May 2010 Update

Please continue to call, write or e-mail your  representative and Senator about the budget We will continue to work with ARCMASS, MASS Families and others to advocate for services. Please keep track on the budget at www.arcmass.org . 

 This information is from ADDP:

Disability Amendments Rejected

Despite having dozens of House Members sign on as disability amendment co-sponsors, the House failed to approve key DDS & MRC amendments.

Thus disability advocates will be heading into the budget debate in the Senate trying to avert a service meltdown for hundreds of families across the Commonwealth.

Program areas that will suffer the largest losses include:

• DDS Residential Services, cut $11 million by the House, causing 150 people to lose their homes.
• DDS Employment & Day Services, cut $3.7 million, causing 225 people with developmental disabilities to lose their jobs, day services and employment supports.
• MRC Head Injury Services, reducing services and supports for 95 people with head injuries.
• MRC EEP cutting 300 more people with multiple disabilities from their ability to be employed.

Ironically, as the House rejected support for community programs, it authorized one more study of the DDS Institutional Closure Plan, slowing closure until the report is completed.

House leaders indicated that while sympathetic to the concerns of the disability community, there simply was not enough revenue in the state treasury to support budget restorations.

·       Please support your local self-advocacy group and ask other to become members.  Support efforts to help others in your local community.

·       Our Funders and MASS are working on the MASS budget for this coming year. MASS will have a small cut along with other organizations from our MDDC funding. We have been strongly supported by the MDDC and appreciate their continued support and for the continuation and expansion of the Self Advocacy Leadership series. We are working with DDS and other funders on continuing our work and building support for the Board for Fiscal Year 2011 (July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011)

·       Important news about Electric shock and long term restraint of persons with disabilities you should know.

Mental Disability Rights International has filed an urgent appeal to the United Nations Special Rappoteur on Torture a document on shock and restraint at the Judge Rotenberg Center headquartered in Canton Massachusetts. This is good news as Disability Law Center, ARCMASS, MASS and many others have fought to have an anti-aversive bill passed in MA without success.

·       Acting Chairperson and MASS Co-Founder  Craig Smith continues to work on his health at home.  Please feel free to drop him a note to:  1435 Commonwealth Avenue #9 Brighton MA 02135  

·       The way services are delivered by DSS is changing in the coming months.  More information will become available in the next weeks and we will share it with you as soon as we have a better sense of how they will work.  Make sure to ask your service coordinator, DDS Area Director and service providers for more information so you are better informed…

·       MA21 21^st Century Disability Policy regional meetings have been taking place in some regions. We are working hard to make sure self-advocates participate and help work on changing the system in Massachusetts.  If you are interested please contact folks at your regional meeting or Lesley or Ed at 617-624-7549

SAVE the Date: June 12, 2010 MASS Fundraiser  Salisbury Beach at Surfside Saturday, June 12, 2010 – 2-6 Pm

25 Broadway, Salisbury Beach 

Tickets $25 Donation 

Relax with friends for cocktails and refreshments on the 8,000 sq. ft. deck overlooking  Salisbury Beach with fantastic views of the ocean !!!!

(partially covered deck able to accommodate under any weather conditions)

Dancing, Silent Auction, Door prizes, Art Sale, Cash Bar

·       SAVE The Date: Important Date Change for your calendar The SABE 2010 National Self Advocacy Conference in Kansas City, MO has been rescheduled for the weekend of September 23-26, 2010.  Conference materials ARE OUT.  Check out their website: http://www.sabekc2010.org/

·       Save the Date: MASS 13^th Annual Conference  Nov 20, 2010 in Worcester, MA