The second annual Inclusion Done Right! (IDR!) Conference convened a diverse group of participants at Stony Brook University to discuss and advance practices that promote inclusion, participation, and accessibility. Held on October 18 at the Charles B. Wang Center Theater, the event was organized by Stony Brook's School of Health Professions and the Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Intercultural Initiatives (DI3), with support from the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) and sponsorship from Bethpage Federal Credit Union.
Agnes McConlogue Ferro, director of the School of Health Professions’ Center for Community Engagement and clinical associate professor in the Department of Physical Therapy, initiated this conference to build collaborative relationships between Stony Brook and community partners to foster inclusive opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
The conference began with remarks from Stacy Jaffee Gropack, Dean of the School of Health Professions, and Judith Brown Clarke, vice president for equity and inclusion and chief diversity officer. They emphasized Stony Brook’s dedication to creating accessible environments.
Conference topics were chosen based on feedback from attendees at last year’s event. The agenda included presentations on accessible sports, recreation, and strategies to assist individuals with disabilities transitioning into adulthood. Keynote speaker Alex Lopez discussed fostering inclusive sports opportunities. Model, actress, and advocate Jillian Mercado spoke about resilience and empowerment within the disability community.
Participants attended breakout sessions on community inclusion aspects such as adaptive sports and transitions from childhood to adulthood. Panel discussions featured live demonstrations like adaptive flag football, highlighting collaboration between Stony Brook faculty and community partners.
Organizers introduced an innovative tool called Inclusion Done Right! The App. Developed through a cross-disciplinary partnership involving faculty members Rajiv Lajmi and Hants Williams along with health informatics students from the School of Health Professions, it provides real-time opportunities for individuals with disabilities. The app also involved contributions from Alex Doboli's team in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
A prototype facilitating participation in adaptive flag football was developed by McConlogue Ferro in collaboration with students from physical therapy and biomedical engineering programs. This prototype was demonstrated live during the conference.
McConlogue Ferro remarked that "We are building the platforms that will address the needs of our community, with our community. Our ongoing efforts...create meaningful change in the area of inclusion and community-based participation — for all."