Arlington Disability Commission

Wondering how you can celebrate in the Boston area? Feel free to explore these events hosted by our neighbors in Somerville!

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and the Somerville Commission for Persons with Disabilities (SCPD) invite community members to celebrate Disability Pride throughout the month of July. Events include a Disability Pride flag raising, film screenings and discussions, Disability Pride Family Day, and more. Each event is accessible and all are welcome.

First up is SCPD's monthly meeting on Tuesday, July 9, at the TAB Building (167 Holland St.) at 7 p.m. For more information, visit somervillema.gov/scpd.

Are you interested in celebrating the 34th anniversary of the ADA? Join Boston's ADA Day Celebration, tomorrow, at Boston City Hall Plaza, at 12 noon. Register here: https://www.boston.gov/calendar/ada-day-0

Disability Pride Month is celebrated every July, this year marking the 34th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Disability Pride Month celebrates the achievements and strengths of people with disabilities while raising awareness of the additional work needed to promote and achieve full accessibility and inclusion in all facets of life.

What can you do to be an ally to the disability community?

• Pay attention directly to the voices and ideas shared by people with lived experience of disability, and respect people with disabilities as experts on their own abilities and access needs.
• Let people with disabilities guide you on inclusive language. Some people with disabilities prefer person-first language (i.e., people with disabilities), while other people prefer identity-first language (i.e., disabled people). If in doubt, ask a person about their language preferences.
• Watch films and videos, and read essays, books, and social media created or written by people with disabilities.
• Learn about digital accessibility. Make sure any web or social media content you create is accessible to people who use assistive technology and add image descriptions to photos and closed captions to videos.
• Weave intentional inclusion and accessibility into the design of events and programs at their inception. Don’t leave accessibility as an afterthought.
• Learn about the history of the disability rights movement and progress needed to achieve disability justice in society.

The original Disability Pride flag was created by Ann Magill in 2019 and was updated in 2021 for increased accessibility.

What do the colors of the Disability Pride flag mean?

• Red: Physical disabilities
• Gold: Cognitive and intellectual disabilities, as well as neurodivergence, including autism and ADHD
• White: Invisible disabilities and non-diagnosed disabilities
• Blue: mental health disabilities, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression
• Green: Sensory disabilities, including hearing or vision loss, Deaf, Blind, low-vision, or other sensory disabilities
• Charcoal grey background: Mourns the victims of violence and abuse against people with disabilities, fights against ableism in society, and represents protest against the mistreatment of the disabled community
• Diagonal colored stripes: Represents cutting across barriers that separate disabled people from society, and represents the solidarity and creativity of the disability community in breaking through barriers

If you would like to learn more, please contact [email protected] or [email protected].

[Image Description: A charcoal grey flag with a diagonal band from the top left to bottom right corner, made up of five parallel stripes in red, gold, pale grey, blue, and green. Across the flag, in white font are the words, “Disability Pride Month.”]

The Arlington Public Schools (APS) Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging & Justice (DEIBJ) Task Force is seeking members. If you are passionate about inclusion, equity, access, and belonging for all, consider applying to join the DEIBJ Task Force. The Task Force will be comprised of community members, families, staff and APS students that will advocate for systemic changes, foster a culture of understanding and empathy, facilitate open dialogue, and ensure that every member of the APS community feels valued and supported. Apply at this link: https://forms.gle/pAeaWNpk5oK78VB4A

If you need reasonable accommodations in order to apply or participate, or have other questions about accessibility, please contact [email protected].

[Image Description: a flyer with multiple sections and the Arlington Public Schools logo that includes the following text, "Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Justice Task Force. Are you passionate about inclusion, equity, access, and belonging for all? Apply to join community members, families, staff, and APS students in advocating for systemic changes, cultivating a culture of understanding and empathy, facilitating open dialogue, and ensuring that every member of the APS community feels valued and supported. Contact Dr. Margaret Credle-Thomas for inquires at [email protected]"]

Global Accessibility Awareness Day raises awareness about how people with people with disabilities interact with digital media and content such as web pages and social media. Don't forget to take the time to make sure that the content you create and share is accessible to people with disabilities. Here's how to make your digital content accessible:

1) Write clearly - Use plain language, spell out acronyms, and do not replace words with emojis.

