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To Build Our Impact, We Need Your Support For over 50 years, ICI has empowered and collaborated with people with disabilities to ensure their full engagement in workplaces, schools, health care…

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We are committed to making this site accessible to all our users. We adhere to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. Accessibility includes many…

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Bayside Office Center 150 Mt. Vernon Street, 4th Floor Dorchester, MA ICI's main office is located at the Bayside Office Center, 150 Mt. Vernon Street in Dorchester, MA. Our building is south of…

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Institute for Community Inclusion Terms of Service and Privacy Policy PLEASE READ THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF USE ("Terms of Use" or "Terms") CAREFULLY BEFORE USING THIS SITE. Last updated: July 1…

What We Mean When We Talk About Inclusion

Resource Guide Inclusion means that all people, regardless of their abilities, disabilities, or health care needs, have the right to: Be respected and appreciated as valuable members of their…

Contributor Covenant Code of Conduct

Our Pledge In the interest of fostering an open and welcoming environment, we as contributors and maintainers pledge to making participation in our project and our community a harassment-free…

History

The origins of ICI came with the launch of the Developmental Evaluation Clinic (DEC) at Boston Children’s Hospital. The clinic opened its doors in 1967 with a mission of serving children with…

Mission and Vision

Mission As practitioners, researchers, teachers and advocates, we support systems change and partner with children and adults with disabilities, their families, and communities to advocate for…

The Institute for Community Inclusion is based at the University of Massachusetts Boston with additional offices at Boston Children's Hospital. Institute for Community Inclusion/UCEDD UMass Boston 10…

Participant Release Form

Please Sign Our Release Form Institute for Community Inclusion/UCEDD UMass Boston 100 Morrissey Blvd. Boston, Massachusetts 02125 Voice: 617.287.4300 Fax: 617.287.4352 TTY: 617.287.4350 Email: ici@umb…

Open Job Positions at ICI

ICI is hiring for several open positions. Please share these opportunities with anyone who may be interested. Join a great workplace that supports and advances UMass Boston’s values of diversity and…

Employment and Apprenticeship Specialist I

The Employment & Apprenticeship Specialist I for the Institute of Community Inclusion (ICI) will provide services necessary to assist individuals with disabilities in obtaining and maintaining…

Advocacy Advisor Position Open at ICI

General Summary The Advocacy Advisor with the Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) will support projects across the ICI. ICIs projects focus on helping people with disabilities work, participate in…

Apprenticeship Development and System Alignment Coordinator

The Apprenticeship Development and System Alignment Coordinator will be responsible for implementation of the Missouri Talent Pathways (M0-TAP) Registered Apprenticeship initiative, funded by the…

Program Manager, NERCVE

The Program Manager for the Northeast Resource Center for Vision Education (NERCVE) will support the UMass Boston Vision Studies program through community engagement, professional development, grant…

Program Assistant

The Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) Program Assistant will work closely with all members of the Finance and Administration team to support activities related to personnel and facilities…

Research Associate III

The Research Associate III (Senior Research Associate) initiates, develops, participates in the work of, and managing an evaluation project (National Coordinating Center) at the Institute for…

Senior Technical Assistance & Policy Associate

The Senior Technical Assistance and Policy Associate will provide technical assistance in the form of consultation, coaching, and training at the provider, state, and national level. Technical…

Research Data Coordinator

The RDC will support survey development; field test protocols; and manage quality assurance and follow-up procedures for data collection, including reliability procedures. They will develop and…

Technical Assistance Coordinator I or II

The Technical Assistance Coordinator (TAC) is a three-level series that supports assigned projects at the Institute for Community Inclusion. The Technical Assistance Coordinator will coordinate…

Training Associate II

The incumbent will develop and support online and face-to-face (direct) training programs and technical assistance to human service professionals, and provider agency personnel on services and…

Training Associate II

The Training Associate II will provide field based and administrative support on a project and initiative focused on building the capacity of organizations providing integrated employment and…

Transition Manager

The Transition Manager will be responsible for project coordination, collaborating with staff, interns, and research assistants assigned to the team, overseeing or implementing activities and…

Training Associate II

The incumbent will develop and support online and face-to-face (direct) training programs and technical assistance to human service professionals, and provider agency personnel on services and…

Senior Technical Assistance & Policy Associate

The Senior Technical Assistance and Policy Associate will provide technical assistance in the form of consultation, coaching, and training at the provider, state, and national level. Technical…

