Message from the Executive Director | |
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Dear MOD community:
Spring is here! And with it, a new municipal ADA Improvement Grant cycle. This grant program is a huge source of pride for us at MOD and an incredible funding opportunity for cities and towns looking to improve their accessibility. Note that the application will open on May 1st - much earlier than in previous years. If you missed the ADA grant information session, check out the recording on our YouTube channel.
Thank you to those who joined us on April 10th for Disability Connections, our networking event for the Massachusetts disability community. It was inspiring to come together with friends old and new and to hear from our Thomas P. Hopkins Disability Access Award recipients. They reminded us that with dedication and collaboration, a small group of passionate advocates can make a big difference. MOD is proud to provide knowledgeable guidance and training on disability-related civil rights laws and regulations to give advocates like the awardees the tools they need to be successful - and to give government agencies, businesses, housing providers, employers, and others the information they need to comply with the law.
This month, we're also celebrating the Department of Justice's approval of a final rule under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to ensure the accessibility of web content and mobile apps for people with disabilities. This is a big win for digital accessibility and MOD will continue to monitor what this means for government agencies.
Read on for more ways to get involved with MOD. Our training calendar is full and our website is continuously being updated to bring clarity to issues that matter to you.
Mary Mahon McCauley
Executive Director
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Thank you to all who joined us for Disability Connections! Over 150 leaders in the Massachusetts disability community came together on April 10th to connect and celebrate our Thomas P. Hopkins Disability Access award winners, the named plaintiffs in Joanne Daniels-Finegold, et al. v. Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. Thank you to our panelists and moderator Bill Henning for sharing your stories and words of encouragement for budding disability advocates.
Couldn't make the event? Check out the recording and download event materials.
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Upcoming MOD trainings and events | |
Quarterly Tea with MOD: Serving Customers with Disabilities
May 29 | 1 - 2:30 PM
MOD often receives questions from public places about how to best serve their customers with disabilities. This training will give local entities that interact with the public (for example: state and local government, businesses, and other service-providers) a basic overview of their disability-related legal obligations when serving the public.
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Community Access Monitor (CAM) training
Multiple dates
The Community Access Monitor (CAM) Program trains you to survey buildings for accessibility and use your skills to advocate for compliance with various rules and regulations. It is designed for people who want to advocate for increased access in their community and those who want to understand their obligations to provide access to the disability community, such as building inspectors, architects, business owners, builders, and Commissions on Disability.
Beginner CAM training is a two-day training lasting 5 hours each day (10 hours total), with short breaks throughout.
Please note this training fills up quickly!
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CAP Disability in Employment Workshops
Multiple dates
MOD's Client Assistance Program (CAP) hosts a series of three separate workshops over Zoom. The series is aimed at employees and jobseekers with disabilities and their advocates. There is no cost to attendees.
Deciding to Disclose
Learn about the advantages and disadvantages of disclosing your disability at different stages of the employment process.
June 12 | 9:30 – 10:30 AM
August 27 | 5:30 - 6:30 PM
November 13 | 9:30 - 10:30 AM
Reasonable Accommodations in Employment
This interactive workshop covers the steps people with disabilities should take to identify their essential job functions, supports they may need to fulfill them, and how to request a reasonable accommodation at work.
June 12 | 11 – 12:30 PM
August 28 | 5:30 - 7 PM
November 13 | 11 AM - 12:30 PM
Disability Discrimination in Employment
Using real world examples, participants learn how to identify and address disability discrimination in the workplace.
June 12 | 2:30 – 4 PM
August 29 | 5:30 - 7 PM
November 13 | 2:30 - 4 PM
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Reasonable accommodation and modification requests in housing
September 18 | 5:30 - 7:30 PM
If you can't equally enjoy your housing because of a disability-related obstacle, you have rights! This interactive virtual workshop gives an overview of the reasonable accommodation (RA) and modification (RM) request process in housing. The workshop provides information and examples to help you understand the process from start to finish and tips to avoid common pitfalls.
Target audience: Residents with disabilities (or their advocates), whether they live in rented accommodation or are owners in a housing/condo association.
