Home
News
About
The Institute for Community Inclusion at UMass Boston supports the rights of children and adults with disabilities to participate in all aspects of society. As practitioners, researchers, and teachers, we form partnerships with individuals, families, and service agencies. Together we advocate for personal choice, self-determination, and social and economic justice.
We are dedicated to advancing the full inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of life. Our work encompasses research, program evaluation, training, consultation, education, policy analysis, and service delivery across four main areas of emphasis: Employment, Education, Community Life, and Health Care.
We have three national hubs: ExploreVR and ThinkWork, which focus on inclusive employment, and ThinkCollege, which focuses on inclusive higher education.
Projects
Our projects involve conducting state and national employment research, increasing access to higher education, supporting children with disabilities to plan for a fulfilling future, and much more.
Services
From expert consultation and technical assistance to online training for employment professionals, our services help agency leaders and disability staff to excel and thrive in their work.
Publications
Online Learning

Melissa Alford

Research Study Coordinator

MHS, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, BA, Haverford College

Melissa Alford has over ten years of experience in research and advocacy for people with disabilities, with a primary focus on mental health. She has been a project lead on the Vocational Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Demand-Side Strategies. This project involved researching promising practices to help both businesses and people with disabilities seeking employment. Melissa has also participated in survey design, interviewing, qualitative and quantitative analysis, and report writing for several other projects at ICI.

Email: Melissa.Alford@umb.edu