Summit Partners
The Paul W. Spooner Generational Leadership Summit is made possible through collaboration and partnerships between a group of dedicated statewide disability organizations.
Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council (MDDC)
The MDDC is an independent agency, funded by the federal government, dedicated to empowering people with developmental disabilities (DD) and their families to enjoy full productive lives by promoting self-sufficiency, community inclusion, and opportunity.
Visit MDDC online: www.mass.gov/mddc
Disability Policy Consortium
DPC’s credo is “About Us, By Us”: the belief that when decisions are made about people with disabilities, people with disabilities must play a lead role in making them.
Our mission is to ensure the voice of people with disabilities is heard on key issues, to support the health of our community through participatory research and expert policy analysis, to and empower grassroots disability leaders to transform their communities.
Visit DPC online: www.dpcma.org
Boston Center for Independent Living (BCIL)
The Boston Center for Independent Living is a frontline civil rights organization led by people with disabilities that advocates to eliminate discrimination, isolation and segregation by providing advocacy, information and referral, peer support, skills training, PCA services, and transitional services in order to enhance the independence of people with disabilities.
Visit BCIL online: www.bostoncil.org
Massachusetts Advocates Standing Strong (MASS)
Massachusetts Advocates Standing Strong (MASS) operates statewide and runs five individual regions along with monthly Statewide Drop-Ins for persons with I/DD to socialize with their peers across the state.
They facilitate various trainings, and are partnered with other groups that help our members learn to advocate for themselves, develop leadership skills, and foster social connections.
Visit MASS online: wearemass.org/
The Arc of Massachusetts
The mission of The Arc of Massachusetts is to enhance the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including autism, and their families. They fulfill this through advocacy for community supports and services that foster social inclusion, self-determination, and equity.
Visit The Arc of Massachusetts online: thearcofmass.org
MassFamilies
MassFamilies, formerly Massachusetts Families Organizing for Change is a statewide, grassroots coalition of individuals with disabilities and/or chronic illnesses and their families.
They are actively organizing families and individuals to use the power of their numbers to effect positive change.
Visit MassFamilies online: massfamilies.org
Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities (MCSPWD)
The Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities is a 23-member, independent state agency with a broad charge to advance the cause of all persons with disabilities in the Commonwealth.
Visit MCSPWD online: mass.gov/orgs/permanent-commission-on-the-status-of-persons-with-disabilities
Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) at UMass Boston
The Institute for Community Inclusion at UMass Boston supports the rights of children and adults with disabilities to participate in all aspects of society. As practitioners, researchers, and teachers, we form partnerships with individuals, families, and service agencies. Together we advocate for personal choice and self-determination.
We are dedicated to advancing the full inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of life. Our work encompasses research, program evaluation, training, consultation, education, policy analysis, and service delivery across four main areas of emphasis: Employment, Education, Community Life, and Health Care.
Visit ICI online: communityinclusion.org
Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center at UMass Chan Medical School
The Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center, part of the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, is dedicated to understanding and improving the challenges faced by individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and/or behavioral health disorders as well as supporting their families.
Since 1970, our expert faculty and staff have conducted cutting-edge research, offered world-class education and training, and provided high quality services with the goal of enhancing the health, safety, and quality of life of people affected by IDD and NDD. Our comprehensive experience and expertise have established the Shriver Center as an international leader, devoted to supporting the full participation of people with disabilities in community life.
Visit The Shriver Center online: shriver.umassmed.edu
Disability Law Center (DLC)
The Disability Law Center (DLC) is the Protection and Advocacy (P&A) agency for Massachusetts. DLC is a private, non-profit organization responsible for providing protection and advocacy for the rights of Massachusetts residents with disabilities. DLC receives federal, state and private funding but is not part of the state or federal government. As the P&A, federal law provides DLC extensive access authority.
Visit DLC online: dlc-ma.org
Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services (DDS)
The Department of Developmental Services provides supports for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities including Autism Spectrum Disorder to enhance opportunities to become fully engaged members of their community.
Visit DDS online: mass.gov/dds