Dawn Rudolph, MSEd

Position: Director, UCEDD Technical Assistance

Affiliation:  Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD)

Dawn leads AUCD's UCEDD Technical Assistance team in providing support to the national network of University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDDs), and leveraging the expertise of the UCEDD network in other projects that advance policy and practice for people with disabilities.

Prior to joining AUCD, Dawn supported children, adults, and families in community-based services for 20 years in various roles. After working as a direct support professional in a variety in settings, Dawn taught preschool children with autism and other developmental disabilities in early intervention classrooms and homes. Subsequent training in Ecosystemic Structural Family Therapy led to work as a family therapist specializing in work with families whose young children were first diagnosed with special needs, helping families cope with the trauma of the diagnosis while learning the special education systems. Dawn returned to work with adults with developmental disabilities as a community living program director for several years in Maryland and the District of Columbia, then worked with the District of Columbia DD agency as the administrator of service coordination. She is well-versed in community-based systems and supports for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

Dawn holds a BS in Special Education from Gwynedd-Mercy College, and an MSEd in Psychological Studies from the University of Pennsylvania.

Dawn's interests include human and civil rights, community and family supports, leadership development, advocacy, outdoor activities, and paratriathlon.