The Family Support Center, based at our Chelmsford location, hosted a summertime social for the families we are proud to serve. Some of the day’s activities included a delicious BBQ, a balloon artist, face painting, crafts, games, and a visit from the Chelmsford Fire Department! Thank you to all who attended and made the event such a hit. We look forward to more opportunities to connect with our individuals and their loved ones in the future.
Lily and her family enjoyed the balloon artist at our summer BBQ.
Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU) has been a longtime supporter of both LifeLinks and CLASS. In the past year, DCU made significant donations in the amount of $15,000 and $25,000 to support our programs and services. As an expression of our appreciation, staff from our Chelmsford location collaboratively worked with a group of individuals to create a banner that expressed their heartfelt appreciation. They personally presented their message of thanks to the DCU staff at their Tyngsboro, MA office.
The LifeLinks CLASS community presents the DCU staff with their personalized thank you banner.
Staff members from two DCU branches recently attended our annual talent/art show — hosted at our Chelmsford location. This opportunity allowed them to witness the impact of their donation and what it means to the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
From left to right: Flavia Cady, DCU Lowell Branch Manager; Bonnie L. and Maria P. from LifeLinks CLASS; and Meghan Bodington, DCU Tyngsboro Branch Manager.
CHELMSFORD, MA – On a sunny summer afternoon, a crowd roared with approval and joyously sang along to a Neil Diamond classic. But they weren’t singing “Sweet Caroline” and celebrating home runs or double plays at Fenway Park. Nor were they cheering on the Spinners at LeLacheur Park.
No, the scene of the raucous rendition of “Coming to America” took place at Omni Way in Chelmsford at the annual LifeLinks Art & Talent Show on August 8.
Organized by the organization’s Urban Youth Interns, the talent show is always a high point on the summer calendar. Friends, family, donors, interns, and staff were treated to a day of singing and dancing, where the hard work of all the performers was on full display.
“If I could describe what was happening that afternoon, it’s an incredible sense of love,” says LifeLinks/CLASS CEO Jean Phelps. “The incredible levels of support and encouragement being expressed by all of the people in the audience are moving. It just felt really good to be in the room, and I want to thank you all for giving us that moment.”
As part of the festivities, members of the Day Habilitation Program proudly displayed their artwork around the facility for attendees to enjoy, in an explosion of color that turned the first floor into a full-fledged art gallery.
“Where else would you rather be today?” asks Day Habilitation Services Director Shawn Nault. “When we talk about a culture of inclusion, this is what we mean. The passion of the people we serve in their performance is matched by the passion of the summer interns who put on the show, and that’s how lifelong memories are made.”
CHELMSFORD, MA – Inside the hallways of our Day Habilitation program, something special is happening. Young adults from urban backgrounds are “learning while they earn” — making an impact on the lives of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Urban Youth Collaborative Program (UYCP) is funded by the Department of Developmental Services (DDS), an initiative that began in 1992 to foster an interest in students to work in the human services field. The program’s success speaks for itself, with nearly 3,500 interns being connected with over 19 agencies since its implementation.
Fifteen students, some new and some returning, spent the last eight weeks gaining real work experience while being mentored and supervised by professional staff. On August 8, students gathered at the Massachusetts State House to be honored for their commitment and dedication to serving individuals at the various providers of the UYCP. Shawn Nault, Director of Day Habilitation Services and UYCP Coordinator, and his team also had the opportunity to personally express their gratitude at last month’s graduation ceremony, hosted at our Chelmsford location. Interns sat side-by-side with the individuals who they had fostered relationships with over the course of the summer. Genie Nortelus, DDS Deputy Director in Diversity, attended the ceremony on behalf of Jerry Scott, founder and driving force behind the UYCP.
When asked to share their experiences, each student’s quote echoed a similar sentiment: this was a lifechanging experience. Benjamin Waithe, a peer mentor, had this to say, “It has been special to be part of the reason some small activities and relationships happen that can mean so much to an individual. I’ve learned a lot about the field of human services as well as some of the gaps in services that we are aiming to fill.”
