Northeast Arc

Happy Thanksgiving from our Northeast Arc family to yours! We are so grateful for every member of our Northeast Arc community: Our employees who work so hard to change lives and discover abilities, our volunteers who step in and help whenever and wherever they're asked, our donors who help us provide critical services to those who need them most, and of course the individuals and families we support, who help us see and understand the importance and value of inclusion. Thank you all! ??

One of the ways that particpants in the Journeys day program stay active in the community is through volunteering. Several members of the program recently visited Citizens Inn, Inc. Haven From Hunger, where they helped pack up fruits and vegetables for the food pantry. It was a great way to give back!

In September, the Social Security Administration (SSA) implemented new regulations regarding food assistance and rent subsidies for beneficiaries receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Our partners at Planned Lifetime Assistance Network of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, Inc., Northeast Arc's exclusive special needs planning partner, put together a brief overview of these changes. These changes took effect on September 30, 2024 and cover In-Kind Support and Maintenance. In-Kind Support and Maintenance is unearned income that somebody else provides for you. This can be assistance inside or outside the home. A major change is that food will no longer be counted for In-Kind Support and Maintenance (ISM) calculations when calculating the amount of a person’s SSI. The SSA also made amendments regarding rent subsidies. If an SSI recipient pays at least the Presumed Maximum Value (PMV), ($334.33 in 2024), assistance from other arrangements like Special Needs Trust Trustees, family, friends, and community support networks will not reduce a person’s SSI check. These changes will allow for increased eligibility, higher benefits, and a simplified reporting process.

Congratulations to Northeast Arc's banker, Paul Kurker of Eastern Bank for receiving a North Shore Chamber-Commerce Distinguished Leader Award last Thursday at the group's Annual Dinner. Kurker was honored alongside Sara Stanley of HAWC Healing Abuse Working for Change and Tony Sands of Beverly Hospital. Northeast Arc's Cyndi Park, Susan Ring Brown and Dianne Powers are pictured here celebrating with Paul.

Congratulations to Max, who was recently hired at Toscana in Peabody! He is doing some food preparation, including portioning out pasta for service ?? Max was referred to Northeast Arc's supported employment team by MassAbility and the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services.

Join us this Saturday!

Fall is often thought of as the season of Thanksgiving. At Northeast Arc, we believe every season is a time for giving thanks. Over the past 70 years, we have seen NeArc grow from a grassroots organization founded by parents of children with developmental disabilities to an agency that now supports more than 10,000 individuals a year in every phase of life. Seeing how far we have come and how much we have grown since 1954 is truly remarkable and makes all of us at Northeast Arc grateful for every individual and family who has been part of our story. This work is only possible thanks to the dedicated members of our team who carry out our mission of changing lives and discovering abilities for those we support. Staffing is our greatest challenge, and retaining our team members is critically important. By thanking our staff, and celebrating their impact, you can play a role in supporting employee retention and reducing wait lists for services. If a member of our staff has gone above and beyond to help you or a family member, you can say thank you by visiting bit.ly/nearcthankyou and sharing a message of gratitude. Thank you for your consideration and your support of our amazing and inclusive community!

Ezekiel Tanimomo, pictured left, a residential direct support professional, recently had the chance to attend the Massachusetts Direct Support Professionals Conference. The event featured a town hall forum with the Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services, as well as sessions focused on helping DSPs improve service delivery and grow in their careers. Ezekiel said the conference was an amazing experience, and found it inspiring to spend time with DSPs from other organizations.

There is no place for outdated, ableist, and offensive slurs like the r-word. Hateful terms like this can cause harm, so we are glad to see The Boston Globe shining a spotlight on the word's disturbing resurgence.

Some of the older students in Northeast Arc’s Pathways to Opportunities program are beginning to think about post-high school plans. Three students, Franklin, Doug, and J’Ziel recently traveled to Westfield State University for an open house with Pathways program director Maria Terris. All of the students would be first-generation college students, so it was a great opportunity for them to learn about the college admissions process and ask questions. According to Terris, students felt more confident making this kind of trip thanks to what they've learned in the program.