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The University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDDs) in Kansas and Missouri are under threat due to President Trump’s proposed 2026 federal budget, which aims to eliminate their core funding.
These university-based centers provide essential services, training, and research to support people with developmental disabilities and are part of a national network of 68 centers.
Kansas and Missouri Centers at Risk
The two regional UCEDDs are located at the University of Kansas (KU) and the University of Missouri–Kansas City (UMKC). Both institutions serve as lifelines for individuals with disabilities, housing professionals and advocates who deliver community-based support, run training programs, and drive policy innovation.
Established by Federal Mandate
These centers were created under the Developmentally Disabled Assistance and Bill of Rights Act and primarily operate on federal grant funding. That funding acts as a foundation for attracting other financial resources, enabling the centers to expand their services and influence.
Impact of Defunding
According to Dr. Karrie Shogren, director of the Kansas University Center on Disabilities, wait times for home and community-based services already stretch up to 10 years under current funding levels. Eliminating UCEDD funding would drastically reduce staff, limit the number of trained professionals, and further extend these wait times.
Significant Return on Investment
Dr. George Gotto, director of UMKC’s Institute for Human Development, emphasized the financial efficiency of UCEDDs, noting that every $1 in federal funding generates $17 in additional grants and program support. The centers’ return on investment highlights their crucial role in delivering cost-effective support to communities.
A Move Backward for Disability Rights
Dr. Shogren warned that eliminating these centers could set back decades of progress in disability care. She stressed that UCEDDs are instrumental in fulfilling the goals of the DD Act, which aimed to end outdated, segregated care models and promote inclusive services.
If enacted, President Trump’s 2026 budget would jeopardize the only two UCEDDs in Kansas and Missouri, risking major setbacks in support, research, and advocacy for those with developmental disabilities.
Advocates argue that cutting these programs would undermine decades of progress and deepen service gaps in already strained systems.