Links
Selected links to other web sites with useful information in the following categories:
Advocates for Autism of Massachusetts
Assistive Technology Exchange in New England – designed to facilitate simple, easy transactions between Massachusetts residents who can benefit from assistive technology devices and those who have assistive technology devices that are no longer needed
Association of Developmental Disabilities Providers – Advancing community organizations that support people with disabilities
The Arc of Massachusetts Missions: to enhance the lives of individuals with cognitive and developmental disabilities and their families.
Collaborative Consultative Care Coordination Program (4C) – Created to help parents and pediatricians manage care for the most medically complex children in the community. 4C is not a replacement for the child’s current primary care provider, but rather a support for the family and child’s provider.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Home Page
Community Gateway – Community Gateway provides families, individuals and professionals in the Massachusetts community with a gateway to quality local and worldwide disability resources and events.
Disability Law Center – Provides free legal assistance and information to people with disabilities throughout Massachusetts.
Exceptional Lives – Helping families of children with disabilities gain better access to services and supports.
Family TIES of Massachusetts
A statewide information and parent-to-parent support project for families of children with special needs and chronic illness. It is administered by parent coordinators housed in each of the regional offices of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
M.A.S.S. (Massachusetts Advocates Standing Strong): Dedicated to self-advocacy for people with cognitive and developmental disabilities.
Massachusetts Commission for the Blind
Massachusetts Commission for Deaf & Hard of Hearing
Massachusetts Community Gateway Missions: To provide families, individuals and professionals in the Massachusetts community with a gateway to quality local and worldwide disability resources and events.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (ESE) – formerly Massachusetts Department of Education
Massachusetts Department of Mental Health
Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services (DDS) – formerly Massachusetts Department Mental Retardation
Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council Providing opportunities for people with developmental disabilities and their families to enhance independence, productivity, integration and inclusion.
Massachusetts Division of Medical Assistance (MassHealth)
Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress – Information, networking, and advocacy for and about Down syndrome
The Massachusetts Health Connector – Consumer Guide to Subsidies; Connector Care Overview; Health Connector Renewal Guide (available in multiple languages); and Shopping Guides.
MassAccess Housing Registry – Helps people to find affordable rental and homeownership opportunities in Massachusetts. A key feature of the Registry is to highlight homes for people with disabilities who need accessible or barrier-free housing.
Massachusetts Legislative Home Page
Massachusetts Lifespan Respite Coalition – MLRC’s vision is to promote and support access to quality respite care options that enhance the lives of individuals and families with special needs throughout the lifespan.
Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission
PAL (Parent Professional Advocacy League)
Special Needs Advocacy Network (SPAN) – Information and resources for advocates, parents, and other professionals.
Special Needs Educational Resources in the Greater Massachusetts Area
SPEDWatch – a grassroots, nonprofit, social change movement working to secure the educational rights of all Massachusetts students with disabilities, ages 3-21.
TRANSTION22 – This website provides practical advice and resources geared specially for the transitional phase (age 22) for all disabilities.
Adlib, Inc The Center provides independent living and specialized services for people with disabilities in Berkshire County.
Boston Center for Independent Living Inc. BCIL provides the four “core services” f independent living centers: peer mentoring, skills training, information and referral, and advocacy.
Center for Living and Working, Inc. Founded in 1975, we now serve thousands of people in 92 cities and towns in central Massachusetts, through Independent Living programs and services, resources for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and outreach and advocacy.
Independence Associates Center for Independent Living Serving the communities of: Abington, Marshfield, Attleboro, Mattapoisett, Avon, Middleboro, Bridgewater, North Attleboro, Brockton, Norton, Berkley, Norwell, Carver, Pembroke, Cohasset, Plainville, Dighton, Plymouth, Duxbury, Plympton, East Bridgewater, Raynham, Easton, Rehobeth, Foxboro, Rochester, Halifax, Rockland, Hanson, Scituate,
Hanover, Seekonk, Hingham, Stoughton, Holbrook, Swansea, Hull, Taunton, Kingston, Wareham, Lakeville, West Bridgewater, Mansfield, Whitman, Marion.
