July 10, 2017
Disability Policy Consortium Weekly Update

 ,

We hope you had a great holiday.  Now it is back to work.  Speaking of work, the U.S. Senate will be back this week.  No one knows if they will have a vote this week on repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act.  Our message is simple "Save Medicaid."

We open this week with an open letter by former Congresswoman Donna Edwards from Maryland.  Ms. Edwards comes out as a person with a disability.

The rest of our newsletter is taken up by a crowded calendar.  We point to the ADA Celebration on July 25th as a noteworthy event.  Mayor Walsh throws a party which normally attracts more than 300 people.  Come and join the festivities.

As always happy reading.

John Winske
Disability Policy Consortium
Net News: To My Colleagues in Congress:I Have MS. Don't Make My Insurance Unaffordable

Recently, the Washington Post had an  Opinion piece in which the former Democratic Congresswoman, Donna Edwards, of Maryland revealed she has Multiple Sclerosis.  Ms. Edwards urges her former colleagues not to make insurance unaffordable.  She discusses the fact that she is currently unemployed and paying COBRA.  Her COBRA will expire next summer.  

The letter is a powerful reminder that everyone is susceptible to joining the millions with pre-existing conditions and/or disabilities.  You can read the story here.
Health Care Update:  Senate Returns to Action 

The U.S. Senate will return to this week from their 4th of July vacation.  It is still unknown if the votes are present to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.  

We urge you to reach out to your friends and ask them to contact their Senators.  Our message is simple 
#Save Medicaid.
Calendar: Disability Reframed Film Series Presents "Finding Dory"

When:  Wednesday, July 19, 2016, 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Where:  Cambridge Public Library, Main Lecture Hall. 449 Broadway, Cambridge

Join us as Disability Reframed: A Community Film Series shares an open-captioned screening of Finding Dory, an animated film about Dory, a Blue Tang fish with a sunny personality and also with cognitive difficulties like attention deficits and memory loss. When Dory realizes she is missing her family, a variety of marine friends help her find her way home. Along the way, lessons about community and diversity make this award-winning story truly memorable for kids and adults alike.

A lively post-film community discussion with the audience will be moderated by Mike Langlois - a regular feature of Disability Reframed.

Admission is Free

This is a scent-free event. Out of consideration for people with environmental illness and/or multiple chemical sensitivity, please refrain from using perfume or other scented products. Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) has been requested. 

For more information please contact the Cambridge Commission for Persons with Disabilities at ccpd@cambridgema.gov or 617 349 4692 (voice) or 617 492 0235 (TTY).

Sponsoreby:

C ity of Boston Mayor's Commission for Personwith Disabilities
C a m b ridgCommission for Personwith Disabilities
Cambridge Department of Human Service Programs
Cambridge Public Library
Calendar:  Boston ADA Celebration Day

When: Tuesday, July 25, 2017, Noon - 2:00 P.M.

Where:  Boston City Hall Plaza. Boston City Hall

A free event for children, families, and individuals of all abilities!

ADA Celebration Day is a yearly celebration of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. It is held in Boston around the last week of July near the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act signing. Each year, we honor a local organization that has made an impact on accessibility or inclusion in Boston. ADA Celebration Day is an event for people of all ages and all abilities to come together and celebrate a milestone in the disability community.

The public is invited to join us for:
  • food
  • music
  • a resource fair
  • friends, and
  • fun
ASL and CART provided. This is a scent free event. For additional accommodation requests, call 617-635-3682 or e-mail disability@boston.gov.

Calendar:  MassHealth Restructuring Open Meeting Dates

Dear Colleagues,

Please note that we have two upcoming MassHealth Restructuring Open Public Meetings scheduled on July 21 and 28. 

Information is below and will be posted on MassHealth Innovations imminently.

Thank you.

Meeting 1 

When:  Friday, July 21, 2017,  1:00-3:00 PM

Where:  Worcester State University, Room 117, 
486 Chandler Street, Worcester, MA

Conference Line (Listening Only):
1-888-822-7517, Participant Code: 163 4530#

Meeting 2 

When:  Friday, July 28, 2017,  12:00-2:00 PM

Where:  1 Ashburton Place, 21st Floor, Rooms 2&3, Boston, MA

Conference Line (Listening Only):
1-888-822-7517, Participant Code: 163 4530#
Calendar: Berkshire Theatre Group - "Children of a Lesser God" All Performances Open Captioned

Because of some advocacy work,  the Berkshire Theater Group has decided that all performances of Children of a Lesser God will be Open Captioned.

The performance is at The Fitzpatrick Main Stage
BTG's Stockbridge Campus, 83 East Main Street, Stockbridge, MA

Closing: Saturday, July 22 at 8pm

Tickets: $65

For more information please go to 


Sponsored by: Lead Sponsor, 37 Interlaken Road Project; The Shubert Foundation; The Westfield News Group; David and Susan Auerbach; Natalie and Howard Shawn; Country Curtains, The Red Lion Inn and Blantyre
Calendar:  Governor Charles D. Baker's Council Aging in Massachusetts - Community Listening Sessions

July 25, 2017, 9:00 A.M. - 11:00 A.M.
Barnstable Senior Center

August 2, 2017, 10:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.
Elder Services of Berkshire County

Governor Charles D. Baker's Council to Address Aging in Massachusetts will hold listening sessions to hear ideas about how to make the Commonwealth the most livable state for people of all ages. Join us to make an impact on your community!

Specifically, we would like to hear about:
  • What factors make your community a great place to grow older?
  • How can we support families that include one or more older adults?
  • How can we promote more human connectedness (reduce loneliness, isolation) in communities?
  •  What are the top two issues or concerns that create barriers to people
  • being able to age well in their communities?
  • How can we accelerate innovation to support and connect older adults?
  • How can we change public perceptions about aging?
 If you are unable to attend please share your ideas by sending an email
to agingconversation@state.ma.us.

Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request.  Please
contact William Travascio at 617-222-7579 or at William.Travascio@MassMail.State.MA.US.
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