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Disability Policy Consortium
Weekly Update
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Greetings!
October. Colored leaves, first frost, pumpkins and Halloween. What more could we ask for?
This issue has a focus on Transportation. Today there is a meeting on the new Personal Interviews in order to maintain eligibility for The Ride. The Governor's Commissions continue to meet and we've invited you to contact a DPC Bord member who is on the Commission. There also is an opportunity to Work on a project monitoring MBTA buses.
Please read on and enjoy the week.
Sincerely,
Bill Allan
Disability Policy Consortium
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Editorial: An Ending and a Beginning
Last Friday was important to me. September 30, 2011 marked the end of a process that began in the fall of 2008 when the DPC Board decided to get serious about transition planning. We did it ourselves, within our resources, and Congratulations, we have been successful!
Some of you have met Bruce Menin. Bruce and I have exchanged compliments at DPC Board meetings. The transition has been smooth and we both like and respect each other. I look forward to working with Bruce and continuing to assist him anyway way I can.
My work with the DPC for the last 9 years has been the most rewarding way to cap a long and varied career. (Yes, know, I'm not done yet, but I don't get emotional very often, so bare with me). Six years ago I had to answer the following question: Do I believe that the DPC and I, together, can bring about fundamental change? My answer was Yes and today, I think we are still at it.
More than the work, I've come to value the friendships and love from my Board members and many of our members. I know that I am a very different person than I was 10 years ago, and even 5 years ago. This is due the support and confidence I get from knowing you and the fact that collectively, we're all a helluva lot more radical than I am alone.
I look forward to continuing to work with everyone as the Director of Policy and Advocacy.
Sincerely.
Bill Allan
Disability Policy Consortium
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Disability Day
Fall River
The Fall River Commission on Disabilities will be sponsoring its third annual Disability Awareness Day to be held Thursday, October 6, 2011 at Government Center in Fall River Massachusetts from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM. This year's theme is, "Building a Life of Inclusion in Fall River"
Highlighting the Awareness Day will be the Diman Regional Vocation School demonstrating home modifications for persons with disabilities, along with the Perkins School for the Blind demonstrating how movies can be viewed through Audio Description.
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| To Your Credit
October 13, 2011 from 5:30-7:30
"To your Credit" This workshop will offer participants a chance to learn more about credit and how it works. We will review the definition of credit; explain the proper use of credit cards and discuss what makes up a credit score. We will also talk about how credit affects ones' ability to get a job, a loan or rent an apartment. In addition, participants will be given important information about how to obtain a free credit report and learn about different types of loans and how to guard against predatory lending practices.
Presented by: Massachusetts Assistive Technology Loan Program, Easter Seals & Hosted by Stavros Center for Independent Living
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| Money Follows the ?
The second meeting of the topical discussion group is scheduled for Friday, October 14th from 10 AM - 11:30 AM in the France Conference Room at UMass Medical School located at 333 South Street in Shrewsbury. The focus of this meeting will be on self-direction opportunities within the waivers. All are welcome to attend. Please contact Kate Russell at Kate.Russell@state.ma.us or 617-573-1830 if you would like to attend the meeting and to request reasonable accommodations.
Our next quarterly meeting of the Money Follows the Person Working Group is scheduled for Wednesday, November 9th from 10:30 AM - 12 PM. The meeting will be held in the Saxe Conference Room in the Worcester Public Library located at 3 Salem Square in Worcester. Requests for reasonable accommodations for this meeting should also be sent to Kate.Russell@state.ma.us.
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HB799 - An Act to provide a hearing aid tax credit
Hearing Scheduled
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Griffin to Speak
October 19
Communication Around the Workplace: Bridging Gaps Between People with Disabilities and Employers
Keynote Speaker
Christine M. Griffin
Assistant Secretary for Disability Policies & Programs, Massachusetts EOHHS
Wed, October 19, 2011
6:30 - 8:00 PM
Reception 6:00 - 6:30
Cambridge Public Library - Lecture Hall
449 Broadway
Light refreshments will be provided during reception
Sponsored by:
Cambridge Commission for Persons with Disabilities
Cambridge Employees' Committee on Diversity
Cambridge Department of Human Service Programs
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Transportation
WWL
Team Building for Action: Spotlight on Transportation Coordination in Massachusetts
October 13, 2011, 2:00-3:30pm
The webinar is free but registration is required.
http://www.cvent.com/d/ccqjmd/1Q
In 2009, Community Transportation Association technical assistance staff joined with Work Without Limits (WWL) and its partners to co-produce the Massachusetts Institute for Transportation Coordination. Following the Institute, the WWL partnership continued its support for the nine Institute teams, following up with grant dollars, technical assistance and on-going communication. Join this webinar to hear how this team-based action planning process has had an impact on mobility options for persons with disabilities, low-wage earners, older adults and other Massachusetts residents.
