Nov
2024

Tips for Coping with Holidays & Holiday Assistance

categories: Autism, Cognitive Disabilities, Community, Family, Home, Mental Health, Parenting
Happy Holidays with leaves and berries wreath

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:

  • Stress
  • Mental Health
  • Grief
  • Caregiving
  • Physical Disabilities
  • Special Needs
  • More

Our Holiday Assistance fact sheet has resources people in need of help with:

  • Food pantries, food baskets and holiday meals
  • Food delivery for seniors and people with disabilities
  • Gifts for children
  • Financial help including help with utilities 
  • Other resources

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.


Sep
2024

Mental Health (MH) Crisis Resources

categories: Health, Mental Health
image of a red cross

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:

  • Having a panic attack
  • Having feelings that make you sick
  • Hurting yourself or others
  • Trying to help someone who is having bad feelings
  • Wanting to kill yourself
  • Yelling, screaming, or throwing things 
  • Other MH problems

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. 


Jul
2024

Voters with Disabilities 2024 Info

categories: Accessibility, Community, Independence, Voting & Government
Pile of Vote buttons

We put together info about voting in Massachusetts for people with disabilities.  You can find: 

  • How to register to vote
  • Accessible voting and how to ask for an accessible ballot 
  • Voting rights
  • Voter resources
  • Where to vote

You can register to vote in Massachusetts if you are:

  • A U.S. citizen
  • Live in Massachusetts
  • 18 years or older
  • Not in jail for a serious crime

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:

  • U.S. Senator
  • U.S. Representative
  • Governor’s Councillor
  • State Senator
  • State Representatives
  • Register of Deeds
  • Clerk of Courts
  • County Commissioner (some counties only)

 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. 


Jul
2024

Accessible Massachusetts

categories: Education

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:

  • Boston
  • Berkshires
  • Cape Cod
  • North Shore 

Recreation includes:

  • Accessible Day Cruises and Tours
  • Accessible Seating at Sports Venues
  • Accessible Trails 
  • Massachusetts State Parks and Programs for people with disabilities
https://disabilityinfo.org/fact-sheet-library/recreation/accessible-boston/: Accessible Massachusetts

Jun
2024

Sexual Assault and Prevention Resources for People with Disabilities (PwD)

categories: Cognitive Disabilities, Down Syndrome, Health, Mental Health, Physical disabilities, Sexual Assault and Prevention

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:

  • Ways to report sexual abuse
  • Rape Crisis Centers info
  • Domestic violence programs
  • Hotlines

Massachusetts Disabled Persons Protection Commission (DPPC) Hotline: 800-426-9009


Nov
2023

Holiday Resources 2023

categories: Community, Family

The holidays can be a hard time for families and people with disabilities.

INDEX has an updated Holiday Resources 2023 fact sheet. You can find holiday help in Massachusetts. Looking for food and food pantries? Want a place to go for a Thanksgiving or holiday dinner with others? Thinking about how you can get toys and gifts for children?

Resources are for:

* Food/Meals

* Toys & Gifts

* Financial Help

* Holiday Programs

Holiday Resources 2023


Jul
2023

Summer Recreation

categories: Accessibility, Arts & Fun, Cognitive Disabilities, Family

Summer is here! Time to enjoy the warmer weather and have fun.

Here are some programs and places to enjoy this summer.

Accessible Cape Cod 

Wheelchair accessible beaches on Cape Cod.

Accessible Pools & Spray Decks 

Outdoor swimming pool lifts are available at all of the State Parks and Recreation Department’s 20 swimming pools. The pools are free. Contact pool directly for information about other site factors affecting accessibility.

Access Recreation New England

Connecting people with disabilities to accessible recreation opportunities

Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary

Offers nine miles of walking trails guiding through a variety of field, woodland, and wetland habitats. A quarter-mile, handicap accessible trail and boardwalk along the bank of Indian Brook in Natick. Universally accessible facilities: Nature Center, Restrooms, All Persons Trail.

Mass Dept of Conservation & Recreational Universal Access Program

Provides outdoor recreation opportunities in Massachusetts State Parks for visitors of all abilities. Accessibility to Massachusetts State Parks is achieved through site improvements, specialized adaptive recreation equipment, and accessible recreation programs.

Piers Park Adaptive Sailing

Provides programs for disabled youth and adults aboard 23-foot sonar sailboats on a no charge basis. Serves those with amputations, paralysis, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, autism, hearing impaired, sight impaired, intellectual disabilities and other disabilities. Successfully integrates youth with disabilities into summer youth sailing programs.

Smile Mass Local Beach Wheelchair Locations

Smile Mass has both fresh and saltwater beach wheelchairs available across the state. Wheelchair users can access beaches and enjoy the water.

Spaulding Adaptive Sports

Offers adaptive sports and recreation activities in Boston, Cape Cod and the North Shore.  Includes wheelchair tennis, hand cycling, adaptive rowing, waterskiing or windsurfing.

Click on the links for more info. You can go to our Recreation Opportunities for People with Disabilities fact sheet to find more choices for people of all ages, abilities and skill levels.



May
2023

INDEX Summer Camp Resources 2023

categories: Arts & Fun, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism, Blindness & Visual Impairment, Brain Injury, Cognitive Disabilities, Deaf & Hard of Hearing, Down Syndrome, Epilepsy, Multiple Sclerosis, Physical Disabilities

We have updated Summer Camp resources for children with disabilities. Camp listings are for day and residential camps. Camps are located in Massachusetts, New England, and beyond. Check our listings for specific camp information and openings. Cost varies by type of camp and programs offered.

Camps offer a big range of programs and activities. Camps may have available openings and wait lists. Each camp has its own eligibility requirements. If you have questions, please contact each camp for details.

INDEX Summer Camp Resources 2023