Family Support
Family Support is an integrated network of community-based resources and services that strengthens family caregivers of children and adults with intellectual and or developmental disabilities including autism. In Massachusetts, 80% of adults served by the Department of Developmental services live with their families.
Please click on a resource below for more information. Please note that some of these items are in PDF format and require Adobe Reader to view and download them.
The Beach Center on Disability focuses research, training, and advocacy on promoting abilities of people of all ages who experience disability, in order to assure a self-determined, goal-driven, and self-selected quality of life within communities where everyone lives. |
http://www.beachcenter.orgThe Charting the LifeCourse framework was originally developed BY families FOR families by the staff and stakeholders of Missouri Family to Family. Missouri Family to Family is housed within Missouri’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Services (UCEDD) at the University of Missouri–Kansas City Institute for Human Development. |
http://www.lifecoursetools.comDDS is pleased to provide you with the information on the goals and principles of our family support service delivery. |
https://www.mass.gov/lists/dds-family-support-services-informationFamily TIES of Massachusetts provides information and referral services, emotional support, and trainings to parents of children and youth with special needs. |
https://www.massfamilyties.org/This grant program helps people with developmental disabilities and their families learn and grow. This grant reimburses up to $250 of your expenses to attend relevant conferences or other events held in Massachusetts. This program empowers people with developmental disabilities and their families to learn and grow. By helping you gain knowledge and advocacy skills, we can move you closer to achieving independence, productivity, and inclusion. |
https://www.mass.gov/service-details/council-empowerment-funds-programMDSC provides information, networking opportunities, and advocacy for people with Down syndrome and their families, educators, health care professionals, and the community-at-large. |
http://mdsc.org/The MSSN is committed to supporting siblings of people with disabilities in the following ways: creating welcoming communities for siblings across the lifespan; improving the range and availability of sibling support services; and providing education about sibling-related issues. |
http://www.masiblingsupport.orgPACER Center enhances the quality of life and expands opportunities for children, youth, and young adults with all disabilities and their families so each person can reach his or her highest potential. PACER operates on the principles of parents helping parents, supporting families, promoting a safe environment for all children, and working in collaboration with others. |
http://www.pacer.orgThe Parent-to-Parent Program brings together parents facing similar challenges in raising their children with special needs. We believe that sharing experiences provides strength and support to each other. |
http://massfamilyties.org/p2p/p2p.phpInformation on best practices, supports and services for parents with special learning needs
United Arc Positive Parenting Resource Center
The Positive Parenting Resource Center provides services and support families headed by parents with cognitive challenges, intellectual limitations or learning disabilities. | https://theunitedarc.org/positiveparenting
The New England Coalition for Supporting Parents with Cognitive Challenges publishes the Positive Parenting Quarterly.
The National Research Center for Parents with Disabilities
The National Research Center for Parents with Disabilities is a collaborative research and advocacy project that aims to support parents with disabilities. We are housed at the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy at Brandeis University and collaborate with other institutions, including Northeastern University and Dartmouth University. We combine research expertise and first-hand experience to create a comprehensive resource for a variety of stakeholders, including parents, family members, clinicians, policymakers and disabled parents. | http://heller.brandeis.edu/parents-with-disabilities/
Places to go to find programs and services for people with disabilities and their families
SPED Child and Teen
Website and newsletter which lists programs and services available in Massachusetts | http://www.spedchildmass.com/
New England Index
This web site has thousands of listings of programs, services, and professionals serving people with disabilities living in Massachusetts. It features guided searches, Google search appliance capabilities, and field-level searching. The web site’s appearance can be significantly yet easily changed based upon a visitor’s preference. | https://disabilityinfo.org/
Family Ties Resource Guide
Family TIES of Massachusetts produces this annual Directory of Resources to assure everyone has access to the kinds of information that our staff offers to families and professionals who support children and youth with special needs. | http://massfamilyties.org/info/directory.php
MassOptions
MassOptions connects elders, individuals with disabilities and their caregivers with agencies and organizations that can best meet their needs. | https://www.massoptions.org
Rewarding Work Resources, Inc., a 501(c) (3) nonprofit corporation, developed the Rewarding Work website which gives older people and individuals with disabilities the choice of hiring staff directly and allows them control of the process of hiring personal assistants. The site also provides private agencies a resource to assist in recruitment of direct support professionals and other staff. |
https://www.rewardingwork.orgThe Sibling Leadership Network is a national organization that provides siblings of individuals with disabilities the information, support, and tools to advocate with their brothers and sisters and to promote the issues important to them and their entire families. |
http://www.siblingleadership.orgFounded in 1990, the Sibling Support Project is the first national program dedicated to the life-long and ever-changing concerns of millions of brothers and sisters of people with special health, developmental, and mental health concerns. |
https://www.siblingsupport.org
