As individuals with disabilities we all need to be counted in US CENSUS 2010. Decisions regarding funding for community services and supports for us are determined based upon population, age, types of disabilities, and residential address. Your participation in the US CENSUS 2010 will mean that your needs for living with your disabilities will be counted and your community will receive their share for providing services to you. If you would like assistance in answering the CENSUS 2010 questions please contact www.nonprofitscount.org or call toll free: 1-800-923-8282. Be counted and return your CENSUS 2010 form by April 1, 2010.
US CENSUS 2010 NEEDS YOU!
February 12th, 2010Save the Date for ILCNSCA and ADRC of GNS Legislative Breakfast
February 5th, 2010The 23rd Annual ILCNSCA Legislative Breakfast in conjunction with the ADRC of GNS will be on May 14, 2010 at the Salem Waterfront Hotel and Suites, Pickering Wharf, Salem, MA with 8:30 AM registration, event from 9:00 to 11:30 AM. Please save the Date and watch our web page for more information!
July 12-15, 2010 An International Conference
January 21st, 2010The Center for Rebuilding Sustainable Communities after Disasters (CRSCAD) is organizing an international conference at the University of Massachusetts Boston on Rebuilding Sustainable Communities with the Elderly and Disabled People after Disasters. It will take place from July 12 to July 15, 2010.
For more information, please see CRSCAD’s website: www.rebuilding.umb.edu and the conference website: http://www.rebuilding.umb.edu/rscepd.
Conference Objectives
While many conferences have examined challenges that the elderly and people with disabilities face in emergencies, no significant systematic post-disasters study has been undertaken with a focus on the long-term, sustainable community recovery and rebuilding needs of this population.
The conference will, therefore, address the following main issues:
The status of the elderly and disabled people in various communities after disasters and the continuing need for superior research and appropriate data.
The role and input of the elderly and disabled people in post-disaster reconstruction planning and implementation processes.
The roles of governments, institutions of higher education, the private sector, and non-governmental and community-based organizations in post-disaster reconstruction.
The promotion of human dignity in the creation of sustainable environments that empower the elderly and disabled people in the aftermath of disasters.
Integration of the elderly and disabled people into the larger community after disasters.
The promotion of the human rights of disabled people through full participation, equalization of opportunity, and development.
The role of women with disabilities in the formulation and implementation of reconstruction policies after disasters.
The participation of children with disabilities in the development and execution of post-disaster plans and programs.
The conference will seek to contribute to, and recommend, future policy formulation and implementation processes for local, regional, and national governments, as well as multilateral agencies and grass-roots organizations.
For further information please go to www.rebuilding.umb.edu/rscepd or call 617.287.7116
For disability-related accommodations, including dietary accommodations, please go to www.ada.umb.edu
1/7/10 UPDATE: Governor Reversed TAFDC Cut!
January 6th, 2010Urgent Call to Action: Protect the Safety Net for Children of Parents with Disabilities
PLEASE NOTE: OUR EVENT AT THE STATE HOUSE IS GOING FORWARD!
- We need to thank the Governor for reversing the cut
- We need to thank our legislative leaders for all of their work on this issue
- We need to set the stage for preserving the TAFDC program for the coming fiscal year (which begins July 1, 2010)
- We need to be sure the Governor and the Legislature preserve the TAFDC program fully for all families no matter how bad things get in FY 2011
- We need to work together on tax-expenditure reforms to increase state revenue to pay for essential government benefits and services
PLEASE PLAN TO ATTEND THE EVENT TO PRESERVE TAFDC FOR FY 2011!
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Nurses Hall, State House, Boston
11:00-12:00 Guest Speakers
12:00-1:00 State House visits
The following was posted 1/6/10: The Administration has announced plans to slash already very low subsistence benefits for the most vulnerable children and families in the state. The cut ‐‐ scheduled to go into effect February 1st ‐‐ would eliminate or drastically reduce Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) benefits for children whose parents are too disabled to work. For many of these children, the cut will result in homelessness, mid‐year school transfers, inadequate nutrition, poor health, and learning and behavioral problems. This wholesale family destabilization will cost the Commonwealth much more in the long term than the $23 million the cut is projected to save.
CALL TO ACTION!
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
11:00 – 12:00 Guest Speakers
12:00 ‐ 1:00 Legislative Visits
State House Boston
Grand Staircase, 2nd Floor
TAFDC serves 50,000 families in Massachusetts, providing a subsistence benefit of $500 a month on average, a benefit that is worth only 20% of its 1988 value. Parents are required to work unless they are too disabled or caring for young children or a disabled family member. More than 9,000 families would lose all or most of their benefits under the Administration’s plan.
Contact the Governor (617‐725‐4000).
Urge him to reverse the TAFDC cut!
For more information, please contact: Elizabeth Toulan, GBLS (617‐603‐1626), Bill Henning, BCIL (617‐338‐6665) or Robyn Powell, DPC (617‐542‐3522).
Call to Action Sponsors: Action for Boston Community Development, Boston Center for Independent, Living, Catholic Charities of Boston, Catholic Charities of Springfield, Coalition Against Poverty, Coalition for Social Justice, Disability Policy Consortium, Greater Boston Legal Services, Homes for Families, Live Well Springfield, Mass. Coalition for the Homeless, Mass. Law Reform Institute, Mass. Welfare Rights Union, Metro‐West Center for Independent Living, National Association of Social Workers/MA Chapter, Survivors, Inc.
December 10 Rally CANCELED- Governor recinds cuts to MassHealth
December 7th, 2009The proposed MassHealth cuts have been rescinded. This would, among other things, stop planned cuts to PCA services. The state was able to unexpectedly find funds, which will now be applied to cover the MassHealth deficit for the current fiscal year as well as other programs and services that had been slated for deep cuts.
