THREE CRITICAL ADVOCACY DAY "ASKS"

Under the ADA, passed in 1990, discrimination on the basis of disability is prohibited. However, elements of longstanding healthcare practices and conventions violate this provision. One such area is organ transplantation. Historically, individuals with cognitive and physical disabilities have been denied life-saving organ transplants based on assumptions that their lives are less worthy, that they are incapable of complying with post-transplant medical regimens, or that they lack adequate support systems to ensure such compliance. 

This bill -- officially known as H3271, An act concerning nondiscrimination access to organ transplantation, sponsored by Rep. Jim Cantwell -- will guarantee that Massachusetts residents in need of organ transplants will not encounter discrimination on the basis of a disability.     

• Organ transplants for people with disabilities: Know Your Rights
• An act concerning nondiscrimination access to organ transplantation - Bill Text

2. HIGHER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES      

Massachusetts' Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment (ICE) program gives 18- to 22-year-old students with disabilities higher education opportunities in an inclusive college setting. The program helps these students avoid the increased isolation that often develops during transition from school life to adult life, when education and other services are no longer mandated. It is well documented that access to college improves the rates of employment, wages, self-determination skills, and independent living for adults with disabilities. 

This legislation expands ICE's grant program, supporting partnerships between high schools and public institutions of higher education in order to include students. It also provides consideration of higher education for older students through the special education process and amends the higher education statute to address inclusion, including provisions allowing students with severe disabilities to audit college courses, even if they are unable to pass MCAS. 

• H1064/S672 An act to create higher education opportunities for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities
• More information on ICE program  

3. STATE FUNDS FOR MDSC PROGRAMS

For the previous three fiscal years, the state legislature has included a $100,000 appropriation in the budget for the MDSC. This funding has been essential to our ability to advocate for full, meaningful lives for individuals with Down syndrome across the state, directly paying for programs and services that provide hope to new and expectant parents, training to medical professionals and students, best practices to educators, meaningful opportunities for teens and adults.

Although that $100,000 line item once again made it into the House version of the FY16 budget -- beginning July 1 -- the Senate DID NOT include our appropriation in its recently released version. 

See below for an action alert related to reinstating these funds. The state budget process is a long one and we fully expect that this funding to be in play on June 4 at our Advocacy Day. This money is critical to the continuation of the MDSC educational outreach programs that help the 5,000 families who are a part of the MDSC network. 

Once you register for our 2nd Annual Advocacy Day at the State House on Thursday, June 4, we hope you will join us for our pre-event training webinar on May 27 at Noon. You'll learn everything you need to know for a successful day advocating, including how to contact your legislators to set up meetings, what to say during your meetings, and all the top priorities we will be asking legislators to support.

Register for the free webinar here. Don't worry, if you can't make the webinar, we will make it available on our YouTube page or stay tuned to our Facebook page for a direct link. 

Finally, as mentioned earlier, the budget process is underway, and we need your help NOW to take action on several important items. See below for that information.