LEND Fellowship Opportunity Available for Self-Advocates

Are you a person with an intellectual and/or developmental disability who would like to learn about how services and supports are provided, research cultural issues, policy and more? The LEND Program…

Thanks Bill

Farewell to Outgoing Dean Bill Kiernan! Dr. William E. Kiernan recently celebrated his retirement from his role as dean of the School for Global Inclusion and Social Development, the UMass Boston…

ICI Researcher Testified about Subminimum Wage

On November 15th, ICI senior researcher John Butterworth provided testimony on data regarding subminimum wages at the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights public briefing on the civil rights impact of…

ICI Announces New Director

Cindy Thomas (MS, CRC) has been selected to serve as the director of the Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI). Ms. Thomas has been an integral part of the ICI for over 30 years, significantly…

ICI Staffer Joins MassCUE Champions

Lori Cooney, program coordinator and universal instructional design specialist at ICI and 2012 MassCUE Pathfinder recipient, has been invited to join the inaugural cohort of MassCUE Champions. MassCUE…

CES ACRE Supplement Now Available

Offered through Direct Course, the College of Employment Services (CES) curriculum can help your staff advance their careers as employment professionals. Now they can access even more intensive career…

ICI Staffer Presents on Progressive Employment and Career Pathways

ICI staff member Kelly Haines and Nebraska Vocational Rehabilitation’s Janet Drudik presented at the Vocational Evaluation and Career Assessment Professionals Association 2019 National Issues Forum…

ICI Learning Game Featured at National ED Games Expo

ICI Learning Game Featured at National ED Games Expo The 7th annual ED Games Expo, held in Washington, D.C. on January 9, featured a range of educational games and learning technologies for children…

ICI Staffers Present at Conference

Maria Paiewonsky, Clare Papay, Rebecca Lazo, Meg Grigal, and Debra Hart from the Think College National Coordinating Center and Transition Leadership Program presented six sessions last month in…

New Article about Students with Intellectual Disability

Debra Hart, principal investigator for the Institute for Community Inclusion’s Think College project, co-wrote an article for Diverse Issues in Higher Education titled “Left Out? Can the Completion…

Transition Leadership Program Accepting New Students

National Transition Leadership Program Accepting New Students SGISD’s transition leadership program bridges the gap between special education and adult disability services. It trains educators and…

New Data Note Examines Gap Between Desire for Work and Community Jobs

A new Data Note looks at the discrepancy between how many people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD) want jobs, versus how many are working in their communities. The Data Note…

ICI Researchers Publish Guideposts for Community Life Engagement Supports

ICI staffers Dr. Jennifer Sulewski, Jaimie Ciulla Timmons, Oliver Lyons, and Allison Cohen Hall recently published an article titled Guideposts for High-Quality Community Life Engagement Supports…

Papers by Researchers and Self-Advocates Examine Informed Choice

The National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS),in collaboration with ICI, published a fourth in a series of five white papers highlighting topics…

Two Briefs Examine Community Life Engagement

What can state developmental disabilities agencies do to increase community life engagement of the people they serve? This was the topic of discussion for the Community Life Engagement Working…

ICI Awarded Innovative Rehabilitation Training Grant on Employer Engagement Part 2

ICI’s Center for Assistive Technology Act Data Assistance (CATADA) launched a new series of briefs highlighting innovative or high impact activities conducted by state AT programs. Second in a…

Three New Think College Publications

Think College has released three new publications. Their new Fast Fact, Peer Supports: Focusing on the Experiences of College Students with Intellectual Disability, summarizes findings from a…

Down Syndrome Program Coordinator Receives Impact Award

Boston Children’s Hospital Foundation held its first annual Special Events Award Reception, “A Night of the Stars.” At the ceremony ICI’s Angela Lombardo, Down Syndrome Program coordinator and LEND…

ICI Awarded Innovative Rehabilitation Training Grant on Employer Engagement

The Institute for Community Inclusion was recently awarded the Program on Innovative Rehabilitation Training on Employer Engagement Innovative Rehabilitation Training Program (PIRTEE), a…

ICI Researcher Co-Authors Journal Article

Ngai Kwan has recently co-authored a journal article with Glacia Ethridge, Angel Dowden and Michael Brooks from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (a HBCU), and Debra Harley…

New College of Employment Services Course Focuses on Path from School to Adulthood

The ICI partners with the University of Minnesota and Elsevier Publishing to produce the DirectCourse College of Employment Services, or CES. This suite of online courses allows disability support…

Supports Planning Bringing Employment First to Scale Brief

Check out this ThinkWork brief to learn about addressing a job seeker’s support needs to increase job retention and career advancement.