Presenters
Aniko Laszlo, Work Without Limits
Tanya Ryden, Massachusetts Human Service Transportation Office
Franny Osman, MinuteVan Coalition Member, Chair, Acton Transportation Advisory Committee
Louise Hardiman, Southeastern Massachusetts Transportation Alliance Team Member, Principal Transportation Planner, Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District
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Work!
Transportation Study
Delta Services Group will be conducting a new performance study of the MBTA's bus system. The study will be performed mid-October through November 2011. Delta is seeking people to work as independent contractors to test the bus system.
Testers are persons with a disability who: use a cane, walker, walking assistive device or a securable wheeled mobility device no larger than 48 inches by 36 inches. And are able to independently ride the bus and subway system.
Testers must have the stamina to work a 4 hr. to 6 hr. shift. The study is conducted between 5:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. on weekdays. Participants will receive training and have approximately 2 weeks of work. Payment is $15/hr. Please contact: drishel@deltaservicesgroup.com
Thanks.
Taramattie Doucette, Esq.
Project Director
Children's Disability Project
Greater Boston Legal Services |
Moving Towards Success, Now is the time
The 8th Peer Employment Network Meeting
October 17th (Monday) from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
31 Bowker Street Boston, MA 02114
(Near Haymarket/Government Center/Bowdoin/North Station stops on the T Line
or ON street parking on days there are not TD Garden events)
There will be light foods and beverages!!
Presenting
Jerry Pinsky, MSW, CPRP
From the Bedford, MA Veterans Administration
Jerry will share his experience on a variety of topics including:
How to start your own business
What will an idea/occupation you love, a good plan and determination do for you?
Space is limited.
Please RSVP by 10/11/2011 (Tuesday) to the attention of Sarah Selkovits at 617-249-1779. sselkovits@baycove.org. If you have any questions or need any accommodations, please contact Sarah at 617-788-1034.
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Para-Transit
Transportation looms large on the disability agency this Fall. There are two threads advacing simultaneously
The MBTA has a hearing this afternoon on individual personal assessments to certify people as Ride users. Heretofore, a doctor's letter was enough. Now The Ride will make a personal interview mandatory. Then objective is to limit portal-to-portal services to people who, in The Ride's judgment, can not use other surface transportation such as buses or light rail.
The Pubic Hearing it TODAY, 3:30 PM at the Transportation Building, 10 Park Square, Boston.
The second theme is the statewide assessment of transportation options going on under a Govenor's Executive Order. There are a number of additional hearing on the schedule. However the DPC hads an inside track on the hearing which a=we are going to share now.
Jini Fairly, a DPC Board member, is a member of the Commission slong with DPC member Denise Karuth from western Massachusetts. If you would like to communicate directly with them, please use the following email to do so: paratransit@dpcma.org.
The Commission's remaining public hearings are as follows:
(all are 3-5 PM)
Oct 4, 2011 Worcester
Tuesday Union Station, 34 Washington Square
Union Hall
Oct 12, 1011 Springfield
Wednesday Pioneer Valley Planning Commission,
60 Congress St
Oct 27, 2011 Pittsfield
Thursday BRTA Intermodal Center,
1 Columbus Ave
Nov 7, 2011 Boston
Monday State Transportation Building, 10 Park Plaza
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CLRD Meeting
The next CLRD meeting will be Wednesday, October 19 from 12:00 pm to 2:00
Committee for the Legal Rights of the Disabled
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Snow Days in Boston
The Boston Disability Commission is working on the City's internal snow removal plan, and could use your input. We are looking for key streets, intersections, blocks, or areas throughout the city that:
Have a building with many disabled people or many elders living in it
Are left in "no-man's land" because no agency will take responsibility for shoveling
Are key intersecting points of travel
You get calls about from residents with disabilities being blocked in
Never seem to get shoveled
You think are especially critical to keep cleared for access all winter
You DO NOT have to send bus stops. We are already working on this.
Send Kristen McCosh
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Contact Us
59 Temple Place, #670
Boston, Massachusetts 02111
mail@dpcma.org
617-542-3822
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