Welcome to The Boggs Center
About The CenterNew Jersey's University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service
New Jersey's Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities Program
Our Mission
The Boggs Center, as a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, values uniqueness and individuality and promotes the self-determination and full participation of people with disabilities and their families in all aspects of community life. As a catalyst and resource, The Boggs Center, through partnerships and collaborations, builds capacity in organizations, systems, and communities in a culturally competent manner. The Boggs Center prepares students through interdisciplinary programs, provides community training and technical assistance, conducts research, and disseminates information and educational materials.
News
Boggs Center Staff Present at Annual AUCD Conference
Several Boggs Center staff presented at the annual Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) Conference held in Washington, DC from November 3rd to November 6th, 2024. The AUCD Conference brings together more than 1,100 researchers, policymakers, practitioners, professionals, advocates, community leaders, and students.
Episode 31 of BoggsCast Now Available: Supported and Customized Employment with Sara Murphy
In Episode 31, Sara Murphy, MS, Senior Training Associate for TransCen, discusses supported and customized employment. Listeners will learn about harnessing job seekers’ unique strengths and interests, engaging with employers, and partnering with people with disabilities and families to create meaningful employment opportunities. All BoggsCast episodes and full transcripts are available on Podbean, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify apps and websites. Read more about Episode 31 of BoggsCast
The Boggs Center and NJ APSE Host Annual Facing the Future Conference
The Boggs Center and NJ APSE hosted their annual Facing the Future Conference highlighting best practices in supporting people with disabilities in career planning, supported and customized employment, and transition from school to work on Friday, October 18th in New Brunswick. With a theme of investing in employment, this year’s conference featured 18 workshops, a luncheon to honor NJ APSE Award Winners, and an impactful keynote by Delaina Parrish, Co-Founder and CEO of Fearless Independence, LLC. Read more about the conference
Leadership Changes at The Boggs Center
The Boggs Center on Disability and Human Development has reorganized our leadership structure to ensure continued growth and success following the retirement of founding Executive Director Deborah M. Spitalnik, PhD. We are pleased to announce that Colleen McLaughlin, MEd, has been designated UCEDD Director and Deputy Director of The Boggs Center. In addition, Carrie Coffield, PhD, has become Director of NJLEND, The Boggs Center’s Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities program. Read more about leadership changes at the Center
Deborah M. Spitalnik, PhD, founding Executive Director of The Boggs Center on Disability and Human Development, New Jersey’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service, Director of NJLEND, New Jersey’s Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities Program, and Professor of Pediatrics and Family Medicine and Community Health at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School is retiring after 41 years of service. The Boggs Center extends our deepest gratitude for the indelible impact Dr. Spitalnik has made in the lives of people with I/DD both in New Jersey and throughout the nation, her unwavering commitment to advancing policy and practice, and her steadfast leadership.
Publications
Voting: It’s Your Right is a guide about voting rights and the voting process in New Jersey written in clear language for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The updated 6th edition provides information on registering and preparing to vote, options for voting by mail and in-person, voting rights and accessibility, and contacting election officials with questions. Available in English and Spanish.
Deciding to Self-Direct: Making Choices, Becoming Empowered
The Boggs Center developed Deciding to Self-Direct, the latest guide in the Making Choices, Becoming Empowered series for people with developmental disabilities. People receiving support through NJ’s Division of Developmental Disabilities can choose to self-direct some or all of their services. Available in English and Spanish, this guide helps readers to think about their lives and whether self-directed services are right for them.
Vaccinate to Keep Kids Healthy! Fact Sheet and Poster
Preventing disease is always better than treating it. Vaccines protect against diseases that once caused serious illness, disability, and death, including COVID-19. With funding from the federal Administration for Community Living, The Boggs Center developed new resources for parents of young children to promote and explain the benefits of following the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) immunization recommendations to keep kids healthy. Vaccinate to Keep Kids Healthy! fact sheets in English, Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Portuguese, and Tagalog, as well as an 11” x 17” English/Spanish poster, are now available on The Boggs Center’s website. Read More About Vaccinate to Keep Kids Healthy
COVID-19 Vaccine Resources for the Developmental Disabilities Community
The Boggs Center developed two resources to provide information about COVID-19 vaccines and help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities understand what to expect before, during, and after vaccination. COVID-19 Vaccine Facts for the Developmental Disabilities Community and Getting a COVID Vaccine: A Social Story for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities are available in English and Spanish.
Selecting a Support Coordination Agency: Making Choices, Becoming Empowered
People receiving support through New Jersey’s Division of Developmental Disabilities are able to choose the agency they receive support coordination services from. Selecting a Support Coordination Agency: Making Choices, Becoming Empowered provides information and ideas that can help in the selection process. Available in English and Spanish.
