This year's DPC Annual Reception and Award Ceremony will be held on Thursday, October 17th, from 6-8 PM, at the Microsoft NERD Center at 1 Memorial Dr, Cambridge, MA 02142.

Our lead sponsor this year will be Commonwealth Care Alliance  and we thank them for their longtime support of our work.

We have two fantastic awardees this year, and one very special honor to bestow. 

In recognition of his years championing disability rights issues in the legislature, Senator Jamie Eldridge will be receiving the Menino Award.

In recognition of her ongoing and impactful efforts to bring consumer voices into health policy, and her longtime service as a DPC board member, Ellen Breslin will be receiving the Mary Lou Maloney Award.

Finally, in celebration of his fearless leadership of the DPC for over five years, and all his accomplishments in a career of advancing disability rights in Massachusetts, the night's "main event" will be a roast of John Winske. Trust us, you won't want to miss it.

Thanks to the contributions of our generous sponsors and donors, we have already raised more than $35,000 for DPC through this event. Our goal is $50,000, and with your help, we know we can get there. To contribute, or to purchase a ticket, please click here.  See you on the 17th!

DPC is collaborating with researchers at Brandeis University on research on problems with opioids use (addiction/misuse) in the disability community. We are currently recruiting for a focus group to be held in Boston, MA and one-on-one interviews. We are looking for people with lived experience with a disability who have had problems with using (addiction/misuse) opioid medications including painkillers such as oxycodone, and other opioids such as heroin, and fentanyl.

Participants will receive a $25 gift card, and lunch/ refreshments will be served at the focus group. Anyone interested in participating in the focus group or one-on-one telephone interviews can call DPC at 617-307-7775 or email Pili at [email protected] for more information.

Please help us spread the word

Flyer in MS Word

Flyer in Adobe PDF

Australians are worried that after an accident or incident, young people with disabilities wind up in nursing homes.  They find that it takes time to implement the modifications to homes and set up appropriate care in the community.  Sound familiar?

According to an article first published in September 2019 edition of Planning News, a prototype was developed ( see here) and (here) for an accessible home of approximately 70 square meters, or 600 square feet - which is fully accessible including roll-in shower, ceiling track for lifting in the bedroom and kitchen sink and counters that raise and lower.  The cost of the home was 160,000 Australian Dollars of $108,000 U.S.

Greta Thunberg, the young environmentalist who spoke in front of the United Nations this week, has referred to her Autism as a gift and as her superpower.  Could she be demonstrating the kind of brash, in your face disability pride that we all need to adopt?  Her embracing her disability has begun to capture the attention of the mainstream press, with amplification by writers with autism.  See this piece in Vox.com and this piece in The Guardian.  I do believe she is on to something and will be sharing my thoughts in the coming weeks.

Earlier this week I was reliving an arc of disability history during email exchanges with a relatively new organization's leaders.  They were involved with the  Massachusetts Coalition for PANDAS/PANS Legislation.

If you have never heard of Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS) or Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS), you can be forgiven.  It was identified in 2012 by Dr. Susan Swedo.  This website will give you some interesting facts about the disability.

Thus far the families are dealing with the one-two punch of the medical establishment, denial of existence, and the insurance industry-we cannot approve that treatment because no evidence exists that it works.  This combo is usually followed by "it is all in your head", except this time it is true, but in a different way.

As I was commiserating with a parent, I reflected on disabilities and diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Fatigue, Lyme Disease, Environmental and Chemical Sensitivities, and Guillain-Barré Syndrome, all of which had followed the aforementioned arc.

By now you are thinking, "OK John, get to the point.  What do you want?"  

I am glad you asked.  There is a rally on October 10th at 10:00 A.M. at the Grand Staircase in the State House to pass H920/S613 an Act Relative to Insurance Coverage for PANS/PANDAS.  They are asking people to wear green.  I hope you can join them.

Here is a flyer for the event. 

Here is a study related to the bill.

John Winske

Deputy Director, DPC

[email protected]

When:  Thursday, October 3, 2019, 6:30 P.M. - 8:30 P.M.

Where:   Temple Beth Zion,  1566 Beacon Street,
Brookline, MA 02446

JOIN for Justice is hosting an event with Rabbi Lauren Tuchman-- the first known blind woman in the world to enter the rabbinate. You are invited to to attend and to bring other people you know who may be interested. Please RSVP here. Rabbi Tuchman is an inspiring woman who has dedicated herself to learning in the Jewish tradition and making all communities more vibrant and inclusive. She will be sharing some of her work and then Rabbi Becky Silverstein will join us to moderate a conversation.

The space is wheelchair accessible. If you need ASL interpreting or CART, please contact [email protected] as soon as possible, and by 9/25. We will do our best to provide interpretation. If you are able to provide ASL interpretation, please contact Cole as well.

We will provide kosher crackers, kosher cheese, fruit, and seltzers. We welcome you to bring your own vegetarian food into the space (Please do not bring meat. We want to respect the dietary practices of the space.)

To learn more about the accessibility of the space please visit TBZ's website.

If you have further questions, please reach out to Jihelah Greenwald at [email protected].

 

When:  Saturday, October 5, 2019, 12:00 Noon - 2:30 P.M.

Where:  Non-Profit Center, 89 South Street, Boston, MA  02111

Join us at this youth led event that will include a viewing of the disability history documentary Lives Worth Living as well how you can help the push to Teach Disability History in schools. Pizza & refreshments will be provided.

RSVP or to request accommodations by Sept. 25th contact [email protected] or 617-226-2855.

When:  Sunday, October 6, 2019, 11:00 A.M. - 3:00 P.M.

Where:  Worcester Senior Center, 128 Providence Street, Worcester, MA

More information is available here.

When:  Wednesday, October 16, 2019, 10:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M.

Where:  Massachusetts State House, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA

Please come and join us for a unified celebration of Disability Mentoring and Employment opportunities for individuals with varied abilities and strengths. The day will include many opportunities for support leading to the employment and vocational resources of the various partnerships throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This unique collaboration of Provider and State Agencies will offer three distinct areas of potential growth for individuals seeking meaningful work. These areas will include:

1. In the Great Hall-Massachusetts Employers looking for potential job applicants or companies offering internship possibilities.

2. In the Nurses Hall-There will be a vocational specialist to assist with resume and cover letter critique. For individuals wondering how employment will affect their benefit and entitlements there will be Certified Work Incentive Counselors available to answer basic questions in both English and Spanish!

3. Outside the Grand Staircase will be technology professionals who will discuss and provide guidance regarding tools for accommodation to work needs and make returning to employment. 

Collaborators/Sponsors for this event include but aren't limited to:

MAAPSE-Massachusetts Association of Supporting Employment

MAPRC-Massachusetts Psychiatric Recovery Collaborative

Eastern MA Peer Network

Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission

Massachusetts Commission for the Blind

Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Department of Developmental Service and Bureau of State Office

U MASS Medical School-BenePlan

Starbucks Coffee Company

If you want to participate or have questions, contact Jenn Hinde at 617-484-0193 or [email protected].

For more information, here is a flyer in MS Word and here is a flyer in Adobe Format.