Welcome to The Boggs Center
About The CenterOur 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
A Message from the Founding Executive Director of The Boggs Center
As we enter the season full bore and mark the beginning of our new academic year, I am writing with updates from The Boggs Center. This Summer I am retiring from The Boggs Center. What a great privilege I had to plan the Center with colleagues across the state and then being invited to come to the medical school 41 years ago as founding Executive Director. From our original designation as New Jersey’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, we have also become New Jersey’s Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities - NJLEND program as we continue to partner with our colleagues in state government and collaborate with all of you... Read more
In celebration of The Boggs Center’s 40th anniversary, Deborah Spitalnik, PhD, founding Executive Director, explores the Center’s rich history, enduring contributions, and areas of focus for the future in this special episode. All BoggsCast episodes and full transcripts are available on Podbean, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify apps and websites. Be sure to subscribe to stay up to date with the latest episodes.
Registration is open for the Facing the Future 2024 Conference!
Registration is open for the Facing the Future 2024 Conference to be held on Friday, October 18, 2024 at the Hyatt Regency New Brunswick. Sponsored by The Boggs Center and NJ APSE, the Facing the Future annual conference highlights best practices in supporting people with disabilities in career planning, supported and customized employment, and transition from school to work. The 2024 conference features 18 workshops on transition, support strategies, job coaching, and job development, and a keynote presentation by Delaina Parrish. Read more about the Facing the Future conference
The Boggs Center Celebrates Graduation of 2023-2024 NJLEND Fellows
On May 3rd, 2024, The Boggs Center celebrated the graduation of the 2023-2024 NJLEND Fellows at the New Jersey Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (NJLEND) program’s 8th annual Maternal and Child Health Leadership Symposium. The event featured a keynote address, “We Can End Child Poverty. Why Don’t We?” by Peter Chen, JD, Senior Policy Analyst, New Jersey Policy Perspective. During the NJLEND Leadership Projects Poster Session, graduating NJLEND Fellows presented findings and implications of their year-long projects. Read more about the event and view NJLEND Leadership Project Posters.
The Boggs Center Celebrates New Jersey Partners in Policymaking 2024 Graduates
The Boggs Center celebrated the graduation of its eighth Partners in Policymaking Class on Saturday, April 20, 2024, in New Brunswick. This year’s class of 9 people with disabilities and 17 family members join more than 30,000 graduates across the country ready to collaborate with policymakers to increase the inclusion, self-determination, and well-being of people with disabilities. Read more about the event
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.
