ANNUAL REPORT 2022
Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission Statewide Rehabilitation Council
ANNUAL REPORT 2022
A Letter from the
Chair 2
Vocational
Rehabilitation
Year in Review
5 Appointed Members
8 Explore Possibility Summit
18 Recommendations
20 NextGen Feature
22 Disability Inclusion Leaders
LETTER FROM THE CHAIR Inez S. Canada
DEAR SRC MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS: T
he close of another fiscal year gives us a chance to evaluate our progress and map out the road ahead. In our day-to-day work, the Council’s focus is often on addressing Tour immediate needs or on collaborating with the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission
with the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) to tackle the next big task. However, the SRC Annual Report invites us to take a moment to reflect on the year and celebrate our achievements. A few of them are below, but we hope that readers will review this full report and join us in celebrating all that the Statewide Rehabilitation Council accomplished in FY22.
WE HAVE A BUDGET!
For the first time in the five years since I joined the Council, the SRC submitted a budget. With the full support of MRC, we developed and voted to approve an itemized budget for the year. This funding will support requests for ASL Interpreters and Communication
Access Real-Time (CART) services at Quarterly
meetings; for trainings on how to grow, diversify, and develop our membership; and for hiring administrative support. Thank you to our MRC Liaisons, Deputy Commissioner Kate Biebel and Director Amanda Baczko of the Office of Individual and Family Engagement, for their extraordinary partnership which helped the SRC reach this noteworthy milestone and fulfill one of the goals in the SRC DEI Five-Year Roadmap.
Our commitment to Diversity Equity Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) continues to flourish. The principles and practices of DEIA that Health Management
Associates taught us have positioned the SRC as strong partners in DEIA work at MRC. The knowledge that the SRC gained, combined with the human resource background and expertise of our SRC DEIA representative (featured on page 6 of this report) adds an important perspective to the DEIA conversation at MRC. The SRC will support the development of equitable policies and practices across MRC and provide meaningful input on building a culture of belonging that will flow out to MRC consumers. This early, intimate involvement in shaping the consumer experience from inside the Agency is the model of what our SRC is becoming.
OUR INPUT LEADS TO MEANINGFUL CHANGE!
The Consumer Satisfaction and Needs Assessment committee (CSNAC) compiled SRC member feedback on the MRC Consumer Experience Survey. Based on that input, the CSNAC Chair submitted a comprehensive document with suggested changes to the survey
design and direct survey questions. MRC was grateful for this clear, thoughtful input and implemented over 90% of the proposed changes. Thanks to the SRC’s input, this new survey will more effectively capture the needs of consumers and their level of satisfaction with vocational rehabilitation services. Continued
review of survey response data will enable the SRC to
recommend actionable steps to improving VR services for consumers. Read more about this exciting project on page 10.
These three accomplishments signal the beginning of an itemized budget for the year. This funding will support a new journey for the SRC; one that is revolutionary, yet sustainable. We invite SRC members to leverage their expertise for the good of the diverse communities of individuals with disabilities that the SRC represents.
We encourage all readers to explore the committee highlights to note the amazing work we have ahead. Consider joining the SRC as a voting member or a member of the public. FY22 was not without challenges and FY23 will bring more but let us continue to
embrace those challenges as catalysts for growth.
Thank you to our members for your service on the SRC, especially our committee chairs. Thank you,
Commissioner Toni Wolf, Deputy Commissioner Kate Biebel, and Assistant Commissioner of VR, Joan
Phillips, for your unwavering support of the SRC.
Thank you, Amanda Baczko, Director of the Office of Individual and Family Engagement, for the numerous ways you contribute to the SRC. Thank you to our MRC liaisons who support our committee work and thank you to the MRC support staff who work in the background to help the SRC accomplish its tasks.
We see you all and we say a sincere “Thank you.”
With a grateful heart, Inez S. Canada, Esq. Chair, State Rehabilitation Council
Are you interested in breaking down
employment barriers for individuals with disabilities?
Are you passionate about equity for
individuals with disabilities in the
workplace?
Contact :
What is the SRC?
The SRC is a diverse, inclusive, and equitable advisory body that gathers representative voices from the disability community to
provide input to the Massachusetts
Rehabilitation Commission’s (MRC) Vocational Rehabilitation Division.
