Nutley Family Service Bureau (NFSB) is excited to host its annual inclusive mental health symposium, “Transforming Care: Inclusive Mental Health Practices for People with Disabilities” Service providers who treat people with mental health issues and other disabilities are encouraged to attend the full-day, symposium, which will be held virtually on Thursday, May 28 from 9:30 am – 5:30 pm. The symposium will include sign language interpreters.
Symposium sessions will be led by subject matter experts from across the country and cover a wide range of important topics, such as Autism and Co-occurring Anxiety Disorders: A Hidden Challenge in Problem Behavior, The link between inclusive educational opportunities and the development of a positive sense of self for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, From Advocate to Ally: Supporting positive identities among children and youth with disabilities, Creating Accessible and Inclusive Clinical Settings, and disability awareness and inclusion.
The upcoming mental health symposium marks a major milestone—celebrating nearly four years of impactful work through NFSB’s Inclusive Healthy Communities initiative, made possible by funding from the New Jersey Division of Disability Services. This initiative is dedicated to identifying and addressing the unmet needs of individuals with disabilities, building a deeper understanding of the barriers they face, strengthening community engagement, and driving meaningful change to ensure services, resources, and facilities are accessible to all.
“The Inclusive Healthy Communities initiative has been a truly transformative journey for NFSB,” said Katherine Carmichael, Executive Director. “It has created powerful opportunities for learning and collaboration among our staff and valued community partners, including the Township of Nutley, Nutley Public Schools, and Nutley Senior Manor. The mental health symposium is a cornerstone of this work—bringing together service providers to gain critical insights, share expertise, and advance more inclusive, accessible care. We are proud to welcome such an exceptional group of presenters and are excited for the knowledge and inspiration they will bring.”
Here is the current lineup of presenters and sessions.
Inclusive Mental Health Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Elizabeth Hill, MSW
Director, Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, New Jersey Department of Human Services
Ms. Hill will explore key considerations for effectively serving the mental health needs of deaf and hard of hearing communities. Participants will gain insights into how deafness and hearing loss fit within a holistic framework that acknowledges the whole person. The discussion will also cover the diverse communication and linguistic needs of deaf and hard of hearing individuals and how these factors influence mental health service delivery. Additionally, an overview of the New Jersey Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing’s (DDHH) programs and resources will be provided, highlighting how DDHH supports service providers in delivering accessible and culturally competent care.
Autism and Co-occurring Anxiety Disorders: A Hidden Challenge in Problem Behavior
Philip Smith, PhD, LMHC, LMFT, LPC
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, The Boggs Center on Disability and Human Developmental, Rutgers Medical School
Dr. Smith will share the importance of looking for signs of anxiety in individuals with ASD, advocating for clinical assessment of these concerns, and looking for ways to adapt daily support planning and behavioral planning in light of the concerns about a potential anxiety disorder. A model for integrating diagnosis and treatment of an anxiety disorder with a Functional Behavior Assessment and Proactive Behavior Support Plan also will be presented.
From Advocate to Ally: Supporting positive identities among children and youth with disabilities
Priya Lalvani, Ph.D.
Professor of disability studies and inclusive education, Montclair State University
Dr. Lalvani will explore ways to support people with disabilities through an allyship lens. She will consider ways to align work with the missions of the disability justice movement to disrupt ableist practices and create more inclusive communities.
Creating Accessible and Inclusive Clinical Settings
Melissa Cheplic, MPH, NADD-CC
Senior Training and Consultation Specialist, The Boggs Center on Disability and Human Developmental, Rutgers Medical School
Ms. Cheplic will provide insights into practical ways to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and mental health needs across clinical settings. This session will help clinicians, healthcare providers, disability service staff, and community partners learn how to make environments more accessible, inclusive, and sensory-friendly, and how to use clear, supportive communication to better understand and respond to mental health needs.
The link between inclusive educational opportunities and the development of a positive sense of self for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities
Jessica Bacon, Ph.D.
Professor of disability studies and inclusive education, Montclair State University
Ms. Bacon will explore the current state of in/exclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in New Jersey Schools and institutions of higher education. Discuss the literature base regarding the damaging impact of segregation on an individual with IDD’s mental health, identity development, and ability to maintain community-based adult connections. And provide an exemplary model of how inclusive postsecondary education opportunities for young adults with intellectual disabilities across the state of New Jersey offer substantial benefits to individuals development and access to mental health care. Share information about how various constituents can adopt an inclusive mindset and develop inclusive structures in their work to advance the inclusion and positive mental health of all New Jersey citizens, including those marginalized by disability.
Details about our keynote speaker session topic will be announced soon.
NFSB’s Inclusive Mental Health Symposium, Transforming Care: Inclusive Mental Health Practices for People with Disabilities, will be held virtually on Thursday, May 28 from 9:30 am – 5:30 pm. For more information about our presenters and sessions, and to register, visit the symposium page.