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
BoggsCast Launches Season 4 with Episode Celebrating DSPs
BoggsCast is back! In observation of Direct Support Professional Recognition Week, we’re kicking off Season 4 with an episode celebrating the dedication, skill, and impact of DSPs featuring Joe Macbeth, President and CEO of the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP), John Raffaele, NADSP’s Director of Educational Services, and Brian McCrystal, Direct Support Professional for Royal Community Support. Read more about Episode 29 of BoggsCast
Instructional Designer Position Available
The Boggs Center is hiring for an Instructional Designer position. The Instructional Designer will be responsible for designing curriculum to train Direct Support Professionals and Support Coordinators who work in organizations that support New Jersey’s Division of Developmental Disabilities. Successful candidates will update existing curriculum and/or develop new engaging, learner-centered training courses, modules and materials in a variety of platforms including traditional classroom-based instruction, remote learning, interactive e-learning, videos, webinars and resource materials. Read more about the position
Medical Students Mentored by Boggs Center Faculty Develop Mentorship Program for Youth with I/DD
As part of a Distinction in Service to the Community (DISC) project, four Robert Wood Johnson Medical School students developed a mentorship program to prepare youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) between the ages of 13 and 21 for transition to adult life. Cristina Fernandez, Srivarsha Kaloth, Dawn Arumemi, and Patrick Lin, implemented their Adult Life Learning for Youth (ALLY) program at the Piscataway Regional Day School with supervision from faculty advisor Carrie Coffield, PhD, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Robert Wood Johnson Medication School and Director of Pre-service Training and NJLEND Training Director at The Boggs Center.
Registration is Open for the Fall 2024 Developmental Disabilities Lecture Series Webinars
The Boggs Center’s Developmental Disabilities Lecture Series is a community and continuing education program provided for professionals, policymakers, individuals with disabilities, and family members to enhance their knowledge and skills in innovative approaches and state of the art practices for people with developmental disabilities. The webinars are free of charge. Space is limited and advanced registration is required. Open to people who live or work in New Jersey. Read more about the Fall 2024 Developmental Disabilities Lecture Series.
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
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.