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Other trainings and events | |
Boston Disability Community Forum
May 1 | 2 - 3:30 PM
City of Boston Disabilities Commission and Disability Advisory Board
The Boston Disability Community Forum is an annual event co-hosted by the City of Boston’s Disabilities Commission and the Disability Advisory Board. The event is an opportunity for Boston residents and visitors and commuters to learn about the City's disability accessibility initiatives, ask officials questions, and meet your neighbors. The forum includes opportunities for attendees to share input about disability accessibility and inclusion priorities. Attendees can participate in person or on Zoom.
This is a hybrid event:
In person at Suffolk University Law School, 120 Tremont Street, Boston
Virtual on Zoom
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Adaptive Recreation Fair
June 8 | 10 AM - 3 PM
Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
Join the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s (DCR) Universal Access Program (UAP) for a free, fun-filled day celebrating accessible outdoor recreation in Massachusetts state parks. Family-friendly, accessible, and inclusive activities include: cycling with an assortment of adaptive cycles, adaptive pickleball, face painting and kite decorating, sidewalk chalking, equipment demonstrations, bubble blowing, games, music, and much more. Find out about adaptive summer programs across the state!
This event is in person, rain or shine:
Herter Park/Artesani Playground in Brighton
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MOD's Mary Mahon McCauley visits Lawrence City Hall to present Mayor Brian A. De Peña with a $247,000 ADA grant check for accessibility improvements to the building |
MOD provides nearly $4M in ADA grant funding to municipalities
MOD awarded nearly $4M in Municipal ADA Improvement Grant funds to municipalities in FY24. Recipients will use funds for ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition plans, as well as a variety of accessibility improvement projects. Awarded municipalities include Blackstone, Greenfield, and Canton.
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Special Commission on State Institutions
MOD is a member of the recently established Special Commission on State Institutions, charged with studying and reporting on the history of state institutions for people with intellectual, developmental disabilities, or mental health conditions in the Commonwealth. Findings so far have been harrowing, and MOD looks forward to bringing justice to formerly institutionalized residents and their loved ones.
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Spotlight on Black disability rights leaders
The Black and disability rights movements have always been intertwined, and members of both communities have played a pivotal role in pushing forward justice for all. Many of these leaders are right here in Massachusetts, making a difference through public service. MOD conducted interviews with members of the Massachusetts Black disability community who have worked in state government to hear about their experiences and words of wisdom for the next generation.
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Disability Community Survey
via National Center on Knowledge Translation for Disability and Rehabilitation Research
The American Institutes for Research and the Center on Knowledge Translation for Disability and Rehabilitation Research (Center on KDRR) is conducting a disability community survey to learn how people with disabilities access and use information in their daily lives. Survey results will be shared with people with disabilities, their family members, researchers, and allies in the disability community.
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Add your comment: Beyond Mobility Transportation Plan
via Massachusetts Department of Transportation
Beyond Mobility, the Massachusetts 2050 Transportation Plan, is a planning process that aims to create a blueprint for guiding transportation decision-making and investments in Massachusetts in a way that advances MassDOT’s goals and maximizes the equity and resiliency of the transportation system. The plan is currently out for public review and comment. The comment period closes on May 5th, 2024.
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Commissions on Disability Survey
via Danvers Accessibility Commission
The Danvers Accessibility Commission is seeking information about the scope and function of other commissions in Massachusetts in order to further their own work. If you are a member of a local Commission on Disability in Massachusetts, please complete their Commissions on Disability survey.
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Apply for a Municipal ADA Improvement Grant
MOD's Municipal ADA Improvement Grant provides reimbursement funding to municipalities for accessibility planning and projects to remove architectural or communication barriers. The FY25 Application will be open from May 1st, 2024 at 9 AM through June 15th, 2024 at 5 PM. Any Massachusetts city or town is eligible to apply.
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Commissions on Disability
MOD provides information and guidance to help local Commissions on Disability (CODs) get started, understand their role and responsibilities, and reach their goals. Our new Commissions on Disability webpage includes valuable information for people looking to contact their local COD, start a new COD, or further develop an existing COD in their community.
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Accessibility statement
MOD does not discriminate on the basis of disability and is committed to providing accessible documents and services. To request an accessible version of any documents on our website, or if you otherwise need a reasonable modification to access MOD’s programs, services, or facilities or to file a grievance, please contact MOD General Counsel Julia O'Leary at Julia.E.OLeary@mass.gov or 857-214-1081.
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