Weekly Update - October 31, 2011

Dear william,

 This week we commemorate two leaders of the disability community who died.  Dr. Allen Crocker was a huge presence in the medical field, pioneering treatment for children with developmental disabilities at Children's Hospital in Boston.  Lou Nissenbaum was a parent of a child with intellectual disabilities, exec of the Newmasket Group, and a founder of Mass Families Organizing for Change.  The community will miss them.

 This issue also brings an opportunity to join with Elders and Occupy the Wang.  Don't miss it!  

Disability Policy Consortium

wfallan@dpcma.org| 617-542-3822

On the Calendar:  HANDS OFF!

Social Security, Medicare & Medicaid

People with disabilities are invited to job our Elders in a Super Rally to encourage the Super Committee to do the right thing -  but not cutting the programs that are the heart of the experience that makes America great. 

Invest in job creation and Secure Retirement

Wednesday  November 9, 2011 

11 AM

Wang Theater

270 Tremont Street  

Boston 02116

FREE transportation

Call Mass Senior Action   

617 284-1234 

Editorial:  20% of the 99%

Astute readers will note that I positioned a Calendar item before my Editorial this week.  It is one way of saying that the Event is IMPORTANT.

We generally use the figure 20% of the population to quantify the number of people with disabilities at large. It then stands to reason that we are also 20% of the 99% represented by the Occupy Everyplace movement such as those in Dewey Square.  Thanks to Mass Senior Action, AARP, MassHome Care and others, people with disabilities get an opportunity to Occupy the Wang on November 9.  

Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare are in the cross hairs of Legislators in Washington on the Committee of 12.  Cuts to these entitlement program are a favorite theme of Republicans and Tea Party members.  It is highly unlikely cuts will be not be made despite pledges of fealty from Sen. John Kerry's staff.

That is why it is so important for a large contingent of people with disabilities be present at the Wang on  November 9.  The writer remembers when elders filled the Hynes Center in Boston, The Arena in Lowell and other huge venues in the early 70's under the leadership of Frank Manning and Jack Leff. These events lead to the creation of the Executive Office of Elder Affairs and the beginnings of the home care programs in Massachusetts.

I look forward to seeing you on November 9!

In Memorium:  Dr. Allen Crocker

Beloved husband of 58 years to Margarete Crocker of Natick (and Gloucester), devoted father to Elli Crocker Morse and her husband, John Morse, of Newton, MA; Philip Crocker and his wife, Nina, of Irving, TX; and Monica Doyon and her husband, David, of Oxford, MA.  He was so proud of his nine grandchildren:  Rita, Sonya, and Irene Crocker; Kelsey, Ethan, and Chloe Doyon; and Alexander, Brittany, and Evan Morse. Allen also leaves many extended family members in Germany and England and elsewhere in the U.S.  

Dr. Crocker began his clinical training in pediatrics at Children's Hospital in Boston in 1948 and continued in his medical practice at the hospital until his retirement in June 2009.  He was director of the Developmental Evaluation Clinic from 1967-1993 and Program Director of the Institute for Community Inclusion from 1993-2009.   He was a pioneer in the field of developmental pediatrics.  He wrote scores of articles and book chapters on genetic diseases and developmental disabilities, and co-authored and edited several seminal books in the field:  Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics (now in its 4th edition), Medical Care for Children & Adults with Development Disabilities (now in its 2nd edition), and HIV Infection and Developmental Disabilities.  He was a Senior Associate in Medicine at Children's Hospital from 1966-2009.  In addition to his clinical practice, he was Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and Associate Professor of Society, Human Development, & Health at Harvard School of Public Health.  He cherished his role as teacher and mentor.     

In Memorium:  Lou Nisenbaum   

Lou Nisenbaum passed away yesterday after a long battle with cancer.  We lost a strong and caring leader.  Lou and his wife, Emily helped found Massachusetts Families Organizing for Change.  They have mentored hundreds of families.   Lou and Emily were prime movers in establishing a collaboration that eventually turned into MA21, championing self-determination.

Lou was a tenacious and thoughtful advocate.  He presented at conferences and developed new programs whether at the agency he directed or through collaboration in projects such as "Tools for Tomorrow".  His contributions were numerous.  He always thought about what is best for our family members, friends and others around us. 

