Call to Action: Threats to University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
Funding for centers like the IDRPP is currently being debated as part of
the larger federal budget discussions, which are next on Congress's agenda.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act and Federal Budget Impacts on IDRPP and other UCEDDs, Explained.
While the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) introduces numerous spending cuts and efficiencies within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) budget, University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) funding is not specifically named or directly targeted within the bill itself.
Nevertheless, we anticipate there may be indirect impacts on our operations depending on how these spending cuts are implemented over the next few years.
By way of background, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed into law by President Donald Trump on July 4, 2025, is a budget reconciliation bill, not the comprehensive federal budget. This bill’s primary focus is to align with the current administration's priorities rather than serving as a comprehensive federal budget.
Although the OBBBA does not explicitly mention UCEDD funding, UCEDD funding is currently being debated as part of the larger federal budget discussions, which are next on Congress's agenda.
UCEDDs have been supporting people with disabilities for more than 60 years through research, training, and community services. They are congressionally authorized and federally mandated. Every state has at least one UCEDD, and IDRPP is Utah’s.
If you have benefitted from the work of the IDRPP, now is the time to contact our congresspeople about the vital importance and profound impact IDRPP has had in the state of Utah and nationally. Need ideas? The Association of University Centers on Disability has created resources to help!
Contacting Your Legislators
Contacting your legislators is one of the most impactful ways you can make your voice heard. Don’t like the proposed cuts to Medicaid? Want meaningful change to services? Share your opinion and story with your legislators through a letter, email, or phone call! Below are some tips for making a meaningful statement and directions on how to contact your legislators.
- Introduce yourself – be sure to include that you are a constituent (a citizen in your representative’s area) and any other information that may be important for them to know, such as someone personally impacted by the proposed changes (for example, an individual with a disability, a family member, or a professional), a member of an advocacy group, or an expert on the topic you’re writing about.
- Be concise – in your statement, whether written or verbal, be brief and to-the-point, but also include stories or information that make your statement more personal. Legislators receive hundreds of emails, phone calls, and letters, so you want to be as efficient with your statement as possible.
- Be polite – you may not agree with your legislator’s opinions or priorities, but it’s important to stay polite in your statements to make a lasting, positive impact with your representative. Be sure to “thank” your legislator for their time and refrain from using language that could come across as disrespectful.
- Provide sources/data – if you include any information that requires sources or data, be sure to include these in your statement. It’s important to back up what you are saying with facts and numbers if possible to help build the reliability of your statement.
How to find and contact your legislators:
It’s easy to find out who your representatives are, all you need is your home address. Use the links below to find out who your representatives are follow the provided links for each legislator to find out how to contact them through email, mail, and telephone.
- Federal Representatives
- Utah State Representatives
Resources for Contacting Your Legislators
- Association of University Centers on Disabilities Issues and Resources Page
- Check out the “talking points” for help with coming up with your statement!
- Autistic Self Advocacy Network’s fact sheet on calling your elected officials.
- The Basics of Disability Legislative Advocacy – a web training from the Utah Statewide Independent Living Council and the Utah Developmental Disabilities Council (Disability Advocacy Day, 2025)