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The Massachusetts Office on Disability (MOD) and the Human Resources Division (HRD) are partnering to host a second annual “Disability Mentoring Week (DMW),” a chance for people with disabilities to access and explore career development opportunities within state government. During DMW, mentees with disabilities are matched with workplace mentors according to expressed career interests. Mentees participate in a career exploration experience and make connections with mentors and other personnel. Employers gain increased awareness and understanding of how people with disabilities can be involved in their candidate recruitment processes.
Participation in civic and social events is an important part of community life. Public and private entities with obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) have an obligation to ensure that events and meetings open to the public are accessible to anyone who may want to attend. Here we outline a few basic steps entities can take to improve access.
Recently, The United States Attorney’s Office, Civil Rights Unit (MA) entered into a Voluntary Compliance Agreement with Hudson Public School District (MA) on the topic of “telepresence” through robotic assistive technology. The U.S. Attorney’s Office cites the duty to ensure effective communication for the District’s students under the ADA. Specifically, the Agreement addresses the use of services and auxiliary aids that can assist a student to benefit from school, and allow the District to meet its effective communication obligation.
The Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) is once again inviting all police departments to participate in a Placard Abuse Prevention Week beginning this weekend. The RMV participates on a disability parking abuse task force charged with exploring and implementing ways to reduce instances of disabled parking placard abuse across the Commonwealth.
A study to identify the profile of people with disabilities in New England reveals that New England has the largest percentage of Baby Boomers in the United States. This and other findings are highlighted in the slideshow, ‘Aging, Disability and the Americans with Disabilities Act’ and a research report, ‘An Examination of Disability in New England: A Demographic Study’ (2018)’ both by the New England ADA Center.
February 14th is recognized as Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Day under Massachusetts General law. The primary purpose of Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Day is to raise awareness of Congenital Heart Defects (CHD) which, according to the American Heart Association, is the most common birth defect, affecting more than 40,000 babies born in the United States each year.
Massachusetts General Law dedicates April to raising awareness of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), which is estimated to be the fastest growing developmental disability in the United States by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network. Please share this post to help promote greater awareness and understanding of ASD and the resources that are available.
National Disability Mentoring Day (DMD) was established by the White House in 1999 with fewer than three-dozen participants as part of an effort to increase awareness of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). In celebration of NDEAM this past October, the Massachusetts Office on Disability …Continue Reading Commonwealth Disability Mentoring Week 2017
The Massachusetts Office on Disability (MOD) hosted the “Breaking Barriers” Art Exhibit at the State House from 11/14–24. The exhibit featured 23 pieces of original artwork by Massachusetts residents all over the state. The purpose of the exhibit was not only to showcase Massachusetts talent, but also to raise awareness of how persons with disabilities break barriers and overcome stigma.
Every year, the UN chooses a different theme each year to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in society around the world. This year the theme is “Transformation towards sustainable and resilient society for all.”
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2018