Hello beautiful kings & queens out there, happy April! May the month of April bring you nothing but peace & joy! As always we have fantastic things coming your way, so stay tuned! Keep reading kings & queens! |
|
This is a poem I wrote for school based on a poem we read in class called, "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost.
|
|
Hidden Beauty!
Where do I go from here?
Do I go left or right?
The sound of my heartbeat leads the way.
Is this the right path for me?
Thump! Thump! Thump!
As the sound gets louder and louder.
I start to realize who I am and where I belong.
There is music inside of me that’s guiding me through the darkness.
|
|
Calling all April babies out there! This time is your time! If you see something you want to go after it! Never let anyone or anything stand in your way! |
|
Your wings shine as bright as the sun. They also shine through the darkness. Just like you! |
Self-Care
Hello to all my kings and queens out there!
I just wanted to bring this to everyone’s attention, now more than ever. Even though we are in an unpredictable time right now, I believe that it’s really important to keep an open mind and take the time to do whatever is truly important to you; at the end of the day, you and your well-being are what truly matters.
|
|
Meet MASS Board Member-Francesco Hladysz |
|
Hello, my name is Francesco, and I am going to talk to you guys about self-advocacy. Self-advocacy to me is standing up for what you believe in and fighting for what you want in life. Every day I wake up and I say to myself what can I benefit myself and what can I stand up for myself for. I want to help self-advocates achieve their dreams and wants in life. For instance, we all want to learn how to drive a car what are the steps that we had to take to get there.
Step 1 Telling your support that you want to go learn how to drive a car.
Step 2 Start saving up for it because it can be expensive.
Step 3 Calling the registry of motor vehicles (RMV) to request a driver's ed manual.
Step 4 Going over the driver's ed manual rarely carefully because some of the words we will not be familiar with, ask support if you do not understand them.
Step 5 Schedule your driver’s test when you are ready for it.
Step 6 Be confident that you can do it and I promise you it will feel good inside once you achieve what you want.
My point I am trying to say to you is that if you do not stand up for what you believe in you will never know what the other side will bring you and once you take steps, I promise you that you will become the self-advocate that you always want to be. All we must remember that we are just like everyone else in this world we may be different, but we are not so different as are in life we may learn or speak differently than others but we’re not so different from the inside so let's go start advocating for what we believe in and show the world that we mean business. Thank you for reading this column and let us go show the world that we can be our own advocate and showed the world that we are more capable than we can be.
|
|
AWARENESS AND ACTION TRAININGS |
|
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and trainers from MASS will be offering the Awareness & Action Training via Zoom Webinar!
The Disabled Persons Protection Commission (DPPC), Building Partnerships for the Protection of Persons with Disabilities Initiative (BPI), and Massachusetts Advocates Standing Strong created the A&A training through funding from the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC).
Awareness and Action (A&A) is an interactive training to educate persons with a disability and supporters on recognizing, reporting, and responding to abuses committed against adults with a disability. It addresses five types of abuse: physical, sexual, neglect, verbal and financial.
To register click the blue button below with the date and time of the A&A training you want to attend:
|
|
If you are interested in reserving an A&A Training for a small group, please click the button below or email us at info@wearemass.org
|
|
MDDC STATE PLAN 2021 SURVEY |
|
The Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council (MDDC) is developing its 5-year State Plan for October 2021 – September 2026. We are asking people with developmental disabilities, family members, professionals, and others in the disability community to identify their top priorities for people with developmental disabilities (DD) and their families living in Massachusetts. Responses from the survey will help determine the Council’s work over the next 5 years.
👇Please click the button below to take the survey.
|
|
The deadline to complete the survey is Tuesday, April 13. If you have questions or would like assistance or accommodations to complete the survey, contact Liz Fancher by by email at Liz.fancher@mass.gov or Phone: 617-770-7676 x105. |
|
COVID-19 VACCINE - By Kamisha Heriveaux
|
|
If we want this virus to end we must do our part by social distancing, wearing masks, and washing hands regularly. I know this situation is not easy but together we can do this. There’s a light at the end of the tunnel.
There are now three vaccines out there. My suggestion to you is before you decide on whether or not to take the vaccine I would do some research. At the end of the day, we have the three most important questions to ask ourselves.
I am currently reading an article on the Moderna vaccine from The New York Times that states, “Many parents want protection for their children, and vaccinating children should help to produce the herd immunity considered crucial to stopping the pandemic. The American Academy of Pediatrics has called for "the expansion of vaccine trials to include children.”
On Tuesday, March 9th, 2021, I recently attended a webinar that was really interesting and awesome because not only did it talk about the vaccines and how to get them and how to advocate for them but it talked about how to be yourself without losing yourself, especially at a time like this.
