Hey guys, Kamisha here! Happy Spring, we hope everyone is enjoying the warm weather while we still have it! As always we have a lot of new things coming your way so stay tuned and as always keep reading! Attention all May babies out there it’s time to celebrate you once again! We hope you have a fantastic day!!!
Check out what M.A.S.S. has coming up and read more below in this edition of the MASS Flash!
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YOUR IDEAS COUNT
Annual Self-Advocacy Conference
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When:
Sat., October 19, 2019
Where:
Why?
As always, this great self-advocacy conference will have a variety of interesting and educational workshops, beautiful artistic crafts of all kinds to buy, vendor tables, speakers, entertainment, raffles and more!
We will also be celebrating Rainbow's 15th Anniversary!
So be sure to put
Saturday, October 19th
in your calendar!
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Ladies and gentlemen I have some very exciting news I would like to share with you, I am so proud of myself!! Why? Because on Monday March 18
th
2019 I took a test for my school and I got a score of…Ready for it?! I scored a 556 out of 600!!! To this day I still can’t believe it!!! On my last test I scored a 533 and I asked my teacher “How many points did I gain?” she said “you gained 23 points!” I was jumping for joy the entire time! Honestly to this day I am still jumping for joy on the inside! I wasn’t expecting that all! Because of this and all the reading practice I’ve been doing everyone thinks I will do great on my first Hiset test which is reading. I am taking it on Tuesday April 9
th
2019!!
I will let everyone know how it went as soon as I know! Hard work definitely pays off in the end, the great thing is I’m not done yet!!!
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Good news everyone Target is deciding to expand and be more inclusive by adding sensory and adaptive products to the store for people with disabilities! I believe that some of the new collection is already out and online but more of the collection will be coming out in the summer! Nice work Target!!
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- Swansea SEPAC April 27th Resource Fair Joseph Case Middle School Swansea, MA 10-3pm Gail will be providing information on Self Advocacy and MASS Advocates Standing Strong.
- Self-advocates from the region have planned their first fundraiser dance July16th 6-9pm, Knights of Columbus Hall Easton, MA.
- Two new groups of self advocates are forming at the Brockton Area Arc and Cardinal Cushing Centers. Congrats to the self advocates!
- Learn about ISP process using the “I” is for me, ISP Booklet, Susan Harrington assisted by Nate Hoover. Next session is April 26 10-12 noon, for self-advocates with a support person. Location is DDS SE office in Middleboro, MA and register thru the ddslearning.com Southeast Region trainings.
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Hello friends. The Northeast Region had a Back to the 80’s Dance on April 26
th
to raise funds to support our leaders to attend conferences like the national Self Advocates Becoming Empowered Conference. Please join me in sending a shout out to Daysiree Perez Batista and Donna Jay who were interviewed by Raquel Quezeda on Cambiando el Mundo de personas discapacidades in April about Self Advocacy.
Click here to learn more
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- Regional members took time to fill out surveys for the Northeast Region of DDS at our April meeting and we shared surveys with friends and allies at local groups and through our e-mail list. Transportation rated as a high priority for many people. In suggesting what DDS should focus on in the future one member got right to the heart of things by writing, “My life and my happiness.” We look forward to hearing the results of these surveys and how they impact future planning for our region. Nothing About Us, Without Us.
- Regional Members are planning to take part in the national #We Are Still Waiting Social Media campaign to urge the FDA to release the regulations banning electric shock at the Judge Rotenberg Center on April 24th. In May we’ll be attending the Aspergers R Us live comedy troupe in Beverly. Find out more about this performance here: https://www.thelarcom.org/aspergersareus .
- We look forward to holding a Creating Your Vision workshop with L’Arche Irenicon. We’re looking forward to attending a Transition Fair at Lawrence High School. Regional members Donna Jay and John Anton are representing the Northeast on the Supported Decision Making Task Force and we are interviewing forum attendees to learn more about the obstacles to making your own choices.
- All are welcome to join us on June 26th for our Regional Retreat at Camp Denison from 11-4. Our next Regional Meeting is May 15th at 261 N. Main St, Middleton from 6-8PM. Call or e-mail Bridget for more information to get involved: bridget@ma-advocates.org or 781-789-4274. I’ll leave you with this quote from Sandra A. about why she advocates, “Because my heart is not satisfied. I want to be more independent.”
