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MOD Fall Newsletter

Dear MOD community:

In honor of Veterans' Day, we'd like to spotlight the Executive Office of Veterans Services (EOVS). EOVS oversees a variety of programs and benefits for Massachusetts veterans, in addition to managing the state’s two Veterans Homes in Holyoke and Chelsea and the Memorial Cemeteries in Agawam and Winchendon. We reached out to them for information about their services for disabled veterans, and they shared this message:

EOVS works together with each city or town’s Veteran Service Officers (VSOs) to connect Massachusetts veterans to federal and state financial assistance, healthcare, housing, employment and education, and mental health resources. Disabled veterans can contact EOVS for more information about annuity payment increases as a result of the recently signed HERO Act, property tax exemptions, sales tax exemptions for Purple Heart specialty license plates, and VA housing grants.

Visit mass.gov/VETS, call (617) 210-5480 or download our Transition Toolkit to learn more.

To the veterans in our MOD community: thank you for your service.

To all of our readers: MOD has several new resources available to help you understand your legal rights and obligations under disability-related laws. We hope you find these resources helpful and can join us for one of our upcoming trainings!

Mary Mahon McCauley

Executive Director

MOD's new Creating Accessible Digital Documents video series gives practical, step-by-step guidance on creating accessible documents in Microsoft Word. Topics include using the built-in accessibility checker, headings and table of contents, tables, lists, and columns.

This series was created in collaboration with the Executive Office of Health and Human Services' Center for Staff Development. It will be expanded with more topics in the new year.

CAP Disability in Employment Workshops

Wednesday, November 13 | Various times

Virtual

MOD's Client Assistance Program (CAP) hosts a series of three separate workshops over Zoom. The series is aimed at employees and jobseekers with disabilities and their advocates.

Deciding to Disclose

November 13 | 9:30 - 10:30 AM

Learn about the advantages and disadvantages of disclosing your disability at different stages of the employment process.

Reasonable Accommodations in Employment

November 13 | 11 AM - 12:30 PM

This interactive workshop covers the steps people with disabilities should take to identify their essential job functions, supports they may need to fulfill them, and how to request a reasonable accommodation at work.

Disability Discrimination in Employment

November 13 | 2:30 - 4 PM

Using real world examples, participants learn how to identify and address disability discrimination in the workplace.

Quarterly Tea with MOD: Municipal Commissions on Disability

Thursday, December 19 | 10 - 11:30 AM

Municipal Commissions on Disability (CODs) advise municipal governments on the disability community’s needs in their city or town. They are established by town meeting or city council vote. MOD provides information and guidance to help CODs get started, understand their role and responsibilities, and reach their goals.

This webinar is for current COD members and individuals interested in starting a COD in their city or town. We will discuss various helpful topics for CODs, including:

• Starting and funding a COD,
• COD roles and responsibilities,
• Key regulations,
• Advocacy resources for CODs, and
• Setting COD goals

Register: Quarterly Tea - Municipal Commissions on Disability

MOD's FY24 annual report

In FY24, MOD:

• Provided over 4,000 one-on-one disability rights consultations to inform Massachusetts residents about their rights and obligations under disability rights and accessibility laws,
• Held more than 90 free and accessible trainings for municipalities, nonprofits, and other groups, and
• Added 6 new disability rights guidance pages to our website, allowing us to reach an even wider audience

Download our FY24 annual report for more about how we built a more inclusive and accessible Commonwealth last year.

Disability and Employment FAQs: Video Series

MOD's new Disability and Employment FAQs video series answers 4 of your most frequently asked questions about disability and employment:

1. When do I have to tell my employer that I have a disability?
2. What is a reasonable accommodation (RA)?
3. How do I request a reasonable accommodation (RA) at work?
4. When can my employer legally deny my reasonable accommodation (RA) request?

Resources for state agencies

MOD helps Commonwealth Executive Branch agencies comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and related disability rights laws. Check out our new accessibility guidance for state agencies page, which includes:

• Link to download our Disability Handbook for the Executive Branch,
• New ADA/504 Coordinator designation form,
• Request form for Reasonable Accommodation Capital Reserve Account (RACRA) funds,
• And more!

Recorded trainings

Subscribe to MOD's YouTube channel for the latest recorded trainings. Recent offerings:

• Reasonable Accommodations and Modifications in Housing
• Tips for Hosting Accessible Events and Meetings
• Digital Accessibility and ADA Compliance

Contact MOD:

Ask a question online | (617) 727-7440

mass.gov/MOD



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