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Hey guys, Kamisha here! I can’t believe that July is upon us. We hope you have a great Independence Day and a great July!
We have a lot of exciting things coming your way so stay tuned and keep reading!
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YOUR IDEAS COUNT
MASS' Annual Self-Advocacy Conference
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SAVE the DATE
When:
Sat., October 19, 2019
Where:
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About the MASS Annual Self-Advocacy 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 NEW FRIENDS HAVE FUN!
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Hey guys, Kamisha here! How are you?
I hope you are doing well. As you can tell by the title today I am going to tell you about my first experience at The Boston Marathon which was amazing, even though mother nature could not sit still with the weather I would do it all over again in a heartbeat and trust me when I say “I plan on it!!!!”
I went as a supporter! Congrats to Dianne Lescinskas for finishing and congrats to Becky Golden for participating I am happy for you both! As a matter of fact, I give a round of applause to everyone - you guys killed it out there! No matter what the outcome was you should be very proud of yourselves and keep trying!
What I can’t get over is everyone could have done anything different with their time but instead they decided to train for The Boston Marathon! One word. DETERMINATION! It definitely showed! I am going back one million percent!!! This happened on Monday April 15
th
2019!
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Story Of The Month!
John Shimkus
John is a tireless Self Advocate. He works at the Mansfield Redemption Center where he is a member of their Worker’s Council. He is a co-chair of the Southeastern Residential Services Self Advocacy Group. He regularly attends the MASS SE Regional Self Advocacy meetings. He is a trainer for MASS Awareness and Action Program. He is a presenter at the SE Region DDS Orientation where his topic is “A Life like any other”.
John knows firsthand the importance of speaking up for yourself, telling people what you want and being persistent about it. John lived in a rural town with no bus service and no stores close to home. He advocated for a move to a place where he could enjoy his freedom. It took time for a place to become available that matched his wishes. He did not give up. He kept in close contact with agency staff, his Service Coordinator and the Area Director making sure people did not forget about him.
John’s persistence paid off. He was able to move to a home where the bus stop is ten feet from his door. He can walk to stores and restaurants. These new opportunities spurred him to join a local gym where he exercises three times a week and he has lost 25 pounds in three months.
In addition to his Advocacy work he enjoys spending time with his family. He is the proud Uncle of four great kids. He enjoys attending their school events and being a supportive person in their lives.
John is always willing to help others. He encourages them to speak up for what they want and to never give up on their dreams.
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At the State House
Speaking Up at the Supported Decision Making Bill Hearing on June 25, 2019.
Self-Advocates eloquently spoke about the importance of supported decision making in their lives and that of others.
(Anne Fracht - MASS)
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(Anne Fracht with Amanda Benoit and Johnathan Jenkins participants in the Center for Public Representation/Nonotuck Supported Decision-Making Pilot).
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Southeast Regional Coordinator:
Gail Delgado
Email:
Gail@ma-advocates.org
Phone:
339-832-2922
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(“All Aboard The Arc!” Boston Common 2015 MAI Facebook Page.)
July 11th region meeting at Lakeville Public Library 4 Precinct Street, Lakeville, MA 6pm - 7:30pm.
FINAL PREP FOR DANCE
Save the Date
JOIN SE ADVOCATES @ DANCE Party
with the MAI Band!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 16th
Knights of Columbus
375 Foundry St North Easton 6-9pm.
- John Shimkus and other self-advocates from SRS attended legislative education day May 12th. Many self advocates from the Southeast and other regions are working tirelessly to get their voices heard about the need for better transportation options.
- Delta Projects Rainbow Support Group attended Providence RI Pride 2019 on June 2019.
- The southeast region meeting is growing, group now has 15 active members. The group is planning their first fundraiser dance for the region July 16th. Tickets are going fast, so please get in touch with Gail to rsvp especially if you are paying at the door. The MAI Band will be the entertainment that evening. Find them on Facebook, Music Arts Innovation Band.
- Bex Fillmore from the STAR self advocate group participated in presentation about MASS at MRC New Provider Pre-Ets training.
