Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I have been appointed by the Speaker to represent the House of Representatives to serve on the Permanent Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities, established in the 2020 Act Relative to Justice, Equity, and Accountability in Law Enforcement in the Commonwealth. Both personally and professionally, I am deeply committed to individuals with developmental disabilities, their families and communities, and the many people that comprise the workforce engaging with these individuals. This Commission will work to advance the cause of all persons with disabilities in the Commonwealth by:
- studying and reporting on key issues including, disparities in services and transportation and assessing programs and practices in state agencies as they affect persons with disabilities;
- promoting public awareness to encourage inclusion of persons with disabilities as employees and vendors within the private and public sector workforce;
- assessing programs and practices in all state agencies as they affect persons with disabilities;
- advise executive and legislative bodies regarding the impact of proposed legislation on persons with disabilities; and
- promote and facilitate collaboration among local disability commissions, disability rights advocacy organizations and disability employment service providers.
I am honored at this opportunity to continue to support individuals with disabilities, their families and loved ones as well as the provider agencies and direct care staff. As a country and Commonwealth we have come a long way in our understanding and appreciation of individuals with disabilities and their needs, issues and concerns but we still have a long way to go. I will give my very best efforts to this Commission and hope to engage many members of my District.
Yours in Service,
Denise
- In Needham, the Red Cross is hosting a Needham Community Super Blood Drive on Friday, April 2, from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM at The Center at the Heights. Please call 1-800-733-2767 or visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter NeedhamCBD to schedule an appointment. To learn more, click here.
- In Dover, the Board of Selectmen have voted to call a Special Town Meeting for Saturday, June 12, 2021 at 10:00 AM on the Nora Searle Field at the Dover-Sherborn Regional School. The purpose of this Special Town Meeting is for voting on a new or renovated community center. To learn more, click here.
- In Medfield, the Public Works Department is holding two clean up days on April 24 and April 25 from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. For information and to volunteer, please call the PWD at 508-906-3003. To learn more, click here.
- Massachusetts and FEMA are partnering to bring an additional 6,000 daily doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to the Hynes Convention Center. If you are interested in receiving your vaccine at the Hynes Convention Center, you should pre-register at vaccinesignup.mass.gov. To learn more about this partnership, click here.
- The Department of Public Health issued an order to allow additional certain individuals administer the COVID-19 vaccine in the Commonwealth. These individuals include Podiatrists, Phlebotomists, Medical Assistants, and designated Massachusetts Military Division vaccinators. To learn more, click here.
- Massachusetts is currently in Phase 4, Step 1 of the Massachusetts reopening plan. Indoor and outdoor stadiums, areas, and ballparks will be permitted to operate at a 12% capacity limit. Additionally, gathering limits for event venues and public settings will increase to 100 people indoors and 150 people outdoors. Outdoor and indoor gatherings at private residences will remain at the same limit. Dance floors will be permitted at weddings and other event and overnight summer camps will be allowed to operate this coming summer. To learn more, click here.
- If you have questions, input, or comments regarding the Reopening Massachusetts plan, you can submit comments online. These comments can be used by the Administration to support efforts to methodically reopen the economy amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here for the form.
- If you are in need of resources, information, or support, please visit my website for a list of resources. Additionally, our local boards of health, the Department of Public Health, and the Centers for Disease Control are continuing to maintain websites with the most updated information regarding COVID-19 that you can access here:
- Needham Health Department Updates
- Medfield Updates
- Dover Updates
- Department of Public Health: Click here or Call 2-1-1.
- Reopening Massachusetts
- COVID-19 Travel Order
- Centers for Disease Control
