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October 2023

MASS Flash ⚡ Newsletter

Hello self-advocates and friends! Are you ready for spooky season? We sure are! We've got a new video from Chairperson Al Milne, we welcome self-advocate and MASS trainer Anna Weinberger as a new interviewer for our Story of the Month interviewing Will Fahey, we're holding an SDM Task Force meeting, and we're ending the month with a spooky bang in the form of a statewide, virtual Halloween Party! Scroll down to see what we've got going on this month and how you can join in!

👻 MASS Halloween Party 👻

Three ghosts have a party.

Friday October 27, 4-5pm

Statewide Halloween Party!


This party is for all self-advocates across all of Massachusetts! Whether you’re going as the Wicked Witch of the West Region or the Maid of Metro, join in on the fun and let’s celebrate Halloween together!

Learn More
Register on Eventbrite

MASS is Hiring

A woman works remotely.

We have openings for the following positions:

Training Coordinator (part-time)

Self-Advocate Peer Trainer (part-time)

Northeast Regional Program Coordinator (part-time to full-time available)

Development Coordinator and Event Planner (part-time)

Administrative Assistant (part-time)


Join the team and empower self-advocates across Massachusetts!

View Job Openings

DDS Project- Individual Assessment Tool – Self-Advocate Feedback Session!

Tuesday, October 17 from 4:30pm to 5:15pm via Zoom

Join self-advocates from Massachusetts and Mass. Advocates Standing Strong to learn and give feedback about the new person-centered assessment tool that measures support needs. The goal of the meeting is to get feedback from self-advocates on our communication, resources, and to gather questions that we can include on a list of FAQs. The first phase of the project will be focused on self-direction.

Download PDF
Register Now

SDM Task Force Meeting

SDM with mass logo.

October 18 from 11:30pm - 1:00pm

Join the MASS SDM Task Force as we work to pass SDM Senate Bill S109.

Learn More
Download Flyer About the Task Force

Best Buddies Friendship Walk

Self-advocates and allies walking together.

October 14 at 1pm in Boston

The Best Buddies Friendship Walk is the leading walk in the country supporting inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (also known as IDD).

Learn More + Register

▶️ Chairperson Al Milne on 25 Years, 25 Things We Love About MASS! ▶️

▶️ Story of the Month: Will Fahey ▶️

R3 App is Here!

A man on his phone.

The Disabled Persons Protection Commission (DPPC) and its project partners are excited to announce the release of the R3 app to help people with disabilities Recognize, Report, and Respond to abuse...Input from people with disabilities, including intellectual or developmental disabilities, was the most critical component in building the app. John Mullally, a MASS consultant on the R3 project, explains, “R3 was built by us for the community. It is a way people can have freedom.” 

Visit Website

DDS Citizen Advisory Boards

Three people working together.

DDS has groups called Citizen Advisory Boards (CAB) across the state. CAB members give advice to DDS about what the community needs and how to

improve DDS programs and services. CABs include people who have disabilities, family members, caregivers, professionals, and other community members.

Download PDF

Kamisha's Corner!

Kamisha and her friends at an outdoor party.

Self care is really important to me. Self-care can come in many different forms. For example, meditation, writing music, exploring nature, and hanging out with the ones you love also by doing exercise. 


Self care to me is about being able to do what makes you happy and it’s about putting yourself in a safe and peaceful mindset and place. The one thing I love about self-care is that you can use it to express yourself in many different ways. Another reason why I love self-care is because it can help with your mental health. 


There are no limits to how you or someone does self care. Self care can be different for everyone. Self care is about putting yourself first! Self-care can be as simple as smiling when you think of a happy memory on a bad day.

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REGIONAL + RAINBOW UPDATES

METRO REGION: Jenna DeSpirito

Meeting Dates for Metro **Register via Eventbrite**:


Regional Meeting: Tuesday, October 17 from 6:00pm-7:30pm

https://metro-regional-meeting.eventbrite.com


Drop-In: Friday, October 20 from 4:00pm-5:00PM

**in-person at Beaverbrook STEP and on Zoom**

**note that this is one week earlier than the usual time**

https://metro-drop-in.eventbrite.com

PDF - Metro Region Update - October 2023

NORTHEAST REGION

Meeting Dates for Northeast **Register via Eventbrite**:


Regional Meeting: Wednesday, October 18 from 4:00pm-5:30pm

https://northeast-regional-meeting.eventbrite.com


Drop-In: Wednesday, October 25 from 5:00pm to 6:00pm

https://northeast-regional-drop-in.eventbrite.com

PDF - Northeast Region Update - October 2023

SOUTHEAST REGION: Katie Briedis

Meeting Date for Southeast **Register via Eventbrite**:


Thursday, October 26 from 6:00pm-7:30pm

https://southeast-regional-meeting.eventbrite.com

PDF - Southeast Region Update - October 2023

CENTRAL REGION: Sue Moriarty

Please RSVP by contacting Sue Moriarty by emailing sue@wearemass.org or calling (508) 209-7184.


Meeting Dates for Central:

Regional Meeting: Tuesday, October 10 from 5:00pm - 7:00pm

**In-Person at HMEA in person and on Zoom**

**Autism Resource Central, 712 Plantation St, Worcester**

https://www.wearemass.org/events/central-regional-meeting-80


Regional Meeting: Tuesday, October 24 from 3:30pm - 5:30pm

https://www.wearemass.org/events/central-regional-meeting-81



Drop-In: Wednesday, November 1 from 4:00pm-5:30pm

https://www.wearemass.org/events/central-regional-meeting-82

PDF - Central Region Update - October 2023

Rainbow Group: Pauline Bosma and Oscar Hughes

Meeting Dates for Rainbow:


Social Day - Wednesday, October 11 from 5:30pm-7:30pm

**note this is a day later than our usual meeting time**

https://www.wearemass.org/events/rainbow-group-meeting-56

PDF - Rainbow Update - October 2023
Click here to send a message on the MASS Contact Form

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

Click here to send a message on the MASS Contact Form
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