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Advocacy

The Disability Resource Center acts in collaboration with other organizations such as the Massachusetts Statewide Independent Living Council and the other ten MA Independent Living Centers to eliminate barriers to full social participation by individuals with disabilities. Advocacy may take any one of several forms including technical assistance on laws and regulations to other service organizations, or education of elected and appointed local and state officials on rights and benefits of participation by persons with disabilities.
All People Accessible Business (APAB)

Accessible Business for All People

The Disability Resource Centers' Accessible Business for All People  (ABAP) Project offers businesses guidance to become more accessible and reach a broader customer base.  Businesses that are designated as Accessible Business for All People will be recognized and promoted by the DRC to the disability community and beyond.

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Legislative Priorities

Legislative Priorities

 

FY 27 Legislative Priorities

 

Options Counseling Line Item 9110-1445

Restore 2.2 Million for options Counseling

Service is reduced by half from $5.05 million to $2.8 million.  The prescription advantage line item now includes funding for Options Counseling) previously funded through line item 9110-0600), a free service helping older adults, individuals with disabilties, and their caregivers learn about and navigate resources and care options.

Personal Care Attendat Program Line Item 4000-0601

The Governor is proposing a total of $100 million in cuts to the PCA program for FY27. $32 million in cuts already agreed to by the PCA Working Group (to meal prep hours and overtime availability) that are already set to be implemented July 1, 2026. And then another $68 million in additional cuts for FY27.
The Personal Care Attendant (PCA) program—part of Medicaid home- and community-based services—is designed to keep people living independently rather than in institutional care. When funding is reduced at the scale you’re describing ($100M total, including already planned $32M cuts),

 

Accessible Affordable Housing Funding 7004-9030
Increase total funding for AHVP to $25M

People with disabilities are more than twice as likely to be homeless as their nondisabled peers. The Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP) provides housing vouchers to low-income individuals with disabilities between the ages of 18 and 60.

862 vouchers are currently leased, and no new vouchers have been issued since January 2025, due to funding. However, as of January 2026, there are 94,895 unique AHVP applicants in CHAMP, 82x the total number of vouchers. The governor’s budget allocates sufficient funding to maintain the existing vouchers, but the waitlist numbers show an overwhelming need for more vouchers.

The language in Outside Section 72 of the Governor’s proposed budget would allow for programmatic adjustments of the AHVP program, which would make it easier to use, administer, and issue.

 

                  
For more information contact Lisa Orgettas
978-741-0077 Ext. 100 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Olmstead Plan

Olmstead Plan

The Community First Olmstead Plan is a work in progress. The six goals provide a framework for ongoing and future work focused on achieving the mandate and the spirit of the Olmstead decision: people with disabilities across the lifespan have a right to live in their communities.

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The national network of ADA & IT Technical Assistance Centers

Disabilities Act

The national network of ADA & IT Technical Assistance Centers, also known as DBTACs, seek comments on experiences with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Go to www.adata.org and share your experiences in access to your place of employment, or access to public services.

Read more …Disabilities Act