Cornell Internship Program Focuses on Nutrition and Apparel Design for Individuals with Disabilities

The CHE + The Center For Discovery Summer Internship provides Cornell human ecology students with practical experience in disability research and care. For eight weeks, students shadow health professionals and participate in research trials involving disabled individuals at The Center for Discovery (TCFD), a nonprofit dedicated to supporting people with disabilities, including autism.

TCFD, located in Harris, New York, serves over 1,700 adults and children in its facility and the surrounding community, offering nutrition services, medical care, education, and nature activities. The partnership between the College of Human Ecology and TCFD began after a research collaboration was proposed in 2021, initiated by Prof. Nancy Wells, senior associate dean for research and graduate education.