Programs
Government Affairs Committee
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The primary vehicle for the MDSC’s public policy initiatives is our Government Affairs Committee. The Committee works with the MDSC Executive Director, Management Team, and the MDSC membership to advocate for statewide and national policies that will help the MDSC achieve its mission. With broad statewide representation, the Committee’s primary objective is to mobilize the MDSC membership to advocate on behalf of the entire Down syndrome community. Learn more about becoming a legislative advocate here. The Committee does this by providing the following: outreach to members, training opportunities, the chance to testify at public hearings, and templates to use in advocacy efforts. The Committee also develops its own testimony, recruits members for public rallies, vigils, etc., and organizes and participates in meetings with policy makers both in the Legislature and the Administration. The Committee appreciates your feedback, and is often looking for new members. Contact us at timetospeakout@mdsc.org. Committee Goals 1. The Committee will review legislative bills and make a recommendation as to the bills that are of the highest priority for the MDSC to advocate for. Working with the MDSC Executive Director, the Committee will make a recommendation of a priority bill and support bills to include in the MDSC Legislative Platform. The Executive Director will submit these recommendations to the MDSC Board of Directors for approval. 2. Once the Board of Directors has approved the Legislative Platform, the Committee will work closely with the Executive Director, management team and the MDSC membership to advocate for these bills. Advocacy will include the following activities:
3. The Committee will research and develop new tools and systems to build an infrastructure for the MDSC and the Committee's advocacy efforts. Some of the suggested tools and systems to investigate include Instatrac and Capwiz. 4. Recruit and train MDSC members in all regions of the Commonwealth to act as a liaison in their local area for timely legislative needs. 5. Collaborate with other Advocacy groups (i.e. NDSS and The Arc of Massachusetts) to work together on common legislative priorities and to participate in rallies, legislative receptions, and advocacy days, that will advance the MDSC legislative priorities. 6. Increase the capacity of the Committee through providing in-service training opportunities on various legislative advocacy best practices. Legislative and Administrative Partners The MDSC partners closely with dozens of legislators and administration officials, including officials at the state Executive Office of Health & Human Services, which includes the Department of Developmental Services (DDS). DDS is the state agency that provides services for people with disabilities, including those with Down syndrome. Legislatively, some of our closest allies, including State Senator Karen Spilka, serve on the MDSC's Honorary Board of Directors, which acts in an advisory capacity to the organization's official Board of Directors. Organizational Partners The MDSC partners with state and national disability advocacy groups to advance specific legislation, overall policy initiatives and disability funding priorities. In 2008-2009, the MDSC joined a cross-disability effort to develop a comprehensive 21st Century Disability Policy. Known as the Massachusetts Alliance for 21st Century Disability Policy, the coalition crafting the manuscript included the Arc of Massachusetts, Massachusetts Families Organizing for Change (MFOFC), Massachusetts Advocates Standing Strong (MASS), Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council (MDDC), and Advocates for Autism of Massachusetts (AFAM). Other MDSC partners include, but are not limited to: National Down Syndrome Congress National Down Syndrome Society Massachusetts Disabled Persons Protection Commission Disability Law Center Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination Federation for Children with Special Needs Massachusetts Advocates for Children |
