ADRCs provide services to the elderly and people with disabilities including physical disabilities, serious mental illness, and/or developmental/intellectual disabilities. The goal of the ADRCs is to help all people with long-term care needs regardless of their age or disability.
ASAPs are one-step entry points for all services and benefits used by seniors in Massachusetts. ASAPs offer these services: Information and referral for senior services, including home care services, housing options, public benefits, legal assistance, hospice care, ombudsman program, health insurance, senior companions and adult day care. Other services include elder care advisers, case management services, care giver support & nutrition services.
Autism Support Centers are funded by the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services. They are home agencies for people who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The support centers are the “front door” for families. Supports include help with the eligibility process for DDS, information and referral resources, support groups, training and programs.
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These groups provide a variety of services for people with developmental disabilities and their families. Chapters of The Arc in Massachusetts belong to Arc of Massachusetts.
Commissions on Disability are set up by voters in Town Meetings (in towns) or City Councils (in cities) to promote the inclusion and integration of persons with disabilities in the activities, services and employment opportunities in each community.
Councils on Aging Councils on Aging serve older adults every day. They are run by town or city government. Services may include information and referral, support groups, transportation, care planning and more.
DDS provides services to children and adults with intellectual disabilities and their families. Services can include individual and family support, employment support, residential support, community support and more.
DMH provides clinical, rehabilitative and supportive services for children, teens, and adults with serious mental health care needs.
DTA is the state agency that handles public assistance programs (food assistance, job assistance, cash assistance and emergency shelter) for the needy citizens of the Commonwealth.
Emergency Service Programs (ESP) in Massachusetts provide 24 hours a day, 7 days a week services for a mental health crisis / emergency. Call the toll free number, so ESP provider can help you access the right services. No referral is necessary in an emergency situation.
Family support centers are locally run in areas of the state and offer many general family support services and activities to families of children and adults who are eligible for DDS services across the state.
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Family TIES (Together In Enhancing Support) of Massachusetts is a statewide information and parent-to-parent support project for families of children with special needs and chronic illness. It is run by parent coordinators in six regional offices of the Massachusetts’s Department of Public Health.
Independent Living Centers (ILC) are private, non-profit, consumer-run, community-based agencies providing services and advocacy by and for persons with all types of disabilities. An ILC’s goal is twofold: to create opportunities for independence, and to help individuals to gain the best level of independent functioning within their communities. The eleven ILCs in Massachusetts provide a range of services, which include information and referral, personal care attendants, housing, transportation, educational, vocational, equipment, communication, legal and social/recreational.
Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Independent Living Skills programs (DHILS) are funded with contracts run by MCDHH. DHILS programs give a peer consumer environment to allow deaf and hard-of-hearing people to become more self-supporting and reach their life goals for independent functioning in family, school employment, and community-situations.
MassAbility provides vocational rehabilitation, independent living services, and disability determination.
Massachusetts Commission for the Blind gives the highest quality rehabilitation and social services to blind individuals, leading to independence and full community participation. Services are made up of areas like Vocational Rehabilitation, Independent Living Social Skills, Assistive Technology, Rehabilitation Teaching, Orientation and Mobility and Specialized Services to Children, Elders and Deaf Blind Support.
MCDHH provides accessible communication, education, and advocacy to consumers and private and public entities so that programs, services, and opportunities throughout Massachusetts are fully accessible to persons who are deaf and hard of hearing.
MassHire Career Centers help people use a variety of job assistance tools and services like career counseling, workshops, finding local, statewide and national job listings, resume writing and more. Assistive technology and specialized services for people with disabilities are available in some locations.
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RLCs are consumer-run networks of self-help/peer support, information and referral, advocacy and training activities for people with serious mental illness.
The SHINE Program (Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone) is a state health insurance assistance program that gives free health insurance information, counseling and assistance to Massachusetts residents with Medicare and their caregivers. The SHINE Program is run by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs with help from elder service agencies, social service and community based agencies and Councils on Aging. The program is partially funded by the federal agency Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.