Documenting Our Disability History My name is Sandy Novack, and I have served on the Disability Policy Consortium Board of Directors since 2018. I am also the Chair of the Board’s Advocacy Committee. Last month, at the DPC annual awards event, I announced a history project that DPC plans to offer for people with disabilities […]
Category: News
The December 20, 2023 study session detailed provisions of the comprehensive long-term care reform bill passed by the MA House of Representatives on November 15, 2023 and pending before the MA Senate. Read the Slides accompanying the study session The video is auto-captioned by Vimeo. Captions have been edited for clarity. Bill H.4193 Text and […]
The New York Times (free access)December 9, 2023 By Nicholas Kristof Homelessness is an American tragedy, but it’s not hopeless. In a recent column, I explored how Houston has become a national model by reducing homelessness by more than 60 percent. One takeaway is that homelessness, above all, reflects a shortage of cheap housing. So, […]
The study session on December 15, 2023, provided details on the housing bond bill proposed by Governor Maura Healey. The video captions have been edited for clarity. Content begins around 10:30. Presenter: Eric Shupin, Chief of Policy, Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing & Livable Communities – Previously Eric was with Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association […]
Presenter: Dr. Lisa Iezzoni, Board Member, Massachusetts Department of Transportation Board of Directors, representing the disability community. She is a professor at Harvard Medical School as well as the director of the Mongan Institute for Health Policy at Massachusetts General Hospital. She is a Dignity Alliance Massachusetts participant. Review the state’s Current Capital Investment Plan […]
How Protection and Advocacy under Federal Authority Impacts Litigation, Oversight and Systemic Work The December 13, 2023 study session covered the role and current priorities of the Disability Law Center. The Disability Law Center (DLC) is the designated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) agency for Massachusetts. It is a private, non-profit organization responsible for providing protection […]
By Penny ShawNovember 21, 2023 I have Guillain-Barre syndrome – a neuromuscular disorder – in my case with quadriparesis: paralysis of the legs and weakness of my upper extremities. I have no control over my legs. I cannot stand or walk. I cannot bend or straighten them. When I am in bed I […]
Assisted Living
Assisted Living has become a popular option for older adults. These facilities are not Nursing Homes, have few requirements and protections for residents, vary significantly from one another and can be expensive. The information and links below may help to demystify Assisted Living. The New York Times published “What to Know about Assisted Living” by […]
New York Times (free access), November 14, 2023By Jordan Rau Around the world, wealthy countries are struggling to afford long-term care for rapidly aging populations. Most spend more than the United States through government funding or insurance that individuals are legally required to obtain. Some protect individuals from exhausting all their income or wealth paying […]
October 30, 2023 (premiere)[90-minute documentary aired on PBS] Wearing snapback caps and Air Jordans, the Reality Poets aren’t typical nursing home residents. In Fire Through Dry Grass, these young, Black and brown disabled artists document their lives on lockdown during Covid, their rhymes underscoring the danger and imprisonment they feel. In the face of institutional […]