- Patrick Birmingham, Maggie Ernst, Kamisha Heriveaux participated in the MPTE Full Consortium meeting with a presentation from the Self Advocacy and Self Determination Work group. Jillian Berube from the Central Region joined the other self advocates in the presentation.
- At the Employment First Conference, June 11th, Kathleen Krahe from the southeast participated on the Panel about The Power of Team Work with Job coaches and Employment Specialists.
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NO
RTH
EAST REGION UPDATES
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Northeast Regional Coordinator:
Bridget Crowley
Email:
Bridget@ma-advocates.org
Phone:
781-789-4274
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(Paula Mione and Bill Carpenter - June 26, 2019 NE Retreat)
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Happy Summer Everyone! Here are the highlights of what we’ve been up to in the Northeast in June:
(Steven Comeau - June 26, 2019 NE retreat)
- Donna Jay attended the June Supported Decision Making Meeting. Anne Fracht testified in support of a Supporting Decision Making Bill on behalf of MASS.
- On June 6th Coordinator met with self-advocate leaders and advisor of a new Self-Advocacy Group called the Sphere. Coordinator visited the full meeting on June 25th , where members are beginning to discuss advocacy goals and having a blast getting to know each other.
- Derek Spear and John Anton attended the June 6th Advocacy Day sponsored by the Mass Down Syndrome Congress. The focus was expanding options for people with disabilities to attend college!
- Northeast coordinator took part along with SE/Metro Coordinator in supporting MASS Chairperson, Anne Fracht, and SE Member Bex Filmore presenting at a conference for Transition Providers working with the MASS Rehab Commission.
- Paula Mione represented MASS at the DDS Regional Advisory Committee Meeting in June. We invited Regional DDS Director, Kelly Lawless, to come to our July Regional Meeting and she accepted!
- Coordinator and Regional Vice Chair attended the Regional RSG Celebration on June 12th. 34 people attended, several coming from distant areas of the State.
- At our Regional Retreat on June 26th leaders shared ways to stand up for yourself and your rights. Self-advocates want to advocate for more flexibility, reliability, safety, longer service hours, and connections between service areas so we can live, love, work and play like everyone else!
Looking ahead:
July 17
th
Regional Meeting will be at 261 N Main St Middleton from 6-8PM with special guest, Kelly Lawless, DDS Northeast Regional Director. Share your questions and ideas at this meeting. We will also talk about the Marriage Penalty.
July 17
th
we will be taking part in the Merrimack Valley Transition Task Force meeting to support Self Determination for youth along with the Arc of Greater Haverhill and the Northeast Independent Living Program.
September 11
th
– Conference on the ISP with DDS at Bridgewell, 10 Dearborn Rd. in Peabody
Any questions or want to start your own group? Contact Bridget at 781-789-4274.
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Central Regional Coordinator:
Sue Moriarty
Email:
Sue@ma-advocates.org
Phone:
508-209-7184
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Central Region Highlights for June
Happy summer everyone from Central Region!
Here are some highlights from Central Region for June:
- Jillian Berube was very busy presenting with the MPTE work group (Self Advocacy and Self Determination) at the MPTE Consortium. Jillian also presented on a panel for the Employment First Conference in Marlboro. Is that it for Jillian? (Besides work on the Board, attending college, work and outside activities like Special Olympics swimming!) NO! She also assisted in the planning of this year’s Prom on June 23rd: theme was Disney and Friends! Everyone had a great time at this afternoon of fun and friendship, and the costumes were fabulous!
- Pauline was busy with Boston Pride this month…. And Justin was busy with his legislative interests and activities. John Mullaly was part of a team of trainers for the UMASS third year medical students on June 17th.
- Central continues to attend meetings of the REDD Group in Worcester, where we talk about access, recreational activities, housing and transportation, to name a few things. We are lucky to have made a connection with this great group. Check out their Facebook page sometime!
- Our June Central Region meeting was mostly taken up with a focus group for the R3 Project with Worcester Polytechnic Institute. The discussion was lively, as usual! The Workteam has a lot planned, with our cookout and a self-direction ice cream social in July and a presentation on guardianship by our favorite Human Rights Specialist Teka in August. We also hope to meet our Acting Regional Director as a guest at the August or maybe September meeting.
