Get Educated!

The Debates for the Massachusetts election have begun.

• October 3:  Attorney General Debate between incumbent Maura Healey and challenger Jay McMahon. The debate was hosted by WGBH News and moderated by Jim Braude and Margery Eagan. Watch the debate at www.wgbh.org. Antonio Caban and Maddie Kilgannon wrote an article about the debate at the wgbh link, but the video is not close captioned.
• Tuesday, October 9 from 8-9 p.m.: Gubernatorial Debate is between incumbent Charlie Baker and opponent Jay Gonzalez.  The debate will air live on WBSK TV as well as stream live on CBSBoston.com. Jonathan Keller will moderate.  Anyone can submit issue-oriented questions by emailing kelleratlarge@wbztv.com or tweet @kelleratlarge.  For more information, visit boston.cbslocal.com.
• Sunday, October 21 at 7 p.m.:  At this Senatorial Debate,  sponsored by WBGY Springfield, incumbent Elizabeth Warren will face Geoff Diehl.  Questions can be submitted at www.masslive.com.

Voter Information

• Register before or on October 17.  To register on-line, or to download a registration form, visit https://www.sec.state.ma.us/OVR/Welcome.aspx.
• To see a preview of your ballot, visit http://www.sec.state.ma.us/wheredoivotema/.  Fill out your address and click on Show My Results. The next page will show your voting location and your current elected officials.  Click on “My State Election Ballot” to see your choices!
• Early Voting begins on Monday October 22. Contact your town clerk for the locations and schedule for your town.
• Absentee Ballots – There is a new short form for absentee ballots.  Fill out the ballot and bring or mail it to your town clerk.  http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/2018-Short-Form-Absentee-Ballot-Application.pdf

New Resources

• From RootedinRights.org – Their voting page has several good videos
• From NAD.org (National Association of the Deaf) – an ASL Voter Assistance Hotline

Accessibility

If you encounter any accessibility issues, contact the state at 800-462-VOTE (8683) (toll free) or 617-727-2828. You may also e-mail them at elections@sec.state.ma.us.

The Disability Law Center can also help.  Please contact DLC at 800-872-9992 or 617-723-8455.  Visit their website www.dlc-ma.org.

Learn more about your voting rights and accessibility requirements at our website at revupma.org.

AutoMARK Machine:

All polling locations in MA are required to have a working AutoMARK machine, positioned so that voters can vote privately.  Anyone can use the AutoMARK.  Visit revupma.org for more information on how to use the AutoMARK machine.

September 4, 2018

Today is the MA Primary Election.

Do you have a plan?  Do you know where to vote?  Do you know who to vote for?  The polls are open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m.

Accessibility:

If you encounter any accessibility issues, contact the state at 800-462-VOTE (8683) (toll free) or 617-727-2828. You may also e-mail them at elections@sec.state.ma.us.

We can also help.  Please contact us at 800-872-9992 or 617-723-8455.

Learn more at the REV-UP MA website at revupma.org.

Learn who is on the ballot, and where to vote:

Visit the state website:  Find my election information.  Enter your address and click on Show My Results.  On the next page, note your polling location.  Click on whichever party you plan to pull on Primary Day.  You will see everyone who will be on your primary ballot.  Not all candidates have an opponent.  For races with opponents, we strongly encourage you to learn about each candidate!  Check local papers, social media, etc, for forums and debates.  Some races are relying on write-ins – check your local newspapers and other media and be prepared.

Discussion of the Disabled Persons Protection Commission’s (DPPC) Sexual Assault Response Unit (SARU) with Attorney Susan Vickers, Director, and Peer Support Leaders, Patricia Quatieri, and, Leigh-Ann Barry.

BOSTON, August 2, 2018 – The Disability Law Center (DLC) issues a Report today announcing the results of its abuse and neglect investigation at Tri-County Schools (TCS) in Easthampton, Massachusetts. DLC substantiated abuse and neglect at TCS. The school is closing for approximately a year in order to reassess and reopen the school’s operation with a focus on a trauma-informed care model.

TCS is a private, day special education school in Easthampton, Massachusetts run by a non-profit, Northeast Center for Youth & Families (NCYF) and approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. TCS has the capacity to serve up to 115 special education students, who primarily struggle with social, emotional and behavioral manifestations of their disabilities.

During the early spring of 2018, DLC received complaints regarding the treatment of students with disabilities at TCS. As part of its investigation, DLC reviewed three student records, viewed restraint video and interviewed 19 parents. DLC also reviewed records from local police, the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF), conducted a site visit and interviewed TCS administrators.

DLC’s investigation found TCS staff engaged in abuse by repeatedly using excessive force in restraints and engaging in improper time-out and disciplinary practices. For example:

• One 14-year-old student, whose record DLC reviewed, was restrained seven times in a seven week period. He was injured in four of the seven restraints (accidentally kneed on the left side of his face by a staff member on one occasion and a variety of cuts and abrasions on his side, arms and face during the other restraints).
• A parent reported her 8-year-old son’s finger was broken during a behavioral incident in June 2018. She, like several parents we interviewed, noted that he was restrained almost daily and “came home with bruises on his arms and back almost every day due to holds.”
• A parent of an 11-year-old student reported that his son was restrained daily as well and often came up with scrapes down his side, lower back and with bruising in the shape of finger prints.

DLC also found TSC neglected students with disabilities by failing to provide a safe environment by not maintaining adequate numbers of trained staff, which resulted in the over-criminalization of disability-related behavior and the failure to properly implement effective social/emotional services and supports. For example:

• TCS staff called the police alleging a student-on-student fight. When police arrived, they discovered no student fight, but only three students who had attempted to repeatedly escape improperly administered restraints. All three of the students were charged with “Disturbing School Assembly.”
• A DCF investigation into four missing students revealed that the students’ unlicensed teacher was a substitute from a temp agency and her Instructional Assistant (IA) was new and on a probationary period. The IA could not explain the protocol for different student safety statuses (one student who led the escape was supposed to be in arms-length of staff at all times). The teacher could also not explain how the student left the room without staff. During the month-long investigation period, the teacher was terminated, the IA quit and the Director of Operations resigned from her role.