New Website Highlights COVID-19 Resources

The ICI has released a series of publications on providing day and employment services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Topics include offering services remotely, effective use of technology, dealing…

New Brief Summarizes Assistive Technology Programs Across the U.S.

A new AT Data Brief examines the usage and impact of assistive technology programs in the U.S. and its territories. Written by ICI staffers John Shepard and Daria Domin, the brief highlights data…

Statement

The disability community is multi-dimensional and complex. People with disabilities and their experiences are diverse, therefore numerous approaches are necessary to address the multiple forms of…

The State Employment Leadership Network Turns 15!

Over the past 14 years, the State Employment Leadership Network (SELN) has consistently reinforced the core message that employment efforts are about creating opportunity for every individual in…

Welcome to New Gopen & Crocker Fellows

We would like to introduce you to the new Barbara Wilenski Gopen and Allen C. Crocker Family Fellows! Adriana Mallozzi, the Gopen Fellow, born with cerebral palsy (CP) has always been an…

ICI Staffers Publish Two Articles in IDD

ICI staffers had two articles published in a recent edition of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. This volume focused on employment for transition-age youth with IDD. “It’s Not Just About a…

New Grant about Guardianship Alternatives

The Institute for Community Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts Boston has been awarded a 5-year $1.49 million-dollar grant from the Administration for Community Living. The Center on Youth…

ICI Data Drives Recent Civil Rights Commission Report on Subminimum Wage

On Sep. 17, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights issued a report on subminimum wage for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). While reliance on subminimum wage has decreased in…

New Resources Promoting College-Based Transition Services

In collaboration with MAICEI partners, as well as some out-of-state special education administrators doing similar work, Maria Paiewonsky and Ty Hanson have worked to create three new briefs, three…

Dr. Amy Szarkowski (MA LEND/UMass Boston UCEDD) leads publication in Pediatrics on Pragmatics in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children

Much attention is given to language development in children who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH). Yet the social use of language can remain challenging, even amongst DHH children who are developing…

Think College Receives $10M Grant on Inclusive Higher Education

The U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education has awarded ICI’s Think College a five-year, $10 million cooperative agreement through the Transition and Postsecondary Programs for…

ICI Staffer Named October 2020 Innovation Award Winner

Congratulations to ICI’s Allison Cohen Hall! Allison was named the October 2020 Innovation Award Winner by Charting the LifeCourse Nexus located at the University of Missouri Kansas City. Allison…

Testing Promising VR Innovations: Special Journal Issue Explores the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) Project Demonstration

A special issue of the Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation highlights the innovative work of researchers at the ICI and Mathematica Policy Institute on the Substantial Gainful Activity Project (SGA…

New DataNote Examines Pre-Employment Transition Services

This DataNote looks at how many students with intellectual disabilities who applied for vocational rehabilitation (VR) services received pre-employment transition services (Pre-ETS) and their…

The U.S. — Japan Business Leadership Institute on Youth Disability Employment — Webinar Series

This year, the Institute for Community Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts Boston (ICI) and the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ) will present a 5-part webinar series featuring U.S…

Apply today for State Technical Assistance for Alternatives to Guardianship for Youth with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

The Center for Youth Voice/Youth Choice (CYVYC) National Resource Center at the Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) announces an opportunity for states to apply to participate in a Community of…

ICI’s College of Employment Services and Supplement Curriculum Recertified by the Association of Community Rehabilitation Educators (ACRE)

The College of Employment Services (CES), on-line curriculum and instructor led supplement was one again approved for certification by the Association of Rehabilitation Educators (ACRE). The College…

Meet the Players: Bios for Upcoming Webinar on Employment

The ICI is pleased to offer the U.S. — Japan Business Leadership Institute on Youth Disability Employment Webinar Series! The first webinar, How Do We Access Employment? Japanese and American College…

Join the ICI this Month at #APSE2021

Numerous ICI staffers are scheduled to present during the 2021 APSE Virtual Conference. The conference, titled “Lighting the Path Forward for Employment First,” will run from June 14–18. Monday, June…

