The Center for Discovery, Innovation and Development at Children’s Specialized Hospital, a part of the Children’s Health network at RWJBarnabas Health, recently launched a disability education service titled, IncludED.
IncludED collaborates with national disability leaders, people with disabilities, and CSH experts to provide training opportunities for various organizations to better serve individuals with disabilities by reimagining their offerings and creating more inclusive environments. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, during 2019–2021, the prevalence of any diagnosed developmental disability in children aged 3–17 years increased to 8.56% from 7.40%.
“To date, we have successfully trained hundreds of professionals, including those working in community centers, law enforcement agencies, schools and more,” said Michael Dribbon, vice president of business development and chief innovation & research officer at Children’s Specialized Hospital. “We are equipping them with the tools and resources they need to embrace inclusivity and drive positive change within their organizations.”
Service offerings include:
- Disability Awareness Training: IncludED trainers deliver actionable strategies for disability inclusion, equipping employees with the knowledge and tools to build accessibility, equity, and meaningful engagement. This training is customized to each business and industry, strengthening awareness, improving interactions, and empowering teams to recognize and support differences with understanding and confidence.
- Comprehensive Accessibility Evaluation: The IncludED team will assess an organization’s environment for accessibility compliance and opportunities to excel in inclusion.
- Development of Social Stories: IncludED will assist with the development of social stories that help businesses support patrons with disabilities by providing clear, descriptive narratives about what to expect during a visit to their establishment.
Ivory Williams, vice president of STEM Education at the Liberty Science Center, said, “In an effort to improve our exhibition and program experiences for guests with sensory processing challenges, we worked with IncludED to host a Sensory Day that aimed to reduce sensory overload and offer a more inclusive experience. The IncludED team helped with making environmental adjustments, providing supportive resources, and offering engaging activities that allowed children with sensory sensitivities to enjoy our exhibits in a comfortable and welcoming way.”
In addition to organizations such as Liberty Science Center, IncludED partners with businesses, service providers, healthcare facilities, and industries such as hospitality, entertainment, transportation, retail, and public safety among others to implement effective disability inclusion practices.