2) Hashtags - When using multi-word hashtags, capitalize each letter, for example .

3) Fonts - Use easy to read Sans-Serif fonts and avoid text in italics or large amounts of bold text

4) Images - Make sure you add alternative text and/or image descriptions to all images and use strong color contrast.

5) Videos - Add closed captions to all videos. Edit auto-captions for accuracy before posting.

If you have questions about digital accessibility, please contact the Arlington Disability Commission at [email protected].

[Image description: A graphic sits in the center of the image with 16 different symbols signifying different types of disabilities or assistive technology along with the words, "Arlington Disability Commission Celebrates Global Accessibility Awareness Day."]



Town of Arlington, MA Arlington Health & Human Services Arlington Human Rights Commission Arlington, MA Lgbtqia+ Rainbow Commission

The Arlington Human Service Network, Town of Arlington's DEI Division, and the Arlington Public Schools is hosting the Arlington Community Connections Fair on Sunday April 28th from 12 PM - 2 PM in the front lobby of Arlington High School. Organizations will be ready to connect folks to resources for food, jobs, housing, mental health, education and more. This event is free and open to all.

If you have any questions or need to request reasonable accommodations, reach out to Teresa Marzilli at [email protected]

FAQ's
Who is the fair for? Is it just for children and families?
The fair is for ALL. There are a variety of organizations that serve community members of all ages. People who work directly with the community (nurses, counselors, social workers, aids, doctors, first responders, municipal employees, librarians, baristas etc) would particularly benefit from attending the fair to learn about the many resources Arlington has to offer

Will you have food?
We will have free snacks for participants and attendees: Dels Lemonade, freshly popped popcorn, individually wrapped bars, and desserts donated by the local organization Foodlink. We will have a water station.

Can people who speak languages other than English attend the fair?
Yes! We will have assistive technology and multi-lingual volunteers on hand to assist speakers of multiple languages.

Is the fair accessible?
Yes! We strive to have the fair be open and welcoming to all. The foyer is ADA-accessible. Folks who need to park behind the school can enter in the back and then use the elevator to the left to make their way to the foyer. This event tends to be quite noisy and stimulating, so our friends at the HS have helped us set up a "sensory break" room that will be quiet and soothing for community members of any age. There are gender-inclusive bathrooms at the high school.

[Image Description: There is an illustration of multiple people with quote bubbles above their heads with different symbols and words to indicate people are communicating with one another. The words on the image read: Arlington Community Connections Fair, Sunday, April 28th, 12 PM - 2 PM, Front Lobby, Arlington High School, Free and Open to All. Local organizations are ready to connect you to resources for food, jobs, housing, mental health, education and more!]

Town of Arlington, MA

Don't miss this opportunity for the disability community in Arlington to share thoughts and guidance on the future of development in town!! Do you have ideas on how land use and development in Arlington can be more accessible and inclusive for people with disabilities? Do you have concerns you want to raise? Want to be involved? Let's center disability rights, accessibility, universal access, and disability justice in Arlington's updated master plan by sharing your priorities in this process!

Join an informational webinar on Feb. 29 regarding the update of Arlington's Master Plan, last updated in 2015. Learn why it’s important and how to get involved.

To register for the webinar, learn more, and follow the process, visit the Master Plan page at arlingtonma.gov/masterplan.

If you need reasonable accommodations to participate in this process, please contact [email protected].

