Resources:
State Agencies Serving Individuals with Disabilities:
Massachusetts Office on Disabilities: Provides Information, technical Assistance and advocacy for
people with Disabilities. The MOD staff can increase an organization’s awareness of access, assist
advisory committees, and help in the transition to accessibility.
Massachusetts Architectural Access Board: Enforces regulations designed to make public buildings
accessible to people with disabilities. The AAB staff also limited assistance in resolving access questions.
Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination: Investigates discrimination complaints regarding
employment, housing, public accommodations, education, mortgages, and credit. Has twenty-four hour information line in English and Spanish.
Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission: Services include vocational rehabilitation, independent
Living Programs, employment services, and van and home modifications; offers information, speakers, and publications on employment requirements under the A.D.A. (Americans with Disabilities Act.) Call for complete list of programs and services.
Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing: Provides Technical Assistance, training, and information on communication accommodations to businesses, agencies, and the general public. Call or write for information about assistive listening systems, interpreting services, and other innovative access technology or services.
Massachusetts Commission for the Blind: Provides Rehabilitation, information, and referral services to Massachusetts Residents who are blind or visually impaired. Telephone tape is available. Call for a copy of “The Mobility Guide Book”.
Massachusetts Development Disability Council: Promotes rights and opportunities for people with
developmental disabilities to integrate into society. Provides information, referrals, and public
education services.
Massachusetts Department of Mental Health: Responsible for assuring the delivery of mental health
services to all citizens of Massachusetts, particularly those with limited income. Services include twenty-four hour emergency services, in patient/hospital services, community residential services, outpatient counseling and psychotherapy, day treatment, respite care and school counsultation.
Massachusetts Department of Mental Retardation: Provides services in employment and training,
family support, emergencies, and transportation. Also provides residential services and technical
assistance to people with mental retardation. Works with local housing authorities for community
placement.
Disabled Persons Protection Commission: Conducts and oversees investigations of alleged abuse and monitors the delivery of protective services for people who need them. Receives and reviews reports of suspected abuse through a twenty-four hour hotline.
Federal Agencies Serving Individuals with Disabilities:
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: Responsible for developing and enforcing A.D.A.
Employment Regulations. Investigate charges of employment discrimination and works to resolve
problems through conciliation. Eight Hundred number provides referrals to local EEOC offices and
information on discrimination laws. Free publications available.
Department of Justice Office on Americans with Disabilities Act: Responsible for developing and
enforcing The A.D.A. regulations for Public Accommodations and State and local government agencies. Coordinates Federal A.D.A. technical Assistance programs. Numbers listed are hotlines for information on the A.D.A. and the Regulatory process.
Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board: An independent federal architectural
Agency that establishes accessibility guidelines for the government, and produces or distributes a
variety of publications, including the A.D.A. Accessibility Guide Lines (A.D.A.A.G.). Provides technical
assistance and information on the Architectural requirements of the A.D.A. and other access-related
legislation, and architectural, communication, and transportation accessibility.
Department of Transportation: Responsibilities for developing and enforcing the A.D.A. regulations for
private and public transportation providers.
Easter Seals Project ACTION: Funded by the Department of Transportation to provide A.D.A. informationand publications on making transportation accessible.
Air Carriers Access Act Consumer Protection Division: Complaints about airline safety or security:
Concerns about airline service: Covers most issues and questions pertaining to air transportation. See Website: For complaint forms and other important information
Department of Housing and Urban Development: Federal Agency responsible for housing and
economical development. Information on the Air Housing Amendment Fair Housing Amendment Act
and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
Federal Communications Commission: Responsible for enforcement of Title I.V. of the Americans with
Disabilities Act, (A.D.A.) which addresses telecommunications relay services and closed captioning of
federally funded public service announcements.
The Office of Compliance: Offers technical assistance on accessibility laws applying to Congressional offices and services.
Internal Revenue Service: Address varies. See Website or call for local address. Provides information
about tax code provisions, including tax credits (Section 44) and deductions (section 190) that can assist businesses in complying with the A.D.A.
Job Accommodation Network: Funded by the U.S. Department of Labor to provide advice on
accommodating employees with Disabilities.
