (scholarship/creative works, teaching, and service).
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Georgia Association for Infant Mental Health (GA-AIMH) Conference: November 13, 2024 Loudermilk Conference Center, Atlanta, GA
Georgia Association for Positive Behavior Support (GAPBS) Conference: December 12-13, 2024 Gas South Conference Center, Duluth, GA
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Center for Leadership in Disability
140 Decatur Street, Suite 140
Atlanta, GA 30303
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