MASS to host all May
Self-Advocacy Meetings for Self-Advocates
Online via Zoom!
👉
For your regional meeting dates please read on below. If you can't find your Zoom meeting link please contact your Regional Coordinator or send an email to
info@ma-advocates.org
.
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Janet Laperle
passed away in her sleep on Monday, April 20, 2020. From an early age, Janet, along with her mother, aunt and cousins fought for Chapter 766 and mainstreaming in schools. She was a confident leader who made the world a better place for people with disabilities. She had many friends and associates, serving as the Chairperson of Massachusetts Advocates Standing Strong/Executive Board of Directors until the present. She was also the current President of the Central Mass Regional Work Team where she served many years. She also enjoyed being an officer with the Grange, earning a treasured position of Gatekeeper. Janet was a true advocate who loved helping people. She always said "labels are for cans and jars, not people".
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For Janet's full obituary please click below:
To make a donation in memory of Janet, please click below:
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🕯️
From Kimberly E. Plaut's Tribute Poem in Honor of
Janet Laperle
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Really every single time I write a line I miss you more. You were the one who encouraged me to write poetry and to go back to working hard on my artwork. Where will that wonderful encouragement going to come from now, because now you're gone.
Last week we were talking about what we could do after the Coronas virus was to stop. We laughed and said we would both be willing to get out of the house for a while doing things with Mass Advocates, and then have fun with your cats, just sitting and talking you and I, or enjoying some time drinking and talking, sipping coffee at Dunk's with you and the family. Yet of course this cannot happen, because you are gone.
Everything is forever going to change, but one thing I know for sure is I'll always be able to remember you for who you were. You have many friends and family, that is why you will never be forgotten.Even though it was just a few days ago that I talked to you I am still in shock, but I will always remember your voice. You really will always be here, even though in reality, you are really gone.
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🕯️
John Roberts
, a member of the MASS Advisory Council passed away on April 18, 2020 after a long battle with cancer.
John could always be found coaching youth sports for both of his sons, both baseball players, as well as organizing the Challenger baseball league, a baseball league for disabled children. Challenger provided opportunities for inclusion and created champions of all participants. John was the president of the Special Education Parents Advisory Council in Andover, MA for many years.
For full obituary please click on link below.
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Yesterday is gone, today's going to be a bigger and brighter day!
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Happy birthday to all you May babies out there. We wish you nothing but love, joy, and happiness from this day forward and many more years to come!
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Identity. What does the word identity mean?
What does the word identity mean to you? It’s more than a piece of paper. You are more than a piece of paper. As hard as someone may try no one can put it into words...no one can put it into words better than you can. Your identity is yours...Your identity is what makes you unique...You can strip it down and build it back again if you wanted to....You don’t have try to fit into a bubble. Stand out! Finding your identity is a process and takes time. There’s no rush to find it. Identity is about expression! Identity is about what makes you happy inside. So again what does the word identity mean to you?
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MASS OFFICE NEWS
The MASS office was flooded on April 14th when a water main break broke on Harrison Avenue. As a result, the office was badly damaged along with various businesses located nearby. We will continue to update everyone on the status of repairs.
You may reach us at info@ma-advocates.org or click on link below for employee contact information
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MASS SELF-ADVOCATES IN ACTION
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🎦
MASS on Boston 25 News!
'We are usually the forgotten ones’: People with disabilities explain how the pandemic affects them differently
On Monday April 13th, Kamisha Heriveaux and Brian Kremer had the opportunity to be interviewed by Boston 25 News which was pretty cool. The topic was about their thoughts and feelings about everything that’s going on regarding the Coronavirus and how people are being impacted.
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PERSONAL COVID-19 TESTING EXPERIENCE
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I live in a group home in Groveland with four other gentlemen. I have not left my home since March 16th the day my day program closed.I was tested for Covid-19 on April 25th. It was a little scary. I had to wait while my staff were tested. Then a man in gown and protective shield put a thin stick in each nostril. It felt strange but did not hurt. I received my results on April 29th. It was negative. I feel it is very important to be tested if you have been exposed to help prevent the spread of Covid-19.
Steven Comeau
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Learn more about what to expect from a Swab Test, click the image below:
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GATOR Project:
Our Stories: Young Adults, Work, and Personal Experience During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Please join us on Friday, May 8, 2020 at 3 pm Eastern time for a webinar featuring self-advocates' stories about the impact social distancing and technology has had on their work, and other parts of their lives, such as staying in touch with family, friends, and support staff. Each of the presenters work on a research project that focuses on transition practices.
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Please register in advance for this event:
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Click on link below for information on joining a
Mass Advocates Standing Strong
Voting Club
Contact Marie D'Aoust at
info@ma-advocates.org
with additional questions.
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CENTRAL REGION UPDATES
Central Regional Coordinator:
Sue Moriarty
Email:
Sue@ma-advocates.org
Phone:
508-209-7184
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April had its ups and downs for Central Region.
We lost our beloved Central Workteam President and friend, Janet Laperle.
She was a confident and patient leader and she treated each one of us as special.
We will keep her spirit with us as we move forward.
Central had our first zoom meetings in April. We enjoyed getting together! We saw a couple of new faces and some that we hadn’t seen in a while. We all checked in on how we are doing, and John Mullaly did some breathing and yoga movement with us. We went through the MASS Flash and showed videos and songs online. It was fun! We talked about our rights with medical issues. John Mullaly wrote a letter to Governor Baker about that. Also, some people cannot reach their DDS Service Coordinators. Teka said she would make sure everyone had the DDS phone number they needed.
