ADA Commission
ADA Commission
Members:
Ruth McGrath, Chair - Biography
Amber Letendre, Clerk
Stuart Beckley, Ware Town Manager and Member
Brittni Robidoux, Commission Member - Biography
Patricia Ranner, Commission Member
May 03, 2023 - this meeting has been cancelled.
Zoom Link Information:
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+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 784 604 1861
Passcode: 01082
JUNE IS.... PTSD MONTH
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health problem. PTSD can only develop after you go through or see a life-threatening event. It's normal to have stress reactions to these types of events, and most people start to feel better after a few weeks or months.
It's normal to have upsetting memories, feel on edge, or have trouble sleeping after a traumatic event (also called "trauma"). At first, it may be hard to do daily activities you are used to doing, like go to work, go to school, or spend time with people you care about. But most people start to feel better after a few weeks or months. For some people, PTSD symptoms may start later, or they may come and go over time. If it's been longer than a few months and thoughts and feelings from the trauma are upsetting you or causing problems in your life, you may have PTSD.
When you have PTSD, the world feels unsafe. You may have upsetting memories, feel on edge, or have trouble sleeping. You may also try to avoid things that remind you of your trauma—even things you used to enjoy.
Anyone can develop PTSD at any age. Some factors can increase the chance that someone will have PTSD, many of which are not under that person's control. For example, having a very intense or long-lasting traumatic event or getting injured during the event can make it more likely that a person will develop PTSD. Personal factors—like previous traumatic exposure, age, and gender—can affect whether or not a person will develop PTSD. What happens after the traumatic event is also important. Stress can make PTSD more likely, while social support can make it less likely.
Deaf/Blind Awareness Week June 25 – July 1, 2023
Helen Keller’s work made a huge difference to the field of sight and hearing loss. Without her efforts, the world today may be very different for deaf/blind people.
We commemorate her life each year in Deaf/Blind Awareness Week, which falls each year on the week of her birthday, 27th June. During Deaf/Blind Awareness Week Organizations hold events and activities to raise awareness of dual sensory loss. We aim to continue to inspire those living with deaf/blindness and to raise awareness of dual sensory loss in the same way that Helen did.
Additional Links:
Agenda and Minutes
SignSchool is a free way to learn Sign Language!
Select your level and learn American Sign Language (ASL) at your own speed: https://www.signschool.com/
Abilities.com, The resource for the disability community: https://www.abilities.com
Disability: IN https://disabilityin.org/resource/2023-calendar-of-disability-related-dates/
Massachusetts Office on Disability: https://www.mass.gov/orgs/massachusetts-office-on-disability
Stavros: www.stavro.org
Pioneer Valley Planning Commission: https://www.pvpc.org/
Massachusetts’s Initiative to Maximize Assistive Technology (AT) in Consumer’s Hands: https://www.massmatch.org/indexphp
The New England ADA Center: https://www.newenglandada.org
Massachusetts Rehabilitation Center: Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission | Mass.gov
Disability Scoop - The Premier Source for Developmental Disability News
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders: https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/