ICI partners on two US Department of Labor awards to expand inclusive apprenticeship opportunities

The Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) will partner with Jobs for the Future and the Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development to modernize and diversify registered…

Congratulations to Boston Children’s Hospital and Dr. Jason Fogler, the new LEND program Training Director

Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) Director, David Helm, PhD, is proud to announce the LEND program at the Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) at Boston…

Professors share perspectives on inclusive college learning experiences for students with intellectual disability

How can instructors provide inclusive college learning experiences to all students? As more students with intellectual disability (ID) enroll in college, instructors are learning about how to create…

Rural Youth Apprenticeship Development Project knowledge translation specialists published article in Rehab Ink

“It is important to explore the intersectionality between disability, race, age, economic context, and geographic context as we work toward a more equitable workforce landscape for youth with…

30 years of Community Inclusion for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Opportunities, Strengths, & Challenges

How have advocacy efforts and policy changes in the last 30 years impacted people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in our communities? “People with disabilities deserve to live in the…

The latest ThinkWork StateData Blue Book is here! What’s happening in your state?

What does the data say about employment and economic self-sufficiency for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in your state? Since 1988, the ICI has collected data from state…

Juneteenth: A Brief History of the Freedom Celebration

What is Juneteenth? Juneteenth commemorates the day that enslaved people in Texas learned that slavery was outlawed. On June 19, 1865, the Union Army general, Gordon Granger, announced General Order…

Get the Facts: Managing resources to help youth with disabilities transition from school to employment

Employment First Massachusetts Partnership for Transition to Employment (MPTE) has released a series of fact sheets for family members and support providers of youth with disabilities who are…

Inclusion Illuminated: The IT’S EMPLOYMENT Approach

ICI IT’S EMPLOYMENT staff work with a highly engaged technical expert panel featuring a cross-section of experts in VR and services for individuals with ID, including self-advocates, to develop an…

SELN kicks off membership year 16!

July 2021 signals the start of the State Employment Leadership Network (SELN) membership year 16! Founded in 2006, this collaborative effort is jointly managed by the ICI and the National Association…

New Article in Journal of Rehabilitation

ICI researchers involved in Think College’s RRTC on VR Practices and Youth recently published an article in the Journal of Rehabilitation titled, “Case Studies of Effective Partnerships between…

Do you teach 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade? Help your students develop career awareness with Future Quest Island-Explorations

Your students are learning and growing in an ever-changing world. Join the Institute for Community Inclusion’s (ICI) research program for elementary school teachers to help your students develop…

Become a nationally Certified Rehabilitation Leader with our Transformational Rehabilitation Leader Training!

In partnership with the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) and the University of Wisconsin-Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute (SVRI), the ICI is proud to announce the…

Help Us Pilot a Scale of Community Life Engagement

Does your organization provide day services and supports to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities? We need your help testing our new Guidepost Fidelity Scale (GFS)! Our aim with the…

SELN reflects on the past 18 months at virtual policy meeting with member states

Last week, ICI’s State Employment Leadership Network (SELN) hosted their virtual annual policy meeting with 24 member states and the National Association of State Directors of Developmental…

Inclusion Illuminated: The Transformational Rehabilitation Leadership Training (TRLT): A dynamic approach to consumer-responsive VR services

The Transformational Rehabilitation Leadership Training (TRLT) is a training program for current and aspiring leaders in vocational rehabilitation (VR). The goal of the TRLT is leadership enhancement…

October is Disability Employment Month!

Employment is more than just work. For many people with and without disabilities, employment is about dignity, respect, independence, and inclusion. The ICI advocates for the full inclusion of people…

Think College’s Cate Weir receives distinguished inclusive education award

Congratulations to Think College program director, Cate Weir! Cate has received the George Jesien National Leadership Award, which honors dedicated individuals “who reflect significant work either at…

Think College awarded US Dept. of Education grant to increase access to and visibility of inclusive post-secondary education programs nationwide

Congratulations to ICI’s Think College and partners for accepting a $5.9 million three-year award from the US Department of Education Office of Postsecondary Education to expand their remarkable work…

Inclusion Illuminated: Employment First Missouri- Expanding community employment efforts for people with disabilities in Missouri

