Subsidized housing, home health aides, public transportation, meals-on-wheels, protection from abuse and neglect: much of the safety net we depend on exists because of state and federal legislation and is funded by state and federal appropriations. Continued funding is never a sure thing. With partial federal government shutdowns recurrently looming on the horizon and Governor Healey’s recently announced cuts to the 2024 Massachusetts state budget, established funding pathways seem particularly in peril. There is pending legislation that will impact the disability and aging communities such as the housing bond bill, bills to limit MassHealth’s ability to confiscate property after someone dies, increasing funding for home modifications and aligning state access laws with the American with Disabilities Act. It is important that those who benefit from and rely on these programs and legislation let their voices be heard.
Next month, members of the aging and disabilities communities will have an opportunity to do just that at a Legislative Breakfast organized by the Aging and Disabilities Resource Consortium and sponsored by Elder Services of Cape Cod and the Islands (ESCCI) and the Cape Organization for Rights of the Disabled (CORD).
The Aging and Disability Resource Consortium anticipates robust representation from the Cape and Islands statehouse delegation as well as from its representatives to Congress at a Legislative Breakfast planned for early next month. “The response from both constituents and elected officials has been heartening,” said Sarah Franey, Community Services Officer at Elder Services of Cape Cod and the Islands (ESCCI), “because there are serious things to talk about.” Bob Seay, of Eastham and WGBH Boston, will moderate the forum.
Members of the aging and disabilities community are welcome to register for this free event. Please R.S.V.P. by January 26 by contacting CORD at 508-775-8300 or cathy@cilcapecod.org; please let us know if you need reasonable accommodations or transportation.
What: Aging and Disability Resource Consortium* Legislative Breakfast
Where: Doubletree by Hilton Cape Cod, 287 Iyannough Road, Hyannis
When: Friday, February 9, 2024 • 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Why: Here’s your chance to let your elected representatives know about the issues that impact you and others in the Aging and Disability communities.
*The Aging and Disability Consortium provides adults of all ages living with disabilities with streamlined access to information, options counseling, decision support, assistance with service planning, and connections to Long Term Services and Supports, ensuring a seamless “no wrong door” experience for all.
Founded in 1972, Elder Services of Cape Cod and the Islands, Inc. is a nonprofit, community-based organization dedicated to promoting the welfare, enhancing the quality of life, and maintaining the dignity of adults as they age in its three-county service area. The organization works through communities and their residents to identify and respond to the needs, problems and concerns of elders and their families.
CORD is the Center for Independent Living serving Cape Cod and the Islands and has been working since 1984 to advance the independence, productivity, and integration of people with disabilities into mainstream society. The main purpose of the organization is to advocate for the rights of people with disabilities and to promote a barrier-free environment for all. CORD provides independent living services to people with any disability and of all ages.
