The welcoming presentations were by MA state disability commissioners.
Commissioner John Oliveira, MA Comm for the Blind (MCB)
Commissioner Opeoluwa Sotonwa, MA Comm for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MCDHH)
General Counsel Molly Karp for MassAbility
The lunchtime Keynote speaker was Carmen Rosado from Stavros CIL.
The closing speaker, Dominque Dunford, ED from ENDependence Center Northern VA (ECNV) spoke about “A CIL’s Journey Toward Greater Equity and Inclusion.”
Dominique shared why ECNV uses an equity and justice lens to guide its work serving people with disabilities throughout the Northern Virginia region and how it has embarked on setting a new path forward in its three-plus-year journey toward that mission. She shared best practices, insights, and pitfalls on their tough but rewarding journey.
Workshops
Participants attended one workshop per session
Workshop Session I
From Awareness to Action: Addressing Disability Stigma in Youth Engagement
Presenters: Danielle Daughtry, Federation for Children with Special Needs (FCSN) Transition Coordinator, Maddie Evans, FCSN’s Youth Engagement Coordinator, and Matthew Tricca, FCSN Youth Advisory Board member
This presentation will address the topic of disability disclosure – a very personal decision that can vary depending on the environment and an individual’s need for support. We will talk about the pros and cons of disability disclosure, how to approach disclosing a disability, and how to address challenges that may arise afterwards.
Transportation Advocacy Roundtable
Presenters:
Jen Healy, Quaboag Connector
Tara Lynne Southard and Kay Schoucair, Boston Center for Independent Living
Carmen Rosado, Stavros
Alexis Walls, MA Public Health Association
Advocates for affordable and accessible transportation will share advocacy victories and ongoing campaigns. Learn how you can be part of systems change for more accessible and affordable transportation in Massachusetts.
Peer Support for Mental Health Well-being
Presenters: Gabriel Fonseca, Director and Rachely Ramos, Operations Manager, Northeast Independent Living Program’s Recovery Learning Center
This presentation will dive into the importance of peer support and how it impacts meaningful connections that lead to mental well-being. An overview of peer support will be discussed, along with the resources available to promote such practices with the end goal of incorporating such benefits into the workforce.
Nuts & Bolts of Housing Search
Presenters: Andy Forman, Independent Living Public Benefits Advocate, Boston Center for Independent Living (BCIL) and Gabriella Lukas, Consumer Records Specialist, BCIL
Limited access to adequate housing especially impacts persons with disabilities who are often low-income and in need of specific accommodations. BCIL’s monthly Housing Workshop hosted by Andy Forman and Gabriella Lukas is designed to educate consumers on how to conduct their own searches for affordable and accessible housing. Come to this session to learn about the structure of the BCIL Housing Workshop and review the nuts and bolts of housing search for ILC consumers including:
The types of affordable and accessible housing available in Massachusetts (including state and federal voucher programs)
Tips for communicating with housing authorities and landlords
How to request reasonable accommodations for disabilities
From Awareness to Action: Addressing Disability Stigma in Youth EngagementFrom Awareness to Action: Addressing Disability Stigma in Youth EngagementFrom Awareness to Action: Addressing Disability Stigma in Youth EngagementFrom Awareness to Action: Addressing Disability Stigma in Youth EngagementTransportation Advocacy RoundtableTransportation Advocacy RoundtableTransportation Advocacy RoundtablePeer Support for Mental Health Well-beingPeer Support for Mental Health Well-beingPeer Support for Mental Health Well-beingNuts & Bolts of Housing SearchNuts & Bolts of Housing Search
Workshop Session II
Storytelling for the Independent Living Movement
Presenter: Benji Kemper, Community Organizer, Center for Living & Working
Experience the power of personal storytelling as a tool to connect with others and for advocacy in your community. Practice telling your personal story and learn about your colleagues as you share what motivates you to be part of the independent living movement during this interactive session.