The Council’s collective and individual
thinking plays a substantive role in how the vocational rehabilitation program operates
and contributes to the innovation of career and counseling services. Members of the SRC collaborate with MRC in developing goals and priorities for the state plan, and offer input and consultation on policies, practices, and
procedures that impact jobseekers.
If you are an employer, individual with a
disability, family member, advocate, service provider, and/or someone who wants to make a difference in people’s career-goals, this is the group for you!
Vision:
We envision a world where all individuals with disabilities are supported to live their best lives, through consumer-driven, meaningful, competitive, and integrated employment and
sustainable careers.
Mission:
We work to promote competitive and
sustainable employment for all people with disabilities, including those marginalized by inequalities.
Consumer Advocates
State Plan and
Inter-agency
Relations
4 State Rehabilitation Council
Government Organizational Structure for Funding & Oversight
Comprehensive
Needs and Consumer Satisfaction
Executive Committee
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services
Matthew Bander Disabilities Rep
Youcef J. Bellil Disabilities Rep
Kate Biebel MRC Ex-officio Deputy Commissioner
Barbara Cipriani Business/Labor/Industries
Rebecca Davis Parenting Training/Info Center Rep
Ronaldo Fujii Disabilities Rep
Naomi Goldberg Client Assistance Program (CAP)
Lisa Chiango Disabilities Rep
Dawn E. Clark Disabilities Rep
Required under law for all state Vocational Rehabilitation Programs
Paula Euber MRC VR Rep
Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission
Lusa Lo Higher Education Rep
Massachusetts State Rehabilitation Council
Ellie Starr Business/Labor/Industries
Olympia Stroud Dept. of Elementary & Secondary Education Christine Tosti
Christine Tosti Disabilities Rep
Rosanna Woodmansee Business/Labor/Industries
Heather Wood Disabilities Rep Rosanna Woodmansee
Vacant Un-served/Under-served Rep
Vacant Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) Rep
Doug Mason A Lifetime of Experience in Pursuit of Equity
BY NICK PIZZOLATO
Disability advocacy wasn’t always Doug Mason’s focus, but growing up in
the segregated south, his pursuit for equity began at an early age. After the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 14-year-old Doug and his best friend went to the segregated Rexall Drug Store in his hometown and ordered an ice cream float. Then they took a seat at a table together, for
ordered an ice cream float. Then they took a seat at a table together, for everyone to see, that change was coming. Since that day, Doug has sat
at many tables as an agent of change. Doug always created opportunities for himself, and he had the support and encouragement of his family.
“My mother was the most influential person in my life,” he said.
ordered an ice cream float. Then they took a seat at a table together, for everyone to see, that change was coming. Since that day, Doug has sat
at many tables as an agent of change. Doug always created opportunities for himself, and he had the support and encouragement of his family.
“My mother was the most influential person in my life,” he said.
“My mother was the most influential person in my life,” he said. “She stressed that she wanted more for my siblings and me” Doug’s achievements added to his enthusiasm for creating opportunity and
achievements added to his enthusiasm for creating opportunity and equality in his professional and personal life.
achievements added to his enthusiasm for creating opportunity and equality in his professional and personal life.
oug was the first member of his immediate family to go to college, attending DVirginia Union University in 1969 and majoring in accounting.
DVirginia Union University in 1969 and majoring in accounting. He completed a four-year program in just three years, moved to Boston to explore employment options, and spent the early part of his career in multiple finance roles, from being an auditor at John Hancock to exploring the role of a public accountant. He began working at the Boston office of the
public accountant. He began working at the Boston office of the international CPA firm Coopers & Lybrand, where he became the first person of color in that office to become a manager.
Chapter of the National Association of Black Accountants. He even had the opportunity to teach Economics at Harvard University.
After five years at Coopers & Lybrand, of the 600 professional staff employed, he noticed that while 40% of the workforce were women, only six were people of color. “As you see the inequities that exist, you realize that there is a fight that must be had,” Doug recalled.
In 2000, Doug’s life changed when he was diagnosed with multiple scoliosis (MS). Doug had spent his life overcoming adversity and being an advocate for himself and others, so he started to learn more about disability related systems and how could they better assist the people like him who needed them. “I was so naïve that I did not realize “hidden disabilities” existed,” he said.
