The holidays can often be a hard time for people with disabilities. Our INDEX Holiday Resources fact sheet has been updated. You can find statewide, regional and local resources for food, holiday meals and gifts for children.
If you need help or have questions, please reach out to these resources.
People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) can have substance use disorders (SUD). The risk of developing use disorders is significant. There is a lack of screening and formal testing for SUD in people with IDD.
People with IDD can often abuse alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis.
The risk of developing SUD is relatively high among IDD substance users. It is due to:
Higher functioning people with IDD usually enjoy a greater level of independence. They are more likely to get access to drugs and alcohol. Also, they interact more with their community at large. They are apt to feel peer pressures and prejudice. They want to fit in with others.
INDEX has a new fact sheet with information and resources about people with IDD and substance use disorders.
INDEX Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) and Substance Use fact sheet
People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are harmed by sexual assault more often than others. They are usually harmed by someone they know. This can include family members, other people with IDD, and support staff. Consent is critical in all relationships. People with IDD often understand the idea of consent. But some things make it more confusing.
To prevent assault/abuse, we must teach consent in all contexts. People with IDD must have power over their bodies, even if it feels inconvenient to those caring for them. People must be able to give or withhold consent using their ways of communicating.
• You can self-pace through its contents to learn on your own.
You can use this toolkit in many ways.
• Teams can work together in person or remotely for staff development.
• You can share the videos and activities with the self-advocates you work with.
This toolkit was developed by Strategic Education Solutions (https://www.strategicedsolutions.com) in partnership with UMass Chan Medical School (https://www.umassmed.edu).
There are three modules in the Consent Toolkit. We recommend exploring these resources in three 30-minute sessions.
Consent Toolkit for Educators & Service Providers: https://selfadvocatecentral.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Consent-Toolkit-Educators-Svc-Providers-1.pdf
Self-advocate Central has a new toolkit for people with IDD and their families.
People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are harmed by
sexual assault more often than others. They are usually harmed by someone
they know. This can include family members, other people with IDD, and
support staff. Consent is a big part of staying safe.
Consent means being in charge of what happens with your body. It is important in romantic relationships. It’s important with friends, family members, and others. People must be in charge of what happens with their own bodies. This keeps them safe and healthy.
To stay safe, we must learn about getting and giving consent. People with IDD must have power over their bodies. People must be able to give or withhold consent. They must be able to say “yes” or “no” in the way they prefer.
You can use this Consent Toolkit in many ways.
• You learn on your own.
• You can learn with your family or others who support you.
• You can learn with other self-advocates.
There are three blocks in the Consent Toolkit. You don’t have to do them all at once. You can do them in three 30-minute blocks.
This toolkit was developed by Strategic Education Solutions (https://www.strategicedsolutions.com) in partnership with UMass Chan Medical School (https://www.umassmed.edu).
Consent Toolkit for Self-advocates & Families: https://selfadvocatecentral.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Consent-Toolkit-Self-Advocates-Families.pdf
We have a new Hospice, Palliative Care and Grief Support fact sheet that has end of life resources for people and their families/caregivers. We have info and resources for:
People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) may need hospice, palliative care and grief support programs. Hospice is end of life care. Palliative care is care for people who have serious illnesses. Grief support is for people who have lost a family member or loved one.
Today, the average life span for people with Down Syndrome is 60 or higher. Hospice can be offered in group homes, shared living homes, and family homes, for example. Palliative care can be given in many home settings. Grief services can be in-person, online, or through calls/chats. Some agencies offer special programs for people with IDD.
We have Hospice, Palliative Care and Grief resources in our Disability info.org database.
Please check out our new info and resources.
The winter holidays are almost here. INDEX staff updated two fact sheets that people might find helpful. Holidays can be fun. They may be stressful for many people and families.
Our Tips for Coping with the Holidays fact sheet has resources for dealing with:
Our Holiday Assistance fact sheet has resources people in need of help with:
Some resources are state wide. Others are listed by county, town or city.
We hope that these tips and resources may be helpful for people in need.
INDEX has a newly updated fact sheet for finding mental health crisis services across Massachusetts. We also list services by areas of the state. You can find help near where you live.
A crisis can be:
You can also find ways to call, text, or chat with someone who can help you. There is help for you 24 hours a day. There is a suicide and crisis lifeline. If you want to kill yourself, or hurt yourself or others, you can get help.
We hope that you will find this info useful for you or a family member or friend.
We put together info about voting in Massachusetts for people with disabilities. You can find:
You can register to vote in Massachusetts if you are:
A ballot is the way to pick the person you would like to vote for. You can vote by mail. You can vote early, or vote in person on the day of the election.
Massachusetts state primaries are on September 3. 2004.
Offices on the ballot are:
The 2024 United States federal elections will be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. The next president and vice president will be elected. Nine members of the House of Representatives from Massachusetts will be elected.
Please look at our Voters with Disabilities Info 2024 fact sheet.
It’s summer and it’s been very warm outside. You may be looking for things to do for fun. You may want to find accessible places to go. We’ve made a fact sheet with some ideas for you. There are some accessible hotel and transportation options.
Areas in Massachusetts include:
Recreation includes:
Sexual abuse can be seen as unwanted sexual activity. It can be touching or showing body parts. Abuse can be done by using force, bribes, stalking and threats.
People with disabilities (PwD) face many challenges and have very different needs. Some disabilities may put people at more risk for crimes like sexual assault or abuse. PwD may not be taken seriously when they make a report of sexual assault or abuse. They may not know how to report abuse. They may be scared to report what happened to them. They may fear what will happen to them after telling someone else.
People with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD) experience sexual assault at up to 7 times higher than people without disabilities. They are less likely to receive services that help stop violence. They get less support healing from pain and trauma. Research shows only 13% of PwD survivors with disabilities receive victim services.
People with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD) may not understand or lack information about healthy sexuality. They may not have had sex ed classes. They may not know the kinds of touching that are good or bad (appropriate or inappropriate). This can be very hard. A person’s disability may require other people to touch them to provide care. Someone who has IDD may not be able to agree to sexual activity. Many people with IDD are survivors of sexual abuse.
INDEX has a new fact sheet on Sexual Assault and Prevention Resources for People with Disabilities. We have info for people in Massachusetts and national resources.
Some areas are:
Massachusetts Disabled Persons Protection Commission (DPPC) Hotline: 800-426-9009