12,771 Consumers, Family Members, Partners in the community, Municipalities, and Government received information or referrals from Independent Living Centers.
145 Individuals transitioned from institutionalized settings such as nursing homes to the community.
1,080 youth across the Commonwealth received transition services.
12,341 individuals obtained access to Health Care services they previously did not have.
1,412 individuals obtained Assistive Technology.
Photos
Representative Kate Donaghue and Rose Quinn MRC Commissioner Toni Wolfe, Mary Otiato , Gabby Lawrence- Soto, Sadie Simone, Steve Higgins Staff from Independence Associates Staff from Boston Center for Independent Living Desi Forte, Paul Madeiros and Patrick Remy Betty King Staff from Southeast Center for Independent Living Staff from Center for Living and WorkingCharlie Carr and Alex Green Cody Rooney MRC Commissioner Toni Wolfe Rep. Christine Barber Rep. Christine Barber Karen Langley R. Feynman and Felix Jordan Ellie Vargas Meg Coffin Senator Robyn Kennedy Angelina Ramirez Senator Jo Comerford Rose Quinn State Senator Karen Spilka Colleen Flanagan and Joe Bellil Kay Schoucair and Ellie Vargas
This year’s virtual event focused on housing. Safe, accessible, affordable, available housing is a foundation for community living. We shared stories of success, the barriers that still exist and opportunities for the future.
Agenda
Welcome – Nancy Trzcinski, MASILC Chairperson
Host and Moderator – Steve Higgins, Executive Director Independence Associates
Speakers:
Commissioner Toni Wolf, Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission
Senator Susan L. Moran
Noelle Balutis, Center for Living and Working
Eric Shupin, Director of Public Policy and Lily Linke, Municipal Engagement Policy Associate Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association
Shaya French, Boston Center for Independent Living and R. Feynman, Disability Policy Consortium
Marcelino Guerra, Center for Living and Working Board Member
Community Sharing
2017 IL Education Day at the State House
Massachusetts has 10 Centers for Independent Living, which together serve all 351 cities and towns in the Commonwealth. The Independent Living Movement is founded in the belief that people with disabilities, regardless of the form, have a common history and a shared struggle, that we are a community and a culture that will advance further banded together politically.
The first Center for Independent Living was founded by disability activists in California in 1972. There are now 403 Centers across the United States, providing Peer Support, Information and Referral, Individual and Systems Advocacy, Independent Living Skills Training and Transition.
Independent Living Education Day is a day to celebrate and share the success stories of IL and give voice to the barriers that still exist. This year’s event will focus on housing. Safe, accessible, affordable, available housing is a foundation for community living. This year we will share stories of success, the barriers that still exist and opportunities for the future.
Make your voice heard. Take the COVID-19 Community Impact Survey to share what your experience has been like through the pandemic. www.mass.gov/COVIDsurvey