He shared, “I looked at it as a continuation of fighting inequity and inequality and doing whatever I could to level the playing field.” He asked his mentor about the hiring disparity. He, in turn, brought the question to executives at the firm. To Doug’s surprise, executives asked him what he thought needed to be done to fix the situation. He shared that many students of color can do the work, but the firm needed to look in the right places to find them.
During his thirty-year career in finance, Doug became active in civil and professional groups that all focused on increasing awareness of diversity, equity, and inclusion. He was on the Board of Directors for the Urban League of Eastern
Massachusetts and a founding member of the Codman Square Housing Development Corporation, which focused on creating affordable housing for Dorchester residents. Doug was a member of the Boston Private Industry Council, where he
was a mentor to young professionals starting their careers in accounting and finance. He also helped to restore the Boston
“Throughout the process of
obtaining services to live
independently, I became aware
of many people experiencing
disabilities who could not
advocate for themselves,” Doug shared. He began working with an Independent Living Center to help him transition to his new lifestyle. While receiving homemaking services through the Home Care Assistance Program
His attention to detail and focus on advocacy were noticed, and he was asked to join the Statewide Rehabilitation Council (SRC), the advisory group to vocational rehabilitation at MRC. “I was surprised to be asked,” Doug said. “But, it’s another way for me to continue to contribute and help someone else that needs assistance.”
“I was approached by SRC’s Chair Inez Canada to join the Council because of my passion and history of being an advocate.” Doug represents the SRC on the MRC Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Council bringing his knowledge and passion to the table to advocate for people with disabilities, people of color, women, and members of the LGBTQ+ community.
“We have a lot of growing to do,” Doug shared. Still, he’s focused on two things: creating a representative workforce at MRC and ensuring the agency reaches individuals in underserved communities. “We want to know who the agency is serving, and we’re starting to see that data and analyzing it, so we’re on the right track.”
Inaugural Explore Possibility Summit Celebrates Disability Community
BY NICK PIZZOLATO
The very first guest for the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission’s (MRC) Inaugural Explore Possibility
Summit arrived slightly before 8:00 a.m. at the Royal Plaza Hotel and Trade Center in Marlborough,
Massachusetts. By 8:30 a.m., the lobby was buzzing with hundreds of other individuals with disabilities, their families, MRC providers, government agencies, and MRC staff as attendees came together to learn more about services and celebrate the community’s collective resiliency. The Summit brought together members of the disability community and allies in person for the first time since the pandemic. People were able to meet with experts, see the future of job training with virtual reality, take part in professional networking,
“I’m so thrilled with how the Summit went,” said Amanda Baczko, MRC’s Director of Individual and
Family Engagement, who led the way in planning the event. “We were so fortunate to connect our agency with the people we serve. We put a lot of thought into the topics, activities, providers, and speakers for the Summit, and we received great feedback throughout the day. It’s exciting to be able to offer an event like this and create a safe and engaging space for people with disabilities.”
2022 EXPLORE POSSIBILITY SUMMIT
There were people there with many disabilities, and
everyone embraced one another. I didn’t feel alone or that I stuck out in a crowd. It felt natural and easy for me to ask for accommodations.”
Jazz composer, teacher, musician, and keynote speaker Matt Savage spoke to the audience about his experience living as a person with autism and being a piano savant
as a child. “When I was a child, loud noises made me
uncomfortable,” he shared with the audience. When Matt turned six, he started to play the piano and found that “music started to really open me up to the outside world. To have a visual representation of a piano key match the pitch of a note, it helped me grow into music.” At seven, he started playing jazz, inspired by piano greats like
Thelonious Monk. “It was hard for me to stop, and since then, the piano has always been a part of my life.”
“I’m a professional
with a disability, a parent with a disability, and I’m proud to be a part of the community. We can continue to
We can continue to make an impact by working together.”
Alison Scher, an MRC employee who has received MRC services, shared that she loved the energy in the room. “I’ve been with the agency for more than 20 years, and I’ve been to previous conferences, and this one was the best.”
“I was able to chat with people who had just joined the MRC community,” said Brendan Shea, who also attended the Summit. “It was a great opportunity for them to see and meet other people who use services. There was someone who had questions about securing rides and mobility. They talked to other people who use wheelchairs and me, and we were able to give him advice, which is different from when you meet with a vocational rehabilitation (VR) counselor. You’re meeting with your peers.”
To some like, Destiny Lomonte, an MRC disability inclusion leader, it was a relief to feel included. “I felt welcomed, and it was because we were all one community,” she said.
