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The ICI 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 opportunities for 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 employment, and ThinkCollege, which focuses on postsecondary 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

Heike Boeltzig-Brown

Senior Manager For International Partnerships

MSc, Applied Social Research
PhD, Public Policy

Heike brings over 23 years of experience leading disability research, program evaluation, and capacity-building initiatives focused on vocational rehabilitation and workforce development. She serves as Principal Investigator (PI) of two NIDILRR-funded projects, including the Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training (ARRT) Program on Employment for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD). Heike also co-authored the 2011 proposal that established the SGISD. Since 2012, Heike has led the U.S. Department of State’s Professional Fellows Program (PFP) on Disability, first as co-director and then as PI and director of the PFP on Disability and Civic Engagement in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda in collaboration with the African Disability Forum.

Email: Heike.Boeltzig@umb.edu