Department of Interdisciplinary Human Studies

Human Development Center

Philip Wilson, PhD
Program Director

LOCATION: 411 S. Prieur Street
PHONE: (504) 556-7573
FAX: (504) 556-7574
WEB: http://hdc.lsuhsc.edu/

The mission of the Human Development Center (HDC) is to promote knowledge and practices related to supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), and their families participate fully in all aspects of community life. HDC is a statewide resource emphasizing interdisciplinary and interagency approaches to systems change and program development in topics of health, inclusive child care, education, employment, and community participation. Each year faculty, staff, and students associated with HDC accomplish activities of personnel preparation, technical assistance, research, service demonstration, and dissemination of information to sites throughout Louisiana and beyond.  HDC provides the infrastructure for the Department of Interdisciplinary Human Studies. HDC and the faculty of the Department of Interdisciplinary Human Studies secure extramural funding to conduct a varitey of projects and programs related to supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), and their families participate fully in all aspects of community life.

The Department of Interdisciplinary Human Studies is the academic home for faculty assigned to HDC and is responsible for teaching selected interdisciplinary courses.

HDC is Louisiana’s federally designated University Center of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD).  HDC is a member of the national network of 68 UCEDDs; collectively called the association for university centers: on developmental disabilities (UCEDDs). Federal law (i.e., P.L. 106-402 “Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act”, aka the DD Act) directs UCEDDs to accomplish four core functions: (1) interdisciplinary training; (2) outreach, model demonstration, training, and technical assistance, (3) research, and (4) dissemination of information related to developmental disabilities. HDC employs about 45 faculty and staff, representing a variety of disciplines who carry out the center’s projects and activities.

For more detailed information on the programs offered by the Human Development Center go to our homepage at http://www.hdc.lsuhsc.edu or email HDC at: hdcinfo@hdc.lsuhsc.edu.

Background of the Human Development Center

The Human Development Center was established as Louisiana’s UCEDD in 1985 following approval of the Board of Regents in 1985 and subsequent funding via federal grant to the then named LSU Medical Center (i.e., LSU Health Sciences Center today). At that time, federal law mandated UCEDDs to accomplish systems change through activities of interdisciplinary personnel preparation, outreach, research, and dissemination of information related to meeting needs of people with disabilities. 

In accordance with expectations for UCEDDs, HDC has been actively addressing issues that prevent and/or provide opportunities for individuals with I/DD across the life span to fully participate in all aspects of community life.  We do this by securing extramural funding to demonstrate, teach, and disseminate effective practices that build on opportunities and overcome barriers that prevent people with I/DD from participating fully in all aspects of community life.

Over the past decade, HDC has demonstrated particular programmatic strengths that have brought national recognition to Louisiana, including, but not limited to: (a) demonstration models of early intervention, (b) interdisciplinary training, (c) scholarly work in early intervention, education and community participation of adults with severe disabilities, supported employed, and early intervention (d) training and coaching professionals to use evidence-based strategies in schools and community-settings, (e) pre-doctoral internship experiences for early childhood professionals, educators, allied health, and other disciplines, (f) local and statewide transition systems-change, (g) training and providing technical assistance to supported employment and other direct support personnel, and (h) national leadership in developing special education monitoring procedures.

Interagency and Collaborative Arrangements of the Human Development Center

HDC’s leadership work closely with other state and national resources related to supporting participation of individulas with I/DD in all aspects of community life. As the UCEDD for Louisiana, HDC is actively engaged with the national network of 68 such Centers. Network members frequently share expertise or information and often collaborate in developing grant-funded projects to benefit individuals with I/DD and their families across the U.S. These collaborative efforts provide opportunities for meeting HDC’s objectives by providing positive outcomes for Louisianans with I/DD and their families.

HDC maintains close and productive relationships with state and local agencies including the Louisiana Department of Health, Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities, Louisiana Rehabilitation Services, Office of Public Health, Louisiana Department of Education, many Local Education Agencies, Department of Social Services, and related offices. HDC also collaborates with regional and local entities such as Families Helping Families, Arc of Louisiana, local Arcs, Head Start agencies, childcare agencies, public and private schools, local and regional adult service agencies, as well as other departments within the School of Allied Health Professions, and campus wide.

We are pleased to collaborate extensively with our fellow Developmental Disabilities programs authorized by the DD Act. That is, we engage in strategic planning and a wide range of program development activities with the Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council and Louisiana Disabilities Rights. Together we work to promote systems development and implement programs to increase services, supports, and quality of life for individuals with I/DD in the communities of their choice.

HDC maintains formal and informal arrangements with numerous units of higher education in Louisiana and across the country. Students and faculty in various disciplines participate in instructional offerings and supervised practices offered within clinical and other programs of HDC. We collaborate with Delgado Community College in instructional programs including early intervention, Direct Support Personnel preparation, and post-secondary education options for people with I/DD. Other collaborative activities are developed as opportunities allow.

Requirements for Participation in Activities of the Human Development Center

Most of the programs of HDC present opportunities for students and faculty to learn, practice, or investigate topics of human development, particularly as it relates to practices of physical and mental health, education, social interaction, community participation, and human services. In the United States, the predominate models of health and human services involve multi- or interdisciplinary activities of screening, diagnosing, planning, and delivering services. To be fully prepared for success, personnel preparing for careers in health, education, and human services need to learn disability-related terminology, historical and philosophical frameworks, and skills that include working in interdisciplinary teams and collaborating with clients and their families, including those with I/DD . The instructional and clinical programs of HDC provide faculty and students from other SAHP departments and other Schools on campus with opportunities for developing skills related to working effectively in various interdisciplinary settings.

Learning experiences at HDC are designed to allow students to acquire new skills and directly apply what they have learned in various professional settings. We provide elective and independent study courses with departmental approvals, supervised practice, internships, and involvement in research, independent study, continuing education, in-service training, and brief instructional sessions. There are opportunities for “hands on” training experiences for undergraduate and graduate students enrolled with the LSU Health Sciences Center and other units of higher education. Usually, the experiences of students at HDC are guided by individualized training plans developed cooperatively among the student, faculty of the sending department, and HDC staff. Plans specify the activities, supervision, and evaluation criteria that apply to the student while participating in HDC activities.

We encourage interested students to contact their faculty advisor, the HDC director, or the HDC LEND director for more information, or visit the HDC web site (www.hdc.LSUHSC.edu) for information.

Research Opportunities for Students and Faculty

HDC faculty and staff engage in a wide range of scholarly activities related to intellectual and devlopmental disabilities. Ongoing projects by HDC faculty include focus on early childhood education, special education, transition from school to adult life in the community, employment of adults with I/DD, intervention methods, and training strategies. Recent research activities include early intervention practices; policies and practices in transition from school-to-work; benefits education and management, intervention practices for individuals with Autism and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and other topics. Students interested in these or other areas are invited to participate in research or initiate their own studies under supervision of faculty at HDC. Student involvement with HDC researchers and collaboration with faculty outside of HDC in studies conducted at HDC is strongly encouraged. Contact your faculty advisor or the Human Development Center for more information.

* This statement was developed and adopted by the Consumer Advisory Council for the Louisiana UCEDD. An advisory committee is required for UCEDDERSs by federal law (P.L. 106-402).