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This week, Leo reflects on the legacies of President George H. W. Bush and Judge Joseph Tauro, The Arc is taking part in the Prudential Center's 31 Nights of Light, an upcoming webinar on applying for SSI and MassHealth, and more!
Leo's Letter
Honoring the Legacies of Disability Leaders

In this week's Leo's Letter, Executive Director Leo Sarkissian discusses the legacies of two recently passed heroes to the disability community: President George H. W. Bush and Judge Joseph Tauro.

Featured
The Arc of Massachusetts is thrilled to announce that we have been selected as one of the nonprofits that will be participating in the Prudential Center's 10th Annual 31 Nights of Light!

On Saturday, December 29, at 5:00PM , the Prudential Center will be lit up "Arc Orange" in recognition of our mission to enhance the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including autism, and their families. A program will be held in the Center Court at around 5:00PM, featuring the ceremonial flipping of the light switch, performances by individuals with I/DD, and more. We hope to see you there!
In anticipation of our 31 Nights of Light event, The Arc of Massachusetts will be running a campaign on social media on how people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including autism, light up your lives. Do you want to share a story about what your loved one means to you, and all the light they bring to your life?

Whether a friend, a family member, or any other kind of bond, share your story with Katerina at daley@arcmass.org . Please include a photo, description, and the hashtag #LightUpMyLife in the email subject line. Submissions due December 14.
Training Center
Planning for the Transition to Adulthood:
Applying for SSI and Medicaid (MassHealth)
Wednesday, January 16, 2019 | 12:00 - 1:00PM
Presented by Karen Mariscal, Esq. and Pat Nemia, M.A., P.T.

As students in special education prepare to enter adulthood, there are several areas that need to be addressed. One of the most important is for individuals with I/DD including Autism who are turning 18 years old to apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid. Join us for this informative presentation which will discuss why applying for SSI and Medicaid is important, the steps you need to take to prepare to apply, and then how to apply for this important benefit. Free thanks to a grant from DDS and Massachusetts Partnership to Transition to Employment.
The MPTE Self-Advocacy / Self-Determination subcommittee is inviting young adults with disabilities ages 17 to 25 to participate in a survey looking at what job readiness is taught in Massachusetts schools.  This survey focuses on questions about Individual Education Plan (IEP) employment goals, participation in programs that develop self-advocacy skills and programs about exploring jobs. This survey may be filled out online or paper copies can be made available.

We are asking volunteers to complete an anonymous survey. If you have questions, please email Kristin Britton or Oliver Lyons . Thank you for your participation! 
Agency Spotlight