Deb Pierce and Seth Gaston attended transportation meetings in April, and Deb joined the REDD Group meeting too. Justin is keeping up to date on legislative issues. Our grant projects are humming along. We are thankful for our Central board members Jillian and Karen. Thank you to our many Central Region leaders!
We look forward to our zoom meeting calls in May.
State Representative Natalie Higgins will speak with us on May 12
th
, and on the 26
th
we will have guest speakers Marie D'Aoust discussing the new Voting Club at MASS, and Jackie Perez talking about Sexual Assault services in Central Massachusetts.
👉
Let Sue Moriarty know if you are a self-advocate and would like to join the Central regional meeting!
508-209-7184
or email
Sue@ma-advocates.org
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NORTHEAST REGION UPDATES
Northeast Regional Coordinator
:
Bridget Crowley
Email:
Bridget@ma-advocates.org
Phone
:
781-789-4274
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Northeast held regional Zoom meetings on April 1, April 8, 15th, 22nd and 29th. Topics covered: how to stay healthy, taking care of yourself, getting help to get food, what is social distancing and why do we need to wear masks. Members shared ideas of what to do to keep your spirits up. As we get news each week of people we know who are sick with Covid 19 we are sending good wishes to everyone and their staff. Our hearts go out to everyone who is sick or has lost a friend or loved one at this time. We will be sending cards to residents of Hogan and their staff to show our support.
Donna Jay, Nichelle Delgado and Derek Spear joined SARTAC National Advocacy calls with self-advocates from all over the country. The regional group wrote a letter to Governor Baker thanking him for his work to keep everyone safe, and raised concerns about having support and equal treatment in the hospital.
Thank you to Tim Holmes, Derek Spear, Donna Jay, Nichelle Delgado and Therese LaPorte for taking part in two meetings with ally organizations like the Disability Law Center and Mass Families Organizing for Change to write a letter about allowing people with disabilities to get support from a loved one or staff if they need to go to the hospital. Thank you to John Mullaly from Central for sharing your story about how staff and family make a difference in the hospital.
"I want to send a message to all my friends to stay home until May 18th. Wear masks when you go out, keep everything clean, and wash your groceries before you eat your food to stay safe." ~Sandra Artey
The Northeast will hold weekly meetings on Wednesdays at 2PM. Marie D’Aoust will be our guest on May 6th to talk about a new MASS Voting Club!
👉
If you're a self-advocate and would like to join the Northeast Regional meeting, please e-mail or call Bridget to receive the meeting link:
bridget@ma-advocates.org
or 781-789-4274.
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SOUTHEAST REGION UPDATES
Southeast Regional Coordinato
r
:
Gail Delgado
Email:
Gail@ma-advocates.org
Phone:
339-832-2922
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Southeast Regional Meeting
Thursday, May 14 6:00 – 8:00pm
Any questions call Gail @ 339-832-2922 or email gail@ma-advocates.org
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METRO REGION UPDATES
Metro Regional Coordinator
: Gail Delgado
Email
: Gail@ma-advocates.org
Phone
: 339-832-2922
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ZOOM regional meeting
Thursday, May 7th 6:00 – 7:30 pm
Join by phone
+1 337-441-4148 PIN: 774 076 552#
Any questions call Gail @ 339-832-2922 or email gail@ma-advocates.org
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RAINBOW CORNER
Pauline Bosma, Rainbow Project Coordinator
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RSVP if you would like to attend the May 26th Rainbow Self Advocates Support Group Meeting
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LOCATION
ZOOM INFO WILL BE SENT
DATE AND TIME
05/26/20
5:30pm -
05/26/20
7:00pm
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**Looking for groups, members and others to write updates and articles of interest in the Rainbow Corner each month. Please contact Pauline rainbowbosma@gmail.com or (508) 944-5797
Looking forward to hearing about other Rainbow Support Groups activities around Massachusetts. Stay healthy…and remember its ok not to be ok! These are difficult times for all of us.
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Due to Covid-19, we have made the decision to cancel the Annual West Region Self Advocacy conference. We intend to offer some fun online workshops in its place-stay tuned for more information!
We care deeply about the health, safety, and well-being of our communities. Because of this, self advocacy groups in the west region will not be meeting in person until further notice.
West Virtual self-advocacy opportunities!
We will be hosting open phone meetings three Tuesdays per month for any self advocates who need extra support during this time.
Our May phone meetings are scheduled for May 12th, 19th, and 26th at 5:30PM. Please RSVP to Ness at nbellini@wmtcinfo.org or 413-887-4205 for more information on how to call in.
Fun with West Region Self Advocacy on Facebook! Stuck at home with nothing to do? We are posting new content five days a week on the
West Region Self Advocacy Facebook page
, including live videos about self advocates through history every Monday and live videos about human rights every Wednesday, trivia questions to answer every Tuesday, and much more!
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Google's new informational website on what you need to know about the virus and more.
Better Business Bureau
Don't be scammed. Read before ordering anything related to the Coronavirus such as masks or medicines.
Comprehensive State of MA website on all aspects of the Coronavirus and services provided.
Questions about Social Security checks and more.
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🚫
LEGISLATIVE EVENTS AT THE STATEHOUSE 🚫
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Please note we will not hold a Legislative Day in May.
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Do You Want to Be in the MASS FLASH?
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Attention Everyone!
Is there anything exciting happening in your life that you are just itching to talk about? Want to share it with the world?!
If so, great because I, Kamisha Heriveaux, am always on the look out for interesting events, your hobbies, and topics that interest you - so please don't hesitate to reach out!
I can't wait to hear from all of YOU! Have a great day and keep on reading!
~
Kamisha
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Massachusetts Advocates Standing Strong
500 Harrison Avenue, Suite 116 | 617-624-7549
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