Benjamin Brazil
For a decade, the Thompson Policy Institute on Disability (TPI) at Chapman University has worked to develop and improve learning and community environments for people with disabilities through impactful research, policy reform and practice.
TPI’s effectiveness stems from its collaborative, community-driven approach that ensures the voices and needs of people with disabilities remain at the center of its efforts. In addition to working directly with members of the disability community, TPI partners with educators, policymakers, researchers and community members to foster a deeper understanding of disability and promote equity and inclusion.
“TPI is all about doing real work in the community,” said Meghan Cosier, Attallah College professor and executive director of TPI. “The research we are conducting is informing this important work, driving real change in our community and increasing our national reputation and impact.”
Local Impact
A recent example of this local influence is TPI’s INTERAC (Interaction with Neurodiverse Citizens Training on Effective Response and Communication) pilot program, which trains law enforcement officers and first responders to better communicate and respond to people with autism.
A research paper analyzing the program’s effectiveness was written by Ph.D. in Education student Kaylie Holke; Cosier; Elissa Green Kaustinen, director of TPI’s Families, Agencies, and Schools Together; Irvine police Lt. Cathy Scherer; and Andrew Wall, senior research and policy consultant at TPI. The researchers found that officers gained a better understanding of how to respond to people with autism.
Kaustinen and Holke were recognized by the Assn. of California Cities – Orange County for their collaboration with Falck Ambulance, which received a Golden Hub Award for working with the researchers to create a sensory-friendly EMS program. The program provides communication tools and tactile aids to first responders to improve emergency care for neurodivergent patients across Orange County.
“This is a great representation of the connection between TPI and the community, showing how we bridge research and practice and provide research opportunities for Ph.D. students,” Cosier said.
Expanding Influence
TPI’s impact will only grow as it utilizes a recent $1.49 million grant from the Gates Foundation to launch a bold new initiative addressing two critical challenges in California’s education system: the shortage of fully credentialed teachers and the need for high-quality mathematics instruction in inclusive classrooms.
The three-year project aims to develop and grow sustainable teacher residency models that prepare a new generation of educators to deliver inclusive, evidence-based math instruction across urban, rural and high-need school districts in California.
“This initiative targets a crisis in our state,” Cosier said. “Many students, especially those with disabilities, are being taught math by underprepared teachers, with many lacking full licensure or subject matter expertise. We’re creating robust, sustainable pathways into teaching that focus on inclusion and quality.”
The effort focuses on strengthening partnerships with Local Education Agency–Educator Preparation Programs (LEA–EPP) to support 100 teacher residents and 200 in-service educators. These educators will be trained to use High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) in inclusive math classrooms, helping close long-standing opportunity gaps across the state.
The initiative builds on the foundation of TPI’s successful California Educator Preparation Innovation Collaborative work and aligns with California’s strategic priorities around equity, inclusion and workforce development. Attallah College Assistant Professor Jennifer E. Kong of Chapman’s Attallah College will serve as a content and professional learning expert, focusing on mathematics interventions for English learners with disabilities.
“This is a local issue with statewide consequences,” TPI Director Audri Gomez said. “We’re thrilled to invest these resources right here in Orange County and beyond, addressing both workforce shortages and student outcomes in inclusive math classrooms.”
In addition to the grant, TPI recently celebrated a decade of impact at its 10th annual Summit on Disability and Opportunities for All. The summit brought together educators, policymakers and advocates to explore inclusive education practices and future policy solutions. Attendees examined cutting-edge research and practices in inclusive education, co-teaching, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and autism and neurodiversity.
With the Gates Foundation’s support, TPI is poised to catalyze systemic change in California’s educator pipeline, ensuring students with disabilities gain access to the high-quality instruction they deserve.
