Massachusetts Advocates Standing Strong

10/10/2026

💙 A HUGE THANK YOU to our five Build Sponsors for supporting the 28th Annual MASS Self Advocacy Conference!

🌟 Beaverbrook STEP, Inc. 🌟 Delta Projects 🌟 The Guild for Human Services 🌟 Road To Responsibility, Inc. 🌟 Bay Cove Human Services

Your support helps make a day of self-advocate leadership, learning, connection, and fun possible!

📅 Join us October 17, 2026! ⏰ Registration closes at the end of the day Tuesday, October 13!

🎟️ Register NOW: https://mass2026conference.eventbrite.com/

Come learn. Come connect. Come have fun. Come be part of self-advocate leadership at MASS! 💙

10/10/2026

🌟The MASS 2026 Self Advocacy Conference is coming up on October 17 and the registration deadline is almost here! MASS2026conference.eventbrite.com

⏰ Registration closes at the end of the day this Tuesday, October 13! Don’t miss your chance to join us for a day of learning, connection, advocacy, and fun!

💙 THANK YOU TO OUR BUILD SPONSORS! 💙
We’re grateful to our Build Sponsors for supporting the 28th Annual MASS Self Advocacy Conference:

💙 Beaverbrook STEP, Inc. 💙 Delta Projects 💙 The Guild for Human Services 💙 Road To Responsibility, Inc. 💙 Bay Cove Human Services

Your support helps make this day of self-advocate leadership, learning, connection, and fun possible!

What can you look forward to? 🎤 Join us for self-advocate-led workshops throughout the day, with topics including:

🗣️ Finding and using your voice
💪 Learning from lived experience
🎯 Goal-setting strategies
🤝 Building connections and community
☎️ Knowing your rights and reporting abuse
⚖️ Personal journey away from guardianship
🎉 Advocacy Trivia/Jeopardy and more!

And that’s not all! Enjoy interactive, inclusive dancing with Dance Latin Boston, free ice cream from John’s Dream Ice Cream, a raffle and silent auction, and plenty of opportunities to connect with other self-advocates and allies.

📅 Conference Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026
⏳ Registration Deadline: Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at the end of the day.

🎟️ REGISTER TODAY! https://mass2026conference.eventbrite.com/

Come learn. Come connect. Come have fun. Come be part of self-advocate leadership at MASS! 💙

Thank you to all our sponsors and exhibitors for helping make the 28th Annual MASS Self Advocacy Conference possible. We can’t wait to see you there!

10/05/2026

🌟 The MASS 2026 Self Advocacy Conference is coming up on October 17 and registration is closing soon! 👉 MASS2026conference.eventbrite.com

💜 Thank you to our Grow Sponsor, Department of Developmental Services (DDS) for supporting the 28th Annual MASS Self Advocacy Conference!

This is a conference you won’t want to miss! Join us for self-advocate-led workshops throughout the day, with topics including:

🗣️ Finding and using your voice
💪 Learning from lived experience
🎯 Goal-setting strategies
🤝 Building connections and community
☎️ Knowing your rights and reporting abuse
⚖️ Personal journeys away from guardianship
🎉 Advocacy Trivia/Jeopardy and more!

And that’s not all! Enjoy interactive, inclusive dancing with Dance Latin Boston, free ice cream from John’s Dream Ice Cream, a raffle and silent auction, and lots of opportunities to connect with other self-advocates and allies.

⏰ Registration is closing soon. Don’t wait!

🎟️ Register for the MASS 2026 Conference today: https://mass2026conference.eventbrite.com/

📅 October 17, 2026
Come learn. Come connect. Come have fun. Come be part of self-advocate leadership at MASS! 💙

We’re grateful to DDS and all our sponsors and exhibitors for supporting the 28th Annual Conference and helping make this day of self-advocate leadership, learning, connection, and fun possible!

10/05/2026

💛 Thank you to our Grow Sponsor, Vinfen, for supporting self-advocate-led programs!
🌟 The MASS 2026 Self Advocacy Conference is coming up on October 17 and registration is closing soon!
👉 MASS2026conference.eventbrite.com

This is a conference you won’t want to miss! Join us for self-advocate-led workshops throughout the day, with topics including:

🗣️ Finding and using your voice
💪 Learning from lived experience
🎯 Goal-setting strategies
🤝 Building connections and community
☎️ Knowing your rights and reporting abuse
⚖️ Personal journeys away from guardianship
🎉 Advocacy Trivia/Jeopardy and more!

And that’s not all! Enjoy interactive, inclusive dancing with Dance Latin Boston, free ice cream from John’s Dream Ice Cream, a raffle and silent auction, and lots of opportunities to connect with other self-advocates and allies.

⏰ Registration is closing soon. Don’t wait!

🎟️ Register for the MASS 2026 Conference today: https://mass2026conference.eventbrite.com/

📅 October 17, 2026
Come learn. Come connect. Come have fun. Come be part of self-advocate leadership at MASS 2026! 💛

We’re grateful to Vinfen and all our sponsors and exhibitors for supporting the 28th Annual Conference and helping make this day of self-advocate leadership, learning, connection, and fun possible!

10/04/2026

🧡A BIG thank you to Grow Sponsor, Advocates, for supporting self-advocate-led programs! 🩵
🌟 The MASS 2026 Conference is coming up on October 17 — and registration is closing soon!
👉 MASS2026conference.eventbrite.com

This is a conference you won’t want to miss! Join us for self-advocate-led workshops throughout the day, with topics including:

🗣️ Finding and using your voice
💪 Learning from lived experience
🎯 Goal-setting strategies
🤝 Building connections and community
☎️ Knowing your rights and reporting abuse
⚖️ Personal journeys away from guardianship
🎉 Advocacy Trivia/Jeopardy and more!

