Presidential Welcome — Fall, 2023

Welcome to the official website for the American Psychological Association’s Division 33 on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities/Autism Spectrum Disorder (IDD/ASD). Our mission is to advance psychological research, professional education, and clinical services that increase quality of life of individuals with IDD/ASD across the life course. We invite to you explore the resources and information available on our website, including information on the benefits of membership and ways to become engaged in the Division. 

 Our Division is driven by key goals and values, including:

• Promoting social justice, racial justice, and inclusivity through our clinical work, research, and education related to IDD/ASD;

• Expanding and exchanging knowledge and information about IDD/ASD through research, education, and professional communication;

• Enhancing professional development and the quality of professional services in the IDD/ASD field;

• Building partnerships with people with IDD/ASD and with professional organizations that represent them to ensure that multiple perspectives and voices are reflected in research, education, service, and professional development;

• Informing legislative and administrative bodies on the importance of psychological, behavioral, and social factors in IDD/ASD services and the value of psychology in contributing to the solution;

• Strengthening the practice of psychology in IDD/ASD as a distinct professional and scientific entity;

• Pursuing the development of high standards in training, practice, and research for psychologists who work in IDD/ASD.

Division 33 has a number of long-standing initiatives and committees that are engaged in actualizing these goals and values. In addition, we are currently emphasizing initiatives aimed at promoting the engagement of individuals with diverse perspectives, abilities, and experiences in our division and in field of psychological studies in IDD/ASD, including those who identify with traditionally underrepresented groups (e.g., BIPOC, LGBTQIA+) as well as stakeholders in our field, including individuals with IDD/ASD and their families. Explore the About Us tab for more information on our standing and ad hoc committees, and please reach out to these leaders of various initiatives to identify ways to get involved.  

We also encourage you to explore our resources on the website, including information about the annual APA Convention and our Access Division 33 podcasts that highlight cutting-edge issues in the IDD/ASD field. For early career professionals, our Early Career Professional page outlines key initiatives and ways to network and connect with early career professionals in the IDD/ASD field. Check out our newsletter for more information about the Division and consult our jobs page for potential career opportunities.

We look forward to connecting with you and invite you to become engaged in advancing the work of Division 33!

CLICK HERE TO JOIN DIVISION 33!