After I’m Gone: Health and Advanced Care Planning
with Janet Rico, Elise Kopley, and Leo Sarkissian
Tuesday, October 13 | 12:00PM

This session will cover:

• What is advanced care planning?
• Educating healthcare professionals so they “know” your loved one
• Serious medical illness.

“Having the conversation” regarding preferences and determining the best health care proxy will also be discussed.

Janet Rico, a nurse practitioner, holds a doctorate in Law and Public Policy, with several decades experience in various clinical settings including palliative care. For much of her career, she trained graduate level nurses at Simmons University, and as the assistant dean of graduate nursing programs at Northeastern University. She served on and chaired the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing. Janet is the former Chair of The Arc of Massachusetts Board of Directors and has participated in several state level health task forces.

Elise Kopley is Deputy General Counsel at the Department of Developmental Services (DDS).

Autism Support Centers: Building Community Across Massachusetts
Thursday, October 15 @ 12:00PM

Autism Support Centers provide a wide range of resources, programs, and support for autistic individuals and their families across Massachusetts.

Join Advocates for Autism of Massachusetts (AFAM) to learn more about what Autism Support Centers offer, how families can access services and connect with their local center, and the opportunities available to get involved in advocacy and community engagement.

We’ll also explore how these local resources can help families connect with broader efforts to advance meaningful change for the autism community.

Protecting the Promise of Community Living: Olmstead In Massachusetts
Thursday, October 22 @ 12:00PM

Special Guest: Shira Wakschlag, Senior Executive Officer of Legal Advocacy and General Counsel, The Arc of the United States

For more than 25 years, the landmark Supreme Court decision Olmstead v. L.C. has protected the rights of people with disabilities to live in their communities rather than being unnecessarily placed in institutions. In June 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a concerning memo, changing how the federal government could interpret and enforce Olmstead. This moment calls for focused advocacy.

Join The Arc of Massachusetts Government Affairs team for an in-depth discussion exploring the state of community living in Massachusetts and current advocacy opportunities. We will be joined by Shira Wakschlag, Senior Executive Officer of Legal Advocacy and General Counsel, The Arc of the United States, who will bring a national perspective to this crucial civil rights issue.

We will share practical ways that advocates, families, and policymakers can work together to defend home- and community-based services, uphold disability rights, and strengthen our collective voices to ensure that every individual with intellectual and developmental disabilities can thrive safely and meaningfully in their community.