IDRPP Funding Under Threat in 2026

The FY27 Federal Budget proposal calls for the elimination of University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDDs), such as the IDRPP, along with several other disability-related programs such as the Limb Loss Resource Center, Paralysis Resource Center, and Voting Access for People with Disabilities. Under the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act, UCEDDs have been supporting people with disabilities, family members, and professionals for over 60 years.

The IDRPP is one of the U.S.’s largest UCEDDs with over 250 projects that span over 34 states and territories. Currently, this Budget is simply a proposal; the House and Senate will both provide markups (or edits) to the proposed Budget where they may or may not include these eliminations.

Find out more about the proposed budget on IDRPP’s “Current Issues” page. You can also learn more about UCEDDs and IDRPP’s history of informing policy on our YouTube Channel under "YouTube Shorts."

How to Contact Your U.S. Senator and Representative

The House is scheduled to meet to provide their first markups on June 5^th, 2026 at 8:00am (you can watch this live on YouTube). This means it’s not too late to contact your representatives and let them know how much UCEDDs have made a difference for you! Contacting your legislators is one of the most impactful ways you can make your voice heard. Below are some tips for making a meaningful statement and directions on how to contact your U.S. senator or representative.

• 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. Senators and representatives 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 U.S. senators and representatives:

It’s easy; 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
  • United States House of Representatives
  • United States Senate

Resources for Contacting Your Senator or Representative

• Check out “Defending UCEDDs Messaging Guide” on the Association of University Centers on Developmental Disabilities’ Issues and Resources page. The guide can help you come up with your statement
• You can also refer to the Autistic Self Advocacy Network’s fact sheet on calling your elected officials.