On Wednesday, January 15, Nicky’s Law was unanimously passed by the Massachusetts House of Representatives with a vote of 154-0. This marks a true milestone in the disability community as it is the first law of its kind in Massachusetts that establishes a registry consisting of caretakers who have had substantiated reports of abuse brought against them.
“As a human services provider, our first responsibility is to ensure the health and safety of the individuals who we support,” says LifeLinks CLASS CEO Jean Phelps. “And it’s a responsibility that we do not take lightly.”
The newly-created registry is now a necessary tool for providers during the hiring process – allowing providers like LifeLinks CLASS to effectively screen applicants before they are given the chance to work with such a vulnerable population. “This registry completes a robust suite of pre-employment reviews, including fingerprinting, national background checks, CORI and OIG registry checks, and E-Verify. All of which help providers be able to assert that our workforce is credible and fully-vetted,” says Phelps.
This reform was inspired by the Chan family and is a story of perseverance. In 2014, the family was notified that their son, Nicky, who is on the autism spectrum, had been abused by a worker at his day program. His alleged abuser was fired and prosecuted, but ultimately found not guilty. When Nicky’s family was told that, without a conviction, there was no way to stop the caretaker from being hired at another human services agency, they tirelessly worked with community advocates and legislators to make a change.
Nicky’s Law was unanimously passed by the Senate last year, and the House revised the bill to include certain protections for those who may be wrongly accused. Once the Senate approves the new language, the bill will be passed onto Governor Baker’s desk for review.
The bill establishes a new process:
The Disabled Persons Protection Commission (DPPC) begins an investigation once an allegation of abuse is made.
The caretaker in question is notified and given the opportunity to go through a formal appeal process.
During the appeal process, the DPPC is expected to notify The Department of Developmental Services (DDS), the victim and their family as well as the caregiver’s employer.
If the report of abuse is substantiated, the caregiver’s name will be added to the registry.
The Abuse Registry Bill is an important step in breaking the unfortunate cycle of abuse that exists within the services provided to those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Most importantly, this bill offers a beacon of hope for all of the Nicky’s of our world – that they may receive the supports they need from trusted providers without any fear. Read the full bill here.
Photo courtesy of The Arc of Massachusetts: Linda Cox, far left, is a passionate advocate for disability rights as well as being part of the Family Support team at LifeLinks CLASS.
Our Annual Holiday Party was another night to remember! On Saturday, December 7, nearly 350 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities from the Greater Lowell area joined us at Lenzi’s. LifeLinks CLASS individuals from day programs and group homes attended, as well as those from the community who look forward to this festive evening every year. The chilly weather didn’t stop partygoers from arriving in their finest holiday attire – everyone was dressed to impress! Once coats were checked and attendees were situated at their tables, the fun began. No time was wasted getting on the dance floor – DJ Ray Tremblay made sure of that. Lenzi’s served a delicious full-course meal, with special thought being given to the dietary restrictions of our guests. A task that is no small feat thanks to the support of our incredible clinical team! The party moved into the lobby area as individuals and volunteers posed for keepsake photos in the accessible photo booth.
It’s important to remember that the LifeLinks CLASS Holiday Party is the highlight of the season for many. It could be they have no living family members to share the holidays with or that their families are not very involved in their lives. For them and for all, our Holiday Party is like being home for the holidays. Thanks to our generous donors who offer their continuous support, we are able to keep this party affordable for the hundreds that attend. With the help of 52 donors, we were able to raise nearly $8,000 to offset the cost of this event. Wow! We couldn’t do what we do without you!
The festivities continued with a Shared Living Meeting hosted at The Establishment in Chelmsford, MA. Our Shared Living providers came together to reminisce, enjoy a delicious meal, swap gifts and face each other in a close game of holiday trivia. What more could you ask for during this special time of year? From everyone at LifeLinks CLASS, we wish you a Happy Holiday!
LifeLinks CLASS ended the month of October on a spooktacular note with costumes, pumpkin contests and loads of candy! On Friday, October 25, our Family Support Center welcomed individuals, family and community members to our Chelmsford location for a Trunk or Treat. Trunk or Treats were created as a safer alternative to trick-or-treating. Rather than walking through neighborhoods, kids and families dress up and collect candy from decorated cars. For many of the children and individuals that we support, a Trunk or Treat is a less stressful and more inviting way to experience the magic of Halloween. While weaving through the crowds, you could run into a variety of characters: Beetlejuice, Thor, Batman and Cinderella! Chelmsford Police joined the festivities, handing out “Police Pal’ stickers to everyone in attendance. After families made their rounds for candy, they moved inside to enjoy pizza generously donated by Suppa’s in Billerica and capture a shot of their costumes with the interactive photo booth. The evening wouldn’t be complete without a memory to take home.
The bone-chilling fun continued this week at our facilities in Chelmsford, Lawrence and Wilmington. Halloween dances have been a longstanding tradition in the LifeLinks CLASS community, and this year they were bigger and better than ever. Individuals gathered in the day programs, some joined by family, to show off their dance moves.
Left: Suzanna is joined by her mother at the Chelmsford Halloween dance. Right: Tina arrives for the Lawrence Halloween dance in her dazzling costume.
It was a wicked sight to see. The Chelmsford Day Habilitation program topped it off with a pumpkin contest. It was a close call but the “Spa Day” pumpkin took home first place! Thank you to the dedicated LifeLinks CLASS team for making these Halloween festivities possible! Most importantly, thank you to the individuals and families who joined us! We can’t wait to do it again next year.
“Spa Day” pumpkin – winner of the pumpkin contest.