- Conference planning is forging ahead, with some of our regional self-advocates working on the planning committee.
- The MASS EPA and A and A teams had a great gathering at Statewide meeting on June 17th. Thank you to Easter Seals for the use of their space. It was so nice to come together as a whole team of trainers for these projects! Our Central A and A team had a great training at Devereaux Cares School where we got to share all of the wonderful things MASS offers!
Central Work-team will be having our annual cookout on
Tuesday,
July 9th from 6-8PM.
Location is our usual spot at Regatta Park on Lake Quinsigamond, 10 N Lake Ave, Worcester. Hot dogs, hamburgers, watermelon and annual (group) birthday cake will be provided!
Call Sue if you want to bring drinks, chips or dessert.
We will have music, games and maybe a giveaway or two!
We may or may not have a back up location in case of rain, so call Sue at 508-209-7184 if you have
any questions or if the weather is "iffy"!
Hope to see you there!
We will have music, games and maybe a giveaway or two!
We may or may not have a back up location in case of rain, so call Sue at 508-209-7184 if you have
any questions or if the weather is "iffy"!
Hope to see you there!
Enjoy these lazy, hazy summer days everyone!
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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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Save the date
JULY 18, 2019
@ 6pm - 7:30pm, Join other self advocates in the Metro Region at Beaverbrook STEP 85 Main St, Watertown, MA (2 doors down from the Watertown Public Library).
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- Minute Man Arc Chorus traveled back to the 50’s and guests joined them in...... Shake, rattle and roll time with Elvis, June 21st in Concord, MA. Deb Long was in the chorus, and her friends Janice Smith and Nora McShane where in the audience for the performance.
- Greater Framingham showcased the A&A Youtube video at their recent meeting and had a lively discussion about a new bill going through the process about cameras in common areas of group homes.
- Beaverbrook STEP for their Annual Summer Outing will attend Payson Park Music Festival Concert in July or August. To receive more information contact,
Gail, at 339-832-2922 or gail@ma-advocates.
- Metro region self-advocates have been very busy in the month of June, for various issues and to talk about MASS, Employment First Conference--The Power of Team-Work, Shriver Consumer Advisory meeting, MRC, Pre-Ets training for new providers, and many different forums and meetings regarding Transportation in the Metro Boston area. Additionally, Kamisha was part of the MPTE work group Self Advocacy and Self Determination presentation to the full MPTE Consortium. Thank you to Anne Fracht and Keith Miller for doing a great job with the presentations they worked on. Anne Fracht and Brian Kremer presented All About MASS at the Disability Policy Consortium in the interest of collaborating with the Consortium.
- Metro self advocates are also working on the Conference Planning Committee. The committee is continuing to plan out another exciting conference.
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RAINBOW SUPPORT GROUP UPDATES:
Rainbow Project Coordinator -
Pauline Bosma
Email:
rainbowbos@charter.net
Phone:
508-944-5797
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- Rainbow had a table at this year’s Pride. It was great! Every year it seems to get larger and larger. This year’s Pride was celebrating the 50th year of the Stonewall historic rebellion. So nice to see so many young people, diversity, girl on girl and guy on guy couples.
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LEGISLATIVE TRANSPORTATION UPDATES:
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CAN'T GET THERE FROM HERE??
MASS will be holding a Transportation Forum in early November at the State House. Details will be in your August MF!
We hope to have self-advocates from
all around the state
come to this forum to address transportation issues.
Will keep you posted.
2019 Legislative Education Day Visits
2019 Every 2nd Wednesday of the month.
State House Meeting Dates
January 9
February 13
March 13
April 10
May 8
June 12
July 10
August 14
September 11
NO OCTOBER MEETING
November 13
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 Kamisha or Marie at the M.A.S.S office
617-624-7549 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!
~
Kamisha
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Massachusetts Advocates Standing Strong
500 Harrison Avenue, Suite 116 | 617-624-7549
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