Disability and Business Technical Assistance Centers: Funded by the Department of Education to provide technical assistance on the A.D.A.
Massachusetts Agencies and Organizations Serving Individuals Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired:
Braille and Talkingbook Library (Perkins School for the Blind): Distributes play-back equipment and cassette books; describe videos; and Braille materials to individuals unable to read regular print due to a visual, physical or neurological disability. Also serves institutions providing services to individuals with disabilities.
Talkingbook Library (Worcester Public Library): Provides cassette books, large type books, descriptive videos and print/Braille materials to individuals unable to read regular print due to a visual, physical neurological disability. The Sub-Regional Library has adaptive equipment, outreach services and a periodic newsletter.
Carroll Center for the Blind: The program is designed primarily for newly blinded adults and the computer training program is geared to blind individuals who have jobs and need to upgrade their skills to retain their jobs, or who are entering the workforce and need to learn specific software for a job.
Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST): Research and development organization that works to expand opportunities for all people, especially those with disabilities, through innovative uses of
technology.
Descriptive Video Service (DVS): WGBH’s Descriptive Video Service provides video description for all types of media, from public and commercial television programs to home videos and DVD’s to first-run and IMAX films for theaters. DVS also works with local and national organizations and individuals to increase the availability of description through marketing efforts within the media industry and
advocacy efforts within the disability community.
Massachusetts Assistive Technology Partnership (MATP): Center provides information and referral on
assistive technology products and services. MATP also provides information on funding sources to assist with a purchase of devices.
National Braille Press: Low-cost Braille books and magazines covering every subject: Computers, cooking, philosophy, children’s print & Braille books, women’s issues, news and commentary, grammar and writing,. Free print or Braille catalogue upon request.
Perkins School for the Blind
On-campus programs: Infant and Preschool services, Elementary and Secondary Services Programs,
Deaf-Blind Program, Community Living Services. Training Programs for Professionals, Clinical Services, Diagnostic Evaluation Services, Low Vision Clinic, Howe Press, Braille and Talkingbook Library and the Outreach Elder Learning Center.
Community based Programs: Outreach services to infants, preschoolers, public school students,
parents, itinerant teachers, elders and families.
Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic: Lending library of educational books on tape and recording services for persons with print disabilities.
Talking Information Center (TIC). TIC is the radio reading service for persons with a print disability in Massachusetts the following are affiliates that provide current print information to residents with a print disability in their areas: Audible Local Ledger, Mashpee, Mass.; Audio-Journal Worcester, Mass.; Berkshire Talking Chronicle, Dalton, Mass.; LAB/TIC Lowell Association for the Blind, Lowell, Mass.; Metro-West Radio Reading Service, Framingham State College, Massachusetts,; Radio reading Service/Goodwill, Springfield, Mass.
Consumer Organizations of the Blind in Massachusetts:
Association of Blind Citizens
Bay State Council of the Blind
Blinded Veterans Association
National Federation of the Blind
Visually Impaired and Blind User Group (VIBUG) Care of National Braille Press
Kurzweil Educational Systems, Inc. Develops reading technology for people with learning Disabilities and those who are blind or visually impaired. The roots of the company extend back to 1976 and the
introduction of the World’s first reading system, the Kurzweil Reading Machine.
Boston Center for Independent Living: The Boston Center for Independent Living is a private nonprofit
organization which is governed and administered by persons with disabilities. BCIL empowers people with disabilities to advocate and take control over their lives, and become active members of the communities in which they live. As a center they work to promote the civil rights of all people with
disabilities and to respond to the needs of persons with many disabilities.
MetroWest Center for Independent Living (MWCIL). Located in Framingham, the center is staffed by persons with disabilities, including the executive director. Provides skills training, peer counseling, and advocates for the rights of persons with disabilities. It also provides Braille services for blind and visually impaired persons upon request.
Mass. Bay Transportation Authority: The Ride is the MBTA’s Paratransit program, which provides
transportation to eligible people who cannot use general public transportation because of a physical,
cognitive or mental disability.
Very Special Arts of Massachusetts
National Multiple Sclerosis Society, New England Chapter
National Organization of Disabilities (NOD)
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