Two sciences, one integrated practice
Open Road Inclusive Community Consulting helps mission-driven organizations understand their impact, strengthen their people and programs, and navigate meaningful change. We bring together the science of people, the science of systems, and the power of compassionate partnership to help organizations turn evidence and good intentions into better experiences and outcomes for staff, the people they serve, and their communities.
The Science of People
Human development, neuroscience, relationships, leadership, wellbeing, and lived experience — how people experience systems, learning, stress, belonging, and change.
The Science of Systems
Evaluation, implementation science, organizational change, policy, and systems thinking — the structures and conditions that determine whether change can take hold.
Questions we help organizations answer
You don’t need to know exactly what kind of support you need. Often the starting point is simply a question.
Start a Conversation- How do we know we’re making a difference?
- How can we better understand and respond to what staff, participants, families, and communities are telling us?
- How do we turn data and research into better decisions?
- How do we strengthen our workforce and create healthier teams?
- How do we make sure our everyday practices reflect our values?
- How do we create organizational change that actually lasts?
- How do we become more trauma-informed, responsive, and inclusive?
- How do we prepare for the next challenge, or the next opportunity?
Six ways we partner with your organization
Program Evaluation
Understand your impact and learn how to strengthen it — what’s working, for whom, under what conditions, and what to do next.
Learn more →Stakeholder & Community Engagement
Listen carefully, learn differently, and create better solutions together with the people who use, provide, and lead services.
Learn more →Leadership & Organizational Development
Build healthier leaders, stronger teams, and organizations where people can do their best work.
Learn more →Strategic Learning & Continuous Improvement
Turn evidence into learning and learning into action with theories of change, learning agendas, and continuous improvement.
Learn more →Research & Policy Support
Make sense of complexity and turn evidence into clear, practical information for decision-making.
Learn more →Training & Professional Development
Learning designed to change practice — nervous system-wise and trauma-informed leadership, workforce wellbeing, and more.
Learn more →
Amanda J. Rich, Ph.D.
Researcher · Evaluator · Educator · Consultant · Family Advocate
Amanda brings more than 20 years of experience working alongside people with disabilities, families, human service professionals, leaders, and community organizations. Her perspective has been shaped by many seats at the table — direct support professional, family advocate, researcher, evaluator, policy analyst, trainer, and university instructor — and by a belief that meaningful change requires understanding both people and the systems surrounding them.
Ph.D., Human Development & Family Studies, University of Delaware · M.A., Applied Behavior Analysis & Special Education, Teachers College, Columbia University · B.A., Psychology & Disability Studies, University of Delaware
More About AmandaSelected projects
Thoughtful, rigorous, and genuinely collaborative
“Our experience shows them to be thoughtful, rigorous, and deeply committed to inclusive practices.”
Marian Frattarola-Saulino & Rachel Milano-Davis
“Highly skilled in facilitation, active listening, evaluation, and research.”
Dr. Kelley Perkins
“This was one of the best courses ever.”
Course Participant
Let’s start with a conversation
Whether you’re planning an evaluation, navigating organizational change, developing leaders, or simply trying to make sense of a complicated challenge, we’d be glad to hear what you’re working on.