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People with Disabilities

  See also:  USA.gov/disability-services

 Sections:

1.  Financial
  A. Cash Assistance – Public Benefits
  B. Cash Assistance – Private/Grants & In-Kind
  C. Employment- Finding Work, Disclosure, Requesting Accommodations
  D. Home modifications
  E. Parents of Disabled Adults – planning for the future
  F. Worker's Compensation
2.  Disability Rights – Self-Advocacy, ADA & Other Legal Rights
3.  Housing
4.  Assistive Technology/Adaptive Equipment
5.  Services – home care, vocational/Mass rehab, information & referral
6.  Social & Recreational
7.  Safety
8.  Transportation

 Also See:   Basic Needs/Health Care Coverage

  1. Financial
  1. Cash Assistance - Public Benefits

  • Patient Handout: Cash Assistance for Massachusetts Residents with Disabilities - brief version  (Also see: Detailed version; both explain SSDI, SSI, TAFDC and EAEDC) (both versions rev 10/23)

  • Public Cash Assistance Programs:
  • State Employees:

    •  

    1. Cash Assistance - Private/Grants & In-Kind
  • Prosthetics - Private Financial Assistance
      MGH Community News, May 2003
  • Grants for Boston Residents - elders and disabled adults

    MORE at: Financial Assistance- Non-Governmental  (funds for specific populations & specific needs).

    •  

    1. Employment

     

    1. Home Modifications
  • Home Modification Loan Program (HMLP)
    		•
      Provides no- and low-interest loans to modify the homes of low-income elders, adults, and children with disabilities. Examples: adding ramps, widening doors to accommodate a wheelchair.
  • National Association of Home Builders' Certified Aging in Place Specialists- MGH Community News, March 2014
  • See also: Reasonable Modification requests (rental properties).
    		•


      Patient Handouts from the CRC

     

    1. Parents of Disabled Adults –planning for the future
  • ABLE Accounts and Special Needs Trusts - see our Caregivers page - For Parents of People with Disabilities
  • Is My Intellectually Disabled Child Likely to be Entitled to a State-Funded Group Home?
      MGH Community News, October 2017
  • PALS, Inc. - Lifetime informal support network for disabled adults
      MGH Community News, November 2007
  • When Your Child with Special Needs Turns 18
      MGH Community News, September 2008
  • Special Considerations for Disabled Dependent Adult Children- Mass Bar Association, 2018

    See also:   For Parents of those with Special Needs

    •  

    1. Worker's Compensation
  • Mass. Department of Industrial Accidents
      Oversees the Workers' Comp system in Massachusetts

    •  2.  Disability Rights- Self-Advocacy, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) & Other Legal

    • Self-Advocacy Guide for People with Disabilities - How to Get On offers a guides on a wide variety of topics
    • The ADA- brief overview -Covers discrimination in Employment (15 or more employees), Public Services, Public Accommodations, Telecommunications and Miscellaneous. Includes disability definition for coverage under the ADA
    • The “ADA Amendments Act of 2008” revises the definition of “disability” to more broadly encompass impairments that substantially limit a major life activity. The amended language also states that mitigating measures, including assistive devices, auxiliary aids, accommodations, medical therapies and supplies (other than eyeglasses and contact lenses) have no bearing in determining whether a disability qualifies under the law. Changes also clarify coverage of impairments that are episodic or in remission that substantially limit a major life activity when active, such as epilepsy or post traumatic stress disorder. The amendments took effect January 1, 2009. (For more information: https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/regulations/adaaa_fact_sheet.cfm.)
    • The ADA and Employment - discrimination defined and related fact-sheets, US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
    • A Guide to Disability Rights Laws - US Dept of Justice
    • Fair Housing (Massachusetts)- rights in rental properties including reasonable accommodations, reasonable modifications and service animals
    • Mass. Office on Disability
        Client Services Program provides advocacy for those in danger of "falling through the cracks." Also- information & referral services, and can consult on the Americans with Disabilities Act and other federal and state laws. (See also MGH Community News Story.)
    • Patient Handouts
    • See Also : Legal

      3. Housing

      4. Assistive Technology (AT)/Adaptive Equipment

    • MA Assistive Technology Loan Programs
        The main program offers low interest and slow-repayment loans for items over $500 - see www.massatloan.org/.

      The MA AT Long Term Device Loan Program- provides free of charge, low-cost assistive devices to low-income Massachusetts residents. "Low-cost" means anything with a total cost of under $500. Users may keep the device as long as it is needed.

      More information - MA Assistive Technology Loan Programs - MGH Community News, December, 2010.

    • Find your AT - MassMATCH
        MassMATCH is the Commonwealth's initiative to Maximize Assistive Technology (AT) in Consumer's Hands. The Find Your AT page helps to pick an appropriate technology, including demos and programs, then lend technology to see if it works for you. Also see Fund Your AT for insurance coverage issues, loans, used equipment, etc.

    • www.getATstuff.org
        As of February 2019, site is no longer operational.
    • Assistive Technology Regional Center

      Regional Assistive Technology Providers
      Western MA UCP-Berkshire County
      (413) 442-1562
      Central MA
      Greater Boston
      Southeast/Cape       		MA Easter Seals
      1-800-922-8290
      (508) 751-6448
      Northeast/No. Shore CLASS, Inc.
      (978) 975-8587
      Fall River/New Bedford Project SHARE
      (508) 999-8482

      For more information or for vocational-related AT:

      Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission
      Phone: (617) 204-3851 (voice), (617) 204-3815 (TDD)

    • The Home Modification Loan Program & The Assistive Technology Loan Program - MGH Community News, July 2008

    • Also see: Durable Medical Equipment (DME)

    • Vehicle Modification

     5.  Services- home care, vocational/Mass Rehab, information & referral

     

    (Note: Historically MCB was responsible for MassHealth applications for the blind; this is no longer the case, MassHealth accepts these applications. -MGH Community News, October 2009)

     

     

     6.   Social & Recreational
     7.  Safety

     8.  Transportation

      Also See:  

     

    Rev 6/18

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