And that’s not all! Enjoy interactive, inclusive dancing with Dance Latin Boston, free ice cream from John’s Dream Ice Cream, a raffle and silent auction, and lots of opportunities to connect with other self-advocates and allies. 🙌💃🕺🍦

⏰ Registration is closing soon. Don’t wait!

🎟️ Register for the MASS 2026 Conference today: https://mass2026conference.eventbrite.com/

📅 October 17, 2026
Come learn. Come connect. Come have fun. Come be part of self-advocate leadership at MASS 2026! 🧡🩵

We’re grateful to Advocates and all our sponsors and exhibitors for supporting the MASS 2026 Conference and helping make this day of self-advocate leadership, learning, connection, and fun possible!

10/02/2026

💙 A BIG thank you to our Platinum Sponsor, the Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council (MDDC)! 💛

🌟 The MASS 2026 Conference is coming up on October 17 — and registration is closing soon!
👉 MASS2026conference.eventbrite.com
This is a conference you won’t want to miss! Join us for self-advocate-led workshops throughout the day, with topics including:

🗣️ Finding and using your voice
💪 Learning from lived experience
🎯 Goal-setting strategies
🤝 Building connections and community
☎️ Knowing your rights and reporting abuse
⚖️ Personal journeys away from guardianship
🎉 Advocacy Trivia/Jeopardy and more!

And that’s not all! Enjoy interactive, inclusive dancing with Dance Latin Boston, free ice cream from John’s Dream Ice Cream, a raffle and silent auction, and lots of opportunities to connect with other self-advocates and allies. 🙌💃🕺🍦

⏰ Registration is closing soon — don’t wait!

🎟️ Register for the MASS 2026 Conference today: https://mass2026conference.eventbrite.com/

📅 October 17, 2026

Come learn. Come connect. Come have fun. Come be part of self-advocate leadership at MASS 2026! 💙💛

We’re grateful to MDDC and all our sponsors for supporting the MASS 2026 Conference and helping make this day of self-advocate leadership, learning, connection, and fun possible!

09/16/2026

DDS is considering the use of video surveillance in common areas of group homes, and the people who are most affected should be at the center of that conversation.

Have you lived in a group home? Do you live in one now? Or might you live in a group home in the future?

Massachusetts Advocates Standing Strong (MASS) in partnership with DDS is hosting two upcoming listening sessions for people with lived experience to share their thoughts, concerns, questions, and experiences about surveillance in group homes.

September 17
No registration needed:
https://www.wearemass.org/events/dds-listening-session-sept-17-2026

September 23
No registration needed:
https://www.wearemass.org/events/dds-listening-session-sept-23-2026

This is a complicated and layered issue. Some people may see cameras as an added layer of safety or accountability. Others may have concerns about privacy, consent, choice, and what it means to have cameras in the place you call home. Different people may experience surveillance differently, and those perspectives need space in this conversation.

The Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council (MDDC) has developed a resource guide exploring the potential benefits and potential harms of video surveillance in group homes. The guide also looks at important questions around privacy, informed consent, safeguards, and alternatives to surveillance.

Whether you plan to attend a listening session or simply want to learn more about the issue, take a look at the guide:
https://tinyurl.com/MDDC-VideoSurveillance-Guide

Your home. Your privacy. Your safety. Your voice should be part of the conversation.

*Massachusetts residents are encouraged to share. Other residents in different states are welcome to listen*



Image description: A black flyer with bold yellow and orange text reading, “Have you ever lived in a group home? Will you live in one? Your voice matters!” The flyer explains that DDS is partnering with Massachusetts Advocates Standing Strong (MASS) to hear directly from people about cameras in group homes. It includes information and a QR code for MDDC’s guide on video surveillance. The listening sessions are September 17 from 1 PM to 3 PM and September 23 from 3 PM to 5 PM. A second QR code links to session information. No registration is required. Yellow and orange speech bubbles appear in the bottom right corner.

09/16/2026

Cameras and video recording surveillance in shared areas of DDS homes: What do you think?
👉 https://conta.cc/4h7nboL 🎥❔🗣️ 💬
MASS is collaborating with the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services (DDS) to host two listening sessions for self-advocates and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) including autism that receive services from DDS.

Join us on:
• Thursday, 9/17 from 1pm - 3pm 👉 https://www.wearemass.org/events/dds-listening-session-sept-17-2026, and
• Wednesday, 9/23 from 3pm - 5pm 👉 https://www.wearemass.org/events/dds-listening-session-sept-23-2026

🗣️ Your voice matters! Learn more about the upcoming listening sessions on 9/17 and 9/23/2026 and view a resource guide from the Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council (MDDC) here: https://conta.cc/4h7nboL

Email from Massachusetts Advocates Standing Strong (MASS) Share your views on cameras in DDS homes. Plus: MDDC’s guide and The Arc’s family town halls. Cameras in shared areas of DDS homes: What do yo

09/11/2026

Cameras in shared areas of DDS homes: What do you think? 🎥❔🗣️ 💬

MASS is collaborating with the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services (DDS) to host two listening sessions for self-advocates and people with disabilities supported by DDS.

🗣️ Your voice matters! Learn more about the upcoming listening sessions on 9/17 and 9/23/2026 and view a resource guide from the Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council (MDDC) here: https://conta.cc/4h7nboL

08/09/2026

Join us on Saturday, August 29 from 12:00 to 3:00 pm for Accessible Adventures: A Fun Day at Deer Island — a FREE event celebrating inclusive recreation and fun for all! Register soon: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/accessible-adventures-a-fun-day-at-deer-island-2026-tickets-1988291144336

Explore everything Deer Island has to offer. Admission is free!