Enhance Your Organization's Impact

Training Solutions for Human Service Providers and Families

MERGE delivers customized training for human service organizations focused on expanding access and inclusion. Our collaborative on-site and virtual sessions provide staff and families with the tools and confidence needed to connect individuals with disabilities to inclusive community and recreational programs.

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Explore a broad range of training topics designed to meet your organization’s unique needs. If your priorities extend beyond the options listed, MERGE partners with you to ensure every aspect is thoughtfully addressed. All trainings—whether delivered on-site or virtually—are highly interactive and intentionally designed to support engagement, learning retention, and lasting impact. Watch Lisa in action in the speaker reel below.

Trainings Offered

tRAINING sESSION tOPICS

  • In community programs, "Inclusion" can be misleading. Understand MERGE's Principles of Inclusion and explore participation models: Specialized, Adaptive, Integrated, Peer Buddy, and Authentic Inclusion, weighing their pros and cons.

  • In this session, we'll examine the top ten strategies for effectively engaging with community programs, laying the groundwork for meaningful participation, a sense of belonging, and the opportunity to cultivate friendships.

  • This workshop is for families of students without disabilities, focusing on the importance of genuine friendships for children with diverse abilities. Gain practical advice, hear real-life stories, and learn strategies to support your children's friendships. Ideal for an organization to host and invite in the community.

  • This workshop will take attendees through the principles of Active Support, and understanding when, why, and how to use them. We will work to build community within your agency offerings for times when individuals are taking part in groups or classes run internally.

  • This session begins with person-first language and explores disability etiquette, emphasizing positive and empowering communication. It concludes with a discussion on the term "special" and its impact on the perception and support of individuals with disabilities as valued members of our community.

  • For agencies with multiple departments but one common goal of offering quality services to people with disabilities, this segment provides exercises in teamwork, and learning about other department’s values, strengths, and struggles. With clearer understanding comes better teamwork.

  • A self-care, art-based activity providing participants an easy-to-replicate stress management tool

    and activity. Ideal for family members or direct support professionals.

  • Learn inclusive strategies to ensure everyone meaningfully participates in your on-line educational offerings. Review strategies to engage individuals with diverse abilities to connect, learn, and play virtually.

  • For direct support professionals, understanding advocacy essentials is crucial. Let’s start

    by breaking down ableism and allyship, and your role as an advocate promoting access, inclusion, and community belonging.

  • Interested in joining community activities with like-minded individuals and possibly making new friends? Start by identifying your strengths, passions, and talents. Explore how you can meaningfully participate in community programs, while learning skills to make and be a good friend!

  • Inclusion and friendship matter, but helping individuals build real connections can be challenging. This session offers practical strategies to foster belonging—being welcomed, supported, known, and accepted. Through scenarios and role-playing, learn how to facilitate conversations, encourage participation, and overcome hurdles, empowering those you support to create meaningful relationships in inclusive environments.

Learn more About Our Trainings
Contact Us To Book A Training

  • "Lisa Drennan gets my highest recommendation as an expert in the field of diverse Abilities Inclusion. Her unique ability to recognize, understand, and explain complex concepts, and relationships, has inspired how we think, and most importantly, our actions when working with this valuable population. Her coaching sessions are high-energy and filled with positive reinforcements. her passion, compassion, respect, and commitment to the Diverse Abilities population is unparalleled."

    - Abigail P. Parilla, CEO, The Arc of the South Shore

  • "I was grateful to attend Lisa's Promoting Inclusion - Promoting Friendship workshop recently. The information, the stories and the strategies Lisa shared were helpful and thought provoking. Lisa invited us all to ask some important questions about our community and how we support and engage people with disabilities. She also challenged us to move beyond the surface, using the strategies she shared, to encourage, enable and support meaningful connections and friendships among people with and without disabilities. I highly recommend Lisa and MERGE Consulting!" ​

    - Meridith Shaw
    Executive Director, TriTown Council

  • "I had the pleasure of partnering with Lisa to facilitate a half-day professional development day for the leadership team. The goal intended for the day was self-care, fostering relationships and approaching our work with creativity. Lisa hand-tailored our day and was attentive to every detail; from the pre-planning to the implementation choosing topics and activities with intention. Her professional presentation complimented by her warm personality ensured a day of full engagement, thoughtful reflection and meaningful conversation. We look forward to the next time."

    - Ginger Sullivan, Vice President for Adult Services of Cardinal Cushing Centers

  • "I had the good fortune to work with Lisa when she led a half-day workshop for the Family Leadership Series, which supports and trains families to become disability advocates and leaders. Her insight, knowledge, and enthusiasm was not only informative but engaging. The program participants were active and walked away with a deeper understanding of what it means to be truly inclusive!"

    - Haran Phaneuf, Mass Families - Central Regional Coordinator

  • "The absolute best part of the Building Friendship Toolkit by Lisa Drennan, beyond its overall quality and value, is that it is meant to be handed to a person or organization - not implemented, explained or otherwise the responsibility of family members or direct support workers. The toolkit accurately identifies common hurdles for organizational and community stakeholders and ways to overcome those hurdles - a much needed practical approach to both inclusion and to fostering friendship between people with and people without disabilities."

    - Genia Stephen, Founder, Good Things In Life