Independent Living Center of the North Shore & Cape Ann, Inc. ILCNSCA serves individuals who have disabilities and live or work, or want to live or work, in the following twenty-five cities and towns of the North Shore and Cape Ann: Beverly , Danvers, Essex, Gloucester, Hamilton, Ipswich, Lynn, Lynnfield,
Manchester, Marblehead, Melrose, Middleton, Nahant, North Reading, Peabody, Reading, Rockport, Rowley, Salem, Saugus, Stoneham, Swampscott, Topsfield, Wakefield and Wenham.
Metro West Center for Independent Living A community-based, consumer-controlled, cross disability center for independent living, serving the MetroWest area of Massachusetts.
Multi-Cultural Independent Living Center of Boston, Inc. The Multi-Cultural Independent Living Center of Boston, Inc. provides information and referral services to disabled people and their families.
Northeast Independent Living Program, Inc. NILP provides advocacy and services to all people with disabilities.
Stavros Advocates for Independent Living “It is our goal at Stavros to give people with disabilities the tools to take charge of their life choices, act on their own behalf, and overcome situations that reduce their potential
for independence.”
ADA Watch ADA Watch and the National Coalition for Disability Rights (NCDR) is a coalition of national, state and local disability, civil rights and social justice organizations united to protect and promote the human rights of children and adults with physical and mental disabilities. For more information, go to www.adawatch.org and www.roadtofreedom.org
Alliance for Full Participation A partnership of leading organizations serving the developmental disabilities field that share a common vision to help create a better and more fulfilling quality of life for people with developmental disabilities.
Disability.gov – Connecting the Disability Community to Information & Opportunities.
Disability Resources On The Net A list of sites to help individuals and families with disabilities or medical conditions find information about health maintenance, coping, and quality of life.
Disability Information – Reference guide to disabilities offered by MetroWest Center for Independent Living.
http://www.disabilityinfo.org/ – Contained within this site is a wealth of information for people with disabilities, their friends, families and the people who serve them. Information within this site focuses on Massachusetts.
The Disability Policy Consortium, Inc. is an organization of volunteer disability rights activists who share a common goal of equal opportunity for all individuals with disabilities.
Federal Emergency Management Agency – Information on the work FEMA is doing to facilitate accessible emergency management.
Federation for Children with Special Needs – A center for parents and parent organizations
to work together on behalf of children with special needs and their families.
Going to College – A resource for teens with disabilities.
Human Services Research Institute
Inclusion.com – Web site of Inclusion Press, Inclusion Network and Marsha Forest Centre.
Incorporating the ABLE Act into Special Needs Planning by John Nadworny. Journal of Financial Planning, May 2015. This article provides a brief history of the ABLE Act, an overview of the rules, a comparison with other savings options, and specific examples where ABLE accounts can typically be the most appropriate planning strategies.
Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) – Promoting the inclusion of people with disabilities. Affiliated with University of Massachusetts, Boston and Children’s Hospital Boston.
National Gateway to Self-Determination – This site provides a single access point for self-advocates, professionals, policy-makers, families, and the general public on the current best practices and evidence-based activities in enhancing self-determination in the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
The Social Role Valorization Implementation Project (SRVIP) is a human service training, evaluation and consultation effort aimed at addressing the social devaluation of impaired and other vulnerable people in contemporary society.
Supporting Families – The Supporting Families project involves working with six states to develop systems of support for families throughout the lifespan of their family member with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The Talia Duff Foundation To Cure CMT4J – Founded by a graduate of the MFOFC Family Leadership Series, the Talia Duff Foundation was formed in Spring 2016 to raise funds to support the research, development, and production of a therapy or cure for Charcot Marie Tooth Disease Type 4J.
Training Resource Network, Inc. Resources on the full inclusion of persons with disabilities in their communities.
We Connect Now – We Connect is a site dedicated to uniting college students with disabilities in access to higher education and employment issues.
Disability is Natural – The mission of this site is to encourage new ways of thinking about disability and to help create a society in which all people are valued and included.
Center on Technology and Disability – Provides a wealth of free resources – personal and professional development (PPD) webinars, articles, guides, training materials and more.
Reidy Associates – Reidy Associates specializes in developing outstanding leaders, helping to plan and implement desired futures, and building high performing teams. Clients come from both the public and private sector, including health care, state and federal government, nongovernmental organizations, and industry.
Special Needs Financial Planning – Information and support regarding financial planning for families with a member who has a disability or special needs.