[Alternative text, image description: On the left side of the image is a small thumbnail photo of a poster for the Arlington Master Plan update with the Town seal and additional words that are not large enough to read at this scale. The right side of the image has a graphic depicting an outline of a human head with leaves coming out of the top. This portion of the image has the words "It's time to AMPUp, Feb 29, 6PM."]

Join the Town of Arlington's DEI Office and the Children's Room on Tuesday, February 27, from 6 to 8 PM at the Community Center, for an evening of crafting and memory making to commemorate grief and the possibility of hope. The event is free and open to all. Materials are provided. Please contact [email protected] to request reasonable accommodations. Contact Teresa in the DEI Office to RSVP or call 781-316-3406 with questions.

[Image Description: The image has text that reads, "Box of Memories and Hope, creatively working with grief in community." Sponsored by the Town of Arlington Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and the Children's room. Event takes place on Tuesday, February 27, from 6 to 8 PM at the main hall in the Arlington Community Center. Contact [email protected] to RSVP and to request reasonable accommodations. Or, call 781-316-3406.]

New to Town government? Want to learn more and get involved? Apply to Arlington's Civic Academy! Participants will gain knowledge of how the Town works and the role they can play in town government. Learn more and apply by March 18th! Apply at the following link: https://loom.ly/f1SskZM

To request reasonable accommodations in order to participate, please contact [email protected]

The Arlington Disability Commission wants you! We are currently recruiting for Commissioner vacancies and seeking forward-thinking, action-oriented candidates to help us move forward with new and existing priorities. The Commission works towards full integration and participation of people with disabilities in Arlington, by providing information, guidance, and technical assistance to individuals, groups, and organizations. We are especially interested in candidates who will help us build partnerships and connections with other town DEI work and committees and help us expand our reach. Applicants must live in Arlington and priority is given to applicants who identify as disabled or person with a disability.

We rely on volunteer Commissioners who are able to participate in the planning and implementation of activities and projects throughout the year. Time commitment is at least 10 hours per month, which includes attending meetings on the third Wednesday of each month between 6pm - 8pm, and also participating in at least one subcommittee meeting once a month. Current subcommittees cover topics such as education and training, outreach and communications, community events, transportation, ADA/accessibility, recreation, and more.

Email your resume and letter of interest to [email protected], or send it to the Town Manager, 730 Massachusetts Ave., Arlington, MA 02476. If you have questions, please reach out to [email protected].

Not ready to apply to be a Commissioner? We welcome anyone who is interested in disability-related issues to attend meetings, contribute ideas, and work on initiatives!

[Image Description: Against a blue background is text in while font which reads "Recruiting New Commissioners"on the top and "Arlington Disability Commission" on the bottom. In the middle of the image is a graphic with four symbols representing different types of disabilities or access and functional needs, including mobility, represented by a wheelchair, cognitive, represented by a picture of a brain, hearing, represented by hands that are signing, and visual, represented by a person using a cane.]



Arlington, MA Lgbtqia+ Rainbow Commission Arlington Human Rights Commission
Arlington Community Media, Inc. Arlington Health & Human Services

TOMORROW! Lunar New Year Celebration!
Thursday, January 25, 2024
Lunar New Year, a time to welcome Spring and gather with the community, is the most significant celebration of the year in many Asian cultures and is celebrated by millions of people all over the world. The Town of Arlington, MA, along with our community partners, will host the 2nd annual Lunar New Year Celebration on January 25th from 4-6:30 pm at the Robbins Memorial Town Hall Auditorium with performances, activities, games, and more. Come make a lantern, try on hanbok (traditional Korean clothing), paint a mask from 4-5 pm, and stick around for a special performance from 5-6:30 pm featuring professional musicians from Enhance Asian Community on Health (EACH), Arlington Dance Team, and students from Ottoson Middle School and Arlington High School.

For questions about accessibility, please reach out to [email protected]

Arlington Disability Commission meeting tomorrow night - note new meeting time, 6 -8 PM. Please join us virtually or in person - all are welcome. For more information, please see the the following link: https://www.arlingtonma.gov/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/33666/18.
If you have questions, please reach out to [email protected].