Mindfulness for Everyday Living
Presenters: Lori-Ann Tessier, BA, Sociology, MA, Child Life & Susan Buchholz, BS, Human Services, Executive Director, HeartWell Institute
Mindfulness bridges the practices of meditation and compassion by fostering awareness and nurturing a deep sense of empathy towards oneself and others. Research underscores the capacity and transformative power of mindfulness to not only manage stress and enhance job satisfaction but also to cultivate a proactive, resilient and adaptive approach to the stressors of everyday life.
This presentation will dive into what hazards we face from natural and man-made disasters, how to prepare ourselves, and how to help others in our community prepare. This presentation will help those wanting to provide a preparedness presentation to others, including tools to create a plan and a kit.
Resources for Transition Aged Youth: Panel Discussion
Presenters
Erin Basler, Youth Services Coordinator, MetroWest Center for Independent Living
Anne Marie Rivers and Brandy Eder, Department of Developmental Services
Steve Michelson, Northeast Independent Living Program
Mike Dolan and Ken Davol, School-Based Transition Aged Services (TAS) at Keefe Technical High School
Transition Age Youth (TAY) have A LOT going on. For disabled students facing a drastic shift in how they use support services, this is often described as a cliff. However, with preparation and practice, TAY gain tools to navigate the change and direct their path into adulthood. Join a panel of professionals to learn the differences between Youth and Adult services, specific transition resources, and discuss how CILs can facilitate a smooth journey from youth to adult services.
Disability Community workshop Storytelling for the Independent Living MovementMindfulness for Every Day LivingDisaster Preparedness for the Disability CommunityResources for Transition Aged Youth: Panel Discussion
Conference Exhibitors
AhoiDignity AllianceDisability Law CenterEasterseals MAExec Off of Elder Affairs and SpringwellFederation for Children with Special NeedsMass PCA DirectoryMA Comm for the Deaf and Hard of HearingMA Dept of TransportationMA Office on DisabilityMassAbilityMy OmbudsmanPlanned Lifetime Assistance Network of MA and RI,Special Needs CompaniesWork Without Limits
This fall we listened to the input of people with disabilities (along with their families, friends, and service providers) from across Massachusetts to develop the new State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL).
The SPIL is a plan for how the state’s independent living programs and services will meet the independent living needs of people with disabilities in the state for the next three years.
This winter, we drafted the SPIL, and this spring, we’re sharing our work and receiving comments. There are two opportunities to comment:
Our celebration of the 34th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act was August 2, 2024 at Dunn Pond State Park in Gardner. We had not celebrated here since 2019. Even though it was another hot day, everyone had a great time!
Waypoint Adventure (hiking), All Out Adventures (kayaking) and DCR Universal Access Program partnered to supply accessible chairs and guides for hiking, as well as kayaking for anyone who wanted to go. Look at the smile on Tammy’s face in the photos if you want to know what that means.
Tommy Filiault Band entertained us all afternoon! We have enjoyed their music in Gardner since at least 2011!
Meg and Nicole from CLW DCR Staff DCR TableWaypoint Adventure My Ombudsman United Healthcare Table United Healthcare Joe (Easterseals MA and MWCIL Board), David (MWCIL) and Aliza ( MASILC) Tempus table Janna and Dan (MWCIL) Janna and Dan (MWCIL) NILP staff Tommy Filiault Band SCIL staff Nancy and CathyMarcy – UAP Program Manager (DCR) Tommy Filiault Band
two womenDavid (MWCIL) and Nancy (MASILC)Meg (CLW) and Aliza (MASILC)
Rose and Erin (MWCIL)Sadie (MWCIL) and Matt (NILP)CLW Staff
Welcome: Steve Higgins (Independence Associates) Brianna Zimmerman (STAVROS)
Senator Joe Comerford
Joe Tringali memorial
Estate Recovery and Spouses as Paid Caregivers
Representative Mindy Domb
Isaias Ruiz, PCA
Senate President Karen Spilka
Commissioner Toni Wolf, MA Rehabilitation Commission
Nancy Garr-Colzie re: PCAs
Representative Rob Consalvo (AHVP)
Ewidji Vincent, youth with Easter Seals
Senator Lydia Edwards
Nancy Garr-Colzie, MASILCSenate President Karen SpilkaRepresentative Mindy Domb
2024 Priorities
Summary of Priorities
Support Independent Living Centers
Accessible, affordable housing for people with disabilities
Accessible, affordable transportation for people with disabilities
Support the PCA program & workforce
Align MA AAB regulations with the ADA
Access to Assistive Technology and Durable Medical Equipment
Access to healthcare
Detailed Budget Priorities
Independent Living Centers Line Item 4120-0200 – $10 Million for 10 Independent Living Centers (increase of $2 million)
Maintain Funding for Personal Care Attendants
Increase the Alternative Housing Voucher Program funding (Line Item 7004-9030) to $30 million ($18.8m + Prior Appropriations continued) and incorporating H.1305 & S.884 into budget language.
