(Cross-posted from The SAGE Crossing Foundation Blog) Many young adults with autism are more likely to spend their days watching TV and playing video games than participating in life skills or job programs. It's not that these people … [Read more...]
Update to our update on the National Council on Disability’s anti-institutional bias — and — Senator Warren’s response
I wanted to thank Roger Lau, state director in Massachusetts for Senator Warren, who just called me and graciously apologized for the fact that no one had contacted us earlier in response to our letter and calls to the senator's Washington … [Read more...]
DDS loosens IQ eligibility restrictions
(Cross-posted from The COFAR Blog) Bowing to criticism from families and advocates, the Patrick administration has promulgated new, final regulations that will loosen its restrictive definition of "intellectual disability" in … [Read more...]
Our question to Secretary Bigby
(Cross-posted from the COFAR blog) It was the same story over and over at a public hearing this past Friday, presided over by Secretary of Health and Human Services JudyAnn Bigby. Speaker after speaker urged Bigby and her panel of … [Read more...]
Providers’ Council Members Host Suffolk County Human Services Legislative Forum
Attendees heard testimonials from a number of special guests who illustrated the importance and needs of our safety net sector, including: Sanford who is able to work and know that his parent his healthy thanks to the services at Bay … [Read more...]
Guardians’ rights upheld…in other states
Both court decisions reject anti-institutional biases of groups and organizations ranging from state vendors to the U.S. Department of Justice.In the Tennesse case (People First of Tennessee vs. Clover Bottom Developmental Center), a … [Read more...]
Missing the disabilities forest for the trees
1. The administration still has no plan that we have seen to accomodate the thousands of people with developmental disabilities in Massachusetts who are waiting for residential placements and care in the community system. The … [Read more...]
Our circular state policy game
The foundations warned that we mustn't falter in this reform effort, according to the Globe, because that would be a sign of "bureaucratic inertia, union resistance, or political malaise."It's difficult to question a … [Read more...]
DDS service coordinator system is crumbling (with update)
The Service Employees International Union Local 509 last week filed to reopen the landmark Ricci v. Okin court case, which brought about upgrades in care at Fernald and other state developmental centers in the 1970 and 1980s. The case was … [Read more...]
Sham commission opposes cost analysis in developmental center closures
The original purpose of the Commission was to monitor the "quality and effectiveness" of services for people with mental retardation (now developmental disabilities) and to resolve disputes between DDS and its clients over care. … [Read more...]