Massachusetts Advocates Standing Strong

09/09/2025

"...You guys have to talk to each other and other people that you trust in your lives, like your families. Supported decision-making is a way to make change..." - Kim Plaut, MASS Metro Region member, and former Board member testified in support of the supported decision-making bill in MA.

▶️View the September 9, 2025 Hearing here: https://malegislature.gov/Events/Hearings/Detail/5334

09/09/2025

"...supported decision-making would give me freedom to make my own decisions. I encourage people to stand up for their rights and use supported decision-making to make their own choices..." - Beth Kollett, MASS Central Region member testified in support of the supported decision-making bill in MA.

▶️View the September 9, 2025 Hearing here: https://malegislature.gov/Events/Hearings/Detail/5334

09/09/2025

"...universal changing stations helps not to discriminate against people with disabilities and give them equal access...it would make it more accessible for everyone..." - William Fahey, MASS Peer Trainer testified in support of MA House Bill 256 and Senate Bill 102 An Act requiring universal changing stations in public buildings.

▶️View the September 9, 2025 Hearing here: https://malegislature.gov/Events/Hearings/Detail/5334

Written testimony may be submitted to the Joint Committee via email and will be accepted until the bill is acted upon. Written testimony on House bills should be sent to Audrey Herrmann (Audrey.Herrmann@mahouse.gov) and written testimony on Senate bills should sent to Olivia Mathot (Olivia.mathot@masenate.gov).

09/09/2025

Tune in for the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities Hearing:▶️ https://malegislature.gov/Events/Hearings/Detail/5334

View more about the bills and hear the testimony here: https://malegislature.gov/Events/Hearings/Detail/5334

Written testimony may be submitted to the Joint Committee via email and will be accepted until the bill is acted upon. Written testimony on House bills should be sent to Audrey Herrmann and written testimony on Senate bills should sent to Olivia Mathot .

This hearing will be chaired by Senate Chair Robyn Kennedy. CART services and ASL interpretation will be available.  All matters filed in the House that are listed above are required to be reported on by November 8, 2025, subject to extensions consistent with House Rule 27.

09/02/2025

"...The business world is saturated with phrases such as "inclusion," "belonging," and "equity." Yet, as Kelsey Oates, an autistic entrepreneur who founded a digital platform for the intellectual disability community, explained, those words often mean little without action...Years later, she found support and mentorship through Massachusetts Advocates Standing Strong, which eventually led her to create SelfAdvocacyWins.com ..." -Forbes

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jenniferpalumbo/2025/09/01/how-women-are-changing-what-inclusion-means-in-tech-and-beyond/

On International Women in Cyber Day, leaders share how women, especially those with disabilities are redefining inclusion in tech and business beyond buzzwords

07/31/2025

“After a decade of advocacy, Melissa Reilly returned to the State House to witness the Massachusetts Senate pass a bill she championed, removing harmful language from 362 laws and advancing inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities.” - Special Olympics Massachusetts

Read the full story here 👉 https://www.specialolympicsma.org/blog/stories/decade-advocacy-pays-off-melissa-reilly-sees-bill-historic-passed

Senator Jamie Eldridge

07/26/2025

“ADA allows for people like me who have disabilities to have access to jobs, education, and so forth. Prior to the ADA many faced oppression and shame and were often denied jobs or other opportunities. I am an advocate because I believe that everyone should have equal opportunity and should feel accepted. And while the ADA does exist unfortunately a lot of people are still denied needs and accessibility which I feel is something that needs to be advocated for.” - Tanner

35 Days of - Join us in sharing what the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) means to you and why you advocate. Every day we will share posts from the disability community leading up to the 35 year anniversary of the ADA.

Want to count down with us? Follow along or use the hashtag

07/25/2025

“I advocate because I like to help people when they can't advocate for themselves.” - Sammy

35 Days of - Join us in sharing what the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) means to you and why you advocate. Every day we will share posts from the disability community leading up to the 35 year anniversary of the ADA.

Want to count down with us? Follow along or use the hashtag

07/24/2025

“ADA is important because everyone should have the same rights.
Label jars, not people.” - Brian

35 Days of - Join us in sharing what the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) means to you and why you advocate. Every day we will share posts from the disability community leading up to the 35 year anniversary of the ADA.

