July 5, 2016
Disability Policy Consortium Weekly Update

 ,

I hope you had a wonderful Fourth of July celebration.  

The effort to restrict PCA work hours continues.  The DPC was well represented at the Listening Session last week.  Unfortunately, no senior officials from  EOHHS or MassHealth were there to hear the powerful and moving testimony.

This issue has two surveys for you.  Your particpation is much appreciated.  We also have a research internship available at the DPC.

We have a couple of disturbing news stories to share with you.  Tough reading but we want you to be informed.

Have a good week and a s always, happy  reading.

John Winske
Disability Policy Consortium
Advocacy Update: Listening Session on Restricting PCA Work Hours

The DPC was well represented at the Listening Session on restricting PCA work hours.  More than 125 advocates from our community and 1199SEIU presented powerful and compelling testimony about the havoc that will occur if PCA overtime is severely restricted.  

It was bothersome that none of the top officials at EOHHS or MassHealth were in attendance.  But that did not stop people from sharing their personal stories. Testimony was deeply personal and heart breaking. PCA's spoke passionately about the needs of their consumers.  While consumers spoke about their concern about PCA's having to live on less than $29,000 per year.  Both consumers and PCA's spoke about the lack of qualified PCA's available to meet the needs of all the consumers on the program.  Many PCA's do not have automobiles which makes things particularly difficult for consumers who do not live near public transportation.

We are meeting with other advocates and lawyers to decide how to proceed in fighting this draconian proposal.  We will keep you posted on our progress. DPC Legislative Liaison, Charles Carr is coordinating our efforts on this issue.  If you would like to be involved please contact him at charlescarr@dpcma.org.
DPC Internship:  Research Opportunity  

Are you interested in research and building your resume? The Disability Policy Consortium, a leading agency in research that affects people with disabilities is looking for an intern who will help with survey creation about people with disabilities and their healthcare. We are looking for someone with a working knowledge of creating surveys and analyzing results. This position will be part-time and will last until January with the possibility of an extension. The Disability Policy Consortium is located in Malden, MA near the orange line though much of the work may be done remotely.

Skills needed:

* Ability to create surveys
* Ability to adapt language for particular audiences
* Ability to think creatively about analyzing results
* Excellent written communication skills
* Knowledge of Survey Monkey a plus
* Bachelor's degree needed. Currently in Master's program in public health, social work, or health communications preferred.

This is a volunteer position that will give you an opportunity to hone your research skills.

Please send a resume and cover letter to Kimberley Warsett at kwarsett@dpcma.org. People with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
Employment Opportunity: DPH Diversity Officer

We have recently posted our call for applications for the position of Diversity Officer, Commissioner's Office. You can find the posting here.   

Please feel free to forward this link throughout your networks and encourage qualified folks with disabilities to apply by July 15! This posting includes serving as the ADA Compliance Officer for the Department of Public Health HR Division.
Advocacy Opportunity: MassDOT Survey   

Dear Members and Friends,

MassDOT (Massachusetts Department of Transportation) has designed a survey to help you identify how the MBTA should prioritize different types of investments over the next 25 years for bus, rapid transit, commuter rail, ferry, and THE RIDE services. MassDOT is hoping to get a good representation of riders from across the region's diverse population, so your participation would be greatly appreciated.

Please access the survey online at http://fluidsurveys.com/s/focus40/

If you have questions, please contact Jennifer Slesinger, MassDOT Office of Transportation Planning, by phone at 857-368-8871.

The deadline for response is July 31st.

Sincerely,

Janie Guion
AACT Coordinator
Advocacy Opportunity:  ACB Survey on Audio Description 

To: ACB Members and Friends,

Subject: ACB Is Listening: Tell us about your experiences with audio description!

The American Council of the Blind (ACB) is seeking your valuable input and real-life experiences on audio description for broadcast cable television, mobile apps, streaming services, and film. In recent months, there has been a significant amount of movement in the television and film industry, which could greatly impact the quality and quantity of audio described choices for viewers.

ACB has developed a brief survey to collect information about your experiences accessing audio described content.

