MASS submitted various letters concerning the crisis standards of care and other concerns related to COVID-19. Here is a letter to Dan Tsai, Assistant Secretary of Mass Health about COVID-19 and Massachusetts residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities in congregate settings.

MASS submitted various letters concerning the crisis standards of care and other concerns related to COVID-19. Here is a letter to the DPH about hospital visitation policies for persons with disabilities.

Kamisha Heriveaux is a self-advocate liaison and editor of The Mass Flash. She is also a wheelchair-bound 26-year-old and was born with Cerebral Palsy.

“I do feel like there are moments I do feel alone, I have my moments” said Heriveaux. “I do everything you can do, I just do it differently and with a wheelchair."

During this pandemic, social distancing has been especially difficult. She was accustomed to her routine.

Heriveaux is earning her GED and wants to go to school for photography.

Passion, Purpose and Power: Changemaking through Awareness and Action

Awareness & Action, a program of Mass Advocates Standing Strong and the first of its kind in Massachusetts, is a three-hour, interactive training by people with disabilities for people with disabilities on recognizing and responding to abuses committed against adults with disabilities. It addresses five types of abuse: physical, sexual, neglect, verbal and financial - through five powerful video vignettes. Meet John Mullaly and Pauline Bosma, two of A&A’s most experienced self-advocate trainers.

My name is Donna Jay.

I live in Salem Ma. There are many advocacy areas that are important to me. I advocate to make sure everyone knows they have a voice and knows how to use it.

“In honor of Developmental Disabilities Month, representatives of the Patrick administration, members of the Legislature and advocates gathered today at the State House to celebrate the upcoming name change of the Department of Mental Retardation (DMR) to the Department of Developmental Services (DDS), which will take effect on June 30…”

I enjoy playing video games, watching TV shows, anime and movies, hanging out a few of my friends. I am currently working full time at the Chipotle in Medford, Massachusetts.

Al Milne is from the Southeast Region. He lives independently in North Easton, MA. Al was inspired by Gail to join the board. Al has been with MASS Advocates for over four years.

God is at work in my life in many ways. God is there in the rough times, like recently when my brother had a stroke. Your hugs helped me feel God's presence of healing.

In August I had a yearly mammogram. Two weeks later they told me they had to redo it. The Doctor came out and told me he needed to do a biopsy.

My name is Crystal Guyette. I'm 27 years old and have lived in Leominster for 6 years. For the past 10 years I've been going to and from foster homes. This is why I am an overcomer.

Christina is a new MASS Board member in the Northeast Region. Below is the impressive speech she gave at the MASS conference, when running for the board opening:

"Good Morning.

This is a story about my life before I knew about advocacy. It's a story about how advocacy changed my life and how I'm able to advocate for me. Since I started I'm a much better person because of the support I have with Bridgewell and advocacy.

My name is Sandra Jones and I was born in Boston. My parents were young teenagers and when they learned I had a lot of medical issues, they felt it was better to let someone else raise me. So I don't have any memory or connection to my birth parents.