Shared Living Open House
If you know someone that has the skills, passion, and available space to help care for and support a person with a developmental disability.
Then remember this date
- Oct. 26, 2016 from 5:30-7:30 at the Plainville Day Hab located at 1 Wilkins Drive Plainville, MA
come out and visit us at our open house event to hear about how to become a provider for Shared Living and how it can change your life and for the life of the person that you care for within your home. You will hear testimony from a provider firsthand experience of being a caregiver for an individual they support and share their home and life with. Attendees will be entered into a drawing for a $25 AMEX gift card. RSVP (Space is limited) via email to Mike Diggs (mdiggs@hmea.org) or call 508-298-1178
Annual Winter Clothing Drive
HMEA and Garelick Farms of Franklin are once again joining forces to help children and adults in our communities in need of warm clothing this winter season!
We are asking friends, family and co-workers to donate…
new or gently used clean coats, sweatshirts, hats, gloves/mittens, boots and scarfs!
Donations this year will benefit HMEA families in need, as well as youth in need served by Straight Ahead Ministries in Worcester.
The clothing drive runs through December 30, 2016 and items can be dropped off at any of the following locations:
HMEA Admin Office, 8 Forge Park, Franklin, MA
HMEA Bellingham Day Hab, 15 North Main Street, Bellingham, MA
HMEA Community Partners, 652 East Washington Street, No. Attleboro, MA
HMEA Hopedale Employment, 7 Charles View Road, Hopedale, MA
HMEA Plainville Day Hab, 1 Wilkins Avenue, Plainville, MA
HMEA Plainville Employment 1 George Street, Plainville, MA
HMEA Millbury Center, 6 Latti Farm Road, Millbury, MA
HMEA Sterling Center, 3 Bartlet’s Pond Way, Sterling, MA
OR at the Garelick Farms facility at 1199 W. Central Street, Franklin, MA
HMEA Celebrates the “ABLE” in all of us – with a new look
incredABLE Day 2016
The 15th Annual Walk, Run and All Day Family Fun
After 15 years, we decided to celebrate the occasion with a new look. And, what better way to do that, than to rebrand the event so that it 
represents and celebrates all of our incredABLE individuals, staff, volunteers, families and, community partners.
HMEA’s annual 5k Walk/Run is now “incredABLE Day – celebrating the ABLE in all of us.”
We are extremely excited to announce that registration is officially open for incredABLE Day 2016. Sign up to run, walk or even walk virtually (new this year) at: hmeatest.wpengine.com/events/incredable-day-2016
It’s going to be an incredABLE Day.
See you there!
November: National Family Caregivers Month
In his Presidential Proclamation of National Family Caregivers Month, President Obama declares, “Day in and day out, selfless and loving 
Americans provide care and support to family members and friends in need. They are parents, spouses, children, siblings, relatives, and neighbors who uphold their unwavering commitment to ensure the lives of their loved ones shine bright with health, safety, and dignity.
During National Family Caregivers Month, we rededicate ourselves to making sure our selfless caregivers have the support they need to maintain their own well-being and that of those they love.”
In Massachusetts, more than 18,000 people on the Department of Developmental Services caseload are cared for by a family member. For many of these caregivers it is an act of love that comes with a big price. Restricted job choices, decreased productivity at the workplace, financial hardship and physical illness due to stress are the price that many caregivers pay for this selflessness act.
HMEA recognizes and honors the struggles of these caregivers. Through our Family Supports program and Autism Resource Central and our collaboration with the Massachusetts Lifespan Respite Coalition and the Supporting Families Campaign, we are working toward securing the supports needed to relieve some of the burdens associated with long term caregiving.
“During National Family Caregivers Month, let us honor their contributions and pledge to continue working toward a future where all caregivers know the same support and understanding they show for those they look after.” says the President. Here at HMEA, we honor caregivers and pledge to work toward securing the support they need not only in November, but every day.
Say NO to snow and YES to art!
Make Art Therapy a Regular Activity for People at HMEA this Winter
Earlier this Fall, a group of individuals from our HMEA Day Program spent a morning making seasonal crafts. 
For many people we work with at HMEA, who have developmental, intellectual and physical disabilities, art can be an extremely therapeutic activity. We’ve seen firsthand how effective it is to a person’s over all well-being.
So, that’s why we’re asking for your help to fund #artforhmea for people to enjoy arts and crafts all winter long. The individuals supported by HMEA are eagerly awaiting more art projects to get them through what could be another long winter ahead – donate $10, $25, $50, or more today to support HMEA’s art therapy program this holiday season. $25 would give one person the enjoyment of doing arts and crafts until Spring.
*WMRC First Class Radio has partnered with HMEA as media sponsor for this initiative and has offered to match funds raised for #ARTFORHMEA with an in-kind advertising donation of up to $2,000 to be used for future events benefiting individuals supported by HMEA.
Thanks,
Margaret Salaki
Program Manager
Join the Movement – about Giving Tuesday
December 1st, 2015
HMEA will be joining #GivingTuesday for its second year in a row, hoping to channel the generous spirit of the holiday season.
#GivingTuesday is an international movement that inspires people to take collaborative action to improve their communities, give back in better, smarter ways to the charities and causes they support.
