As an Employment Specialist at CLASS, Inc, I help prepare and support individuals with developmental disabilities and mental health conditions for work. Switching from the business field, I entered the human services sector two years ago because I wanted to give back to this community. My heart led me into this field.

My job is very rewarding.

People go into the human services field because they want to help others. We are a close-knit group.

Click here to read more.

The Senate Ways and Means Budget was very tough on our constituents.  Senators can call lead sponsors for the following amendments:  Sen. Rodriquez - DDS Family Support/Respite, Sen. Canderas-MassHealth Day Habilitation, Sen. Spilka-EOHHS Salary Reserve and Sen. Clark- DDS Transportation.  Go here for more background.

Growing up I never thought of my relationship with my younger brother, Shaun, as any different from those shared by brothers. I never recall looking at him any differently or my parents showing him any more or less attention because of his disability.

Around the age of five Shaun was diagnosed as autistic with impulse control disorder. Instead of looking at our families' situation as strange, I was struck by all the wonderful things that made him special rather than different - from his great memory that had a knack for recording every last minute detail of an event to his love for any movie that had music in it.

Click here to read the rest of Tim's story. 

This week's Notes from the Arc.

International recording star Justin Hines and Boston College and Baltimore Colts great Dan Sullivan joined WBZ Radio NightSide Host Dan Rea for the second annual "All Aboard The Arc" fundraising and awareness rally yesterday, Sunday, April 29 at John Hancock Hall in Boston. Comcast Business Class was the statewide sponsor of the event. Nearly 1,000 joined the event thru a caravan of busses from across the state via nine send-off sites: Greenfield, Hyannis, Haverhill, Southbridge, Brockton, Fitchburg, Taunton, Westwood and Waltham.  Still time to donate-- you can do that here.
Click here to view pictures from the events.