Description

About The Courses

This course will be offered in a hybrid format. The in-person sessions will take place in the morning at Karp 1st floor boardroom. A virtual option will also be available for those unable to attend in person.

Presentations will be recorded and available on-demand to all paid attendees for six weeks after the conference.

Call for Original Research Abstracts

Join our community by submitting a Research Abstract by April 15th 2026 to be a part of the Third Annual Disability Health Equity Symposium at Boston Children’s Hospital on July 23, 2026. 

Poster presentations, if selected, will be presented in person.

 Important dates:

•  Call for Abstracts: Now through April 15, 2026
•  Selection Period: April 16 to May 11, 2026
•  Notification of Acceptance: May 22, 2026
•  In-Person Poster Presentation: July 23, 2026

Overview

The Disability Health Equity Symposium is sponsored by the Office of Health Equity & Inclusion. It features lectures from prominent leaders in the field, including Cara Coleman, JD, MPH, Founder of The Bluebird Way Foundation and Bluebird Consulting, LLC; Jay Berry, MD, MPH; Heather Engholm, RN, BSN, MPH; and Catherine Ullman Shade, PhD, MEd.

This symposium aims to promote research in Disability Health Equity by showcasing presentations from the Disability Health Equity Research Collaborative. Additionally, there will be networking opportunities for researchers, health advocates, and clinical experts during the Office of Health Equity & Inclusion-sponsored Networking Luncheon, which will be held in person for the first 70 registered attendees.

Disability Health Equity encompasses a broad range of domains within healthcare, addressing the unique needs and challenges faced by individuals with disabilities. It involves promoting equitable access to medical services, improving healthcare delivery, advocating for inclusive health policies, conducting vital research, and fostering education and awareness among healthcare professionals. By integrating these diverse aspects, Disability Health Equity aims to eliminate disparities and ensure that all individuals, regardless of ability, receive comprehensive, respectful, and effective healthcare.

Networking and breaking down silos are crucial for advancing Disability Health Equity. By fostering connections among researchers, health advocates, and clinical experts, we can share knowledge, resources, and innovative ideas. This collaborative approach helps break down barriers between disciplines, leading to more integrated and effective healthcare solutions. Networking not only facilitates the exchange of best practices but also builds a supportive community dedicated to improving health outcomes for individuals with disabilities. Through collective effort, we can drive meaningful change and promote a more inclusive and equitable healthcare system.

Course Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will:

1. 1. Understand the current landscape of disability health research, including recent advancements and ongoing challenges, to better inform their practice and research efforts.
   2. Recognize and address ableism within healthcare settings, utilizing patient and caregiver perspectives to develop strategies for more inclusive and equitable patient care.
   3. Develop networking and collaboration skills to foster partnerships among researchers, clinicians, and advocates aimed at advancing disability health equity.
   4. Apply principles of disability inclusion in medical education and clinical practice to create more accessible and supportive environments for patients and healthcare professionals with disabilities.

Speakers
	Cara Coleman, JD, MPH Founder, The Bluebird Way Foundation and Bluebird Consulting, LLC
	Jay Berry, MD, MPH Chief, Complex Care Services Associate Professor, Harvard Medical School
	Heather Engholm, RN, BSN, MPH Nurse, MASSTART
	Catherine Ullman Shade, PhD, MEd Director of Education, Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Program

**Event Accessibility** This event will be held virtually on Zoom. We will provide American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation and Zoom’s automated captions.

Course Cancellation, Transfer & Refund Policy

Online/Virtual Course Registrations: Due to the propriety materials and content of each course, online virtual courses orders are NOT eligible for refund, cancellation or transfer. Online training courses may NOT be transferred to another Participant. Participants have 2 weeks to access any virtual online course content. Participants have until the expiration date to access and complete any enduring material courses. Boston Children’s Hospital CE is not responsible for user technical difficulties including loss of internet, power outages, etc.

In-Person Course Registrations: For in person course registrations, refunds are available on the following schedule: 100% refund up to 8 weeks before the first day of the course; 50% refund up to 2 weeks before the first day of the course; No refunds will be processed for cancellations within 2 weeks of the first day of the course

Boston Children’s offers the opportunity to change your attendance preference: Should your circumstances change after you have registered for either the ONLINE or IN-PERSON program, you have the ability to change from one attendance option to the other up until two weeks before the program begins. Please contact us via email if you would like to make a change.

“No shows” for both in person and virtual courses are subject to the full course fee and no refunds will be issued once the course has started.

Refunds will be made in the following ways: For payments received by credit or debit cards, the same credit/debit card will be refunded.

*If you have extenuating circumstances, please contact us at continuingeducation@childrens.harvard.edu

Cancellation of Services

Although highly unlikely, in case an event is canceled or postponed, Boson Children’s can provide a full refund or offer a credit towards future events to those who have already registered.

 

Accreditation

In support of improving patient care, Boston Children’s Hospital is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

 

 

 

Physician

Boston Children’s Hospital designates this live activity for a maximum of  4.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits ™. Physicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in this activity.

Nurse

Boston Children’s Hospital designates this activity for 4.0 contact hours for nurses. Nurses should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Social Work

As a Jointly Accredited Organization, Boston Children’s Hospital is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Boston Children’s Hospital maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive 4.0 ACE CE continuing education credits.

Disclosure Policy 
Boston Children’s Hospital adheres to all ACCME Essential Areas, Standards, and Policies. It is Boston Children’s policy that those who have influenced the content of a CE activity (e.g. planners, faculty, authors, reviewers and others) disclose all relevant financial relationships with commercial entities so that Boston Children’s may identify and resolve any conflicts of interest prior to the activity. These disclosures will be provided in the activity materials along with disclosure of any commercial support received for the activity. Additionally, faculty members have been instructed to disclose any limitations of data and unlabeled or investigational uses of products during their presentations.

Disclosure Statement
The following planners, speakers, and content reviewers, on behalf of themselves, have reported the following relevant financial relationships with any entity producing, marketing, reselling, or distributing health care goods or services consumed by, or used on patients: 

Mitigation of Relevant Financial Relationships
Boston Children’s Hospital adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity, including faculty, planners, reviewers or others are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.