This survey will take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete, and your responses will be kept confidential. You can access the survey at the link below or by visiting

http://tinyurl.com/h63rw4q

We hope you will complete the online survey and share this email to encourage your fellow ACB members and friends to do the same. If you have questions or require assistance with the survey, please contact survey@acb.org.

Thank you for your input.

Sincerely,

Kim Charlson, President
American Council of the Blind
Community Opportunity: Feeling For Form opportunities at the MFA

Dear Friends and art lovers,

I want to share some upcoming opportunities at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston over the next few months. Please share with anyone you know who may be interested. All tours are free and include Museum admission.

1. Thursdays June 30th and July 7th at 6:30 pm, and Saturday July 2nd at 11:00 am, please come for a tour of our current special exhibition "Megacities Asia", a show of 11 artists from very large cities across Asia, responding to and reflecting on Urban reality. Pre-registration required, email hgoodwin@mfa.org or respond to this email. If these dates don't work for you, let me know. Catch it while you can! The exhibit closes on July 17.

2. Sunday July 10, at 1:00 pm. The monthly Sunday tour is moved from the 1st to 2nd weekend due to the holiday. Topic is "Frozen in Time", exploring portraits in sculpture from different places and different eras. Pre-registration required, email hgoodwin@mfa.org , respond to this email, or call 617-369-3189.

3. Did you know you can request a tour on your own time-frame? Give us a little notice, but we are very happy to work with your schedule and whatever part of the Museum you would like to visit.

The MFA, Boston is located on the E train of the Green Line. Get off at Museum Stop, which is right after Northeastern U. The address for The Ride is 465 Huntington Ave.

Questions? Don't hesitate to ask. Want to come to one of the above mentioned tours? Please let me know.

All best,

Hannah

Hannah Goodwin
Manager of Accessibility
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
hgoodwin@mfa.org | 617-369-3189
http://www.mfa.org/
Net News: TSA Beats Woman with a Disability

RawStory.com is reporting that TSA agents beat a young woman with brain tumors who was on her way to undergo treatment.   Hannah Cohen set off the metal detectors at Memphis International Airport.  Her mother reports her daughter became disoriented and confused.  She says the agents would not listen when she tried to explain about her daughter's disabilities.

Net News: Senator Wants to Stop ADA Investigations of Private Schools

We have written here before about Congressional attacks against the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  Now Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) has added an amendment to a funding bill which would make it harder for the Department of Justice to investigate violations of the ADA by private schools which are funded by government vouchers,

Calendar: Introduction to WRAP and WHAM      
WHEN: Friday, July 8, 2016 -10:00 am - 3:00 pm, Registration starts at 9:30 am

WHERE: The Cambridge Public Library, Lecture Hall, 449 Broadway, Cambridge, MA

An Interactive Introduction to  WRAP and WHAM

Wellness Recovery Action Planning (WRAP)
Copeland Center

Whole Health Action Management (WHAM)
The Center for Integrated Health Solutions

PRESENTER: Robert Rousseau, Director of Peer Recovery Services, FHR, Inc.
Advanced Level WRAP Facilitator
Senior WHAM Trainer

WRAP and WHAM are evidence based practices developed by individuals living with mental health challenges to confront the unacceptable statistic that people living with severe and persistent mental illness die 25 years sooner than the general population.

This event is free and open to the public, but pre-registration is required.

RSVP and Request Accommodations by July 1 at www.dlc-ma.org or 617-723-8455 x 123

Please Note: Out of consideration for people with environmental illness and/or multiple chemical sensitivity, please refrain from using perfume or other scented products.

Due to extremely limited parking in Cambridge, we strongly recommend taking public transit or carpooling to this event. See calendar event at www.cambridgema.gov/ccpd for transit & parking options.

This event is sponsored by the Disability Law Center, Cambridge Commission for Persons with Disabilities, and Massachusetts Developmental Disability Council.
In This Issue
DPC Needs your Help!!! 
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Disability Policy Consortium
11 Dartmouth Street
Suite 301
Malden, MA 02148
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