Employment First Missouri believes that everyone has the right to earn a living wage in a job of their choosing, based on their unique talents, gifts, skills, and interests. Employment First promotes…

US Government Accountability Office highlights ICI research in report on competitive integrated employment

Competitive integrated employment (CIE) is employment that pays employees at or above minimum wage and is performed in integrated settings, among people with and without disabilities. It is still…

Inclusion Illuminated: Lawrence Partnership for Transition to Employment (LPTE) — A Community Employment Collaboration

The Lawrence Partnership for Transition to Employment (LPTE) is a new, 5-year collaborative youth transition project between the ICI, Lawrence Public Schools, Massachusetts state agencies, community…

Meet Mini-Grantee: Kids Bouquet

Kids Bouquet is a general incorporated association that specializes in flower bouquets and arrangements for sporting events in Tokyo. Kids Bouquet also provides opportunities for children of all ages…

December 3 is International Persons with Disabilities Day

In 1992, the United Nations declared December 3 International Day of Disabled Persons to raise awareness of the rights, well-being, and political, social, cultural, and economic struggles of persons…

MiMeet Mini-Grantee: Mirai Work

Founded in 2020, Mirai Work is a small business located in Hiroshima, Japan that specializes in programming for individuals with disabilities. The Japanese word “mirai” means future and embodies the…

New GATOR Triad Study in January 2022

Next month, staff from the Guardianship Alternatives and Transfer of Rights (GATOR) project, in partnership with Massachusetts Advocates Standing Strong (MASS) and the Self Advocacy Association of New…

ICI and Executive Office of Elder Affairs partner to offer community-based home care training online

The Institute for Community Inclusion has been working with the Executive Office of Elder Affairs to expand the workforce of community-based home care workers in Massachusetts. This year, we launched…

Meet Mini-Grantee: Collable

Collable is a non-profit organization based in Tokyo, Japan. Collable plans and hosts inclusive design workshops and promotes inclusive design in their work. In 2020, Collable started a study program…

New Briefs, Video, & Resources about Guardianship Alternatives and Transfer-of-Rights

ICI’s Guardianship Alternatives and Transfer-of-Rights (GATOR) project has published four new resources on alternatives to guardianship for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD…

Inclusion Illuminated: The Transition Leadership Program

The ICI’s Transition Leadership Program (TLP) prepares current and prospective special educators, guidance counselors, school social workers, rehabilitation counselors, and other professionals to help…

Inclusive Transportation Planning: ICI staff attend Community Transportation Association of America Conference

This year’s annual Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) Conference in Richmond, VA featured speakers and sessions about innovative technology, workforce development, communication…

ICI launches new inclusive civic engagement fellowship program for emerging leaders in Africa

With funding from the US Department of State, the Institute for Community Inclusion (CI) at UMass Boston is partnering with Humanity & Inclusion to announce a new professional program for the next…

This February, Celebrate and Learn about Black History in Boston

We are kicking of the month by exploring Black History in Boston. Take some time this month to learn about The William Monroe Trotter Institute for the Study of Black Culture at UMass Boston…

Happy 90th Birthday to ICI trailblazer and luminary, Dr. Ludwik Stefan Szymanski

Our original founders, Dr. Alan Crocker, nurse Marie Cullinane, and Dr. Ludwik Stefan Szymanski were dedicated to exploring and improving health and social outcomes for children with developmental…

Learn about the Massachusetts Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment Initiative Program at UMass Boston!

The Massachusetts Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment Initiative (MAICEI) program at UMass Boston offers inclusive higher education opportunities to partnering local school districts that support high…

ICI launches new inclusive civic engagement program for emerging leaders in Africa

Dr. Heike Boeltzig-Brown from ICI has partnered with Humanity & Inclusion to introduce a new professional fellowship program for African disability leaders committed to inclusive civic engagement, the…

Prospective employees may have leverage in Massachusetts’ competitive labor market

Jill Eastman, ICI Employment Specialist Program Coordinator, interviewed for Boston Globe article The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that in 2021 there were nearly 11 million job openings…

Florida Employment First: Spring is in the Air!

This spring, Florida’s Employment First team has a variety of ways to stay connected through conversations, virtual gatherings, and resources! Florida APSE and Georgia APSE are collaborating next…

Join us on May 15, 2022 for #IPSEDay2022!

