MOD Newsletter: November 2025 | | Message from the Executive Director | | |
Dear MOD community:
Since I joined the agency in April, our team has been hard at work serving you. Each month, we respond to hundreds of calls from people wanting to know how federal and state disability rights laws and access regulations apply to them in their real life. It's a responsibility we don't take lightly. I'm proud of the team we have and the work we're doing to create a more accessible Commonwealth for all.
A few of the top issues we're hearing about on the phones lately - and where to start with finding clear, practical guidance:
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Food insecurity: With SNAP benefits cut this month, many people with disabilities are in need of food assistance. MOD does not provide direct services or food assistance, but our colleagues at Project Bread's FoodSource Hotline can help you figure out how to get help to pay for food. Call or text the hotline at 1-800-645-8333.
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Assistance animals: Service and emotional support animals are defined differently under the law, and your rights and responsibilities as an assistance animal user depend on which category the animal falls under and the setting you're in (at work, home, or a public place). Learn about disability rights for users of assistance animals and identifying whether an animal is a service animal vs. an emotional support animal.
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Employment rights: There are federal and state laws in place to protect people with disabilities from discrimination in employment. Employees with disabilities have a right to request a reasonable accommodation to perform the essential functions of their job. Figuring out what's "reasonable", what's an "essential function", and what qualifies as discrimination under the law can be tricky. Read our disability rights in employment page for helpful guidance.
And with winter coming soon, brush up on laws surrounding snow removal and accessibility! If you are a homeowner or renter responsible for clearing snow and are unable to do so due to a disability, you still must find a way to fulfill this responsibility. Read our snow removal and accessibility page to learn about standards for accessibility, who’s responsible for removing snow, and how to get help.
If you have more questions about your disability-related legal rights and obligations after reviewing our self-help resources, contact MOD. Our disability rights and architectural access specialists can guide you through your specific situation.
Allan Motenko
Executive Director
Massachusetts Office on Disability
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Special Advisory Commission on Disability Policy
On October 14, Governor Healey signed an Executive Order re-establishing the Special Advisory Commission on Disability Policy. MOD Executive Director Allan Motenko will serve as Chair.
The Commission serves to improve opportunities for people with disabilities, their families, and advocates to provide input on policy and program development that will reduce barriers to state services.
It will consist of at least 24 people appointed by Governor Healey based on recommendations from organizations that support people with disabilities. Membership will include a diverse group of people who have lived experience, family members of people with disabilities, advocates, a representative from the Statewide Independent Living Council, and executive branch staff who have oversight of state programs supporting these populations.
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Call for nominations: PCA Workforce Council
The Personal Care Attendant Workforce Council (PCA Workforce Council) serves MassHealth PCA consumers and PCAs through its mission to ensure access to a quality workforce. To meet this mission, the council works with other local and state organizations to provide consumers and PCAs with a range of recruitment, training, and labor benefits.
MOD is tasked with recommending 3 PCA consumers to serve on the Council. The Office of the State Auditor will choose one of these 3 to serve on the Council.
If you are a PCA consumer and are interested in serving on the Council, please contact MOD by November 30, 2025 with your name, relevant experience, and why you would like to serve on the Council.
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Note: Accessibility overlay widgets
Accessibility overlays are software tools or widgets that claim to make website content more accessible. Overlay technologies can fall short in delivering on their claims and may create additional accessibility barriers for users of assistive technology.
These overlays are banned by the Commonwealth's Enterprise Digital Accessibility Policy, which applies to the Executive Branch, Commonwealth entities who use or participate in the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security's (EOTSS) services (such as mass.gov), and contracted staff or services firms that create, customize, or configure digital assets on behalf of Commonwealth agencies and offices.
To more effectively ensure your website's accessibility, consult the Accessibility Training Resource Center provided by the EOTSS ACCESS team.
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Digital accessibility: Compliance deadline and resources
From: The Accessibility Center for Consulting, Education, and Support (ACCESS)
Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that all digital content from state and local governments who serve a population of 50,000 or more be accessible by April 24, 2026. If you haven’t reviewed your digital content for accessibility, it’s time to start now. The Accessibility Center for Consulting, Education and Support Services (ACCESS) at the Commonwealth can help.
The ACCESS team provides self-paced and instructor-led training on accessibility techniques that can be found on the Accessibility Training Resource Center.
Get more information about digital accessibility from the ACCESS team's website, including the Enterprise Digital Accessibility Policy, procurement guidance, and document and web testing checklists.
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Career Equity Conference
Center for Career Equity, Development & Success
Friday, November 14 | 8 AM - 4:30 PM
Suffolk University Sargent Hall | 120 Tremont Street, Boston
Cost: $161.90
Suffolk University's Career Equity Conference brings together changemakers across higher education, human resources, employee engagement, and community impact to bring you strategies to drive lasting change in your organization.
MOD Executive Director Allan Motenko will serve on the conference's breakout panel discussion, Collaborative Approaches to Equity across Education, Workforce Development, and Recruiting.
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Disability in the Workplace: Employer Rights and Responsibilities
Commonwealth Corporation
Thursday, November 20 | 11 AM - 12:30 PM
Virtual (Zoom)
Massachusetts employers have legal rights and responsibilities when it comes to job applicants and employees with disabilities. This training, given by MOD Executive Director Allan Motenko in collaboration with Commonwealth Corporation, will give employers practical information about:
- Complying with state and federal disability laws,
- Providing reasonable accommodations, and
- Addressing and preventing disability discrimination
Participants will leave with greater confidence and capacity to hire and retain employees with disabilities while strengthening workplace inclusion.
This webinar is designed for small business owners, HR staff, hiring managers, and employers for whom this topic is relevant. Multiple staff members from your organization are welcome to attend.
Register: Disability in the Workplace - Employer Rights and Responsibilities
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