|
Disability Policy Consortium Weekly Update
,
We need your help. The Senate budget came out this week. It's important to hear the voice of the community at the State house on two issues (see below). I hope you can make time for a couple of phone calls
.
Another reminder that the DPC Annual Meeting is coming up soon. We are going with a Southern picnic theme. I hope you will join us.
One Care enrollment is open again. We also have some interesting technology stories for you.
Have a good week and a
s always, happy
reading.
John Winske
Disability Policy Consortium
|
Invitation: DPC Annual Meeting
On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Disability Policy Consortium (DPC), I am pleased to invite you to our Annual Meeting.
When: Wednesday, June 8, 2016, 5:30 P.M. - 8:00 P.M.
Where: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, One Enterprise Drive, Quincy, MA 02171
We will have shuttle service available from the North Quincy Station on the Red Line.
Dinner will be served.
Keynote Remarks by Mr. Andrew Veith, President
Massachusetts State Association of the Deaf and
Co-Organizer Deaf Grassroots Movement Massachusetts
To register or request reasonable accommodations please contact Amy at [email protected].
Requests for Reasonable Accommodations and registrations must be received by June 1, 2016.
|
|
Advocacy Needed: Two Senate Budget Amendments
The DPC continues to fight for adequate funding in both the Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP) and the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MCDHH).
The Senate Ways and Means Committee increased the funding for AHVP by $1.6 million. Senator James Eldridge has filed Amendment #734 which would add an additional $900,000 to bring the program back to where it was a decade ago.
The budget of MCDHH has been decimated over the past ten years. The Senate Ways and Means increased MCDHH funding by $450,000. Senator Kathleen O'Connor-Ives and has filed amendment #462 to increase funding by
$2.5 million.
Please contact your senators today by email or phone to ask that they sign on or cosponsor each of these amendments.
|
Community News: OneCare Enrollment Re-Opens
One Care Stakeholders,
We are very pleased to announce that Commonwealth Care Alliance (CCA) is accepting new One Care enrollments in all covered counties. This is a great sign that the package of financial adjustments made by MassHealth and CMS last fall is helping to bring stability to the One Care program.
· Eligible members in Suffolk and Worcester counties can now choose to enroll in One Care through either CCA or Tufts Health Unify.
· Eligible members in the following additional counties can now enroll in One Care through CCA: Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth*, Suffolk, and Worcester.
To enroll in One Care, contact MassHealth Customer Service (Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m- 5:00 p.m.) at 1-800-841-2900 or TTY: 1-800-497-4648 (for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech disabled). The call is free. For more information about One Care, please visit:
www.mass.gov/masshealth/onecare.
Please share this information with your networks, friends, and colleagues.
*Commonwealth Care Alliance's service area includes all of Plymouth County except for the towns of East Wareham, Lakeville, Marion, Mattapoisett, Wareham, and West Wareham.
In addition, we wanted to remind you that MassHeath will be holding a One Care Open Meeting on Tuesday to discuss One Care quality and finance data. Details for this meeting are as follows:
One Care Open Meeting
Tuesday, May 24, 10:00 AM - 12:00PM
1 Ashburton Place, 21st Floor
Boston, MA
We welcome attendance from all stakeholders and members of the public with an interest in One Care. Reasonable accommodations will be made for participants who need assistance. Please send your request for accommodations to Donna Kymalainen at
[email protected].
Malinda A. Ellwood, JD
Health Programs Policy Analyst
MassHealth
Executive Office of Health and Human Services
One Ashburton Place
Boston, MA 02108
[email protected]
|
|
Employment Opportunity: Support Staff Position
Fast paced legal services office seeks part-time support staff person to work twenty-one (21) hours per week. Fluency in Spanish or Portuguese is required.
Responsibilities include conducting legal intake, answering and directing incoming calls, greeting clients, providing oral interpretation and written translation for legal advocates and other general clerical duties.
Human, social or legal services experience, and previous experience providing services to survivors of domestic violence, is preferred. Proficiency in MS Office preferred. Salary depends on experience. Send cover letter and resume by May 31, 2016 via mail or email to:
Support Staff Search
MetroWest Legal Services, Inc.