In view of this, the December 10 protest rally at the State House has been cancelled. Advocacy will need to continue in the coming months—the state budget for the coming fiscal year remains dire. But for maybe a few weeks we can exhale a little. Thanks to the many who have made calls, written letters, and gone to the State House, making MassHealth and PCA services a hot topic at the State House and EOHHS.
Quick calls of thanks to the Governor’s office would be helpful. The Governor’s office telephone number: 617-725-4005.
info provided by Boston Center for Independent Living
December 10 Rally at Governor’s office to Prevent PCA cuts
December 3rd, 2009
Speak out against PCA cuts!
Thursday, December 10, noon,
Governor Patrick’s Office, State House
As many as 1,700 people are targeted to be cut from the PCA program. These medically-necessary services will be eliminated for people receiving less than 15 hours of services a month. People will lose assistance with bathing, dressing, and toileting. These are people with back injuries, diabetes, cancer, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, progressive diseases. These are people who are under twenty, over eighty, and all ages in between.
As we cope with the current budget deficit, let the Governor know that those of us with disabilities need PCA services to remain in the Community!
Why not cut non-community services? Why are we building a new hospital for those of us with mental health needs in Worcestor? Can that be cut?
Have your voice heard! Come with us on December 10 to the Governor’s Office, and speak your mind, give your suggestions on how not to cut the PCA program.
CLASS Act under attack in Senate Review of Health Reform
December 3rd, 2009CLASS Act will provide those of us with disabilities and working a chance to have a long term supports and services outside of Medicaid, and the entrance into poverty. Call your Senators today and everyday to have CLASS Act stay in the health reform bill, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Thank you!
MRC Commissioner Charles Carr Wants To Hear From You
November 16th, 2009Commissioner Charles Carr and Senior Managers invite the provider community, consumers, and family members to attend one of four Community Education Forums, to be held throughout Massachusetts, to discuss ways to meet the needs of consumers and develop ideas to meet the challenges that lie ahead.
The Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) promotes equality, empowerment, and productive independence for people with disabilities. Multiple programs at the MRC assist individuals with disabilities to maximize their quality of life and achieve economic self-sufficiency. In an era of shrinking resources, the MRC must assess and adapt its programming.
At these forums, we will discuss the following issues:
· State budget reductions and the programs they affect.
· Determine the MRC’s essential services for the Community Living (CL), Vocational Rehabilitation (VR), and Disability Determination Services (DDS) Divisions.
· Develop new ways of doing business that will allow the agency, on a reduced budget, to continue meeting the needs of people living with disabilities.
· Create a new partnership with providers, consumers, and their families.
Forum dates and locations:
December 1, 2009, The Conference Center at Massasoit Community College, 770 Crescent Street, Brockton, Ma. 02302, 10 am-12 noon, for directions: http://www.massasoit.mass.edu/conference_center/directions.cfm
December 3, 2009, The Worcester Public Library, Saxe Conference Room, 3 Salem Square, Worcester, Ma. 01608, 10am-12 noon, for directions: www.worcpublib.org
December 7, 2009,The Jones Library, 43 Amity Street, Amherst, Ma. 01002, 2pm-4pm, for directions: www.joneslibrary.org
December 11, 2009, Northern Essex Community College, Tech Center Room 103 A, 100 Elliot Street, Haverhill, Ma. 01830, 2pm-4pm, for directions: www.necc.mass.edu
Should you require a reasonable accommodation please call Emeka Nwokeji (617) 204-3665 or (617) 204-3866 Voice/TTY
PLEASE ATTEND ONE OF THESE FORUMS AND BRING A FRIEND!
Memorial Service for Bill Brainard, Disabilty Advocate,
November 12th, 2009Please join Neighborhood and Merrimack valley Legal Services, in conjunction with the Lawrence Bar Association, for a memorial service in honor of ATTORNEY WILLIAM M. “BILL” BRAINARD Monday, November 16, 2009 at 2 p.m. Northeast Housing Court, Courtroom 3, Fenton Judicial Center, 2 Appleton Street, Lawrence, MA. Bill dedicated his legal career to serving low-income and elderly clients at Merrimack Valley and Neighborhood Legal Services. He provided access to justice for hundreds of clients throughout his career.
Please join us to honor Bill. Immediately following, refreshments will be served in the office of Neighborhood Legal Services, 170 Common Street, Suite 300, Lawrence, MA. For questions or additional information please contact Sheila Casey at 781-244-1414/ or via email to: scasey@nlsma.org or Corine Reardon at 781-244-1420 or via email to:creardon@nlsma.org
Free Employment and Benefits Conference
November 12th, 2009Attorneys from the Disability Law Center, http://www.dlc-ma.org are offering a free training about work for people with disabilities in Spanish and English. Learn about avoiding problems with SSI/SSDI if you go back to work; your rights when applying for a job; and getting the accommodations you need at work.
You can also sign up for an individual session on your Social Security and work issues. Everything discussed in these sessions will be kept confidential.
The conference will be held on Thursday, December 3, 2009 at the Lynn Housing Authority Community Room 10 Church Street Lynn, MA 01902 http://www.lhand.org
The presentation will take place from 9:30 to 1:00 and individual session will b offered from 1:30 to 3:30. A light lunch will be provided.
To register please contact the Disability Law Center by telephone, 800-872-9992 or TTY 800-381-0577 or fax 617-723-9125 or by emailing mail@dlc-ma.org.
Registration is limited! Register today!