“The pattern and practice of forcibly restraining and containing — and then arresting — students for disability-related behavior at a special education school is extremely troubling.” says Marlene Sallo, DLC’s Executive Director. “This treatment causes both physical harm and long-term psychological trauma.”

DLC supports TCS’ decision to close, reassess its operation and re-open with a trauma-informed care focus. In support of that effort, DLC seeks a remedial plan from TCS in advance to address these findings.

DLC, as the designated Protection and Advocacy System for Massachusetts, is authorized under federal law to investigate incidents of abuse and neglect of individuals with disabilities. The investigation was conducted and the report was written by Colleen Shea, Attorney/Skadden Fellow and Stanley J. Eichner, Litigation Director.

Contact: Executive Director Marlene Sallo (617)-723-8455 x145; msallo@dlc-ma.org

DLC Tri-County School Investigation Report

Come learn more about using your power to vote to make change!

Tuesday, August, 28, 2018
2:00pm-4:00pm
Worcester Public Library
3 Salem Square
Worcester, MA 01608

REV Up aims to increase the number of people who vote

Many supports, services and civil rights have been under attack

More people with disabilities and the Deaf/Hard of Hearing/ Late-Deafened/Deaf Blind communities need to vote

Make change – VOTE!

PLEASE REGISTER!
Contact Ellen Perkins at:
Voice: 508-502-7576
VP: 508-762-1164
eperkins@centerlw.org

ASL Interpreters and CART will be provided.
Please request other communication access

BEFORE August 7th.

DLC Staff Attorney Caitlin Parton talks about the challenges facing persons who are deaf or hard of hearing in accessing services from medical providers, in public accommodations and in housing.

The federal and state election officials left us all with the feeling that they all are trying very hard to ensure that all polling locations are accessible to everyone.  In spite of their efforts, we are not at 100%, but they were knowledgeable on the issues, and seemed intent on continuing to fix barriers.

Going forward, we have two important and related goals – to register people with disabilities to vote, and to Get Out The Vote in November.  We also need to continue to be vigilant and ensure all events and venues are accessible to everyone.  Our emails will provide opportunities to become active as we determine how to best achieve these goals.

Thank you very much to the panel members who made the effort to attend, to update us on current efforts, and to listen to our concerns.

May 18, 2018 – A  Report  to  the  President  of  the  Senate,  the  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives, and the Chairs of the Joint Committee on Mental Health  Substance  Use  and  Recovery,  the  Joint  Committee  on  the  Judiciary,  the  Senate  Ways  and  Means  Committee,  and  the  House  Ways  and  Means  Committee,  submitted  pursuant  to  the  FY  2018  Budget  (Acts  of  2017,  Chapter 47, Item #8900-0001.)

Read the Report

Host, Walter Noons, is joined by DLC’s new Executive Director, Marlene Sallo. Marlene talks about her background, what brought her to DLC, and her vision for the organization.

DLC Finds Residential School in Swansea Effectively Remedied Abuse and Neglect Concerns

BOSTON, April 11, 2018 – The Disability Law Center (DLC) issues a Report today announcing the results of its abuse and neglect investigation at Meadowridge Academy (Meadowridge) in Swansea, Massachusetts. DLC substantiated abuse and neglect at Meadowridge, but also found it has comprehensively remedied the abuse and neglect concerns.

Meadowridge is a private, residential special education school, which is a part of the Justice Resource Institute (JRI) network, and approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Meadowridge serves as a placement for up to 36 students with significant mental health issues, behavioral difficulties and complex trauma histories.

During the winter of 2016, DLC received complaints regarding the treatment of students at Meadowridge. As part of its investigation, DLC reviewed records from Meadowridge, multiple state oversight agencies and local police. DLC also interviewed families, conducted two site visits and interviewed the Director of Meadowridge and JRI staff.

DLC’s investigation substantiated abuse and neglect against students with disabilities from 2014 through 2016. Specifically, in 2015, one residential supervisor abused a 17-year old student by engaging in a sexual relationship with her. Additionally, from January 2014 to October 2016, DLC found several staff members engaged in sexually inappropriate behavior with students. All employees involved in any misconduct were terminated or resigned. DLC also found Meadowridge neglected students by failing to provide a safe environment (e.g. 142 police incidents at Meadowridge from 2014-2016, including peer-on-peer assaults and runaways).

DLC also found Meadowridge has engaged in extensive corrective action measures to prevent further harm to students with disabilities. For example:

• Meadowridge installed 58 cameras in all common areas that can be accessed remotely 24/7;
• Windows were installed in all doors to increase visibility;
• Unscheduled night-time site visits are now conducted on a regular basis;
• Reporting mechanisms were changed so lower-level employees can report potential boundary violations about their supervisors to other administration;
• Staff training changed from lecture-style model to practical application model, including full-day shadowing;

These changes have decreased runaways dramatically and eliminated staff boundary violations at Meadowridge. Due to the proactive and broad nature of Meadowridge’s remediation, DLC does not seek any additional remedies, but will continue to monitor the school for compliance.

“The misconduct at Meadowridge was egregious” says Marlene Sallo, DLC’s Executive Director. “However, we commend Meadowridge for assessing every aspect of their operation and engaging in thoughtful and effective corrective action at every level.”

Read the Report

Contact: Stanley J. Eichner, Litigation Director

617-723-8455

seichner@dlc-ma.org