Governor Patrick releases vetoes for FY2008 state budget
July 12, 2007 - The Arc is pleased to announce the release of Governor Patrick’s budget vetoes. The Governor has followed through on his promise to fund critical human services.  This budget vastly contrasts with last year's budget cuts and will provide some much-needed relief...   

Healthcare grant awarded to The Arc of Massachusetts
June 25, 2007 - The Arc has been awarded a grant of $60,000 by The Boston Foundation.  The grant will be used to improve the quality of health care services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and complex medical issues...

Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow's Mother's Day for Safer Alternatives a success

May 10, 2007 - Representatives of 41 member organizations of the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow (of which The Arc is a member) attended a "Mother's Day" event today to rally support for The Safer Alternatives Bill (H783 & S558).  24,000 Mother's Day cards were delivered to Governor Patrick and legislators...

Success: Legislature recognizes importance of disability issues with addition of "Persons with Disabilities" to name of Joint Committee
After three years of work from advocates within the disability community, the Massachusetts State Legislature formally adopted rules renaming the Joint Committee on Children and Families to the Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities....

 

March 8, 2007 - The Disability Law Center, Massachusetts' protection & advocacy agency, today sued the Massachusetts Department of Correction to end the practice of holding prisoners with serious mental illness in segregation, where they are locked in their cells at least 23 hours a day.  To read the Boston Globe's front-page story on the lawsuit, click here.

 
Groups applaud Senate's proposed ban on painful therapy
May 31, 2006 - Advocates were heartened last week by the State Senate's adoption of language into the FY2007 budget that would ban the use of electric shocks and other aversive therapies used to modify the behavior of people with disabilities...

 

The Arc of Massachusetts seeks families awaiting residential services for people with disabilities
May 22, 2006 - The Arc and the Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council are concerned that individuals may not be receiving adequate services from the Massachusetts Department of Mental Retardation (DMR)...

Success: Mercury Products Bill signed into law!
July 28, 2006 - Governor Mitt Romney today signed into law legislation to reduce mercury pollution, which has been linked to learning disabilities and developmental delays in children, in the Commonwealth.  The passage of the bill was a victory for the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow, a coalition of which The Arc is a member which works to reduce and prevent harm to health from toxic chemicals...

Judge Tauro appoints US Attorney Michael Sullivan as monitor to resolve long-standing conflict
February 8, 2006 - Judge Joseph Tauro today appointed US Attorney Michael J. Sullivan to serve as Court Monitor in Ricci v. Okin ...

The Arc celebrates 50th Anniversary Gala
October 3, 2005 - Last Friday, The Arc of Massachusetts celebrated its 50th anniversary. The event was held at Boston's Seaport World Trade Center and drew a crowd of over 400...