Want to count down with us? Follow along or use the hashtag

07/23/2025

📣 “ is here to stay! We will not go away!”

07/23/2025

“The ADA helps me stand up for people who can’t speak for themselves.” - Tim

35 Days of - Join us in sharing what the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) means to you and why you advocate. Every day we will share posts from the disability community leading up to the 35 year anniversary of the ADA.
Want to count down with us? Follow along or use the hashtag
.” - Tim

35 Days of - Join us in sharing what the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) means to you and why you advocate. Every day we will share posts from the disability community leading up to the 35 year anniversary of the ADA.

Want to count down with us? Follow along or use the hashtag

07/23/2025

ADA35 Rally and March today!
Wednesday, July 23, Boston City Hall Plaza

• 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM People gather at City Hall
• 12 -12:30 PM Raising of a Disability Rights Flag, Speakers, Call to Action, March begins
• 12:30 -1:30 PM March from Boston City Hall Plaza down Tremont Street to The Embrace on Boston Common (half a mile distance)
• 1:45 PM Speakers, Chants, Performance of We Shall Overcome.
• 2:30 PM Final call to action, songs, chants
The MBTA will provide cooling buses at the end of the march.
Water will be available at a city water truck so bring a bottle for refills.

ASL interpreters will be on site and remote CART can be accessed at https://www.streamtext.net/player?event=LCA

More information is available at https://www.boston.gov/calendar/ada-35-boston.

The Embrace, a sculpture commemorating Martin Luther King and Coretta Scott King, “reflects the power of collective action, the role of women in the freedom movement, and the forging of solidarity out of mutual empathy and vulnerability,” per Embrace Boston.

Other logistical notes for the rally and march:
o The march route is approximately one-half mile long. The march route can be viewed at https://bit.ly/ADA35Boston_MarchRoute.
o Dropoff location for The Ride at City Hall Plaza is 5 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02203
o The pickup location for The Ride at The Embrace is 139 Tremont. We recommend picking an address on West Street though, which will be fully open to vehicles during the entire day.
o Accessible subway stations near the rally and march are Government Center, State Street, Downtown Crossing, and Park Street.
o Two cooling buses provided by the MBTA will be located on Tremont Street near West Street, adjacent of The Embrace.
o Accessible porta potties will be on Boston Common near The Embrace.
o Ambulance/medical care will be available on the Boston Common.
Contact BCIL for more information at contactBCIL@bostoncil.org or disability@boston.gov , and to add your group to the supporters list. Full details about the day including disability accessibility information, a schedule of events, and answers to frequently asked questions can be found at www.boston.gov/ada35.

Supporters include:
1199SEIU
Abilities Dance Boston
AbleYouth Alliance
Acton Commission on Disabilities
Advocates
App Drivers Union
Bay State Council of the Blind
Boston Center for Independent Living
Boston Commission for Persons with Disabilities
Boston Labor Council
Boston Region MPO
Boston Self Help Center
Brain Injury Association of MA
Cape Organization for Rights of the Disabled (CORD)
Center for Public Representation
Community Labor United
DEAF, Inc.
Dignity Alliance Massachusetts
Disability Law Center
Disability Policy Consortium
Disability Resource Center
Easterseals Massachusetts
Embrace Boston
Federation for Children with Special Needs
Greater Boston Labor Council
Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS)
Institute for Community Inclusion
Institute for Human Centered Design
JVS Boston
Kiva Centers
Lurie Institute on Disability Policy
MASILC
Mass Aging Access
Mass General Brigham
Mass General Employee Resource Group
Mass Senior Action Council
Massachusetts Advocates Standing Strong (MASS)
Massachusetts APSE
Massachusetts Association for Mental Health
Massachusetts Association of People Supporting Employment First
Massachusetts Commission for the Blind
Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council
Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress (MDSC)
Massachusetts Office on Disability
MBTA
Metro Boston Recovery Learning Community
Metro West Center for Independent Living
New England ADA Center
Newburyport Disability Commission
Northeast Independent Living Program
Open Door Arts
Perkins School for the Blind
Requipment
SAG-AFTRA New England
SCI Boston
Southeast Recovery Learning Community
Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
Stavros Center for Independent Living
The ARC of Massachusetts
Think Outside the Vox
Vinfen
Winthrop Commission on Disabilities
Woburn Commission on Disability
WORK Inc.