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Hey guys, Kamisha here! Happy Fall! I hope you are enjoying it! We have fantastic things coming for you, so hang on tight! Calling all October babies, get ready to stuff your faces and go absolutely crazy because it’s your birthday month! I wish you nothing but the best and I hope you get everything you want and more!!
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Hurry 🎟️... Tickets are Selling Fast! 🎟️...
Learn about special guest appearances from Mayor Yvonne Spicer and Senator William Brownsberger! Read about workshops and our Keynote Brian Heffernan. Register soon while tickets are still available 🎟️ 🎟️ 🎟️...
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About the MASS 'YOUR IDEAS COUNT' Conference:
This empowering self-advocacy conference will have a variety of fun, interesting, and educational workshops! There will be exhibitor tables, beautiful artistic crafts of all kinds to buy, speakers, entertainment, raffles and more! We will also be celebrating Rainbow's 15th Anniversary!
COME MEET OLD FRIENDS, MAKE SOME NEW ONES, AND LEARN TO ADVOCATE FOR WHAT'S IMPORTANT!
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Kamisha's Corner October - (Read more by clicking below)
Oh my goodness! I can't believe it has been five months since the "I CAN" movie premiered! The movie premiered on Thursday April 4th 2019, located at the Brae Burn Country Club in West Newton. The venue is absolutely beautiful! To this day I am...
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myemail.constantcontact.com
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A "Workability Hearing" will be held on Oct 22 (10:30AM-1:00PM) at the State House, Room B1.
Individuals and organizations can testify with suggestions and strategies to increase employment. The goal for the Committee to learn from people with disabilities about their experience in the workforce. What are the challenges they have faced? The successes? The hardships? How can Massachusetts do even better to remove potential barriers or create incentives?
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In The World Today!
I believe that all restaurants and food chains moving forward should add a section that says “Food For People With Allergies” on their menus so that everyone can enjoy their meal peaceful without worry. I also think that staff should pay more attention to their customers when they are ordering so that nothing wrong happens on both sides. I always believe in “It’s better to safe than sorry.” The reason why I am bringing this up is because of the story I am reading. Stay safe guys!
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Story Of The Month! Brian Heffernan!
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"We are so very lucky and honored to have Brian Heffernan as this year’s keynote speaker at the
YOUR IDEAS COUNT Annual MASS Conference! His accomplishments are limitless and are a true inspiration to all.
Brian is a 28 year old self-advocate from West Newton. He attended Mass Bay Community College for 5 years, where he completed the Transitional Scholars Program. Later, he was also accepted in the MAC Internship program.
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But this was just a beginning. From there on Brian testified at the State House in support of many bills, including a bill to improve transition services for young adults with disabilities. He’s had a number of speaking engagements at BU, BC, and Harvard to name a few. When Brian isn’t out speaking to a crowd and advocating he is busy working at the State House, Star Market, as well as Fenway Park.
But self-advocacy is his calling and it is reflected in everything he’s involved with. Join us on October 19th to hear this young man of so many talents and dreams share how you too can advocate and make
YOUR IDEAS COUNT!"
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SELF-ADVOCATE ARTIST/DESIGNERS
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The MASS Conference is a perfect opportunity to show off your artistic talents and sell your artwork - ex. pottery, t-shirts, paintings etc.
Click on button below for your application.
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Rainbow Corner!!!!
Come and celebrate 15 years of Rainbow at The Mass Conference on Saturday October 19th 2019 at Sheraton Hotel in Framingham!
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Southeast Regional Coordinator:
Gail Delgado
Email:
Gail@ma-advocates.org
Phone:
339-832-2922
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Calling All Southeast Self Advocates!!!!
The Southeast will be having an election to re-elect George Brown to the MASS Board, let's all support George by listening to his speech 10-19 during the Southeast meeting at the conference.
On September 10, 2019, Ashley Quick, Gopen Fellow presented her project at the MDDC Council monthly meeting. Congratulations to Ashley for a job well done.
SAVE THE DATE
Join other self-advocates!!!! Southeast Regional Meeting!
October 10, 2019
6:00pm – 7:30pm
Lakeville Public Library, 4 Precinct Street Lakeville MA
Learn About Voting! In the Southeast!
This training will teach individuals supported by DDS and their supporters about the voting process, including how to find one’s polling place and suggestions for researching candidates. There will also be a forum for you to discuss barriers to voting.
October 22, 2019 10:30am-12:30pm
Braintree DDS South Coastal Office
220 Forbes Road Rear of Building
Braintree MA.
REGISTER THRU THE DDSLEARNING.COM SOUTHEAST REGION CALENDAR!
Would you like to know how you can get more involved with issues and concerns that People with Disabilities have? I would love to talk to you about the many opportunities!!!
If you have any questions, call Gail at (339) 832-2922 or email at gail@ma-advocates.org
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NORTHEAST REGION UPDATES!
