The thoughts below were written by Roxi Harvey, an ABC and FLS alum who assumed a leadership role in the Boston SpEd PAC during COVID and recently published an article she co-wrote with Emma Fialka-Feldman. The link to the OpEd is below. What new leadership roles have you stepped into in this pandemic? What has […]
New Position Paper from MFOFC: Supported Decision-Making
A new Position Paper is hot off the presses here at MFOFC today. Thanks to the last 30 years of building strong family leaders in Massachusetts, we have learned a lot about what it means to help families imagine better. MFOFC recognizes, like many here in Massachusetts and across the nation, that Supported Decision-making is […]
You Have the Power to Help End Aversives
Bill H.123, An Act regarding the use of aversive therapywould prohibit the use of procedures which cause physical pain or deny a reasonable humane existence to persons with disabilities. We just received word a hearing has been scheduled on 09/24/2019 from 10:00 AM-01:00 PM at the Statehouse in B-1. If you would like to give […]
Legislative Advocacy Training in Lowell
MFOFC, in partnership with the Cambiodian Mutual Assistance Association and The Commonwealth Seminar, are excited to announce a one-day workshop for residents in the Lowell area. You won’t want to miss this one-day training that will help you increase your understanding of the Massachusetts state legislative processes and boost your confidence participating in legislative advocacy. […]
Calling all Family Leaders! DDS and DMH seeking input on Services and Supports to Meet the Needs of Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder
We received the important message from our network about the following *urgent* input opportunity from DDS and DMH! Thanks to Cathy Boyle at Autism Housing Pathways for this important information! DDS and DMH are seeking information from YOU “to provide DDS and DMH with information about what services are necessary to best meet the community […]
Policy News for July 2019
ADA ANNIVERSARY This month, advocates across the country have been celebrating the 29th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which was signed into law July 26, 1990. The ADA bans discrimination on the basis of disability in the areas of employment, public accommodation, public services, transportation and telecommunications. In the wake of the […]
UMass Amherst Partnership Advancing Advocacy!
Sue Crosby, the MFOFC West Regional Coordinator, has been helping advise a group of students from UMass Amherst who are completing service learning/capstone projects related to disability rights and advocacy. Dental Health Bill Raj, one of the students Sue has been working with, started a petition to promote bill HD 3436 / SD 1942 : […]
FY 2020 Budget Ask
Each year, Massachusetts Families Organizing for Change (MFOFC) prepares an overview of our asks regarding the annual state budget. Download the PDF or click on the image to view MFOFC’s budget requests, or simply read on to see what funding priorities MFOFC supports this year. MFOFC is a proud member of the Supporting Families Campaign […]
Now available: MFOFC 2019 Legislative Bill Priorities
Each year, Mass Families establishes legislative priorities for the year. These priorities are in response to current legislation that affect individuals with developmental disabilities in Massachusetts and their families. Download the PDF or scroll down to learn more. SUPPORTED DECISION MAKINGH172 An act relative to supported decision-making agreements for certain adults with disabilities – Filed […]