The Summer Program may have ended, but that doesn’t mean that the experiential learning will. The ASD Peer Mentoring Program is in its first year — giving interns the opportunity to mentor adults on the Autism Spectrum through group events and one-on-one meetups. By leveraging our collective expertise as a newly merged organization, and with full support from DDS, the possibilities are endless! As always, thank you to the students involved in the UYCP and we look forward to continuing this journey with you.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) represented a groundbreaking leap forward in the Disability Rights Movement. On July 26, 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed it into law, proclaiming that “every man and woman can now pass through once-closed doors into a bright new era of equality, independence, and freedom.” Individuals who were once looked down upon or excluded from society now had the right to participate freely and equally in daily American life, without fear of discrimination. The first of its kind, the ADA also paved the way for similar laws to take hold in other countries.
At the time of its signing, protection for people with disabilities was sorely needed. Although the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s had succeeded in advancing the rights of racial minorities and women, people with disabilities were not protected under legislation until Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 was passed, which prohibited discrimination against individuals on the basis of disability for those who received federal funds. However, this law did not fully protect individuals from discrimination in the workplace or other public and private venues – a gap that the ADA sought to fill. Senator Tom Harkin, whose brother was deaf, penned the ADA and brought it before the Senate; yet he did not act alone.
Countless disability rights activists and organizations, many of whom had disabilities themselves, fought long and hard for the passage of the ADA. On March 12, 1990, over 60 disability rights activists with physical disabilities descended on the U.S. Capitol Building, ditching their mobility devices and beginning the long crawl up its 83 steps. This act of protest, now called “the Capitol Crawl,” was in response to the long delay in passing the ADA and ultimately spurred Senators to pass the bill through the House of Representatives.
Today, the ADA protects individuals with disabilities from discrimination in employment, government services, housing, transportation, and public accommodations. It stands as a reminder of how far we have come as a society, as we continue to “redefine what’s possible.”
We are celebrating more than just the 4th of July this week!
Monday, July 1 was our first day as a newly merged agency: LifeLinks dba/CLASS. Now that the technical, behind the scenes, work of bringing two organizations together is complete we are excited about the opportunities that are opening to us. We are eager to begin the work to blend our organizations, cultures, vision, and goals.
I am proud and humbled to provide leadership to this new organization, to work collectively to set the course of our work and to celebrate what I know will be our many successes. Alfred J. Frugoli will remain with us, transitioning into the role of Chief Operating Officer overseeing all our great programs. As of today, we serve or touch the lives of over 900 individuals and are now almost 30 million dollars in revenue and have over 500 staff; formidable numbers indeed.
The merger of CLASS and LifeLinks provides many opportunities – the first of which is to leverage our collective expertise to make sure we’re providing the best services possible in our existing programs. We believe that the next few years will be a sensational period for us as we come together to be an organization that can truly make sure everyone we serve in homes, day services and community supports experiences innovative, personalized and valued services that promote a full life, where there is an opportunity for personal growth and active, meaningful engagement in their community.
CHELMSFORD, MA – On a sunny summer afternoon, a crowd roared with approval and joyously sang along to a Neil Diamond classic. But they weren’t singing “Sweet Caroline” and celebrating home runs or double plays at Fenway Park. Nor were they cheering on the Spinners at LeLacheur Park.
As part of the festivities, members of the Day Habilitation Program proudly displayed their artwork around the facility for attendees to enjoy, in an explosion of color that turned the first floor into a full-fledged art gallery.
CHELMSFORD, MA – Inside the hallways of our Day Habilitation program, something special is happening. Young adults from urban backgrounds are “learning while they earn” — making an impact on the lives of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Urban Youth Collaborative Program (UYCP) is funded by the Department of Developmental Services (DDS), an initiative that began in 1992 to foster an interest in students to work in the human services field. The program’s success speaks for itself, with nearly 3,500 interns being connected with over 19 agencies since its implementation.
When asked to share their experiences, each student’s quote echoed a similar sentiment: this was a lifechanging experience. Benjamin Waithe, a peer mentor, had this to say, “It has been special to be part of the reason some small activities and relationships happen that can mean so much to an individual. I’ve learned a lot about the field of human services as well as some of the gaps in services that we are aiming to fill.”
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) represented a groundbreaking leap forward in the Disability Rights Movement. On July 26, 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed it into law, proclaiming that “every man and woman can now pass through once-closed doors into a bright new era of equality, independence, and freedom.” Individuals who were once looked down upon or excluded from society now had the right to participate freely and equally in daily American life, without fear of discrimination. The first of its kind, the ADA also paved the way for similar laws to take hold in other countries.