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 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
For National Disability Employment Awareness Month, social impact advocate and disability policy and accessibility subject matter expert Andy Arias discusses competitive, integrated employment and economic advancement for people with disabilities in this episode. Listeners will learn strategies for overcoming low expectations and turning no’s into yes’s, highlighted by examples from Andy’s career journey and mission to create more equitable employment opportunities. Read more about Episode 39 of BoggsCast
The Boggs Center Welcomes FLS Training Program Cohort
The Boggs Center welcomed the first New Jersey Frontline Supervisor (FLS) Training Program cohort at a session held in New Brunswick on October 8th. A collaboration with the University of Minnesota, Institute on Community Integration’s Direct Support Workforce Solutions, the program uses a combination of in-person, virtual, and online training and homework to enhance knowledge, skill, and abilities aligned with the National Frontline Supervisor Competencies.
Carrie Coffield, PhD, Co-Authors Article with Recommendations for Disability Competent Healthcare
Carrie Coffield, PhD, Co-Director of The Boggs Center and Director of NJLEND, co-authored, “National Goals on Health Equity’s Recommendations for Disability Competent Healthcare,” appearing in the September 2025 issue of Inclusion, a peer-reviewed journal published by the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.
NJLEND Welcomes Incoming 2025-2026 Cohort
The Boggs Center’s New Jersey Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (NJLEND) program began its tenth year with an orientation for incoming fellows on August 28th, 2025. The 2025-2026 NJLEND cohort includes 17 graduate and doctoral-level fellows, representing 9 academic disciplines from Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences and Rutgers Health, as well as 2 family fellows who have children with disabilities and 2 advocacy fellows living with disability. Read more about the 2025-2026 NJLEND Cohort
New Jersey Partners in Policymaking Welcomes Class of 2025-2026
New Jersey Partners in Policymaking welcomes the class of 2025-2026! This year’s program launched with an in-person weekend session held in New Brunswick on September 12th and 13th. Over the course of the next 9 months, this year’s class will prepare to work toward meaningful change in our state through learning about best practices and important areas for advocacy from nationally-known experts.
Registration is Open for the Fall 2025 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 2025 Developmental Disabilities Lecture Series
Colleen McLaughlin, MEd, Co-Authors Book Chapter on DSP Competencies
Colleen McLaughlin, MEd, Co-Director of The Boggs Center, together with Carol Britton Laws, PhD, Associate Clinical Professor of the Institute on Human Development and Disability at the University of Georgia, and Susan O’Nell, Director of Curriculum Development for the Institute on Community Integration at the University of Minnesota, co-authored a chapter for “Direct Support Workforce Solutions: A Guidebook of Strategies for Individual and Collective Action Toward Workforce Stability,” published by AAIDD. Read more about the book chapter
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 7th Edition, available electronically in English and Spanish, provides readers with 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.
Selecting a Service Provider: Making Choices, Becoming Empowered
The Boggs Center is excited to share the latest version of Selecting a Service Provider: Making Choices, Becoming Empowered. People receiving support through New Jersey’s Division of Developmental Disabilities can choose the service provider that best meets their needs. Available in English and Spanish, this guide offers people with disabilities and their families ideas that can help them select a service provider that will support them to live the lives they want. Read more about Selecting a Service Provider.
Sharing Your Story: A Guide to Medicaid Advocacy
Medicaid provides funding for services that help millions of people with disabilities and their families across the country. “Sharing Your Story: A Guide to Medicaid Advocacy” has information to help you share your lived experience with policymakers so they understand the importance of Medicaid and the services it provides to people with disabilities. Available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Gujarati, Japanese, Portuguese, and Tagalog, this guide explains how Medicaid works and commonly proposed threats, and offers tips for sharing your story along with a worksheet to help you plan your advocacy message. Read More About Sharing Your Story: A Guide to Medicaid Advocacy
The Next Steps: Addressing Concerns about Your Child’s Development
Are you concerned about your child’s development? Available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Gujarati, Portuguese, and Tagalog, this quick guide provides information to connect families of young children in New Jersey with resources for developmental evaluation, services, and support. Read More About The Next Steps: Addressing Concerns about Your Child’s Development
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.
Transition to Adulthood for Young Adults with Developmental Disabilities: A Timeline for Parents
Transition to Adulthood for Young Adults with Developmental Disabilities: A Timeline for Parents provides parents of young adults with developmental disabilities with a one-page overview of considerations in planning for the transition to adult life; national resources on transition topics; and New Jersey’s state agencies and the services they offer.
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.
