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Disability Policy Consortium Weekly Update
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This week we received some very good news about one of our budget priorities. The House Ways and Means Committee put $1.1 million in new monies in the budget for the Alternative Housing Voucher Program. This is a good start, but we need your help on this important issue.
We are still recruiting at the DPC for our new project. Check out our job openings.
If you are on Medicare be on the lookout for a new card.
Until next week,
as always happy reading.
John Winske
Disability Policy Consortium
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News: New Money for Housing in Ways and Means Budget
We are very happy to announce that the house Ways and Means committee decided to increase funding for the Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP)
to $6.15 million. We appreciate their leadership and action on this, as well as the work that advocates have put in to get this program fully funded. As happy as we are with the increase, $6.15 million still isn't enough to restore the original number of vouchers.
The AHVP Budget is the top priority of the Housing Advocacy Leadership Team (HALT), which is a group of advocates that work year round on housing issues with the Boston Center for Independent Living (BCIL) and DPC.
AHVP gets people housed and keeps people housed in safe, accessible apartments of their choice in their communities. Right now the waiting list has well over 1400 people. Please support budget amendment 1320, filed by Representative Decker of Cambridge, to raise funding to $7.7 million and restore the number of vouchers to 800.
You can check here (
https://malegislature.gov/Budget/HouseDebate) to see if your representative has already signed on as a cosponsor. If they haven't, give them a call and ask them to sign on.
Thanks!
Lenny Somervell
lsomervell@dpcma.org
Community Organizer
Disability Policy Consortium
617.542.3822 DPC Office
www.dpcma.org
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Employment Opportunity: Jobs, Jobs, Jobs, We've Got Them!
Some weeks ago, I mentioned that the DPC would have positions available. Today, I can officially announce that we have 18, yes 18, positions available.
All positions will be open until they are filled.
Candidates should send their cover letter and resume to
akalogeropoulos@dpcma.org. Please put the positions you are applying for in the subject line.
You can also mail your cover letter and resume to:
Amy Kalogeropoulos
Director of Operations
DPC
11 Dartmouth Street, Suite #301
Malden, MA 02148.
Again, please indicate the position for which you are applying.
People with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
The DPC is a AA/EEO employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual preference or disability.
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Net News: New Medicare Cards Coming
You may have heard that Medicare is removing Social Security Numbers from Medicare cards starting in April 2018.
You'll get a new card in the mail with a new Medicare Number that's unique to you. This change will help keep your information more secure and help protect your identity.
- Mailing everyone a new card will take some time. Your card might arrive at a different time than your friends or neighbors.
- Once you get your new card, destroy your old card and start using your new card right away.
- Make sure your mailing address is up to date. If your address needs to be corrected, contact Social Security at ssa.gov/myaccount or 1-800-772-1213. TTY users can call
1-800-325-0778.
For more information about the new Medicare card, visit
go.medicare.gov/newcard
or call us at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048.
Use your New Medicare Number when Paying Your Medicare Premiums
Once you get your new Medicare card, use your new Medicare Number when paying your Medicare premiums, instead of your old number.
- If you pay your Medicare premiums using your bank's Online Bill Pay service, you'll need to update your account to use your new Medicare Number. Don't include the dashes when entering your Medicare Number.
- Make sure the Biller Name says: "CMS Medicare Insurance".
- If you pay your Medicare premiums by check or money order, write your new Medicare Number on your check or money order.
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Webinar and Lecture: Aging with Spinal Cord Injury: Focus on Function, Physical Activity and Well-being
Thursday, April 19, 2018
6:30-8:00 PM Eastern Time
To register for dinner & lecture at Spaulding in Charlestown, MA
OR to register for free webcast:
www.snerscic.org | contact Jenny Min at
jmin5@partners.org | 617-952-6173
About Our Speaker:
Jan Lexell, MD, PhD is Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine in the Department of Neuroscience at Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden, and Head of the Reabilitation Medicine Research Group. He is board certified (Sweden) in rehabilitation medicine as well as neurology and is standing member of the Medical Committee in the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).