“I’m so happy with how the event was structured and laid out,” said Amanda. “And I’d be lost without the support of the Summit’s Planning Committee. It was a truly collaborative effort to make sure we were thoughtful about the day. I also want to send a huge thank you to the team at the Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts. They are experts in event planning and were essential in helping us find a venue, event registration, and support.”
Vocational Rehabilitation YEAR IN REVIEWJULY 1, 2021 - JUNE 30, 2022
MASSACHUSETTS REHABILITATION COMMISSION
3,021citizens with disabilities have been successfully placed into competitive employment based on their choices, interests, needs and skills
(increase of 264 or 10.8% from prior year)
The earnings of these successfully placed employees in MA in the first year were $75.7 million.
Estimated public benefits savings from people rehabilitated in MA were $22.7 million.
Average Hourly Wage: $17.64
The returns to society based on increases in lifetime earnings range from
* $14 to $18 for each $1 invested in the MRC Vocational
$3,962 cost per individual served.
$5 is returned to the government in the form of increased taxes and reduced
public assistance payments for every $1 invested in the MRC Vocational Rehabilitation
program.
Rehabilitation program.
Based on Commonwealth Corporation Study *
DISABILITIES
COMMITTEE REPORTS FOR 2022
Business & Employment
Opportunity Committee Chairperson: Steve LaMaster
A continued interest of the BEO this
past year has been to Increase
awareness and access to state job
opportunities for people with disabilities in the Commonwealth.
BEO Committee received regular feedback from MRC on its involvement with the Disability Employment Action Committee (DEAC), an
interagency group working to increase employment of people with disabilities to reach equity goals that have been established. In April MRC
created a 1-page document: “How to create a
MassCareers profile” that it provided to the committee to be circulated amongst interested people and supporters in the Commonwealth.
The committee learned in June that the DEAC planned and hosted a speed recruiting event with 20 hiring managers within Executive Office of Health and Human Services, and other state agencies, including the Dept of Revenue, Mass Office on Disability, Dept Housing Community Development, Mass Dept of Transportation.
The DEAC members regarded the event as a modest success, given that within a week,
agencies were actively requesting resumes,
and at least one individual with disabilities had been offered employment at the DTA in Fitchburg. The committee hopes to work with MRC to offer specific recommendations designed to promote awareness of the
MassCareers opportunities, such as notifications to centers for independent living, community rehab providers, and to share information with organizations like Work Without Limits and the Association for People in Supported Employment.
BEO worked to develop a robust
communications, marketing, and
branding strategy for the SRC.
full SRC to give input, and projected completion in October 2022. A content draft of material for recruitment was produced and was reviewed and updated at the BEO meeting held in June, in August, all SRC members were invited to the SRC Executive Committee meeting for discussion of the draft materials, and in August, the final drafts were sent to MRC’s Communications Team so that print and social media materials could be developed.
BEO began work to better understand what an update of self-employment
resource materials would benefit from and require from MRC.
• Adapt the “VR S-E Guide from University of Montana Rural Institute on Inclusive Communities, RTC:Rural,” for use with individuals receiving services and VR counselors • Develop a self-employment resource club
Committee members have convened a
working group in order to better understand
the needs for both MRC counselors to support these endeavors and the needs of MRC selfemployment seekers.
• Develop a self-employment resource club •
• Establish regional partnerships with universities that house a small business development center.
Consumer Satisfaction & Needs Assessment Committee Co-Chairs: Ronaldo Fujii, MD PhD and
Olympia Stroud
The Statewide Consumer Satisfaction & Needs Assessment Committee ensures individuals
with disabilities perspectives are included in the process of evaluating MRC vocational rehabilitation services. During the fiscal year, the committee participated and provided input to other SRC committees and ensured that
insights pertaining to individuals were
communicated to the right people. The
committee actively participated in the MRC
Explore Possibility Summit and provided feedback to MRC and SRC in how to improve future events and increase SRC visibility.
COMMITTEE REPORTS FOR 2022
MRC Experience Survey Tool
The committee actively participated in the
selection of vendors and the review and
improvement of the survey tool MRC developed. The Committee collaborated with the agency to provide insight on the research activities and improvement of process and analyses. Our aim was to ensure the survey results could be used to shape future SRC recommendations to MRC for improving vocational rehabilitation services.