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Central region had a very busy month!
- James Williams and Janet Laperle spoke about self-advocacy to a class of students at Quinsigamond Community College. Next, we joined in the Light It Up Blue celebration at UMASS in Worcester. We saw old friends and met new ones! We even met a new self-advocate who joined our regional group! Janet, Jillian, Seth, Andrew were there, and we had a table where we asked people about their ideas, their dreams, and what they wanted to do for work. Monique helped people make business cards. We had a great discussion with a guest at our regional meeting: Frances Nwajei, Director of Human Rights.
- In May we look forward to meeting our new, Acting DDS Regional Director, Lisa Saba. Some of us attended the transportation conference on April 10th, where we learned about new projects and shared ideas. Self-advocates attended the monthly self-direction support group, and we did audio recording of a self-advocate and the choices she makes in her life. We neared the end of April with our Central Region Legislative Breakfast. The theme was “Hats Off!, recognizing the amazing support so many people provide. We also have a table at the breakfast each year, Thank you to Janet for greeting people there! We took a few photos of self-advocates at work for one of our parents who is doing a very cool presentation at the APSE Conference.
- Finally, we ended the month with a great presentation on MASS given by Seth, Pauline and Janet at the statewide Service Coordinator Institute. Self-advocates John Mullaly, Brian Kelly and Pauline are also busy working on the R3 and Mass Rights for Change grant projects throughout the month, and Justin Prive joined them for Awareness and Action trainings for Worcester Public Schools and the Central Mass Employment Collaborative.
Phew! Take time to enjoy spring everyone!
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- Self Advocates Reggie Clark and Matthew Bander with Gail Delgado Metro Region Coordinator attend the MASS DOT Innovation Transportation Conference April 10th. At the conference they learned about some new innovative approaches to transportation needs and different mobility concerns being addressed for the hearing impaired and blind self advocates.
- Metro region meeting this month was facilitated by Anne Fracht, as a more interactive approach was introduced for the meeting going forward. The self advocates talked about what other issues affect them beyond transportation. Some of their input was Medicare, food stamps, housing costs and how they want their voices to be heard in those areas in addition to transportation.
- Greater Framingham Self Advocates group has been discussing ways to generate more membership in the group in the Framingham area. Delta Projects continues to make sure self advocates are immersed in the communities they live in. Mass Self Advocates Club is holding a retirement party for their former advisor.
- Many self advocates this month celebrated Holy week according to their traditions. Many self advocates are looking forward to the warmer weather.
- Note as of 4-18-19 region meeting the dance has again been put on hold as the group prefers to look for a location that does not charge them to use the location. Next month’s meeting will discuss this further to plan their summer activity fundraiser.
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Story Of The Month!
DAYSIREE PEREZ-BATISTA
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Daysiree Perez-Batista
- 34
Daysiree is involved in the Awareness and Action training. She enjoys helping with training and teaching others about abuse. Through this she is learning how to be patient with others. When she was asked to speak on the radio station called La Mega in Lawrence she was not nervous but excited!!! She would do it again in a heartbeat.
Whenever she thinks about the word self-advocacy one word comes to mind
EMPOWERMENT!!!!
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Protect, Report, Preserve Staff Trainings 2019
Staff training on recognizing, reporting & responding to abuse committed against persons with disabilities. Attend at no cost & receive a copy of the training materials. Training dates are Tues., 5/21 in Dorchester & Wed., 6/12 in Sturbridge.
Read more
www.eventbrite.com
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The 16
th
Annual West Region Self-Advocacy Conference
DATE: May 18, 2019
TIME: 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM
WHERE: Sheraton Hotel
1 Monarch Place, Springfield, MA
For more information or to request a registration brochure contact Ness (413) 887-4205 or
nbellini@wmtcinfo.org
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2019 M.A.S.S. Conference News
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YOUR IDEAS COUNT
Self-Advocacy Conference
Saturday, October 19, 2019
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Central, Metro, Southeast, Northeast and West Region Self-Advocates
Remember to complete and submit your Regional Award Applications for the conference.
Deadline for applications is Wednesday, May 15, 2019. Please click on links below for applications.
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2019 Legislative Education Day Visits
Legislative Self-Advocates are focusing on problems with
transportation
throughout MA.
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 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
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