63 Fountain Street, Suite 304
Framingham, MA 01702
Email contact: [email protected]
An Equal Opportunity Employer
|
Net News: Two Interesting Technology Stories
I find that the role technology is playing and can continue to play in lessening the impact of disability in daily living. It can enhance our ability to carry out tasks independently
This first story is about the newest iteration of Android. Google has announced that the newest generation of the operating system will allow far more hands free operation.
You can read the story and watch the video here.
The second is about a young girl here in Massachusetts who worked with a local technology company to "create a voice" for her talking board which sounded like like an 8 year old and not like a machine.
You can see it here.
|
Doofus of the Week: Scituate Man Posts Sign Attacking Group Home Residents
I will begin by saying that calling this individual a doofus is far nicer than he deserves. It is also curious that he chose to hang the sign on his own child's play set. Nothing like teaching your children love and kindness.
This story came to us from Fox25, here in Boston. A man in Scituate was apparently upset that four women with disabilities were moving in next door and decided to give them a vile welcome.
You can see the story here.
The good news is the community rallied around the town's newest residents.
|
Calendar: Assistance with Completion of Universal Housing Application
When: Wednesday, June 1, 2016
Where: ILCNSCA, 27 Congress Street, Suite 107, Salem, MA 01970
Peer Guides are available to assist you with completion of the Universal Housing application for subsidized housing across Massachusetts. ILCNSCA will have peer guides available to guide you in a group setting to assist you in completing your housing application.
Contact ILCNSCA at 978-741-0077 v, 888-751-0077 toll free, 978-745-1735 TTY, or via e-mail to: [email protected] with "Housing Application Assistance Appointment" in the subject line to RSVP.
|
Calendar: Training on Housing Laws for People with Disabilities
When: Friday, June 10, 10:00 A.M. - 3:00 P.M.
Where: Cambridge Public Library, 449 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02138
View the flyer and transit options for this event online at
http://bit.ly/DLC-CCPDhousing
10 am - 12:30 pm: Training on Housing Laws
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm: Light Lunch Provided
1:30 pm - 3:00 pm: Input from the Community
** RSVP Required **
This Event Is Free And Open To The Public - Space Is Limited
RSVP & request accommodations by June 3rd to
[email protected] or 617-723-8455 x 123
Join us for a training on housing laws in Massachusetts and the rights of tenants with disabilities. A Community Feedback Forum will follow this training. We are looking for your input on the issues you are facing as a person or family member of a person with a disability
OPENING REMARKS:
Michael Muehe, Executive Director, Cambridge Commission for Persons with Disabilities
TRAINING PRESENTERS:
Tom Murphy, Staff Attorney, Disability Law Center
Caitlyn Byers, Staff Attorney - Pike Fellow, Disability Law Center
TRAINING MODERATOR:
Rick Glassman, Director of Advocacy, Disability Law Center
INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY MODERATOR:
Christine Griffin, Executive Director, Disability Law Center
Out of consideration for people with environmental illness and/or multiple chemical sensitivity, please refrain from using perfume or other scented products.
Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) will be provided.
Hosted by the Disability Law Center and the Cambridge Commission for Persons with Disabilities
|
Calendar: Stavros Housing Speak-Out
When: Monday, June 13, 2016, 11:00 AM - 12:3
0 P.M.
Where: Stavros, 227 Berkshire Ave., Springfield, MA 01109
Within Massachusetts many individuals face barriers to housing. The constant increase in housing costs, long waiting list for voucher programs, and the overall limited availability of housing options makes it difficult for people to live the community.
Stavros is asking community members, housing advocates, those currently seeking housing and cross-sector agencies to come together and discuss their concerns with housing. This event strives to meet the following objectives:
- Allow individuals from cross-disability, and diversified backgrounds tocome together to discuss issues within housing.
- Allow individuals seeking housing and those struggling with their housing placements to come together and share their housing stories.
- Participate in group activity that describes your ideal housing placement. How does it promote healthy living and community integration?
We hope you will join us. Light refreshments will be served.
|
|
| |
| |
|
DPC Needs your Help!!!
The DPC uses the PayPal PayFast system for your tax deductible charitable donations. You do not need to have a PayPal account to use this system because credit card payments are also accepted.
The DPC also uses the Causes program for recurring donations (as well as one time donations). This is a great way to make a smaller monthly donation.
Donate by Mail
Make check or money order payable to:
Disability Policy Consortium
11 Dartmouth Street
Suite 301
Malden, MA 02148 |
|