Recruitment
Creating a diverse environment starts by
hearing the voices of all types of backgrounds and building well-rounded representation. The Committee actively recruited new members to the SRC, focusing on the inclusion of un/ underrepresented communities, such as the transgender community (who is known to have higher incidences of disability), people of
different ethnicities, cultural backgrounds, and identities. All are welcomed and encouraged to become active participants in the SRC.
Individuals receiving services from MRC had the opportunity to share their experiences during the committee meetings. We are committed to systematically including time for testimonials and life experiences that can help other
individuals reach their VR goals with MRC as they navigate their life struggles. We encourage individuals to bring their experiences to the meetings so the committee may build actionable recommendations for MRC.
Policy Committee Chairperson: Naomi Goldberg
The Policy Committee reviews and analyzes Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) policies and procedures to ensure service delivery aligns with federal and state VR regulations and policy guidance. The committee recommends revisions to and the development of policies that help
individuals better understand the VR process and what is necessary to attain competitive integrated employment. Also, it recommends changes to policies to fix systemic matters as appropriate. Finally, the committee periodically reviews and recommends updates to the
council bylaws.
Learning About Procurement
At the beginning of FY22, the committee
continued to focus on the State Plan recommendation to increase the SRC’s understanding and knowledge of MRC procurement and contracting processes. This recommendation, which had been carried over from the previous year, was originally focused on ensuring that procurement and contracting processes do not create barriers to or delays in services. As the committee
explored the recommendation, it determined that the committee did not have sufficient knowledge of these complicated processes and therefore was not prepared to offer meaningful feedback on how to improve. Consequently, the recommendation was rewritten to reflect the need to learn about these processes.
For the first half of the fiscal year, the committee met with various fiscal and program staff, including Business Improvement Partners to learn about these complex processes and the existing barriers to assist in resolving them. During the learning process, the committee
explored several procurement related items that it determined warranted attention based on the initial recommendation that was made. Through its research, the committee learned that state procurement processes that MRC must follow are complicated and somewhat inflexible, making it challenging to access services in
particular scenarios. Although the committee could not ultimately recommend solutions for resolving certain barriers that it explored, the learning process helped the committee gain a better understanding of how these processes work. This has served to strengthen SRC
members’ overall knowledge of the VR program, which can only enhance its ability to provide meaningful feedback to MRC going forward.
In consideration of the SRC’s focus on DEI,
the committee was particularly interested in continuing to address the recommendation relative to increasing capacity of Competitive Integrated Employment Services (CIES) vendors to serve individuals’ cultural and linguistic needs. After learning about the various challenges in hiring and retaining employees with these capacities, as well as the limited number of vendors available in various communities in the state, the committee focused on how MRC
could increase the capacity of vendors to
provide language access (internally or through a third-party vendor). In doing so, the committee learned that there must be an existing funding
COMMITTEE REPORTS FOR 2022
mechanism in place if requiring CIES vendors to contract for language access and that putting that mechanism in place would be complicated. From there, the committee learned about the potential ways in which MRC could incentivize vendors to offer more language access options. MRC committed to looking into these potential mechanisms and considering what would work best. The committee eventually chose to close its work on the procurement recommendation with a commitment to continue to intermittently track the status of the language access issue.
basics of vocational rehabilitation. The second is to create informational materials for jobseekers that explain the basics of the VR process in clear and understandable language. To date, the
committee has begun the process of curating and developing appropriate orientation
materials. It has also begun to identify important VR topics for which individuals could benefit from further explanation. Once topics are
selected, the committee will draft basic fact sheets in easy-to-understand language that could be distributed to jobseekers. The
committee will continue its focus on these
recommendations during FY23.
State Plan & Interagency
Relations Committee Chairperson: Joe Bellil
Provided Input to the VR Section of the State Plan
The State Plan and Interagency Relations
Committee ensures the SRC meets its obligations regarding input from jobseekers in the
development of both the MRC public
Vocational Rehabilitation State Plan and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Combined State Plan.
The SRC held a special meeting to provide input into MRC’s draft of the state plan’s VR section. The VR section of the state plan included getting the latest recommendations and MRC’s response from the SRC. In addition to collecting data on the progress of the goals and any other input that the SRC had, SRC members were encouraged to attend one of the two WIOA State Plan Modification Virtual Public Sessions.
