Rud and Ann Turnbull together co-directed the Beach Center on Disability at the University of Kansas, which they co-founded in 1988. They have both dedicated their careers to enhancing the quality of life for individuals with intellectual developmental disabilities. They have authored separately or co-authored over 35 books and hundreds of articles, chapters and monographs. The Turnbulls are parents to a deceased son, Jay, who had several disabilities, and daughters Amy and Kate.

In addition to being the Co-Director of the Beach Center on Disability, Rud Turnbull was a Professor of Special Education (Department Chairman, 1980-83), Courtesy Professor of Law (1980-2003; 2008), Senior Research Scientist at the Life Span Institute, Gene A. Budig Teaching Professor, 2005-2006, and Marianna and Ross Beach Distinguished Professor (2006-2014) at the University of Kansas. His major areas of interest have included special education law and policy, mental disability law and policy, policy analysis regarding citizens with disabilities, ethics of professional intervention with citizens with disabilities, and families of citizens with disabilities. He has been admitted to the bar in Maryland and North Carolina and was a non-practicing lawyer.

A few of the honors that Turnbull has been awarded include the University of Kansas School of Education's Leadership Award (1995), the Gene A. and Gretchen Budig Teaching Professorship in Special Education (2004-2005), and the Kansas University School of Education's "Making a Difference" Award (2005). He was given emeritus professor status at his retirement in 2014.

Ann Turnbull's other job titles have included Professor at the Department of Special Education and Senior Scientist at the Schiefelbusch Institute for Life Span Studies at KU. She has been awarded many honors, including the "Outstanding Woman Teacher" Award from KU's Commission on the Status of Women (1982), the University of Kansas Graduate School Award for mentoring graduate students (2002), the School of Education Research Award (2003), the School of Education Making a Difference Award for "Distinguished Leadership, Research, Teaching, and Service" (2005), and the Ross and Marianna Beach Distinguished Professorship (2007), among others. Her major areas of interest have included family systems research and intervention, family involvement and advocacy, educational policy, and school and community inclusion.