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Disability Policy Consortium Weekly Update
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Despite the late notice, there were more than twenty advocates assembled at the committee hearing on the Architectural Access Board legislation. Colin discusses the battle, and how you can help finally pass this bill.
Don't forget to join us Wednesday for the DAAHR forum in Boston, We need to hear from you.
We have an unusual job posting this week. It's from Microsoft. They are looking for someone to help coordinate support for their Deaf employees. So despite the job being in Redmond, Washington, we decided to share it with you.
We have some stories to share with you that have been piling up. We also remind you to check out our calendar section which is brimming with events.
Speaking of events, don't forget to get your tickets to the DPC Annual Event. And it's not too late to become a sponsor or to purchase an ad!
Until next week, happy reading.
John Winske
Disability Policy Consortium
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DPC Editorial: This Time Can Be Different - But We Need Your Help
This past Thursday, more than twenty people testified before the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security in support of an absolutely vital piece of disability rights legislation, H. 2029/S. 1441: An Act Relative the Architectural Access Board.
As I said in my testimony, these pieces of legislation may address building code, but they are really about civil rights-the right to live in the community and have actual choice in housing, and to work in the jobs we are more than qualified to do. Those of you who are veterans of disability rights in Massachusetts will know that even though this bill is sorely needed-and even though the changes it makes are modest and reasonable-its path has been anything but easy. It has been almost twenty years since this bill was introduced, and despite the efforts of multiple generations of advocates it has not passed. Last session, we brought the bill to the brink of passage before a group of wealthy commercial developers, National Association for Industrial and Office Parks (NAIOP), stepped in at the 11th hour to secretly oppose it, spreading fear about alleged consequences for businesses and arguing that architectural access laws would prove too costly for Massachusetts. In the end, that was enough to keep the bill from passing.
This session, we've worked hard to make sure that doesn't happen again. Thanks to the hard work of our organizers and our partner organizations, this year's bills have more cosponsors than ever before. Organizations from across the state and representing a wide variety of constituencies have signed on as supporters. Both Mayor Walsh of Boston and Attorney General Healey have endorsed the bill, and we've reached out to organizations from affordable housing advocates to community development corporations to ensure that the bills help, not hinder, the production of housing that is both accessible and affordable. We've also reached out to NAIOP, and other groups who opposed this bill last session, to explain why it's necessary and won't hurt businesses, and we're hopeful that this session they will choose not to oppose accessibility. This big turnout, at the hearing, is the latest step forward-and if you were there, thank you so much-but there is still a great deal more to do.
This week, we need you to reach out and tell the legislature why accessible housing and workplaces matter to you. You can send written testimony to the
members of the Public Safety Committee here. Tell them why you need this legislation, and ask them to move it forward as soon as possible. You can also contact your own representatives and senators, and ask them to reach out to their colleagues in support of this legislation. You can contact NAIOP (781.453.6900 or
[email protected]) and ask them to support accessibility and get behind these bills. And if you own a business, are in the leadership of a company, or know someone who is, please email
[email protected]. We'd love to be able to show the legislature that there are Massachusetts businesses who believe that workplaces and housing should in fact be accessible.
Colin Killick,
Executive Director, DPC
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Calendar: DPC Annual Reception and Award Ceremony on October 17, 2019
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!
Colin Killick
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DPC News: Study Participants Needed
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
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Employment Opportunity: Business Program Manager, Employee Support, ASL at Microsoft
Microsoft is on a mission to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Our culture is centered on embracing a growth mindset, a theme of inspiring excellence, and encouraging teams and leaders to bring their best each day. In doing so, we create innovations that impact billions of lives around the world. You can help us achieve our mission.
The Accessibility Team has a challenging and outstanding career opportunity to build on both your great management and American Sign Language (ASL) experience within the dynamic environment of our Corporate Responsibility organization. This position is part of the Accessibility team that works across the company to help design and build inclusive and accessible products for all abilities.
This management role will support our world-class workplace accommodation program and all Microsoft employees who are deaf or hard of hearing (hoh). We're looking for an experienced manager who has management experience or managed a team of ASL interpreters and someone who will strive to champion the employee experience for our deaf/HoH community, enabling employees to do their best. The Manager of our ASL employee services is responsible for the strategy, operational execution (includes all daily ASL and captioning services scheduling and coordination), management, and innovation of interpreting services to our US employees.
Responsibilities
- Schedule American Sign Language requests, leveraging multiple interpreters or suppliers for employees, who are deaf or hard of hearing employees.
- Coordinate and schedule day-to-day ASL and Captioning Services requests for employees who are deaf or hard of hearing employees.
- Coordinate and execute contracts, billing and PO management for any supplier/contractor services and develop and manage supplier relationships
- Manage a team of in-house ASL Interpreters, including their career development and performance management.
- Collect feedback from all internal employees/clients and external stakeholders to drive continuous process improvement in Microsoft's interpreting services.
