October was a remarkable month of advocacy and empowerment at The Arc of Opportunity, highlighted by three significant events: the Self-Direction Conference on October 22nd, the “I Voted” Informational Session held at The Arc of Opportunity on October 23rd, and the MASS (Massachusetts Advocates Standing Strong) 26th Annual Self-Advocacy Conference on October 26th. A common theme of empowerment ran through all three events, presenting many participants with a new lens: a lens of equity, choice, and growth.
Discussions often centered around a pivotal question: What do I want out of my services? For many individuals receiving services through the Department of Developmental Services, this may have been a question they had never been asked before. As a provider or someone working in the field, you might wonder: How is that possible? We’ve placed significant emphasis on human rights and providing choices. One attendee at the MASS Advocates conference eloquently described the shift she experienced after learning about self-direction:
“I may have been asked what I wanted for breakfast, but I was never asked where I wanted to live, who I wanted to live with, or what I really wanted out of life. I never knew there was a way for me to choose those things for myself.”
Keynote speaker Patti Scott, who co-founded Neighbors, Inc. in 1995, also addressed this critical issue. She shared an inspiring testimony of her journey from working for a state provider to pioneering her innovative agency, which empowers people with disabilities to take control of their lives and the resources that support them.
This movement toward self-direction is gaining momentum across Massachusetts. Acting DDS Commissioner Sarah Peterson shared a powerful statistic: the number of individuals self-directing their services has nearly doubled in five years, rising from 1,279 in 2019 to 2,475 in 2024. This shift in thinking was also evident during the “I Voted” Informational Session hosted by The Arc on October 23rd, 2024. Participants explored ballot options, created personalized voting cards, identified their polling locations, and registered to vote if they weren’t already registered. These efforts demonstrated the intersection of self-direction and civic engagement, empowering individuals to take control of not only their services but also their participation in society.
The month concluded with a celebration of leadership and mentorship at the MASS Self-Advocacy Conference, where Jackie Dulmaine from The Arc of Opportunity received the prestigious Janet Laperle Encouragement Award. This award is presented to “a person who is not only a leader in Massachusetts but also someone who spends time mentoring and encouraging other self-advocates.” Congratulations, Jackie!
The Arc of Opportunity is proud to offer self-directed services through our Agency with Choice (AWC) program, empowering individuals to take control of their own lives. The impact of this service model continues to grow as we help individuals, and their families embrace their roles in shaping their futures.
Want to get involved?The Arc of Opportunity’s Self-Advocacy Group meets on the second Wednesday of every month from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at 564 Main St., Fitchburg, MA, in the training room. All are welcome! To learn more about Agency with Choice (AWC), please contact Maia Wentrup or David Kline and visit our website: The Arc of Opportunity.
We also encourage anyone interested in self-advocacy to subscribe to MASS at www.wearemass.org/subscribe and stay updated through the MASS FLASH newsletter at www.wearemass.org/mass-flash.
Together, we can empower more individuals to live lives that truly reflect their aspirations.