Oce Harrison, Ed.D. Manager of ADA Special Projects is formerly the Director of the New England ADA Center from 2001-2023. Dr. Harrison is currently focused on ADA Research and ‘ADA, Addiction, Recovery’ information and training.
Dr. Harrison is known for her initiation, follow-through skills and congeniality. Before coming to IHCD, Dr. Harrison worked with organizations such as: the Boston Self Help Center, Mass General Hospital’s Burn Unit, Perkins School for the Blind, Casa Esperanza and the Institute for Community Inclusion at Children’s Hospital.
Oce chaired the national team of ADA Center Directors that rebranded the old “DBTACs” to be the National ADA Network Centers in 2010 and led the region’s largest events marking the 20th and 25th anniversaries of the ADA. From 2016-2021, she managed research on Identifying Barriers to Implementing the ADA for Cities and Towns.
Since 2018, Dr. Harrison led the ADA National Networks’ ADA, Addiction and Recovery Committee which has produced a series of fact sheets. And, published an article in Advances in Addiction & Recovery Magazine on ‘How the ADA Addresses ADA, Addiction and Recovery’ (Spring 2020). She recently created an ADA, Addiction and Recovery Toolkit with the National Hispanic and Latino Addiction Technology Transfer Center.
Dr. Harrison has presented for: the Opioid Response Network, National Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC), Massachusetts Organization for Addiction and Recovery (MOAR), Massachusetts Alcohol and Drug Counselors Association (MAADAC),and in 25 cities and towns on behalf of Learn to Cope (LTC).
In 2022, Oce received an award from the Massachusetts US Attorney’s Office of Civil Rights for excellence in extensive outreach promoting protections under the ADA to people with opioid use disorders, their families and addiction professionals.
She earned her doctorate at Boston University's School of Education in 1994. And, has taught at Lesley University, Springfield College, North Shore Community College and Bridgewater State University.
The New England ADA Center continues to hold regular webinars to increase the impact of civil rights for people with addiction recovery, their families, and addiction counselors.