On Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 8-0 in favor of a Michigan student with Cerebral Palsy who was blocked from bringing her assistance dog, Wonder, to school.  You can read about Ehlena Fry and her case here.

We can all use a smile.  Check out this ad from Canada entitled "When the Best of Us  Steps Up, Our Nation Stands a Little Taller."  You can watch it here. 

The Independent Living Center of the North Shore and Cape Ann has two job openings.

Position Title: ADRCGNS Options Program and Peer Guide
Employment Classification: Full-time Regular, non-exempt

Work Site: ILCNSCA and approved field sites

The Aging and Disability Resource Consortium of the Greater North Shore is a key entry point for older adults and persons with disabilities for information and assistance with community resources and access to publicly funded, community-based long term care. The Options Program Peer Guide working at the ILCNSCA will play a central role in educating consumers who are considering facility-based long term care services about their community-based options.

General Statement of Duties: The Options Program Peer Guide will educate older adults and persons with disabilities to understand the type and range of community-based long term care supports available to them. The Options Program Peer Guide will also provide information and assistance with referrals for community-based long term care benefits as well as the comprehensive IL services when assigned. The Options Program counseling services can be provided by phone, in the home of the consumer, in a hospital or skilled nursing facility.

 _ _ _ _

Position Title: Independent Living Peer Guide and Options Counselor
Employment Classification: Full-time Regular, non-exempt

Work Site: ILCNSCA Office and throughout North Shore and Cape Ann, with meetings at facilities, hospitals, agencies, private homes and community settings, and at times throughout MA for assigned meetings

General Statement of Duties: Provide independent living direct services including Options Program services. Demonstrate professional conduct, and sustain technical proficiency in all work areas. Promote and preserve Independent Living philosophy and consumer control.

For details, visit the ILCNSCA website career page at http://www.ilcnsca.org/careers.php.

National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) has a website set up to help people contact their member of Congress to fight cutbacks to Medicaid and the repeal of the Affordable Care Act.  We urge you to take a look here.

When something does not work out or something goes against us, as a person with a disability we often have that nagging question, "Was it because of my disability?" Often we know it wasn't, but it doesn't stop that little nagging question.  Local attorney and advocate, Carol Steinberg, captures those feelings perfectly with her guest column in the New York Times this week .  You can read it here.

When:  Monday, March 13, 2017,  10:00 A.M. - Noon

Where:  Great Hall, Massachusetts State House, Boston

A gathering of Statewide Advisory Council members,
community members, legislators, and State Agency
Directors.

Program and annual awards

F or more information and/or to request close vision/tactile interpreters:

Ami.Hanigan@MassMail.State.MA.US. 

Afternoon Legislative Visits:

Meet with your legislators to discuss community concerns and bills of interest.  Schedule your visits in advance: find your legislators' names and contact
information on the web at malegislature.gov.

To request communication access: contact the ADA Coordinator at the State House by email at carl.richardson@state.ma.us or via phone at 857-400-5502.   Requests are due by February 27th.