What is #IPSEDay2022? Inclusive Postsecondary Education Day, or #IPSEDay2022, is a day to raise awareness and spread the word about inclusive postsecondary education (IPSE) options for students with…

LEND Program Seeks Persons With Lived Experience for 9 Month Fellowship

The LEND Program is seeking Persons With Disabilities (PWD) with an interest in advocacy and mentorship to take part in the LEND fellowship that runs from September 2022 - May 2023. Massachusetts…

Inclusion Illuminated: Professional Fellows Program on Inclusive Civic Engagement for emerging leaders in Africa

The Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) has partnered with Humanity & Inclusion (HI) to introduce the Professional Fellows Program on Inclusive Civic Engagement, a new professional fellowship…

Inclusion Illuminated: Apprenticeships for Youth in Underserved Rural Communities

Apprenticeship opportunities are an important part of youth transition to adulthood and the workforce. The Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) Rural Youth Apprenticeship Development (RYAD) Project…

ICI’s Dr. Heike Boeltzig-Brown accepted to the US-Japan Council as a Council Leader

Join us in congratulating Dr. Heike Boeltzig-Brown for having been nominated and accepted to the US-Japan Council (USJC) as a Council Leader! Only highly accomplished professionals with significant…

Minnesota’s Institute on Community Integration features several Think College achievements in their latest issue of Impact Magazine

Impact Magazine at the Institute on Community Integration (ICI Minnesota) is a triannual publication focused on issues that impact people with intellectual, developmental, and other disabilities…

Meet our Advisory Board Members for the Professional Fellows Program on Inclusive Civic Engagement!

The Professional Fellows Program on Inclusive Civic Engagement is a premier professional program funded by the US Department of State for emerging leaders in Africa to exchange and implement best…

Happy LGBTQ+ Pride Month!

Happy LGBTQ+ Pride Month! As we celebrate Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer + (LGBTQ+) Pride Month in June 2022, we must acknowledge disabled LGBTQ+ advocates who have fought and are still…

Apply today for the ICI’s Gopen and Crocker Disability Fellowships!

Our Barbara Wilensky Gopen Memorial Fellowship and Allen C. Crocker Family Fellowship are part-time fellowship programs. Fellows work independently for up to 20 hours per week on projects of their…

Congratulations to our 2022 LEND Graduates!

This year, 25 Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) fellows graduated from the Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) and Boston Children’s Hospital LEND program…

July is Disability Pride Month!

Disability pride month is a celebration of disability identity, history, resilience, and joy. Boston held the first Disability Pride Day and parade in 1990, following the legislation of the Americans…

ICI and SGISD Staff Presented at APSE Conference Last Month

On June 14–16, several ICI and SGISD staff attended and presented at the National Association for People Supporting Employment First (APSE) Conference in Denver, CO. The theme of this year’s…

New Resources from Think College about Paying for College, Peer Mentor Models, and More!

The ICI’s Think College team has recently published several new resources about improving postsecondary outcomes for students with intellectual disability (ID). This year, Think College met to refine…

ICI's Think College recognized by National Down Syndrome Congress at this year’s Big Game Ball

Contact: Quinn Barbour/Institute for Community Inclusion Phone: 617-287-4309 (office) / 857-271-6617 (mobile) Email: Quinn.Barbour@umb.edu Website: www.communityinclusion.org PRESS RELEASE For…

Center on Youth Voice, Youth Choice Welcomes Five New State Teams in Its National Community of Practice on Alternatives to Guardianship

The Center on Youth Voice, Youth Choice (CYVYC) is a resource center for youth with intellectual and/or development disabilities (I/DD). CYVYC provides technical assistance to state teams from across…

Help us Spread the Word to Caregivers of Children with Down Syndrome!

The ICI’s Pathways Project for Caregivers of Children with Down Syndrome is recruiting parents and caregivers of children with Down syndrome between the ages of 10–14 to participate in an interactive…

Inclusion Illuminated: Youth Voice, Youth Choice

In the disability education field, transition often refers to the time in a young person’s life between middle school and early adulthood when they are considering and planning for post-high school…

Former Fellow Gives Moving Speech

Earlier this year, we held the graduation ceremony for the first training session of the Individualized Education Program (IEP) of the Changing the World of People with Disabilities Foundation for…

SELN Celebrates 17 years!