The webinar also talked about the vaccine process and trials which I believe is important because the more information you have the better your decisions would turn out to be. The main theme I took away from this vaccine webinar is that “In order to change the world we must all work together because at the end of the day we can’t do it alone.”
|
|
CENTRAL REGION
Regional Coordinator: Sue Moriarty
|
|
|
|
Click the link next to the date you want to attend. The link will bring you to the MASS Events Calendar where you can find the Zoom link. |
|
Drop-in Meeting Date for Central: |
|
Regional Meeting Dates for Central: |
|
Looking for Central Regional Updates? |
Now available in large print! Click the green buttons below to view the full Central Region update as a large print Word Doc or PDF. |
|
NORTHEAST REGION
Lead Regional Coordinator: Bridget Crowley
|
|
|
|
Click the link next to the date you want to attend. The link will bring you to the MASS Events Calendar where you can find the Zoom link. |
|
Regional Meeting Date for Northeast: |
|
Drop-in Meeting Date for Northeast: |
|
Looking for Northeast Regional Updates? |
Now available in large print! Click the yellow buttons below to view the full Northeast Region update as a large print Word Doc or PDF. |
|
METRO REGION
Metro Regional Coordinator: Francis Seme
|
|
|
|
Click the link next to the date you want to attend. The link will bring you to the MASS Events Calendar where you can find the Zoom link. |
|
Drop-in Meeting Dates for Metro: |
|
Regional Meeting Date for Metro: |
|
Looking for Metro Regional Updates? |
Now available in large print! Click the pink buttons below to view the full Metro Region update as a large print Word Doc or PDF. |
|
SOUTHEAST REGION
Interim Regional Coordinator: Sierra Weiss
|
|
|
|
Click the link next to the date you want to attend. The link will bring you to the MASS Events Calendar where you can find the Zoom link. |
|
Regional Meeting Date for Southeast: |
|
Drop-in Meeting Date for Southeast: |
|
Looking for Southeast Regional Updates? |
Now available in large print! Click the orange buttons below to view the full Southeast Region update as a large print Word Doc or PDF. |
|
Rainbow Group
Rainbow Coordinator: Pauline Bosma
Rainbow Support: Oscar Hughes
|
|
|
|
Click the link next to the date you want to attend and it will bring you to the MASS Events Calendar where you can find the Zoom link. |
|
Looking for Rainbow Group Updates? |
Now available in large print! Click the purple buttons below to view the full Rainbow Group update as a large print Word Doc or PDF. |
|
2021 WEST REGION SELF-ADVOCACY CONFERENCE
"Rocking Our Advocacy Rights”
April 25th - 28th 2021
This year’s self-advocacy conference will feature keynote speaker Genevieve Lewis!
Genevieve Lewis has been a strong advocate for both herself and others for most of her life. Growing up in Connecticut, she learned how to rock her rights to achieve her dreams at a young age. In 2003, Genevieve graduated from the VIP program on the campus of the New York Institute of Technology in Central Islip, New York. She has been an advanced Ambassador with Best Buddies Connecticut for many years. For 12 years, Genevieve served as a Self-Advocate Coordinator for the Department of Developmental Services in Connecticut. In this role, she was able to help others learn how to advocate for themselves, find their Circles of Support, and attain their goals. Genevieve is currently living in Northampton, Massachusetts.
The conference will also feature many exciting workshops, including Health& Safety presented by Open Door Club, Failure is not a Bad Word presented by the Berkshire Transitions Program, Supported Decision Making presented by MASS Advocates, an opportunity to be interviewed for a documentary on self-advocacy by West Region Self Advocacy, and many more!
|
|
March re-cap:
In March, the West region self-advocates talked about employment and learned how to write resumes. West region self-advocates also talked about relationships and communication and worked on planning fun workshops for our annual conference.
Coming in April 2021:
West Region Self Advocacy will continue to host zoom meetings on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Tuesday of each month at 5:30 pm until all of the groups in our region are able to regularly meet again in person.
These meetings are open to any self-advocates who want to join us, even if you are not a part of a self-advocacy group or do not live in the west region.
or call 1 (408) 638-0968 -or- 1 (646) 558-8656 and enter Meeting ID: 403 979 9018
Every Friday at 2 pm, West Region Self Advocacy will be hosting a drop-in Zoom self-advocacy space on zoom. This will not be a formal meeting with an agenda, it will be a casual space where advocates can come if they need support or just want to chat with other advocates and staff.
or call 1 (408) 638-0968 -or- 1 (646) 558-8656 and enter Meeting ID: 403 979 9018
|
|
YLF is a free conference for Massachusetts youth & young adults with all types of disabilities. Participants build leadership skills and learn about employment, advocacy, assistive technology, and independent living. YLF 2021 will take place virtually!
The Youth Leadership Forum will take place virtual June 14-28th, 2021 in the late afternoons and evenings.
For more information, click below to download the flyer or to register.
|
|
We Want To Hear From You! |
|
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
|
|
MASS Advocates Standing Strong |P.O. Box 560100
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