Increase Accessible Affordable Housing Grants (Line Item 7004-9031), which offer grants to create or rehabilitate units into accessible housing prioritized for AHVP voucher holders to $2.5 million.
Increase MassAccess Registry funding (Line Item 4120-4001) to $300,000 to assist low-income people with disabilities to search for accessible housing.
Detailed Legislative Priorities
Building a More Accessible Massachusetts – S.1553: An Act Building a More Accessible Massachusetts and H.2291: An Act expanding the availability of adaptable housing for people with disabilities and seniors. These bills align MA accessibility regulations with federal regulations.
Estate Recovery – H.1168 and S.726: An Act protecting the homes of seniors and disabled people on MassHealth
Spouses as Paid Caregivers – H.216 and S.67: An Act allowing spouses to serve as caregivers
Support Regional Transit Authorities (RTA) – S.2277 and H.3272: An Act to increase regional transit accessibility in the Commonwealth
Changes to the Affordable Homes Act – The Independent Living Network supports The Affordable Homes Act (H.4138) as an opportunity to help alleviate the state’s housing crisis
MASILC is conducting a needs assessment survey to gather information about programs and services that provide support to individuals with disabilities in Massachusetts.
The survey responses will help to guide our planning process for the next State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL). The SILC, in collaboration with the Centers for Independent Living (CILs) and the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, develops the State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL) every three years.
The SPIL is a three-year plan that sets goals and guides plans for the delivery of independent living services and systems advocacy in Massachusetts.
The 2023 Independent Living Conference was held September 26, 2023 in Marlborough, MA.
Photo: MASILC Members
The one day conference brought together staff and board members from the ten Independent Living Centers in Massachusetts; the members of the Statewide Independent Living Council; staff from MRC, MCB, and MCDHH; and other members of the disability community from across the state.
Please see below for the conference agenda and description of the confirmed speakers and workshops. This page will be updated as details are confirmed.
Registration for the conference is now closed. Please reach out to SILC Coordinator Aliza Levine at alevine@masilc.org with any questions.
Commissioner John Oliveira, Massachusetts Commission for the Blind
Commissioner Opeoluwa Sotonwa, Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Commissioner Toni Wolf, Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission
10:15 – 11:30 Workshops – Choose 1
CORI, Re-entry, and Housing
Stronger Together: The NCIL Advocacy Platform
Student Vision in the New Massachusetts IEP Form
11:30 Lunch starts
12:00 Keynote: Ed Augustus, Housing Secretary, Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing & Livable Communities
1:00 – 2:15 Workshops – Choose 1
A Practical Overview of Involuntary Admission, Civil Commitment, and Involuntary Treatment in Massachusetts
Accessible Public Transportation Panel: Advocacy & Resources
Immigration and Benefits
2:30 – 3:30 Closing speakers – Barriers and Facilitators in Access to HCBS for People of Color, Brandeis Community Living Equity Center (CLEC), Kimberly The, CLEC Co- Investigator and Jennifer Lee-Rambharose, CLEC Project Coordinator
Welcome
Steve Higgins, Executive Director at Independence Associates (left) and Nancy Garr-Colzie, Treasurer or MA Statewide Independent Living Council.