Disability Commission | Calendar | Town of Arlington 1. Attend in person in the 2nd Floor HHS Conference Room at the Community Center (Senior Center), 20 Academy Street/27 Maple Street. Registration not required for in-person attendance.

Our January newsletter is here! Of note, the monthly meeting times for the Disability Commission has changed. We will now meet from 6 - 8 PM on the third Wednesday of each month. Join us at our next meeting on Wednesday, January 17th at 6 PM. All are welcome to attend meetings.

Click here to access the January issue of our newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/town.arlington.ma.us/arlington-disability-news-january-2024?e=[UNIQID].

If you would like to request a copy of this newsletter in an alternate format, please contact [email protected].

Arlington Disability News January 2024 Starting in January, the Disability Commission will be having our monthly meetings at a new time: 6pm - 8pm. We hope that meeting in the evening will make it easier for all residents--including those who are working or have young children (or both)--to participate in our monthly meetings.  Our fir...

Dr. Martin Luther King Day Celebration next Monday! Join the Town of Arlington for the 36th annual celebration, which will be held in-person at 6:30 pm at the Arlington Town Hall Auditorium on Martin Luther King Day, Monday January 15, 2024. The event will also be live-streamed on Arlington Community Media, Inc.

Rahsaan D. Hall will be joining the program as our keynote speaker. Rahsaan Hall, an esteemed civil rights and criminal justice advocate, is the newly appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts (ULEM). Before joining the ULEM, Hall served as the Director of the Racial Justice Program at the American Civil Liberties (ACLU) of Massachusetts and is the founder of Rahsaan Hall Consulting. Prior to joining the ACLU, Hall served as Deputy Director and Interim Director for the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights (Lawyers for Civil Rights), and worked as an assistant district attorney for the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.

Our partnership with ACMi, Arlington Community Media Inc., will allow the program to be available for viewing on the local channel and live streamed, which we are so grateful for.

If you need to request a reasonable accommodation to attend the event, please contact [email protected]

[Image Description: the headline text on the image in bold white font against a black background reads, "36th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration, Monday January 15th, 2024, 6:30 to 8:00 PM, Arlington Town Hall, 730 Massachusetts Ave." There is a photo of the keynote speaker who is a Black man wearing glasses and a suit with a bow tie, and the caption reads, "Keynote Speaker, Rahsaan D. Hall, Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts, President & CEO." Additional text on the image reads, "Performances by the Arlington High School Music Department."]

Arlington Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) Survey Arlington Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (SEPAC) is a parent group that acts as a resource for parents and advises the district regarding meeting the needs of disabled students. We provide support and networking opportunities for parents and guardians of children with special educationa...

Our December newsletter is here!

Arlington Disability News December 2023 The library wants your input!  Arlington is currently in the process of applying for a Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program grant, due in May 2024. If awarded, the grant will fund up to 50% of the Town’s eligible costs for rebuilding the Fox Branch and creating a fully accessible li...

Help the Town to rebuild a more accessible Fox Library!

Join the Arlington, MA community on Monday, November 20 at 7 p.m. for a commemoration of Transgender Day of Resilience. We will gather on the meetinghouse lawn at First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church in Arlington Center. This event is co-hosted by the Arlington LGBTQIA+ Rainbow Commission and the First Parish Unitarian Universalist of Arlington.

Transgender Day of Resilience is a reimagining of Transgender Day of Remembrance, which is held annually on November 20 to honor the lives of trans and gender expansive people whose lives have been lost to bias-motivated violence. Transgender Day of Resilience uplifts the resilience of transgender people.

Transgender, non-binary, and gender expansive people are also invited to an affinity event at 6:15 p.m. at First Parish Church to meet and socialize before the 7 p.m. event takes place. Pizza and other refreshments will be offered, and supplies will be available to create art and write poetry.