- Build roadmap to attract and retain ASL interpreters.
- Ability to be a champion the deaf/HoH employee experience. Reduce barriers to ensure productivity for all employees.
Innovate on the way we bring our services to our employees.
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Net News: Arizona Police Officer Resigns After Beating and Tasering Man w/Disabilities
First a warning, this video is violent and disturbing. In it an officer can be seen pulling a man from his car. The man has informed the officer that he has disabilities. You
can see the video here.
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Net News: I'm Celebrating My Disabled Black Girl Magic
This is an older story that appeared over the winter on Self.com It is written by Ola Ojewumi. She is a writer and a community organizer based in Washington, D.C. She is the founder of Project ASCEND. This article is a fantastic piece exploring the intersection of race, feminism and disability. You can
read the story here.
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Net News: Disabled People Don't Need More Gadgets. We Need More Ramps.
This article was on Vox.com in April. While I don't agree with all of the points of this article, s.e. smith (this is the way they spell their name) is a fantastic writer, and a thought leader around disability issues. It is also a great reminder that we need universal accessibility to achieve full integration of people with disabilities. You
can read it here.
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Calendar: DAAHR Forum MassHealth / ACO's or One Care
When: Wednesday, September 18, 2019, 1:00 - 3:00 PM
Where: The Cathedral Church of St. Paul, 138 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02111
Disability Advocates Advancing our Healthcare Rights (DAAHR) wants to hear from enrollees in MassHealth/ACO/One Care about:
- Challenges around durable medical equipment: wheelchair repairs, denial of bed mattresses, etc.
- Trouble getting medical supplies (leg bags, diapers, Chux etc.)
- Medical transportation concerns
- Problems getting needed prescription medications (plan will not authorize a medication or will not pay for the medication)
- Any difficulties with behavioral health services
- Challenges to getting care and services you need from your plan's network - are you having trouble seeing specialists?
- And if things are going good for you, we want to hear that, too!
For more information, contact Shaya French, BCIL Community Organizer at
[email protected] or 617-338-6665 x 209 or Harry Weissman at DPC,
[email protected].
To request reasonable accommodations please contact [email protected] or 617-338-6665 x 209.
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Calendar: DLC's 40th Anniversary Fundraiser
The Disability Law Center invites you to
join us at our
40th Anniversary Event
on Thursday, September 19th
at The Royal Sonesta Hotel in Cambridge
from 5:30 - 7:30 pm
Celebrate with us as we debut our short documentary film
Wheels of Justice
A film that shines a light on how people with disabilities are fighting for their legal rights in a society that has yet to fully realize that these rights exist.
We will also be honoring
HDR, Inc. and Ernst & Young
for the work that they do to break
down actual barriers to access and
inclusion in the community and at work.
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Calendar: MSAD Biennial Conference
When: Saturday September 28, 2019, 8 A.M. -10 P.M.
Where: The Learning Center for the Deaf (TLC) & Early Education Center Building (EEC)
848 Central Street
Framingham, MA 01701
Bringing Communities Together
MSAD State Biennial Conference
FREE for day-time activities
*Keynote Speaker: Steve Florio, MCDHH Commissioner
*Guest Speaker: De'Lasha Singleton, Social Justice Activist/Inspirational Speaker
*Registration Awards
*Community Forum & Round-table discussion
*Lunch (on your own / catered options will be available)
*MSAD General Meeting and Elections
$10 for Evening Entertainment
Evening Entertainment: Organizational Feud Game
Please submit request(s) for accommodations by September 15th to
[email protected]
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Calendar: Deaf Survivors Center Sunday Brunch FUNdraiser
When: Sunday, October 6, 2019, 11:00 A.M. - 3:00 P.M.
Where: Worcester Senior Center, 128 Providence Street, Worcester, MA
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Calendar: Coding Class
When: Thursdays, October 3, 2019 - December 19, 2019, 7:30 P.M.- 9:30 P.M.
Office Hours Sundays from 1:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M.
Where: Online through Zoom
Our Space Our Place, Inc. and Vision Aid is offering a Coding Class
For blind or low vision adults age 21 years and older
This is an introduction to HTML and CSS.
Location: Online- using Zoom
Time: 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm (Eastern Time)
Cost: $260.00
Beginning Thursday October 3, this class meets every week until December 19. Office hours will be on Sunday from 1:00 pm- 3:00 pm (Eastern Time): an opportunity to work more directly with the Instructor.
To participate you must be a proficient user of Windows and the adaptive software you use to access your computer
After 9 weeks in class you will:
- Develop a web page
- Know how to upload and to make changes to your web page
- Have a basic knowledge of HTML and CSS
- Gain marketable skills for employment
Register here:
http://www.ourspaceourplace.org/
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Calendar: Disability Mentoring Day and Job Fair
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.
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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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