The mission of The Arc of Massachusetts is to enhance the lives of individuals who have intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. We accomplish this through advocacy of supports and services based in the community.
MassHealth Cancelled May 14 open forum on Duals (Medicare-Medicaid)
MassHealth cancelled its dual eligible public meeting set for this month. They will not meet on May 14. MassHealth stated that they will reschedule and distribute that date soon. For more info go here.
Free Seminar on DSM 5 and autism spectrum
Free seminar on how redefining autism spectrum disorders in DSM-5 might affect your child's services. See flyer for more information about May 9th at 7pm in the Waltham public library. Go here for more information.
Still Time to Support All Aboard
There still is time to donate through All Aboard The Arc -- Go here to donate to one of the teams (donate now button on right side).
As we reported on April 27, the House ended its debate on budget amendments pertaining to disability accounts. Thanks for your hard work calling and emailing your representatives asking them to support disability amendments!
If you haven't already, please communicate with your Senator as soon as possible.
To write to your senator now, go here(please include some personal comments too about yourself or someone you know).
Therese Murray, President of the Senate
To get the Senate request fact sheet please go here and pick link in top box (Senate).
Shaun and Me - A Brother Shares His Story and Welcomes Yours!
Growing up I never thought of my relationship with my younger brother, Shaun, as any different from those shared by brothers. I never recall looking at him any differently or my parents showing him any more or less attention because of his disability.
Around the age of five Shaun was diagnosed as autistic with impulse control disorder. Instead of looking at our families' situation as strange, I was struck by all the wonderful things that made him special rather than different - from his great memory that had a knack for recording every last minute detail of an event to his love for any movie that had music in it.
Final Rule Released for Community First Choice Option: A Must Have Medicaid Program
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius recently announced a new Affordable Care Act option for community-based care. The final rule for the Community First Choice (CFC) Option has been issued.
It is a new Medicaid State Plan option that will allow states to expand its community-based attendant services and supports to people with disabilities. For instance, under this option, the personal care attendant program would expand to include verbal cuing. Plus, participating states would not be allowed to exercise service caps or waiting lists.
States that choose to participate in this option will receive a six percent increase in federal Medicaid matching funds for costs associated with this program.
Greater Waltham Arc has received recognition for its art program. It has received a gold star award from the Massachusetts Cultural Council. This year it had an exhibit of work at the State House.