This July, the State Employment Leadership Network (SELN) kicked off membership year 17! The SELN is a collaborative effort between the ICI and the National Association of State Directors of…

Check Out this World at Work Article in #evolve Magazine Featuring ICI’s David Hoff!

The article, Employees with IDDS, discusses the importance of eliminating stigma that surrounds employees with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) by sharing stories, providing supports…

Five ICI ThinkWork staff present at this year’s Reinventing Quality Conference in Baltimore!

This summer, ICI staff John Butterworth, Staci Jones, Alberto Migliore, Brit Miles, and Jen Sulewski led three sessions at the Reinventing Quality Conference in Baltimore with key partners from the…

ICI staff Briefed President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities on Employment

The ICI’s Jean Winsor and John Butterworth of the State Employment Leadership Network and ThinkWork briefed the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities (PCPID) on emerging…

ICI’s Center on Youth Voice, Youth Choice Recognized in Center for American Progress Report about Guardianship and Reproductive Rights

Guardianship is a legal status that gives someone else (a “guardian”) the legal authority to make decisions for a person with a disability. ICI’s Center on Youth Voice, Youth Choice (CYVYC) works with…

ICI’s Jean Winsor’s Receives a New Grant to Explore Barriers to Integrated Employment

Congratulations to Dr. Jean Winsor, senior research associate at the Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI)! Dr. Winsor received a 3-year, $600,000 field-initiated research grant from the National…

October is Disability Employment Month!

My Experience in Oklahoma: Honoring the Lives & Memories of the Victims of the Oklahoma City Bombing

Fides P Uiso is a 2022 Fellow in the Professional Fellows Program on Inclusive Civic Engagement. This program is sponsored by the U.S Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs…

SELN Co-Hosts Webinar with National Center on Advancing Person-Centered Practices and Systems for Disability Employment Awareness Month

On October 19, State Employment Leadership Network’s (SELN) Amy Huppi will present on a webinar with the National Center on Advancing Person-Centered Practices and Systems (NCAPPS), Opening the Door…

There’s Still Hope: My Experience with the Professional Fellows Program on Inclusive Civic Engagement

Harunah Damba is a 2022 Fellow in the Professional Fellows Program on Inclusive Civic Engagement. This program is sponsored by the U.S Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs…

Unlearning to Learn to Strike a Balance With New Knowledge to Forge Ahead

Alan H Onyangois a 2022 Fellow in theProfessional Fellows Program on Inclusive Civic Engagement.This program is sponsored by the U.S Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs…

ICI Celebrates National Apprenticeship Week Highlighting its Work to Advance Apprenticeship Opportunities for Jobseekers with Disabilities

ICI joins the Department of Labor (DOL) in celebrating the 8th Annual National Apprenticeship Week. DOL describes this week as “an opportunity to highlight how Registered Apprenticeship, a proven and…

Living and Learning in Mississippi

Emebet G Lema is a 2022 Fellow in the Professional Fellows Program on Inclusive Civic Engagement. This program is sponsored by the U.S Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs…

Congratulations, Langston University!

Langston University, a Historically Black college/university (HBCU) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma has received a 5-year $4.6 million research grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent…

First Time Travel to the United States: The Experience of a Professional Fellow

Priscilla Mugume Kisakye is a 2022 Fellow in the Professional Fellows Program on Inclusive Civic Engagement. This program is sponsored by the U.S Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and…

ICI Research & State Systems Teams Partner with Minnesota VR and Florida VR on Two New Competitive Integrated Employment Projects

Competitive integrated employment is a key part of ICI employment research and services. Competitive integrated employment is employment that: pays employees at or above minimum wage is performed in…

How the Professional Fellows Program Provided a New Perspective

Salome N Gitau is a 2022 Fellow in the Professional Fellows Program on Inclusive Civic Engagement. This program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural…

Long Time LEND Director David Helm Retires

Congratulations to David Helm! David has served as the Director of Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities (LEND) Program at the Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) at…

Tomodachi Story Jam Participants Showcase Disability Advocacy Story Videos at Final Event

Congratulations to the 10 participants of the TOMODACHI Story Jam for Youth with Disabilities for successfully completing the program! TOMODACHI Story Jam for Youth with Disabilities is a nine-week…

The ICI’s State Systems Team Received a New Grant to Work with Arizona Rehabilitation Services

Dr. Jean Winsor, ICI Senior Research Associate, received a 1-year, $90,000 grant from the Arizona Developmental Disabilities Planning Council to conduct a comprehensive review and analysis of Arizona…

Find Alternatives to Guardianship in your State with CYVYC’s Interactive Map!