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Northeast Regional Coordinator:
Bridget Crowley
Email:
Bridget@ma-advocates.org
Phone:
781-789-4274
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Hello Everyone! It’s a busy fall here in the Northeast. I’d like to thank Therese LaPorte for sharing her story with Service Coordinators at the Merrimack Valley DDS Office in Lawrence on September 17th. And please join me in giving a shout-out to Derek Spear who shared his story with the Sphere Advocacy Group in Beverly on the 24th.
As one member of the group said, “I felt like I was in your shoes. Keep soldiering on, my friend.” Nichelle Delgado attended the September 12th Merrimack Valley Planning Commission Meeting on Transportation. A survey is coming out soon to make a new transportation plan for the Merrimack Valley so stay tuned! We’re planning the Intelligent Lives movie showings and panel discussions at Hogan Auditorium on October 15th with the Regional Diversity Committee.
There is a 10AM and 12:30PM showing. And, we’re excited to see many of you at the October 30th “Human Rights at Halloween” event at Bridgewell, 10 Dearborn Rd, in Peabody from 10-2. At Regional Meeting a few of our members took part in a focus group for the MASS Rights for Change project while the rest of us talked about the DDS Budget and how to get repairs on wheelchairs done faster! Our next Regional Meeting is October 16th from 6-8PM at Seven Hills, 261 N. Main St, Middleton.
MASS will be presenting at the October 22nd DDS Self Direction Support Group at 2PM. And, last but not least, we really hope you are planning to come to the
21st Annual Mass Conference
. There will be raffles, artists, wonderful workshops and more! We have an opening for the MASS Board of Directors for one seat. Do you have ideas and passion to represent your region on the board? Please contact me to get an application. Somewhere between all these wonderful events I hope you get to relax and enjoy the wonders of fall!
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Central Regional Coordinator:
Sue Moriarty
Email:
Sue@ma-advocates.org
Phone:
508-209-7184
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The Central Region Work-team is off to a busy start this fall!
We decided to raise funds by selling candy bars. Janet is high salesperson so far…well done Janet!
Janet and James helped run a college class at Quinsigamond Community College, where they gave a great self-advocacy presentation! Some of the self-advocates have attended the R3 and Mass Rights for Change focus groups, where they spoke up about important issues.
John M. Continues to work on education around health issues for people with disabilities. Our grant projects keep us very busy! We look forward to hosting tables at upcoming transition fairs where we can welcome new, young adults into the world of speaking up and becoming leaders in their lives! This fall we will also train new DDS Service Coordinators and we plan to visit new self-advocacy groups.
We have a lot of ideas and cannot wait for a new DDS Regional Director to be hired and to attend a future meeting.
Our next meeting will be on Tues, Oct 8
th
, at Autism Resource Central, 712 Plantation St in Worcester.
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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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Calling All Metro Self Advocates!!!!
Join us on October 19th at the Sheraton Framingham Hotel & Conference Center
The Metro Region will be having an election to elect Joe O’Connell to the MASS Board, let's all support Joe by listening to his speech 10-19 during the Metro Region meeting at the conference.
Metro Regional Meeting!
SAVE THE DATE
Join other self-advocates!!!!
October 17, 2019 6:00pm – 7:30PM
Beaverbrook STEP, 2nd floor
85 Main Street, Watertown MA
Metro Human Rights Forum “Advocacy Through Art” November 21, 2019 5-7pm
TILL Wave Gallery 264 Arlington St., Watertown, MA
Check out some Art and join us for the November Metro Region Meeting around the corner at Beaverbrook STEP located at 85 Main Street, Watertown, MA.
Would you like to know how you can get more involved with issues and concerns that people with disabilities have? I would love to talk to you about the many opportunities!!! If you have any questions, call Gail at 339-832-2922 or email at gail@ma-advocates.org.
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- It is with a heavy heart that we announce that beloved self-advocate Edwin Sojka passed away in August. Edwin was a member of Leadership Through Advocacy, a self-advocacy group in Holyoke MA, for over 20 years, and was a leader in the west region. He had an amazing sense of humor and we will all remember how much he made us laugh. He will be sorely missed.
- Happy Birthday to West Region representatives born in October: Irene Morrison and Brian Kitner! Irene is a representative from the Berkshire and Southern Berkshire self advocacy group who is loved for her kind and caring attitude. Brian is a representative from the Westfield area self advocacy group who is appreciated for his encouraging and optimistic nature. Enjoy your special days, Brian and Irene!
Upcoming events in the west region:
- Fall Teambuilding Day and Pizza Party! Saturday, October 26th 1-4pm at The Consortium, 187 High St, Suite 303, Holyoke MA. Please contact Ness at nbellini@wmtcinfo.org or (413)887-4205 with questions or to RSVP.
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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
DON"T FORGET BECAUSE THERE IS NO LEGISLATIVE MEETING ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9.
Next Legislative Meeting Date is
Wednesday, November 13.
SEE YOU THEN.
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2019 Legislative Education Day Visits
2019 Every 2nd Wednesday of the month.
November 13 and December 11
We meet 10:00 AM on the second floor of the State House at the foot of the Grande Staircase to the right where there are wooden benches.
Please call or email Marie at the MASS office
617-624-7549 or info@ma-advocates.org for more information.
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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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