TRACKING LEGISLATION – LAWS
Our bills advance areas such as healthcare, housing, protection, education and family support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities including autism.

A VARIETY OF KEY ISSUES
Policy issues cover changes within government at state or regional levels which impact the ways services are delivered or rights are enforced. MassHealth covers several important community living services in addition to health care.

Go to www.MA21Alliance.org to join the advocacy efforts of MA21 to make sure DDS Self-Direction follows the Real Lives Law. The Massachusetts Alliance for 21st Century Disability Policy (MA21) was formed in 2007 to protect the right of people with disabilities to self-direct, and through its efforts helped pass the Real Lives Law in 2014.

TRACKING OUR BUDGET PROCESS
Each January the Governor releases his version of the state budget for the upcoming fiscal year that begins on July 1st. Each branch of the legislature (House and Senate) in turn develops a budget on which they ultimately agree and send to the Governor for his signature prior to July 1st.

HELPFUL GUIDES AND FACT SHEETS
In this section, you will find various tools to navigate the information on public policy such as Advocacy Guides, How You Can Help, Public testimony, and Useful Information.

COMMENTS FROM POLICY MAKERS
Insider’s View offers constituents a chance to get to know the members of the Massachusetts legislature and hear from them directly about their involvement with the disability community.

The Government Affairs Committee consists of members of The Arc’s 17 chapters and other organizations, who meet once a month to discuss legislative priorities and advocacy actions.