Steve Higgins, Executive Director at Independence Associates (left) and Nancy Garr-Colzie, Treasurer or MA Statewide Independent Living Nancy Garr-Colzie, Treasurer or MA Statewide Independent Living Council.
Commissioners
Commissioner John Oliveira, Massachusetts Commission for the BlindCommissioner Opeoluwa Sotonwa, Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of HearingCommissioner Toni Wolf, Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission
Ed Augustus, Housing Secretary, Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing & Livable Communities
Ed Augustus, Housing Secretary, Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing & Livable CommunitiesEd Augustus, Housing Secretary, Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing & Livable Communities
Workshops
CORI, Re-entry, and Housing
Alyssa Golden, Community Legal Aid
Community Legal Aid (CLA) is the civil legal services organization serving Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties. They provide legal assistance with a broad range of civil legal issues including family law matters for survivors of domestic violence, housing (eviction defense and housing discrimination), public benefits, elder law, employment law, education law, veterans legal issues, immigration (in the subsidiary, Central West Justice Center), and criminal records and reentry legal issues.
Alyssa Golden is the Senior Supervising Attorney for the CORI/Reentry unit. This unit provides legal assistance to individuals seeking to seal and/or expunge criminal records and people facing public and subsidized housing denials and terminations due to criminal records issues. Further, the unit provides assistance with employment denials and terminations, as well as some other types of civil consequences of the criminal court system. She is going to talk about these legal issues, options for addressing them, and the connections between criminal records issues and both race and disability discrimination. She will also inform you about how to access legal assistance through Community Legal Aid.
Annie GuareAnnie Guare
Stronger Together
Jessica Podesva J.D., Director of Advocacy and Public Policy, and Mary-Kate Wells, Programs Director, National Council for Independent Living
This workshop will provide an overview of the NCIL advocacy platform with a focus on the following:
5 For 5 Campaign – Increase Federal Funding for IL to Five Hundred Million to support the Five Core Services
Upcoming Re-Authorization of the Rehab Act
Importance of coming together as an IL network to effect change on a national level
Mary-Kate Wells, Programs Director, (l) and Jessica Podesva J.D., Director of Advocacy and Public Policy – both at NCILJessica Podesva J.D., Director of Advocacy and Public Policy (l), and Mary-Kate Wells, Programs Director, National Council for Independent Living
Student Vision in the New Massachusetts IEP Form
Leslie Leslie and Rebecca Davis, Federation for Children with Special Needs
Massachusetts has updated their Individualized Education Program (IEP) form for the first time in over 20 years. Transition planning and student vision are now an integral part of the form. This workshop will review sections of the new form on student concerns, student vision and post secondary goals, offer questions to help a student define their strengths and interests, and examine ways to include employment goals on an IEP. Although the new IEP will not be implemented until school year 2024-2025, let’s get our students ready to fully participate in their future!
Rebecca Davis and Leslie Leslie , Federation for Children with Special NeedsRebecca Davis and Leslie Leslie , Federation for Children with Special Needs
A Practical Overview of Involuntary Admission, Civil Commitment, and Involuntary Treatment in Massachusetts
Justin Woolf of the Disability Law Center and Shain Neumeier from Committee for Public Counsel
This presentation will take attendees chronologically through each step of the involuntary mental health treatment process in Massachusetts, covering the aspects most relevant to consumers. The goal of this training will be for participants to help their clients understand their rights better and to know when to contact the Committee for Public Counsel Services to seek legal assistance. It will include:
When can an individual be “sectioned,” what happens after they are brought to the emergency department at a hospital, and when to request an emergency hearing;
An individual’s rights upon transfer to a psychiatric facility, the conditional voluntary application process, and what happens when the facility decides to file a civil commitment petition;
When can an individual be involuntarily treated with medication and/or electroconvulsive therapy;
What happens after an individual is committed to a psychiatric facility;
The session will involve “issue spotting” exercises to help participants gain a better grasp of the subject matter.
