MetroWest Center for Independent Living

03/30/2026

Consumers, PCA's, IL Centers, the union and other advocacy groups descended on the State House to advocate for fair wages and no cuts to the state's PCA program. Personal Care Attendants make independent living possible for many with physical disabilities. The PCA program in MA is a model, but needs our constant attention to continue to enable people with disabilities to live their best lives. And PCA's deserve a fair wage for the hard work that they do!

03/30/2026

Before I post 2026 PCA Rally photos, I wanted to share these from 2011. We can all agree that Courtland has not changed a bit!

Pictured: Carmen advocating to the Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo's staff.
View from above.
Courtland speaking from the heart!

03/30/2026

MWCIL staff, board and alumni thanked Rose on Friday for her 35 years of service at the Center. Rose was at the heart of the action back when it was the Greater Framingham Association of Disabled Citizens and she is still at the heart of the action! After Paul passed away, she stepped up as Acting Executive Director and held the Center together during those difficult days. She continues to keep help us stay on track and we are all privileged to work with her!

Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, Ronald Mariano, sent a commendation.

03/30/2026

Join us, alongside hundreds of advocates from across Massachusetts, for the 2026 Independent Living Education Day at the State House!
Together, we’ll educate decision makers on the priorities of the disability community.

🗓️ April 23, 2026

⏰ 10 AM to 3 PM

📍Massachusetts State House, Great Hall

🔗 Register: bit.ly/ILeducation

Agenda:
• 10:00 AM - Registration
• 11:00 AM - Speakers
• 12:00 PM - Lunch
• 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM - Legislative visits

Bring your lived experience into the spaces where decisions are made!

CART and ASL will be provided. A bagged lunch will be served.

03/30/2026

03/16/2026

During the 2026 Oscars on ABC, Lynette Howell Taylor, the President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, came onstage and among her remarks, recognized Marlee Matlin for her work as a trailblazer and as a part of the community that created and supports the innovation of captioning technology.

The cameras were on Matlin and she said ILY to the audience and expressed gratitude. Sitting next to her is her husband since 1993, Kevin Grandalski.

What a nice honor for Matlin, to be recognized during the Oscars live broadcast!

In 2025, Matlin accepted an Academy Award of Merit (a honorary Oscar) that recognized individuals who have developed and supported captioning technology, whether open or closed, for film.

Matlin, at the beginning of her career, advocated for captioning during the pre-ADA era. This work was featured in the “Not Alone Anymore” documentary directed by Shoshannah Stern.

(YouTube video of Matlin accepting the 2025 honorary Oscar) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6-e35SjDwM

(Not Alone Anymore) https://www.pbs.org/video/marlee-matlin-not-alone-anymore-r3hvo4/

03/16/2026

Take Action to Protect Voting Rights for People with Disabilities!

Congress is considering several bills that would change federal voter registration requirements, including the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act and the SAVE America Act. These bills would require many voters to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship, such as a passport or birth certificate, when registering to vote. While framed as election security measures, these bills could create new barriers to voter registration, particularly for disabled people. If Congress fails to oppose these bills, there could be significant consequences for voters with disabilities. Contact your Members of Congress today and urge them to oppose these bills.

Learn more and take action: https://www.disabilitybelongs.org/2026/03/protect-voting-rights/

03/16/2026

You’re Invited! All who are interested in empowering the disability vote and making sure voting is accessible across MA are welcome to join our 2026 REV UP MA coalition meetings! 🎉Please attend our next meeting on Thursday, March 26th at 1:30 PM – 2:30. Registration for March REV UP MA meetin...

03/12/2026

Thanks to DPC for this news:

"Repeat After Me" Art Exhibit Now Open in Worcester

Open Door Arts at the Worcester Art Museum is a working studio and gallery that exhibits and celebrates the work of aspiring, emerging and established artists with disabilities, acting as a catalyst for community convening and conversation with the museum and beyond.

"Repeat After Me" is a new group exhibition opening on March 6 (featuring art from DPC Community Organizer Sam Fein!). This exhibition positions the artist as a teacher. We are the experts in our own experience. Through painting, fiber, sculpture, and video, these artists assert themes of connection, embodiment, mapping, community, and identity.

On view March 6 to May 13 at the Open Door Gallery at the Worcester Art Museum (55 Salisbury Street Worcester, MA 01609).

The open reception and artist talks will be Thursday, April 16 from 4:30 pm - 7 pm.

https://www.worcesterart.org/exhibitions/open-door-gallery/repeat-after-me/

Image: a road barrier with a gold shawl and a neon sign saying "are you suffering.

Repeat – 1. Say again, 2. Say from memory, 3. To make or do again, 4. To express or present oneself again.We are the experts in our own experiences. This exhibition positions the artist as a teacher. Through painting, fiber, sculpture, and video, these artists assert themes of connection, embodim...

03/12/2026

Due to the severity of the winter, Gov. Healey has increased the heating assistance allowances in the following ways:

oil/propane/kerosene will increase from $1,000 to $1,400

natural gas/electric will increase from $850 to $925.

https://www.wbur.org/news/2026/03/11/massachusetts-heating-assistance-benefit-cold-winter

Image: Oil Delivery in the snow

Gov. Maura Healey's office said yesterday that this winter's persistently cold temperatures drained benefits for most of the Massachusetts households enrolled in the state's Home Energy Assistance Program.

03/12/2026

Wider doorways should be standard.

Wider hallways should be standard.

Bathrooms sized so that most anyone can fit should be standard.