Dr. Lexell leads a research group that investigates the consequences of neurologic disabilities in a life-long perspective. Research projects include people with spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, stroke and neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, post-polio syndrome, and neuromuscular disorders. He is also involved in research related to Paralympic sports medicine, in particular injuries and illnesses in parasport.
The Subject
As a result of advances in healthcare and rehabilitation, many people with spinal cord injury (SCI) have lived several decades with their injury, but our knowledge of living with long-term SCI into older age is limited. This lecture will present data from the Swedish Aging with Spinal Cord Injury Study (SASCIS), providing insight into topics such as secondary health conditions, activity limitations, psychological resources, participation in leisure time physical activity and life satisfaction in individuals with long-term SCI. Research findings will be translated into take-home points on how to live well with SCI across the lifespan.
Webcast attendees will be able to:
- Describe common secondary health conditions in older adults with long-term SCI
- Describe factors of importance for participation in leisure time physical activity in older adults with long-term SCI
- Describe life satisfaction and the association with disability and personal factors
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Calendar: Rev-Up Meeting
When: May 18, 2018, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Where: Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel & Trade Center,
Marlborough, Massachusetts 01752
Even without a presidential election,
2018 is an extremely important year for people with disabilities. Many (if not all) supports, services and civil rights have been under attack. While we have been protected in Massachusetts, voting has never been more important. Multiple studies have shown that people with disabilities are under-represented, and could make a difference in many contests if they showed up at the polls.
Lunch will be provided!
Register by May 11th at the link below.
Contact Amanda at
mail@dlc-ma.org
or 617-723-8455 x 123 if you have any questions or need any type of accommodation
** Please Note This Is A Scent-Free Event **
CART and ASL Interpreters have been requested
More information and Register Online
Disability Law Center
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Calendar: Deaf and Hard of Hearing Constituents' Day at the State House
When: Thursday, May 17, 2018, 10:00 A.M. - Noon
Where: State House, Boston
Hosted by the Statewide Advisory Council
A gathering of Statewide Advisory Council members, community members, legislators, and state agency directors.
Special Award Presentation:
The Diane L. Nettles Outstanding Advocate:
Dennis Heaphy
Outstanding Service Provider:
Road to Deaf Interpreting
Outstanding Organization:
Watertown Public Library
Outstanding Young Advocate:
Austin Henry
For more information and/or to request close vision/tactile interpreters:
Ami.Hanigan@MassMail.State.MA.US.
Deadline for communication access requests is: 3/19/18
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 May 3rd.
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Calendar: Architectural Access Board Public Hearing Dates 521 CMR
Below you will find the dates and locations for the public hearings on the proposed changes to 521 CMR. They are also on the AAB website.
The proposed updates are online at
We have been advocating for these changes for a long time. Compliance with these regulations should make more housing accessible and remove barriers for employment for people with disabilities. Please attend a hearing, and let the AAB know that we support these changes.
April 26, 2018 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Salem State University
Petrowski Room
Marsh Hall #210
71B Loring Ave, Salem
Parking: Follow signs for Enterprise Center parking
Salem State University Campus Map
May 24, 2018 8:30 - 12:30
Cape Cod Community College
Science Lecture Hall C
2240 Iyannough RoadWest Barnstable, MA
Parking: Lots 8 and 9
Cape Cod Community College Campus Map
Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request (note that CART and ASL services have been requested from MCDHH). Include a description of the accommodation you will need,
including as much detail as you can. Also include a way we can contact you if we need more information.
Please allow at least two weeks (14 days) advance notice. Last minute requests will be accepted, but may be impossible to fill. Send an e-mail to Thomas Hopkins at
Thomas.hopkins@state.ma.us or contact him by telephone at 617-727-0660.
Our thanks to MetroWest Center for Independent Living for sharing this with us.
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DPC Needs your Help!!!
The DPC uses the PayPal PayFast system for your tax deductible charitable donations. You do not need to have a PayPal account to use this system because credit card payments are also accepted.
The DPC also uses the Causes program for recurring donations (as well as one time donations). This is a great way to make a smaller monthly donation.
Donate by Mail
Make check or money order payable to:
Disability Policy Consortium
11 Dartmouth Street
Suite 301
Malden, MA 02148 |
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