Lou served on the MFOFC board since its inception.  He served for decades as the executive director of the Nemasket Group.  His work was about inclusion, self -determination and advancing innovation. 

Calendar:  Financial Workshop

AT Loan Program, Easter Seals Massachusetts

November 3rd from 5:30 - 7:30 pm: 

Location:

STAVROS Center for Independent Living            

262 Cottage Street - Springfield, MA

***ASL Interpreters will be provided***

For more information, please contact Laurie Tougas or Emily Graves-Harrison at (413)-781-5555 voice/TTY or (413)-304-2411 VP

This interactive workshop will allow participants to become familiar with checking accounts and banking.

Calendar:  Federal Jobs

 U.S Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) & The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

  HHS & FDA VIRTUAL HIRING EVENT

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Broadcast Live on Web from FDA's White Oak Campus

 www.fda.gov/hiringevent

HHS & FDA invite all Veterans and People with Disabilities, who are interested in the many Federal positions we have available at any of our 12 Operating Divisions here at HHS, these positions are located throughout the country. To register and participate in our LIVE Virtual Hiring Event on Thursday November 3, 2011 Please see the attached link for additional event information including how to register.

All participants in the Virtual Hiring Event will have an opportunity to not only apply to the open positions at FDA & HHS, but have their resume forwarded to all 9000+ selecting managers throughout HHS and its 12 Operating Divisions.

We are holding 3 LIVE presentations at 9:00 am, 12:00 pm and 3:00 p m EST. We will be discussing working at HHS & FDA, Training on the updated version of USAJOBS, Determining job qualifications, How to apply using USAJOBS and Application Manager, and Detailed Information on the federal positions we are looking to fill and much more.

Please distribute this information to Veterans and/or People with Disabilities looking for employment.

The Virtual Hiring Event is 508 compliant and CC. We look forward to your participation.

Calendar: Para Transit Hearing 

Calendar: Change DD Definition   

There will be a hearing on HB3527 on November 15th at 10:30 AM in Room B2.   

from the Net: Converse Reversed

(with thanks to Girard Plante & Robert Sneirson)  

Converse's flagship sneaker store on Newbury Street has been shuttered indefinitely by the state for failure to provide handicap accessibility to its entrance.

The Architectural Access Board, a regulatory agency of the Massachusetts Office of Public Safety, closed the store on Wednesday until the fixes are made to the entrance. The entrance has a seven-inch step that must be modified to make the shop wheelchair-accessible.

"Since 2009, the board and the city of Boston have tried to get Converse to comply," said Terrell Harris, spokesman for the Executive Office of Public Safety. "Converse continued to say they would fix the problem - and they've been given at least four extensions to get the work done - and they've yet to do anything."

Read the Complete Article 

from the Net:   DEAF, Inc Honored

DEAF, Inc. Honored for Contributing to Excellence in Senior Supported Affordable Housing at Covenant House in Brighton

DEAF, Inc. was honored recently by B'nai Brith Housing New England for their work at its Covenant House communities in Brighton. B'nai Brith made the award as part of a ceremony hosted by the MetLife Foundation and Enterprise Community Partners at which B'nai Brith was awarded an Excellence in Supported Senior Affordable Housing for its work.

Sharon Applegate, Executive Director of DEAF, Inc., received the honor on behalf of the agency, one of 28 institutions, organizations, and businesses recognized by B'nai Brith for their support and contributions to the Covenant House communities. "Through committed service agency partnerships, only then can seniors receive comprehensive high quality services," said Sharon Applegate. "B'nai B'rith Housing made it happen successfully for the seniors at the Covenant House. No one can deliver 100% quality senior services alone."

DEAF, Inc.'s Senior Independent Living Services Program works B'nai Brith Covenant House and other senior centers and housing providers throughout the greater Boston area and on the South Shore to help ensure that Deaf and Hard of Hearing seniors, including seniors with age-related hearing loss, live as independently and safely as possible. DEAF, Inc.'s Senior IL Services Program staff helps ensure that all seniors understand that assistive technologies and services available to them and can help seniors to identify and acquire technologies and services that will help keep safe and connected to family and friends.