Guided the FY23 SRC Recommendation Process
The committee discussed the focus of the SRC FY23 Recommendations. The members strongly encouraged each SRC committee to ensure their recommendations have a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) lens on it. Each committee reviewed the recommendations that they were working on currently and discussed what
FY23 recommendations should be in light of FY22 accomplishments and expected FY23
job-seeker-related needs. The FY23 SRC
Recommendations were presented and
approved by the SRC Members.
FY23 RECOMMENDATIONS
LEAD: POLICY COMMITTEE Develop SRC orientation
COMMITTEE Develop SRC orientation materials focused on
understanding the role of
the SRC and the basics of
vocational rehabilitation
COMMITTEE Develop SRC orientation materials focused on
understanding the role of
the SRC and the basics of
vocational rehabilitation
LEAD: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE The Office of Individual and
EMPLOYMENT Support employment of individuals with disabilities in the Commonwealth through developing a baseline understanding of current data and trends, which can inform a highlevel strategy to increase the numbers of state employees with disabilities. Include the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion lens in this work, and work with MRC to ensure the robustness of this effort.
LEAD:
BUSINESS &
EMPLOYMENT Support employment of
EMPLOYMENT Increase availability and
accessibility of SRC materials online and develop a robust
communications, marketing, and branding strategy for SRC.
Make materials available to SRC for review related to accessibility to all
including from a DEI lens.
LEAD:
BUSINESS &
EMPLOYMENT Increase availability and
LEAD: BUSINESS & EMPLOYMENT Develop a baseline
understanding of self- employment, including but not limited to assessing needs
(individuals with disabilities and counselor), data trends (state and national), and identified best-practices and partners, to inform a strategy for
self-employment services within MRC.
MRC LAUNCHES NEXTGEN CAREERS S
’
S
’ WHAT NEXT?
NEXT? BY COLLEEN G. CASEY
Destiny Lomonte MRC Disability Inclusion Leader
“ Working with a peer mentor allows me to control my career goals. They listen and help guide me on my path.” Destiny Lomonte
20 State Rehabilitation Council
Massachusetts plans to change that. Together with stakeholders, partners, and allies, the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) works to expand what’s possible in the lives of people with disabilities and provides services that break down barriers. Thanks to a competitive $17 million Innovation Grant the agency received from the federal Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), MRC launched NextGen Careers- a new program to help young adults ages 18-30 with disabilities to explore the world of work.
“As a NextGen Career Counselor, I know it takes a team effort to achieve anything! Here at NextGen, our team puts the young adult at the center of the team and they lead the efforts to achieve their career goals.” Kiah Nuahn Career Counselor
“As a NextGen Career Counselor, I know it takes a team effort to achieve anything,” said Career Counselor Kiah Nuahn. “Here at NextGen, our team puts the young adult at the center of the team and they lead the efforts to achieve their career goals.”
The NextGen program is currently available for
individuals living in the Boston, Roxbury, Braintree, Lawrence, Lowell, Springfield, and Worcester areas. To learn more about NextGen or apply for the
program, visit mass.gov/nextgencareers.
Disability
Inclusion Leaders Bring MRC Mission
to Life
BY CINDY WALKER
At the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC), we’re in the business of possibility. We work with individuals and partners to expand what’s possible in the lives of people with
disabilities – and to bring down the physical and societal barriers that limit their potential. Recently, the Office of Individual Family Engagement (OIFE) has introduced seven Disability Inclusion Leaders to help bring its mission to life.
This group of individuals is dedicated to using their collective voice to provide a first-hand experience of living with disabilities. “The goal is to embed the expertise of individuals with
disabilities in spaces where decisions are being made at MRC,” shared OIFE Director Amanda Baczko. “These leaders are serving on hiring
panels, co-creating policies, participating in
leadership teams, and generally providing ongoing feedback to help shape service delivery.” Their life experience will help guide MRC in developing programs, resources, and policies that strengthen the lives of people living with disabilities, family members, their caregivers, and medical providers.
Baczko knows that the Disability Inclusion Leaders are already making a difference. “We’ve already seen a positive impact from inviting Disability
Inclusion Leaders to the table,” she said. “We’ve had team members present to the community about their experiences with MRC services, editing the language of experience surveys to make them more culturally responsive, and bringing young adult voice to our NextGen grant activities. It’s been exciting to see the culture shift in MRC as we continue to find new and innovative ways to engage disability leadership in our agency.”
