In the News
When Research Includes Everyone
By Jennifer Guan and Dan O’Donnell Jennifer and Dan discuss their project from last year. They asked students at the BU Medical Campus a powerful question, “What does inclusion mean to you?”. They also led a focus group at Boston Children’s Hospital to ask how healthcare teams work together to care for people with intellectual […]
Including People with Down Syndrome and Intellectual Disabilities in Research That Affects Them
By Amy Laskowski, Photos by Jackie Ricciardi Featuring Eric Rubenstein, Ashley Scott, and Dan O’Donnell This article from The Brink highlights how the Rubenstein lab works directly with people who have intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to make healthcare research more inclusive, especially around aging with IDD.
Sherman James Diverse & Inclusive Award 2025
Eric Rubenstein was awarded the Sherman James Diverse & Inclusive Award at the 2025 conference for the Society for Epidemiologic Research (SER).
Redefining Inclusion: Co-Researchers with Down Syndrome Set their Own Research Agenda
Featuring Eric Rubenstein and the Co-Research Team Assistant professor Eric Rubenstein’s collaboration with a team of individuals with Down syndrome led to the creation of the nation’s first public health co-research program led entirely by people with Down syndrome, shifting the research focus from medical data to community-driven priorities like mental health and stress management.
Medicaid Is a Vital Lifeline for Adults with Down Syndrome
Featuring Eric Rubenstein A new study led by Boston University researchers found that nearly all U.S. adults with Down syndrome rely on Medicaid and use significantly more healthcare services and resources than those without developmental disabilities, highlighting both the program’s essential role in their wellbeing and persistent racial disparities in access to equitable care.
Special Olympics Athletes Lead Research on Disability Health in BUSPH training program
Featuring Eric Rubenstein In this news story, Special Olympics athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities partnered with public health students to lead their own research on hydration, showing how co-research can empower people with disabilities to shape the studies that affect their health and lives.
Disability as identity: the next frontier of public health
By Eric Rubenstein This article calls for a shift in public health to see disability as an important part of identity and to focus on equity, inclusion, and justice so people with disabilities can live healthy, full lives.