Hello!

This week, Leo discusses The Arc's upcoming workforce initiative; Operation House Call in the spotlight on WBZ; #GivingTuesday is less than one week away; the Fall 2018 issue of Advocate is now available; and more!
Leo's Letter

Working for Our Workforce

This Thanksgiving season, Executive Director Leo Sarkissian shares some thoughts on The Arc's forthcoming workforce initiative, and how your participation and your stories have informed our journey so far . Watch Leo's vlog.
Featured
Operation House Call featured on WBZ

On Tuesday, November 20, WBZ CBS Boston aired a feature story on The Arc’s Operation House Call (OHC). The story focused on one of the many OHC classes offered at Boston University School of Medicine, featuring Director of Operation House Call Maura Sullivan; co-teacher sisters Hana and Helen Coppenrath; co-teacher coordinator Julie Coppenrath; and first person testimonials from the medical students who participate in this program. Continue reading.
Less than one week to go until #GivingTuesday

On Tuesday, November 27, The Arc of Massachusetts will be participating in the global giving movement known as #GivingTuesday - or, as we're thinking of it this year, #GratitudeTuesday . You'll be hearing from us with messages of gratitude from our staff for all that you have helped us accomplish in 2018 - and what we hope to make happen in the year to come.

Stay tuned to learn more about how you can support The Arc of Massachusetts this season!
Government Affairs
Time’s Up: A Vigil for Nicky’s Law

On Thursday, November 15, The Arc of Massachusetts led a vigil for Nicky’s Law, also known as the Abuse Registry Bill, at the Massachusetts State House. Nicky’s Law calls for the creation of a registry for care providers who have been substantiated of abuse against individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).

From 10:00AM to 4:00PM, advocates visited with their legislators to stress the need for the protections of such an important bill. Attendees included self-advocates, parents, siblings, and professionals, with turnout growing throughout the day. Continue reading.
Town Hall meetings on transition!

Hundreds of families across Massachusetts have recently attended Town Hall meetings with Commissioner Jane Ryder and other DDS staff. Participants were able to ask questions, learn about available resources, and share their ideas and concerns. The Supporting Families Coalition is continuing to collect stories on transition and other topics.  You can share your transition story here.
Training Center
Webinar: Adult Family Care: Is It the Right Choice for my Loved One?
Wednesday, December 5 | 12:00PM, Free
Presenter: Yvette Jones, Director of Adult Family Care, Charles River Center

Adult Family Care (AFC) is a MassHealth program that provides a 24/7 supervision and training for adults with disabilities that need assistance with their Adult Daily Living (ADL) skills. Caregiver homes provide a supportive environment that provides and the care and supervision needed. In return caregivers receive a tax free stipend. Learn about eligibility, the benefits of AFC, and the different situations that can enhance a person’s ability to stay in a home environment.
The Arc of Massachusetts welcomes The Arc US, medical professionals, and self-advocates

Funded by a grant from The Arc US, more than a dozen medical professionals from Greater Boston came to The Arc of Massachusetts Waltham headquarters to discuss Supported Decision Making in the medical community. A thoughtful discussion was held on the ways adults with disabilities can be more involved in directing their healthcare and the range of supports that adults may access. In a separate session, self-advocates from Massachusetts Advocates Standing Strong shared their personal experiences and thoughts about Supported Decision Making. Thank you to everyone who participated!
Giving
Taking Stock of The Arc

As we approach the end of the calendar year, many people are taking stock of their investment portfolios and making decisions about selling, buying, and rebalancing. If you are reviewing your stocks, you may want to consider using stock to make a gift to The Arc of Massachusetts.

Your gift of appreciated stocks or securities will not only support The Arc’s mission, but it may also provide you with significant tax benefits. For example, by gifting stock you can avoid paying capital gains taxes on the appreciated value and may be able to take a tax deduction on the fair market value. Be sure to transfer the securities themselves, not the proceeds of their sale, to The Arc to avoid capital gains taxes. Plus, if you itemize your deductions, outright gifts of appreciated securities are tax-deductible at full fair-market value, provided you have owned the asset for one year or more.

Please do let us know that you are transferring securities so that we credit you properly and issue a receipt for tax purposes. It also is important to consult a tax advisor or your accountant for advice related to your personal circumstances. For more information, please contact Katrin Aback, Director of Development via email at aback@arcmass.org or 781-891-6270 x105.
Thank you to all who contributed to The Arc’s Disaster Relief Fund for Florida and North Carolina chapters affected by the hurricanes and floods. The need for financial assistance continues at several chapt ers. In addition, we have heard from one of chapters in California regarding the devastation from the wild fires.  Here is their link. A gift to help chapters can make building repairs, replace equipment and materials, provide operating support for those unable to deliver and be reimbursed for services. 100% of your donation will be distributed to chapters, the people they serve and their families. To make a donation to a specific chapter, visit their website or use The Arc’s Find a Chapter .
Miscellaneous




The Fall 2018 issue of Advocate is now available online!

Check out this edition of our quarterly newsletter for Executive Director Leo Sarkissian's thoughts on the workforce crisis in our industry; the announcement of our 2019 Gala; a recap of a donor event celebrating Operation House Call; and more!
Agency Spotlight