Alternatives to guardianship (A2G) can help youth with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD) get support when making decisions. The Center on Youth Voice, Youth Choice (CYVYC) Alternatives…

ICI’s Think College Launches Accreditation Agency for Inclusive Higher Education

Boston, Ma. — Think College, a center within the Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) at the University of Massachusetts Boston, announced today the launch of the Inclusive Higher Education…

Think College Launches Public Awareness Campaign to Expand College Access for Students with Intellectual Disability

Boston, Ma. — Think College, a center at the University of Massachusetts Boston dedicated to expanding college options for students with intellectual disability, announced today the launch of its…

Western Carolina University University Participant Program First Postsecondary Program for Students with Intellectual Disability to be Accredited by New Agency

Boston, MA — May 10, 2023 — The Institute for Community Inclusion’s (ICI) Think College and the Inclusive Higher Education Accreditation Council (IHEAC), a new accrediting agency for postsecondary…

Join the ICI at APSE 2023!

ICI staff and partners are presenting several sessions at the 2023 Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE) Creating Connections conference in Columbus, OH from June 12–15. We hope to…

ICI partners with Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) to establish the National Transportation Accessibility Center

The Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) received a 1-year, $485,000 grant from the Administration for Community Living (ACL) to develop the National Transportation Accessibility…

Juneteenth: A Brief History of the Freedom Celebration

The Center on Youth Voice, Youth Choice Expands its National Community of Practice of State Teams Advancing Alternatives to Guardianship

Boston, MA — The Center on Youth Voice, Youth Choice (CYVYC) is delighted to announce its selection of three additional State Teams to join its national Community of Practice to promote alternatives…

ICI Staffers at the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) Conference

Earlier this June, researchers, policymakers, advocates, and practitioners convened in Pittsburgh for the 147th annual American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD…

Happy Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer + (LGBTQ+) Pride Month!

This June, we celebrate disabled LGBTQ+ advocates! History & Now Disability is often erased from historical accounts when we learn of activists who fought for collective struggles. Today, people with…

ICI’s Partner on Alternatives to Guardianship Project Featured in the New York Times

President Emerita of the Human Services Research Institute (HSRI) Valerie J. Bradley wrote a letter to the editor of the New York Times, thanking the authors for their op-ed, “A Better Alternative to…

My Journey in Alaska: Its Beauty and Natural, Breathtaking Landscapes

Clara S. Muchunguzi is a 2023 Fellow in the Professional Fellows Program on Inclusive Civic Engagement. This program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural…

Embracing Inclusion and Empowerment: My Unforgettable Fellowship Experience

Bakar Hamad is a 2023 Fellow in the Professional Fellows Program on Inclusive Civic Engagement. This program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs…

Two ICI staff Spotlighted by the UMass Office of Community Partnerships

Congratulations to Allison Cohen Hall and Susanna Miller-Raines! Allison and Susanna are both featured in the 2022–2023 UMass Office of Community Partnerships’ Faculty and Staff Spotlight, Fostering…

Reflections on My Disability Inclusion Journey and Visit to the USA

Sande Erick is a 2023 Fellow in the Professional Fellows Program on Inclusive Civic Engagement. This program is sponsored by the US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and…

ICI Staff Present at Annual APSE Conference

Many ICI and SGISD staff presented this month at the National Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE) Conference in Columbus, Ohio from June 12–15. The theme of this year’s APSE…

University of Massachusetts Boston Institute for Community Inclusion Awarded $4.5 Million Center on Scaling Up Progressive Employment

PRESS RELEASE For immediate release: February 15, 2024 BOSTON, MA – The Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) at the University of Massachusetts (UMass) Boston, in collaboration with Mathematica and…

Apply today for the Gopen and Crocker Disability Fellowships!

Our Barbara Wilensky Gopen Memorial Fellowship and Allen C. Crocker Family Fellowship are part-time fellowship programs. Fellows work independently for up to 20 hours per week on projects of their…

ICI Partners with the International Disability Alliance and the African Disability Forum on International Fellowship Program

PRESS RELEASE For immediate release: January 10, 2024 BOSTON, MA – The Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) at the University of Massachusetts (UMass) Boston, in collaboration with the…