MassAbility

Making progress! ?? One of our awesome team members, Amanda Tower, recently went to the statehouse in Boston to talk about the incredible work that is being done in Massachusetts for brain injury services. We are so grateful for the work being done by so many to create more comprehensive services for people living with brain injuries, and to be able to screen more frequently for brain injuries in certain substance use programs. Video Description: Amanda Tower, a white woman with long brown hair, stands at a podium in the Massachusetts State House giving a short speech and update about brain injury programming. #BrainInjury #TBI #BrainInjurySurvivor #Massachusetts #Boston #Disability #DisabilityEducation #CommunityHealth

Did you know about this #DisabilityAdvocate? Catalina has put in immense work internationally for the community, it's time we highlight her contributions to Women's History Month! #DisabilityRightsMovement #DisabilityEducation #Disability #CareerServices #Section504 #WomensHistoryMonth

This weekend some of our fabulous Disability and Family Inclusion leaders and MassAbility staff were in Boston for the Federation for Children with Special Needs (FCSN) Youth Visions of Community event! This was a great opportunity for us to connect with transition-aged (14-26) youth and families to chat about the services MassAbility offers, while having conversations about what the "ideal life" looks like for disabled young folk and what supports they need to make those dreams a reality. Thanks to everyone who stopped by our table to chat and talk about navigating different challenges that come with disability and growing up! We can't wait for next year! Image Description: MassAbility staff and disability and family inclusion leaders standing and seated in power wheelchairs behind a table. The table has a blue-purple colored MassAbility tablecloth with the logo on the front. On top of the table are piles of papers and information and handouts about different services. Everyone is smiling behind the table and looking great!

Our D.C. Trip to the National Brain Injury Conference was yet another success! ?? This year provided opportunities for insights to work with Certified Community Behavioral Health Centers and see examples from other states, such as Maine, where you can now get brain injury screening in one of their CCBHCs! We attended sessions about understanding Medicaid Administrative Claiming dollars and heard updates on future grants and funding opportunities for brain injury programs. And our own Amanda Tower had the opportunity to speak at the TBI Congressional Taskforce Meeting! Amanda shared about the important partnerships and impactful work happening in Massachusetts using the ACL grant dollars for expanding brain injury screening, educating law enforcement, and building brain injury education for multiple agencies. Opportunities like this present an excellent chance to learn from others to strengthen our own brain injury systems and services in Massachusetts! #BrainInjury #NationalBrainInjuryConference #LivingWithBrainInjury #Disability

This Women's History Month, we're highlighting 3 Disabled Women who have worked in public and international policy to further the disability rights movement! Catalina Devandas Aguilar: As special rapporteur on the rights of people with disabilities at the United Nations, Catalina was a key member in helping create and draft the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, also known as the CRPD, which was adopted by the United Nations in 2007. Claudia L Gordon: Known for being the first Black Deaf female attorney in the United States, and in 2004, Claudia helped draft and implement an executive order on Individuals with Disabilities in Emergency Preparedness while working as a senior policy advisor for the Department of Homeland Security. Judy Heumann: A disability rights leader and organizer of the 504 Sit-in of 1997, which after weeks of protests, resulted in the full Section 504 Rehabilitation Act to be signed into law. Judy was also instrumental in developing legislation for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, IDEA. #DisabilityHistory #Disability #DisabilityRights #WomensHistoryMonth #WomensHistory #IDEA #Section504 #CRPD #DisabilityRightsMovement #JudyHeumann #DeafHistory #SpinaBifida

Massachusetts has had some huge wins for the brain injury community ?? Did you know that there's a multi-year plan called the Brain Injury Strategic Plan? ?? It's an effort to improve the services and supports available for individuals with brain injuries across the state. You can learn more at https://lnkd.in/enw4tSYU ?? Not only that, but some substance use recovery programs have begun to integrate brain injury screenings into their services, and the results have shown that out of 150 individuals, 90% showed signs of potential brain injury. This information can be vital to help refocus treatment plans and provide people with the proper services they need. ?? AND there is now mandatory brain injury training for law enforcement in the state! More departments have been joining as the program evolves. This means more police officers and first responders have and will learn the training to better respond and assist individuals with brain injury. Progress like this has been a long work in progress, so let's take a moment to celebrate these wins! #Disability #BrainInjury #BrainInjuryAwareness #TBI #TBIAwareness #TraumaticBrainInjury #Massachusetts Alt-text provided.

Ever wondered how you would blend Accessibility with Artificial Intelligence (AI)? Learn how our Career Service Innovators at the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind, MassAbility, and the VRTAC are utilizing AI to enhance multilingual support, streamline service delivery, and cut down the time it takes to get folks the services they need! This conversation emphasizes accessibility and transparency, while showcasing AI’s potential to support staff, alleviate bottlenecks, and empower participants while preserving the human touch in service delivery. Manager Minute podcast is brought to you by the VR Technical Assistance Center for Quality Management. Full transcript also available! #InnovativeAI #AI #Accessibility #CareerServices #DisabilityServices https://lnkd.in/eKegQ9_F

Braille is more than just a way to read— for MassAbility Disability Inclusion Leader, Lindsay Townsend, Braille is a lifeline ???? Learn about Lindsay’s story and how braille opened doors to literacy, connection, and opportunity and empowered independence in her daily life. #BrailleAwarenessMonth #AccessibilityForAll

Great things happen when people come together! Ahoi! and MassAbility are excited to showcase our impactful 12-week internship program! This program provides interns valuable hands-on experience in accessibility and technology, soft skills, and confidence. Participants assess the accessibility of public and private spaces and sidewalk conditions using the Ahoi! app. Their efforts contribute directly to Ahoi’s North Star of building a more accessible and inclusive world. Thank you Ahoi! for the incredible work we continue to do together. Your excitement and commitment have truly been invaluable to our participant's success! Let’s celebrate the impactful partnerships that are shaping the future and making a difference. Take a look at this video highlighting this incredible internship experience, and make sure to visit https://ahoimate.com to learn more about, or download their app to try for yourself! https://lnkd.in/gtnzM5Bu

Wishing you a prosperous and transformative Lunar New Year! ???? The Year of the Snake is all about growth and renewal—embrace the journey and make it your best year yet! ??? #LunarNewYear #YearOfTheSnake