Our History

In more than 25 years, we have come such a long way in fostering inclusive education in New Jersey schools. But we still have a lot of work to do.

 
First NJCIE logo with NJCIE stretched out.
 

Our story began in 1989 when a small group of parents and professionals formed the New Jersey Coalition for Inclusive Education to serve as a subcommittee of TASH (The Association for Individuals with Severe Handicaps). 

In a state challenged by a very separate system of education for children with disabilities, we began with a strong vision that every child with disabilities has the right to be included in classrooms with non-disabled peers. Twenty-five people attended our very first meeting. 

In the early days, NJCIE served as a grassroots, membership-based organization that provided support to families, hosted child-focused, problem-solving, and brainstorming forums, shared resources, raised awareness for inclusive education through outreach to communities, and conducted proactive initiatives and training.

It wasn’t until 1995 that NJCIE was formally incorporated as a nonprofit organization. Our first CEO was Rick Ebinger, and our founding Board members included Diana Cuthberthson, Diane Autin, Fred Tsang, Gerry Petroff, and Ari Ne’eman. We received our 501(c)(3) status in 1996.

 
Michelle Lockwood holding papers and clicker while presenting in front of a SMART Board.
 

Since then…

  • NJCIE sponsored Inclusive Schools Week in New Jersey and obtained a Proclamation from the governor in 2001.

  • Paula Lieb served as the CEO and Executive Director from 2001 until her retirement in 2014.

  • NJCIE has hosted its annual Inclusion Leadership Conferences since 2003, impacting thousands of educators, students, and administrators in New Jersey and beyond.

  • NJCIE received its first grant in 2005 to support the Inclusion Clinics from the Bubel-Aiken Foundation.

  • Michelle Lockwood made history when she joined NJCIE in 2007 as its first full-time inclusion facilitator as a Positive Behavior Support Specialist. Today, she serves as the Director of Programs.

  • Fred Buglione has served as the organization’s President & CEO since 2014 and continuously leads the organization to expand its work and impact in New Jersey and across the United States.

  • The organization won the Victoria Foundation Public Schools Grant for SEL and worked with schools in Irvington and Newark in 2018. The organization continues to provide behavior support services to the Irvington Public Schools District.

  • The New Jersey Inclusive Education Technical Assistance project launched in 2020 as a five-year, $8-million partnership between NJCIE, the New Jersey Department of Education, and Montclair State University Center for Autism and Early Childhood Mental Health. This project serves over 100 districts annually and provides technical assistance packages and systemic change facilitation to New Jersey public, charter, and vocational schools.

Today, our organization works to create neighborhood schools where children with disabilities and learning differences are welcomed as classmates, valued as learners, and empowered to succeed. Inclusive educational practices are considered the best practice for all children and part and parcel of school reform.

To this day, we are still the only organization in New Jersey whose sole focus is inclusive education. The power of this movement continues to grow and spread as schools, families, and communities recognize the positive impact that inclusive practices can have on improving education for all children.