On Tuesday, June 10, The Arc of Massachusetts was pleased to offer testimony before the Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities. At this hearing, two of our priority bills and two bills we endorsed were on the docket.
- Bills expanding the protections of Nicky’s Law to MassHealth Day Habilitation Programs (filed by Senator John F. Keenan, Senator Mike Moore, Representative Sean Garballey, and Representative Simon Cataldo).
- Legislation ridding our state laws of archaic and offensive language (filed by Representative Michael J. Finn, Representative Garballey, and Senator Pat Jehlen).
- A bill that would include prompting and cueing support in PCA services (filed by Representative Jim O’Day and Senator Joan B. Lovely).
- Legislation expanding the definition of developmental disability to include individuals with cerebral palsy, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, and more (filed by Representative O’Day and Senator Lovely).
These bills focus on fairness, acceptance, equity, and access to services. CEO Maura Sullivan testified at this hearing on behalf of The Arc, and these quotes sum up the importance of this work:
“I am grateful that the abuser registry is doing its job. Over 150 registered abusers are prohibited from hurting or neglecting people with IDD – but not in MassHealth Day Habilitation programs. 7,000 – 8,000 individuals are served in Day Hab – and 1,000 more are waiting. As we face Medicaid funding cuts, robust protections against abuse are imperative.”
“This bill is not about being offended by language in Massachusetts chapter laws. Language shapes mindsets, attitudes, and policy. The ‘r-word’ is coming back and the current federal administration finds that acceptable. Human beings with IDD, who are an integral part of our society, are being degraded, bullied, and oppressed. Let’s stop this backslide. Now is the time to pass this legislation.”
A massive thank you to the many individual advocates who testified and shared their stories, experiences, and perspectives – and thank you to Committee Chairs Representative Jay Livingstone and Senator Robyn Kennedy.
You can learn more about these bills at thearcofmass.org/bills.
