Programs
The Shriver Center offers a wide range of programs that align with our mission. These programs respond to needs of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), their families, students, service providers, researchers, and educators using evidence-based approaches from decades of research and program development.
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Child and Adolescent NeuroDevelopment Initiative (CANDI)
CANDI is dedicated to biomarker discovery, neuroimaging, and treatment studies of individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders and intellectual and developmental disabilities including autism and fragile X.
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Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders (CANDO)
The Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders (CANDO) provides comprehensive clinical services to children with autism spectrum and other neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Center for Developmental Disabilities Evaluation and Research (CDDER)
The Center for Developmental Disabilities Evaluation and Research (CDDER), based at the Shriver Center, provides valuable research, evaluation and training services in order to enhance the quality of supports and services for people with intellectual and developmental disability.
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The Program for Improving Public Health Systems (PIPS)
The Program for Improving Public Health Systems (PIPS) conducts research and provides design, validation, implementation, and training for quality improvements in public sector health and behavioral health services.
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Division of Neuroinformatics
Neuroinformatics concerns itself with the information infrastructure (data, computation, models, results) that underlies neuroscience research. In collaboration with the CANDI program, we are searching for brain features that correlate with or predict various developmental outcomes.
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Healthy People Healthy Communities
The Healthy People/Healthy Communities Division at the Shriver Center is devoted to promoting and supporting healthy lifestyles in people with IDD.
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INDEX
INDEX Technical Services provides web development, e-learning development, and accessibility consulting.
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Insurance Resource Center for Autism and Behavioral Health
The Insurance Resource Center for Autism & Behavioral Health is a program for consumers, providers, employers, and educators on issues related to medical insurance for autism treatment.
Insurance Resource Center for Autism & Behavioral Health in Plain Language
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Lead Lab Active Studies
In the LEAD Lab, we believe that autism is a medical, whole-body disorder that is impacted by individual, interpersonal, institutional, community, and societal factors. Through a health equity lens, we study the factors that impact the lives of autistic individuals and their families. With over 10 million dollars in federal funding, we conduct clinical trials, implementation, intervention, and descriptive studies, with a focus on early autism diagnosis and treatment.
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Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND)
Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) provides graduate-level interdisciplinary training to improve the health of children and youth with developmental disabilities.
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Neurobehavioral Science and Neurogenetics
The Neurobehavioral Science and Neurogenetics program is employing computer-based methods to study a range of behaviors linked to brain activity, including behavioral tasks that are tailor-made for specific groups, for example, children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
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Pathways to Inclusive Health Care Program
Pathways to Inclusive Health Care Program (PIHC) is an innovative program that trains future healthcare professionals to work with disabled populations.
The PIHC application cycle for the September 2025 –June 2026 academic year is closed.
The PIHC application cycle for AY 2026-2027 will begin mid-January, 2026. Those interested in the program are encouraged to apply early. The deadline to submit applications occurs when the program is full.
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Sibling Support
Siblings of individuals with disabilities face unique challenges, and the sibling experience tends to change over time as siblings age. At the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center, we provide support to siblings and other family members of those with disabilities in a variety of ways.