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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

A Middle Eastern woman in her 30s with long dark hair.

Shahrzad Sajadi

Research and Knowledge Translation Associate

BA, Allameh Tabatabai University, Tehran, Iran, Law
MA, Emerson College, Journalism, Boston, MA
PhD, University of Massachusetts Boston

Shahrzad Sajadi is a research and knowledge translation associate on the ExploreVR team. In this role, she connects the experiences of the research and evaluation teams to the work of the Knowledge Translation team. Shahrzad recently graduated with her PhD from SGISD at UMass Boston. Her research focuses on the nexus between the criminal justice system, employment, and disability and the impact of each on the others. Shahrzad believes that listening to peoples’ stories is the best way to recognize their agency and restore their voices, which guides her research and work at ICI.

Email: shahrzad.sajadi001@umb.edu