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The Institute for Community Inclusion at UMass Boston supports the rights of children and adults with disabilities to participate in all aspects of society. As practitioners, researchers, and teachers, we form partnerships with individuals, families, and service agencies. Together we advocate for personal choice and self-determination.
We are dedicated to advancing the full inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of life. Our work encompasses research, program evaluation, training, consultation, education, policy analysis, and service delivery across four main areas of emphasis: Employment, Education, Community Life, and Health Care.
We have three national hubs: ExploreVR and ThinkWork, which focus on inclusive employment, and ThinkCollege, which focuses on inclusive higher education.
Projects
Our projects involve conducting state and national employment research, increasing access to higher education, supporting children with disabilities to plan for a fulfilling future, and much more.
Services
From expert consultation and technical assistance to online training for employment professionals, our services help agency leaders and disability staff to excel and thrive in their work.
Publications
Online Learning

Ashley E Lazarre

ARRT Postdoctoral Fellow

PhD, University of Massachusetts Boston, School of Global Inclusion and Social Development
MPA, Suffolk University, Sawyer Business School – Public Administration
BS, Colby-Sawyer College, Healthcare Administration

Dr. Ashley E. Lazarre is a Haitian American scholar, filmmaker, and digital content creator whose work explores the representation of Black women in digital spaces. Her research examines stereotypes of Black women, embodied trauma, and holistic healing practices, with a focus on how Black women creators use platforms like Instagram to shape new narratives of identity and womanhood. Inspired by the 2010 Haiti earthquake in her personal life, she began her career in disability inclusion at Bay Cove Human Services, advocating for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in workplace settings. Ashley’s pedagogy centers visual storytelling as a site of knowledge production.

Email: Ashley.Lazarre@umb.edu