🤎 November 2022
MASS Flash ⚡ Newsletter
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Happy early Thanksgiving! We are thankful for you, and all the advocates out there using their voice to speak up and make a difference!
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Self-Advocate Story of the Month: John Mullaly |
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For the month of November, Kamisha, interviewed John Mullaly about what he thinks of the word self-advocacy, and what it means to him. Watch and listen to his wonderful answers in this short clip! |
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Self-Advocacy Impact Lab (SAIL)
Wednesday, December 7, 2022
5:30 to 7:30 PM
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Last month SAIL participants voted on a campaign topic from a list of ideas they created by themselves. The winning topic, we discussed in our latest meeting, was “creating one unified accessible transit service for all of Massachusetts”. In the coming months we will work together as a group to figure out how we want to make this campaign topic come to life.
Got any ideas? If this is an issue you feel affected by, stop by our meetings and make your voice heard! Together with other self-advocates, people with disabilities, and allies, we can work towards creating campaigns for change, which is what SAIL is all about.
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If you want to learn more about SAIL, or the meeting on Wednesday, December 7, click the button below, or reach out via email to:
Amber Pettell - APettell@wmtcinfo.org, or
Jenna DeSpirito - Jenna.DeSpirito@WeAreMASS.org
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Are you interested in getting help with your healthcare? Introducing the Linkages Program from the Department of Public Health (DPH)!
The Linkages Program connects people 18 and older with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) to health care and promotion programs in their community.
You can work with the Linkages Program to create your own personal health care plan. The Linkages Coordinator will meet with you either virtually, over the phone, or in-person to see what works for you.
The Linkage Program looks to remove barriers to healthcare access and encourages self advocates to be confident, self-reliant, and knowledgeable about their rights and resources that are available to them.
Please contact Phelicha Berdet by emailing Phelicha.D.Berdet@mass.gov if you are interested in learning more about the Linkages Program.
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Are you interested in the DPH Linkages Program?
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I am the type of person who can’t sit still! The creative fire and free spirit in me…won’t allow me to do that…which I absolutely love. Because every day it’s showing me the that I’m only just starting to scratch the surface and I am starting to realize more and more that this is only the beginning and there’s so much more that I need to do and that I want to do.

I know the world is at the palm of my hand and all I have to do is reach out for it….who I am kidding I know the truth! The truth is that hard work pays off in the end.
Not everything is going to be perfect and handed over to you on a pedestal. You have to work hard for it. I respectfully don’t take no for an answer! It gives me nothing but satisfaction, proving people wrong!
I am never going to back down or give up, because that’s not in my DNA!
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MASS SDM Task Force and Rainbow presenting at the TASH Conference
MASS is excited to announce that self-advocate leaders of the MASS SDM Task Force, Kim Plaut, Donna Jay, and Anne Fracht, and Rainbow Program Coordinator, Pauline Bosma will be presenting at the TASH Conference this year. The Conference is attended by passionate leaders, experts, and advocates from every corner of the disability community. This is an exciting opportunity for MASS!
Conference attendees are influential in their fields and communities, and play an important role in the provision of services and supports for individuals and organizations around the world; and include professors and researchers from leading institutions; those involved in local, state, and federal governments and public policy; special and general educators, and school administrators; self-advocates, adult service providers; students, family members, and many others. This year’s conference theme is Together We Rise!
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REGIONAL + RAINBOW UPDATES |
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CENTRAL REGION: Sue Moriarty
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In-Person Regional Meeting Date for Central:
Regional Meeting - Tuesday, November 8, from 5:00pm - 7:00pm:
Location: HMEA Autism Resource Center
712 Plantation St
Worcester, MA 01605
Please RSVP by contacting Sue Moriarty by emailing sue@wearemass.org or calling (508) 209-7184.
Online Regional Meeting Dates for Central:
Regional Meeting - Tuesday, November 22, from 3:30pm - 5:30pm:
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Rainbow Group: Pauline Bosma, Oscar Hughes, and Francesco Hladysz
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The Rainbow Group now meets twice a month! Here are our upcoming meetings.
Wednesday, November 9, from 5:30pm - 7:30pm:
Tuesday, November 29, from 5:30pm - 7:00pm:
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SOUTHEAST REGION: Sarah Binney
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Online Regional Meeting Date for Southeast:
Thursday, November 17, from 5:00pm - 6:30pm:
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Online Regional Meeting Date for Metro
Thursday, November 15, from 6:00pm - 7:30pm:
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Online Regional Meeting Date for Northeast:
Wednesday, November 16, from 4:00pm - 5:30pm
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Is there anything exciting happening in your life that you are just itching to talk about? Want to share it with the world?!
If so, great because I, Kamisha Heriveaux, am always on the look out for interesting events, your hobbies, and topics that interest you - so please don't hesitate to reach out!
I can't wait to hear from all of YOU! Have a great day and keep on reading!
~ Kamisha
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MASS Advocates Standing Strong
200 Portland Street, Suite 500 c/o WeWork
Boston, MA 02114
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