Disability Rights and Services

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Quicklinks for Disability Rights and Services

This section provides resources regarding the rights and services for those individuals with a range of physical and/or mental disabilities. With respect to mental disabilities, this section provides resources for individuals with cognitive impairment, developmental disabilities, autism, head injury, mental health diagnoses, and behavioral/emotional/social difficulties.

This section has information regarding the rights of individuals with disabilities, such as the right to be free from discrimination and abuse. It also has information regarding accessing supports and services for such individuals from public and private entities, such as accessing services from the Department of Mental Health or the Department of Developmental Disabilities (formerly the Department of Mental Retardation).

This section covers adults and minors. It addresses issues facing individuals living in the community and those living in educational placements, treatment facilities, and other institutional settings.

The editors of this section are Deborah Filler (dfiller@gbls.org) and Jennifer Honig (jhonig@mhlac.org).

Latest Content

Federal Poverty Guidelines - 2025

01/21/25

MLRI

The charts below set forth the annual, monthly and weekly 2025 Federal Poverty Guidelines (based on HHS thresholds). In addition, the annual, monthly and weekly 115% of poverty, 125% of poverty, 187.5%, 200% of poverty and 300% of poverty amounts are listed. Finally, you can…

Working with clients experiencing Traumatic Brain Injury

10/22/21

Liz Valentin, Suffolk University Law School

While legal aid attorneys have come a long way in embracing trauma-informed advocacy, we still have much to learn about the physical and mental health of our clients. Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) can produce cognitive and psychological impairments, and not just for professional football players.…

Questions and Answers About Guardianships of Adults/ Incapacitated Persons

05/12/21

VLP

Brochure: Questions and Answers About Guardianship of an Adult in Massachusetts English brochure Spanish brochure

Guidelines for Attorneys in Massachusetts: Representing Sexual Assault Survivors with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

01/03/20

Victim Rights Law Center

These Guidelines are a framework for attorneys representing victims with I/DD. The Guidelines aim to address the needs of survivors with I/DD, and to encourage attorneys to use the skills they already possess to serve all survivors. While these Guidelines are admittedly only a starting point, they…

2019 Family Support Program Manual and Guidelines

03/25/19

DDS

This manual provides comprehensive information about the array of different family support services, includes helpful resources, and outlines procedures and guidelines to promote enhanced consistency and quality of supports. Click "Go to Website" to view the manual.