July 12, 2018

New for 2018 - Attainable Savings Plan® owners who have income from employment can now save an additional amount over the $15,000 annual contribution limit, equal to 100% of their income or $12,060.00 whichever is less. This offers a great way to grow your Attainable account balances faster while still protecting your SSI and Medicaid benefits.

 

Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, Member NYSE, SIPC

900 Salem Street, Smithfield, RI 02917

809621.3.0

The Attainable Savings Plan is offered by the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority and managed by Fidelity Investments. Qualified ABLE Programs offered by other states may provide state tax benefits to their residents or taxpayers that are not available through the Attainable Savings Plan. If you are not a resident of Massachusetts, you should consider whether your home state offers its residents or taxpayers state tax advantages or benefits for investing in your home state's qualified ABLE program before making an investment in the Attainable Savings Plan.

Units of the portfolios are municipal fund securities and are subject to market fluctuation and volatility. You may have a gain or loss when you sell your units.  

Please carefully consider the Attainable Savings Plan's investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses before investing. For this and other information, contact Fidelity for a free Disclosure Document or view one online. Read it carefully before you invest or send money .

On Saturday, July 14, Executive Director Leo Sarkissian will be appearing on WBZ's Saturday morning news with anchors Nick Giovanni and Anaridis Rodriguez. He will discuss our ongoing #TheArcVotes campaign, the rights of voters with disabilities, and the importance of individuals with disabilities and their families registering to vote. His segment is scheduled to air shortly after 7:00AM.

 

He will be on WBZ Radio on Monday morning, July 16, to discuss the Get Out the Vote campaign as we launch National Disability Voter Registration Week (July 16-20).

The Subcommittee on Adults of the Massachusetts Autism Commission is looking for an adult with autism to serve on the subcommittee. The subcommittee focuses on issues experienced by adults with autism, but does not cover housing, employment or healthcare insurance. (Those issues are addressed by other subcommittees of the Autism Commission.) The subcommittee makes recommendations to the Autism Commission for its consideration on an annual basis. The subcommittee meets about every other month, usually at the DDS offices at 500 Harrison Avenue, Boston. It is possible to participate by phone or Skype, if preferred or necessary.

If you are interested or would like more information, contact Carolyn Kain, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Autism Commission at carolyn.kain@state.ma.us.

Your Vote Counts, So Get Out and Vote!

Monday, July 16 | 12:00 - 1:00 PM

Presented by Marlene Sallo, Executive Director, Disability Law Center

Register for this webinar today!

Marlene Sallo, Executive Director of the Disability Law Center, will present information about voting and the REV UP campaign. If you have questions on how to register; the registration and voting process; and how to access information, be sure to attend this webinar!

Staff from provider agencies, families, self-advocates, and other community members are encouraged to attend. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. There is no charge for this webinar thanks to The Becker Center for Advocacy! The webinar will later be available in Spanish.

Update on MassHealth Accountable Care Organization (ACO)

and Managed Care Organization (MCO) Health Plans

Tuesday, July 17 | 10:00 - 11:30 AM

Hosted by hosted by the Autism Insurance Resource Center

UMass Medical School, Shriver Center

Presented by Jennifer L. Maynard, BS, RN, WCC, MPA Director, Compliance and Program Operations, ACO and MCO Programs, MassHealth

This webinar will focus on recent changes to MassHealth. Updates will be provided on the March 1 launch of MassHealth ACO and MCO plans, as well as the July 1 launch of the Community Partner Program. This webinar is for MassHealth members, providers, and agencies who work with MassHealth clients.

M.A.S.S. Annual Self-Advocacy Conference: 20 Years Strong

Saturday, September 15 | 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

DCU Center, Worcester

The day will include keynote speaker Tia Nelis, exhibitor tables, arts and crafts activities, and more. Register for this annual conference today!

Tuesday, November 27, 2018 | 2:00-5:00 pm

The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum

Northeast Arc recently announced that applications are now open for The Arc Tank 2.0, a competition that seeks to fund innovative and positively disruptive ideas that enhance the lives of persons with disabilities. Arc Tank 2.0 is open to individuals and groups, and submissions can address a variety of areas, including the safety and well-being, employment, technology, housing, transportation or socialization for individuals with disabilities.

Brandeis University is seeking family caregivers of women with intellectual and developmental disabilities to complete an online survey . The goal of the survey is to understand the perspectives and experiences of family caregivers about sexual and reproductive health care for women with I/DD. Family caregivers are people who provide care for or help in some way a family member with I/DD.

The Arc of Massachusetts  | (781) 891-6270 |  thearcofmass.org