Developmental Disabilities Lecture Series

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. Nationally known speakers with expertise in their field serve as faculty for the program. Eight sessions of the Developmental Disabilities Lecture Series are held each year, four in the Fall, and four in the Spring.

Funding for the Series is provided by the Division of Developmental Disabilities, Department of Human Services, State of New Jersey and the Administration on Disabilities, US Department of Health and Human Services.

View list of 300 Sessions of the Developmental Disabilities Lecture Series

Current Sessions

Banner advertising Developmental Disabilities Lecture Series - Spring 2022 WebinarsRegistration is open for the Fall 2022 Developmental Disabilities Lecture Series!
All sessions will be held online using The Zoom Webinar platform.

View Fall 2022 Developmental Disabilities Lecture Series Brochure
Visit The Boggs Center Online Registration System

Unlearning Ableism: How to be an Ally with People with Disabilities
Kara Ayers portrait

Kara Ayers, PhD
Associate Director, University of Cincinnati Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH

Ableism, or discrimination against people with disabilities, contributes to inequities in our society. In this session, participants will learn to identify ableism and how they can respond in positive, proactive ways to promote inclusion. Research-based findings will be discussed as well as first-hand accounts of ableism and allyship. Together, we'll work towards an inclusive future for all.

Friday, September 30, 2022 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Webinar

Assessing Trauma in Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Brian Tallant portrait

Brian Tallant, LPC, NADD-CC
Program Director, Denver START
Rocky Mountain Human Services, Denver, CO

Due to the alarming rates of abuse and neglect of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), as well as the diagnostic overshadowing that occurs when people with IDD seek treatment, it is important that support teams have the knowledge and tools to properly recognize signs of traumatic stress and assess its impact on the individual. In this webinar, participants will learn to differentiate characteristics of an IDD from symptoms of traumatic stress. The presentation will also address how assessment data can be used to guide treatment and serve as the foundation for trauma-informed care coordination.

Friday, October 7, 2022 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Webinar

Developmental Disabilities and Sexuality: Effective Tips and Tools
Katherine McLaughlin portrait

Katherine McLaughlin, MEd
Founder, CEO, Lead Trainer
Elevatus Training, Westmoreland, NH

People with developmental disabilities are often left out of conversations about sexuality, almost as if they are incapable of having thoughts, feelings, and needs. In reality, they, too, are sexual beings that need information and skills for making healthy decisions about sexuality. People who support or work with people with developmental disabilities are most likely to discuss sexuality with them or may even be approached with questions about sexuality. This presentation will help participants become more comfortable talking about this sensitive topic by discussing what needs to be taught, when, and how to help people with developmental disabilities have safe and satisfying relationships.

Friday, October 14, 2022 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Webinar

Quality Meaningful Day Services: A Community-Based Approach
Abby Taylor portrait

Abby Taylor, MS
Customized Employment Mentor
SEEC, Silver Spring, MD

Community-based meaningful day supports and services offer people with intellectual and developmental disabilities opportunities to connect with others in reciprocal relationships and to contribute in impactful ways. This session will discuss the many factors that go into building robust meaningful day services, such as individualized schedules, geographical mapping and planning, person-centered outcomes, and customized employment. Participants will learn how holistic outcomes can be achieved by encouraging full inclusion of people with I/DD into the many communities of which they are a part.

Friday, October 28, 2022 l 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM l Webinar

Registration

The Fall 2022 Developmental Disabilities Lecture Series will be held on the Zoom Webinar platform.

To access the webinars, you must register in advance on The Boggs Center Online Registration System

The webinars are free of charge. Space is limited for each of the sessions. Open to people who live or work in New Jersey. For additional information about DDLS Webinars, please view Frequently Asked Questions

If you have any questions, please contact Debbie Mahovetz at deborah.mahovetz@rutgers.edu or 732-235-9543.

Continuing Education and Certificates of Attendance

As part of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, The Boggs Center offers this program for social work continuing education credit per NJAC 13:44G6.4.c(5). The Boggs Center is a registered NJ Department of Education Professional Development Provider. The Fall 2022 sessions have been submitted to the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) for continuing education program approval.

Each session is eligible for 2 hours of continuing education recognition. To demonstrate completion and receive a Certificate, you must be logged into the webinar from start to finish and complete a survey at the webinar’s completion. Certificates of Attendance will be emailed to all participants who meet these eligibility requirements the week following the event.

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