Meet Our Leaders
GEORGE FARRINGTON is very involved in the brain tumor and brain injury communities. He
is a seven-year brain tumor and brain injury, survivor and
is incredibly passionate
about creating an inclusive
community. He will never turn down a public
community. He will never turn down a public speaking engagement to advocate for people with disabilities or educate the public on what life is like for someone living with a disability. He’s
stated that his wife and two children are his
lifelines, and he lights up when asked to speak about them. His other passions include gardening and cooking, and he claims his eggplant
parmesan might change your life.
DESTINY LOMONTE lives in the Lowell area with her four-yearold service dog, Salem, who alerts her to oncoming epileptic seizures. For two years, she lived in Germany, and because of that immersive experience, German is her second language. Destiny wel-
German is her second language. Destiny welcomes questions about her experiences living with a rare condition and how she advocates for disability awareness. She loves public speaking and is excited to share her story in the hopes of helping others living in a similar situation navigate MRC programs and support services.
to a blood disease, life for James has slowed down a bit. He enjoys being part of the “thinktank” process and brainstorming to create an immediate connection to MRC programs and stakeholders. He hopes to help formulate a
pipeline of services that people in need can
access without interruption. “We have got to make these people’s transitions easier. If someone loses their benefits, they could literally die. We can’t sit here saying if I would’ve only,” James has said.
JAMES MCKENZIE was born and raised in Springfield, Massachusetts, where he raised his 16-year-old son and 32-year-old daughter. Since losing most of his right leg during the last two years due to a blood disease, life for James has slowed
BRENDAN SHEA currently lives in Greater Boston. He enjoys exercising and, as an amateur engineer, building adaptive devices. As a strong self- advocate, he is comfortable with public speaking and supporting others in finding their advocacy voice.
THERESA “TERRI” SWEENEY suffered a Traumatic Brain
supporting others in finding their advocacy voice. Brendan shared, “I want to develop a better
familiarity with the inner workings of MRC and learn more about all of the different state agencies and organizations that partner with people with disabilities.” His passion for advocacy work is centered around policy-related issues.
to be strong self-advocates by setting goals
for themselves, especially their doctors or day- habilitation counselors. During her journey, she’s said to those assisting her, “If I fail, I’ll understand what you meant and come back to work on
myself more, but if I don’t try, I’ll never know!”
THERESA “TERRI” SWEENEY suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) on November 24, 1989, after falling backward down an embankment and hitting her head on a rock.
She was attending the Brooks
Institute of Photography, but after the accident,
Institute of Photography, but after the accident, she returned home to Southeastern Massachusetts, where she currently lives. She has remained
passionate about photography and,
CINDY WALKER lives on the South Shore with her sister’s family and loves spending time with her nieces and nephews. She teaches them about living without limitations and working hard for what they believe in. Advocacy work has been a part of her life long
JAEMILLY TORRES joined the
Disability Inclusion Leaders to be a positive voice for injured individuals. She spends her days working out and playing
where she currently lives. She has remained
passionate about photography and, throughout the years, has taught
photography to kids with special needs
and senior citizens. Terri is partnering
with agency staff member Alison Scher to review MRC’s website and resource links. “It’s like being caught in a windstorm of information. So, we’re cutting out a lot of the outdated and inappropriate wording,” reports Terri. She wants to create a “garden” of information that is fun, easy to access, and more streamlined.
in. Advocacy work has been a part of her life long before the onset of her paralysis. On February 7, 1995, she woke up paralyzed from the waist down due to Transverse Myelitis, an auto-immune
disease. Her mom was her north star and
constantly encouraged her to keep pushing
forward, reminding her that struggling is a part
of everyone’s lives, no matter how big or small
the struggle. She hopes to create a universal
inclusion space, “normalize” disability, and encourage people to evolve continually.
ate about fighting for protections for people with disabilities and training first responders and law enforcement to break down communication barriers and stereotypes to effectively and safely help someone living with a disability. She’s also focused on empowering people with disabilities
We envision a world where all individuals with
disabilities are supported to live their best lives.
Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission Statewide Rehabilitation Council
600 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02111 | Phone (617) 204-3600 www.mass.gov/mrc/src | MRC.StateRehabCouncil@MassMail.State.MA.Us