Justin Woolf of the Disability Law CenterJustin Woolf of the Disability Law Center and Shain Neumeier from Committee for Public Counsel
Accessible Public Transportation Panel: Advocacy & Resources
Nancy Garr-Colzie, SILC Treasurer, Board President of the Center for Living and Working, Standing member of the Transportation Planning Advisory Group of the WRTA, and Past Member of the WRTA Advisory Board
Rachel Fichtenbaum, Manager of Grant Programs & Mobility Management, MassDOT Rail & Transit Division
Mike Kennedy, CLW ADA/Access Advocacy Coordinator
Katarina (Kat) Torres Radisic, BCIL Community Organizer / RTAG Facilitator
CIL Staff, Board members and representatives from MASSDOT will share ongoing efforts to improve available accessible transportation in Massachusetts.
Updates from the Massachusetts Community Transit Grant Program
Worcester advocates’ efforts to increase accessible and affordable transportation options
The Joanne Daniels-Finegold lawsuit and the creation of the Riders’ Transportation Access Group. 20 plus years of advocacy to improve access on the MBTA
Rachel Fichtenbaum, Manager of Grant Programs & Mobility Management, MassDOT Rail & Transit Divisionback to front, left to right: Katarina (Kat) Torres Radisic, BCIL Community Organizer / RTAG Facilitator, Rachel Fichtenbaum, Manager of Grant Programs & Mobility Management, MassDOT Rail & Transit Division, Nancy Garr-Colzie, SILC Treasurer, Board President of the Center for Living and Working, Standing member of the Transportation Planning Advisory Group of the WRTA, and Past Member of the WRTA Advisory Board and Mike Kennedy, CLW ADA/Access Advocacy Coordinator
Immigration and Benefits
Stephanie Souza and Kelly Hewitt of the Community Action Committee of Cape Cod & Islands
The Community Action Committee of Cape Cod & Islands provides free legal counsel and assistance for immigrants and their families. In this workshop, we will review some of the immigration petitions and applications that can lead to legal status and briefly discuss the eligibility requirements and application process. We will identify other organizations that offer legal services to the immigrant community.
We will then discuss access to public benefits for immigrants including:
Overview of Health Connector & MassHealth Insurance Plans and Eligibility
Application process and documentation needed.
How to create a Member Account and Log-in.
Health Connector Navigator Services.
How to find a Navigator Organization near you.
Overview of SNAP benefits and Eligibility.
Application process, DTA Interview, and documentation needed.
Stephanie Souza and Kelly Hewitt of the Community Action Committee of Cape Cod & IslandsStephanie Souza and Kelly Hewitt of the Community Action Committee of Cape Cod & Islands
Closing – Barriers and Facilitators in Access to HCBS for People of Color
Kimberly The, CLEC Co- Investigator and Jennifer Lee-Rambharose, CLEC Project Coordinator. Introduced by Anna Herman of MRC.
The Community Living Equity Center is excited to connect with members of the MASILC, IL staff, and friends of the independent living network Kimberly The, CLEC Co- Investigator and Jennifer Lee-Rambharose, CLEC Project Coordinator during the closing session. This session will discuss disability, racial equity, and Home and Community-based Services research. The purpose of this session will be to: 1) provide an overview of the Community Living Equity Center, 2) describe participatory research and the process of including disabled people of color throughout all research phases, 3) discuss preliminary findings on experiences of disabled people of color transitioning out of nursing homes and 4) provide initial recommendations for how to improve nursing home transitions for disabled people of color.
Please reach out to SILC Coordinator Aliza Levine at alevine@masilc.org with any questions.
Jennifer Lee-Rambharose, CLEC Project Coordinator and Kimberly The, CLEC Co- InvestigatorAnna Herman, MRCJennifer Lee-Rambharose, CLEC Project Coordinator and Kimberly The, CLEC Co- Investigator
Random Photos
Exhibitors (alphabetic)
Ahoi! – a brand new app that tells you whether or not many places are accessible, and also allows you to add your own reviews of locations.