Non-profit entities include museums and zoos, hospitals and universities, YMCAs, and environmental groups. They may be huge, reaching thousands of people every day, or they may be as small as the food pantry down the street. It’s been my honor and pleasure to work with dozens of non-profits of all shapes and sizes, from the Smithsonian Institution to local charities here on Cape Cod. Non-profits are among my favorite clients because the subject matter they address is so fascinating and the researchers, professors, curators, and educators I meet are so dedicated to their work.

Patient Education at a Cancer Center

Coping with cancer can be stressful for patients, but when patients understand their treatment options and potential outcomes they can collaborate more effectively with their doctors. To create web-based patient education materials for the world-famous Dana Farber Cancer Center in Boston, I interviewed surgeons, radiologists, and clinical social workers. Then I created patient-friendly articles and tutorials to explain, in jargon-free language, what to expect and how to improve the odds of a positive outcome with lung cancer and breast cancer.

Sample of patient education web page on the Dana Farber Cancer Center website

Autism Inclusion in Museums

Children and adults with developmental and learning challenges such as ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and anxiety are often described as “neurodiverse.” Few learning experiences are designed for neurodiverse learners, yet they are an increasingly large population in schools, community settings, and places of employment.

As the parent of a child with autism, I’ve conducted extensive research, conducted presentations and in-person trainings, and written books and articles on the inclusion of neurodiverse thinkers. So when I was asked to create an eLearning course to train museum professionals to better include individuals on the autism spectrum in museum exhibits and programs I was thrilled to step up to the plate.

The project started with my involvement, along with several major Philadelphia museums and Drexel University, in the successful development of a major grant proposal to the Institute for Museum and Library Services (a federal agency). The project involved several elements including the creation of an interactive course to train museum professionals to support and engage autistic visitors. I worked with the Academy of Natural Sciences, the Adventure Aquarium, and the Media Department at Drexel University to design, script, storyboard, and source images for the course.

Storyline Modules for Self-Directed Learning

Junior Achievement is a 100-year-old non-profit dedicated to teaching young people the ins and outs of career preparation and financial literacy. Prior to Covid, most of its programs were offered in-person by volunteers across the country and in real-world “towns” where they could practice their skills. Once Covid hit, Junior Achievement decided that most of its materials could and should be available online. My role was to work with an in-house group to develop objectives, storyboards, and, ultimately, Storyline modules for users to engage with in a self-directed manner. Topics ranged from career selection to interviewing and job skills to decision-making, and interactions were complex and varied.