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 Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Administration for Community Living, 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 Spring 2022 Developmental Disabilities Lecture Series!
All sessions will be held online using The Zoom Webinar platform.

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

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion and Person-Centered Practice
Regina Rodriguez Sisneros portrait

Regina Rodriguez Sisneros
Director of Equity Initiatives & Systems Innovations
The National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services
Alexandria, VA

The population of those who experience developmental disabilities is diverse. Cultural and racial identities shape views and expectations of service systems, impacting which supports, if any, people with disabilities and their families choose and use. This presentation will center on the importance of understanding a person’s racial and cultural identities for providing person-centered supports with cultural competence and humility. Key concepts related to diversity, equity, and inclusion will be explored and personal narratives of people with disabilities will be shared to demonstrate the alignment of cultural competence and person-centered planning and practice.

Friday, April 1, 2022 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Webinar

Supported Decision Making
Michael J Kendrick portrait

Michael J. Kendrick, PhD
Director, Supported Decision Making
Center for Public Representation
Northampton, MA

Supported decision making is gaining momentum as a means to support people with disabilities through making life choices while promoting independence, dignity, and freedom. The practice of supported decision making as an alternative to guardianship will be introduced through this presentation. It will also describe the importance of approaches embedded in supported decision making, why they are important, and the benefits they can have for the persons being supported. Resources to learn more about supported decision making and tools to support implementation will be shared.

Friday, April 8, 2022 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Webinar

Neurodiversity, Self-Advocacy, and Self-Determination
Julia Bascom portrait

Julia Bascom
Executive Director
Autistic Self Advocacy Network
Washington, DC

NJLEND CE Event Autism Acceptance Month

Disability is a natural part of the human experience, and people with disabilities have the right to be in charge of their lives, supports, and futures. Understanding autism and other developmental disabilities as neurodiversity contributes to building a world that is accessible, inclusive, and fair for everyone. This presentation will explore neurodiversity, self-advocacy, and self-determination and describe how they can shape a culture of inclusion and respect for all. The role of effective advocacy, supports, and policy in creating a more equitable future will also be presented.

Friday, April 22, 2022 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Webinar

Acknowledging and Fostering the Critical Role of Support Coordinators
Jennifer Turner portrait

Jennifer Turner, LCSW
Senior Research Associate/Assistant Director
UMKC, Institute for Human Development/Life Course Nexus Training and TA Center
Kansas City, MO

Support Coordinators serve a critical role in the lives of people with disabilities and their families, as well as in formal service systems. Their varied and multi-faceted role requires core knowledge and skills to ensure consistent, high quality, person-centered supports. Despite the need for highly competent professionals, support coordination is one of the few positions without a standardized set of core competencies. This presentation will highlight both national and state specific efforts to develop, adopt, and implement core competencies, including the common elements between the various examples, and how these elements can be customized to fit the context of support coordination in New Jersey.

Friday, May 13, 2022 l 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM l Webinar

Registration

The Spring 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
https://boggscenterregistration.rwjms.rutgers.edu/index.php/event/lecture

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 Spring 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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