For questions about accessibility, please contact the Arlington Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at [email protected]

Co-sponsors of Arlington’s Transgender Day of Resilience include:
Arlington Disability Commission, Arlington Human Rights Commission, Arlington Council on Aging, Arlington Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion of Arlington Health & Human Services, Arlington, Massachusetts Police Department, Arlington Calvary Church Arlington, Arlington EATS, Equitable Arlington, the First Parish Women's Alliance, Food Link Inc., Minuteman Senior Services, and Respond, Inc.

[Image Description: Against a green background are several lines of text, including a headline that reads “Transgender Day of Resilience, Monday, November 20 at 7 PM, First Parish Church, Arlington Center.” The image contains a photo of people who are gathered at night holding up candles, and several logos with a list of co-hosting and co-sponsoring agencies.]

TOMORROW - Join us for our monthly Disability Commission meeting! Our meetings are open to the public and all are welcome to attend remotely or in-person. We'll be meeting tomorrow, Nov. 15, from 4 - 6 PM. For an agenda and to register, please use this link: https://www.arlingtonma.gov/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/31673/

Join us on zoom next Tuesday, November 14th, at 9:00 am for our monthly business meeting. did you know that new DESE guidelines for early literacy screening went into effect in July? APS literacy coach Jacque Aureli will join us to explain Arlington's universal literacy screening program.

zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86234778319?pwd=ZDFPdDNZZjZxbXVwNUYyZDR1VjJsUT09

Our November newsletter is out!

Arlington Disability News November 2023 Sunday, November 5: 9am - 12pm Location: Tufts' Tisch Sports and Fitness Center (Medford) Host: Adaptive Sports New England Enjoy a day full of fun, games, and new experiences at the Para Sports Day 2023! This day is designed to introduce Paralympic sports and skills to participants with a mobility....

Tuesday, November 7, is Election Day in Arlington.

Learn more about the ballot questions and where and when to vote:
https://www.arlingtonma.gov/town-governance/elections-voting

You can also learn more at the Massachusetts Secretary of State's web page for voters with disabilities: https://www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/elections/voting-information/voters-with-disabilities.htm

Elections & Voting | Town of Arlington A postcard application was mailed to all voters in late September. Please return it promptly if you would like to get a ballot mailed to you.  We have started mailing ballots as the applications arrive, but there is a several day delay between when we receive a request and when we mail the ballot.....

• Sensory/Inclusive Halloween & Fall Events bit.ly/46ky5QX
• Positive Behavioral Supports and De-Escalation Webinar: https://bit.ly/3rOutbe
• NAMI Basics for Families with Emotional or Behavioral challenges https://bit.ly/46GzJfT
• Be Prepared for the Disability Transition-to-Adult Years: DDS 101 webinar in with the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services https://bit.ly/495s50P
• Adaptive Team Sports: Basketball, Baseball, Soccer https://bit.ly/3HovM5n
• Ron Suskind “Life Animated” Autism Author at MIT/Cambridge: https://bit.ly/48HBNWN
• Basic Rights in Special Education in Massachusetts: https://bit.ly/3ZYmIvZ
• Rare New England Virtual Conference https://bit.ly/45D04e4
• Adaptive Wheelchair & Bike Mobility Event in Lexington https://bit.ly/3LOiFg3
• Assistive Technology Resource Fair for All Ages in Sharon https://bit.ly/46NXN0l
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Tim Ross
He/him/his
ADA Coordinator
DEI Division
Health and Human Services
27 Maple Street
Arlington, MA 02476
781-316-3257
[email protected]
www.arlingtonma.gov


Arlington values equity, diversity, and inclusion. We are committed to building a community where everyone is heard, respected, and protected.

Town of Arlington | Home Join us for Town Day, Sept. 23, 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Various activities and entertainment moved inside. Fireworks postponed.