This #GivingTuesday, HMEA challenges you to help raise money to fund arts and crafts therapy over the winter through HMEA’s Day Program Locations.
Make a contribution today online or mail to address below
1st Annual Employer Appreciation Brunch
For employers who support people with disabilities to succeed in the workplace
Josh M. with Paul Oristaglio From Mass Pro
On October 29th, HMEA held an employer appreciation brunch at the Milford Double Tree Hotel to honor companies who employ individuals with disabilities supported by HMEA.
The month of October marked the 70th Anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) and 2015 marks the 25th Anniversary of the American’s with Disabilities Act. In recognition of these two important observances, HMEA welcomed over 50 Massachusetts employers to a special brunch.
Employers included Cardi’s Furniture, EMC Corporation, Home Goods, Park Place International, Panera Bread, Dean College, Cumberland Farms, among others. Individuals supported by HMEA spoke to their experience as employees feeling like valued members of these organizations.
Not long ago, individuals with disabilities struggled to find their place in the workforce. Through the amazing partnerships with organizations such as Home Goods and Panera bread, more and more individuals with disabilities are becoming gainfully employed. HMEA’s Employment Programs are located in Sterling, Millbury, Hopedale and Plainville Massachusetts.
HMEA’s 26th Annual Awards Night celebration
Every year HMEA throws a party to celebrate the many accomplishments and achievements of the people supported by the agency, as well as staff members. This year the agency marks its 26th year of hosting the Annual Awards Night celebration, which will be held on Wednesday, October 8th at the DoubleTree by Hilton Boston – Milford Hotel.
Sixteen people will be receiving awards this year ranging from Outstanding Employee Award, which recognizes up to two individuals served through Employment Services and/or TRACS program to the Board of Directors Award potentially recognizing four direct care staff members from Residential, Day, Children’s Services, and Family Supports.
Nine other categories of awards will also be presented to at least one individual this year. Five are Shared Living Provider, Volunteer, Team, HMEA, and Advocacy Awards; three memorial awards, named after three outstanding individuals in their respective fields who had been employed by HMEA; Eric Rodgers, Kevin McMullen and Kathy Gilchrist, and a Citizen’s Award given to someone outside the agency who made a significant contribution to the people HMEA supports.
HMEA congratulates all the winners of these prestigious awards and applaud their many successes.
HMEA Leadership Continues to Grow
Kristine Biagiotti-Bridges, was recently voted in to join the HMEA Board of Directors. Kristine is an IT professional and the current President of the Disability Employee Resource Group at EMC Corporation in Hopkinton. She brings over 25 years of IT/Engineering experience in the data and software Industries.
With Kristine’s appointment to the HMEA Board of Directors, HMEA and EMC’s 10 year partnership continues to grow allowing both organizations to benefit from each other’s strengths. 
At EMC Kristine is committed to a diversified work environment, serving as board member, Vice President and President of the Disability Employee Resource Group. During her tenure at EMC, she has also won several awards including the Motivator Award 2010 for volunteer activity and Excellence at EMC for dedication to Diversity and Inclusion. She has spoken at the EMC quarterly on the importance of volunteering and giving back.
In addition to her accomplishments at EMC, Kristine has received numerous awards and recognition for commitment to inclusion, advocacy, running, and philanthropy including: Commonwealth of Massachusetts Proclamation as First mother/daughter team Boston Marathon, distinction as a Hockomock YMCA Legend, Hockomock YMCA Red Triangle award, Saucony 26 recipient, STC Distinguished Chapter Service, and the opportunity to speak in Washington DC on health care reform and mitochondrial disease research.
She currently volunteers her time as a special education and health care advocate focusing on the needs of those in the disability community. She speaks at local and state levels for health and special education issues involving legislation, awareness and education. She is the race director and founder of a local 5K that raises funds to provide social programs within the community for “all abilities” regardless of their ability to pay.
An active participant in the Boston Marathon, Kristine and her daughter Kayla continue to raise awareness for inclusion and fundraise for local charities. http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=10776529
She attended Wentworth Institute of Technology and earned a BS in Electronic Engineering Technology. She is married and the mother to a daughter diagnosed with Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathy, and two step-sons, the youngest with Landau Kleffner Syndrome and is on the autism spectrum.
Highlights from the 2nd Annual Autism Summit
With over 150 people in attendance, informative and moving presentations from EMC, UMass and Hanover Insurance, as well as the exciting launch of Students For Higher – Rising Up for Autism, there is a great deal of momentum following the 2nd Annual Autism Summit.
HMEA is committed to its goal of making Central Massachusetts THE PLACE to live with children with Autism. As Students for Higher continues mobilizing students to work as ABA therapists for kids with Autism, we will work diligently to decrease the number of families awaiting critical services.
But, that is only one part of creating such a community. It is clear to our agency that in order to live somewhere, you must work somewhere. And, in order to work somewhere as a family with Autism, you need to be part of a culture of openness and acceptance.
It is with that, we invite you to join the Central Mass Taskforce on Autism and The Workplace. HMEA welcomes employers, human resource professionals, providers, policy makers, parents of children with autism, and other interested stakeholders to advance strategies and solutions that help the growing number of employees who have children with autism succeed in the workplace.
Let’s keep the momentum going. We can do this!
For more information, please contact: autismtaskforce@hmea.org.
