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The
Disability Law Center’s priorities for the work of the organization are
established annually by its Governing Board. The process begins with input
from consumers, advocates, disability groups and the community as a whole
through focus groups convened throughout the state. Last year, more
than 500 individuals with disabilities and their families attended 11 focus
group meetings.
In setting the priorities,
the Board's goal is to devote the effort of the Law Center to the most
significant problems identified by the disability community. Due to the
organization's limited resources and the requirement that it serve different
populations of people with disabilities under each of several funding
sources, we consider the following factors when deciding whether to accept
an individual case which falls within the priorities:
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The reasonable likelihood
of success
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The amount of staff time,
expertise and expense required to handle the case
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The existing caseload of
staff who would handle the case
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The appropriate allocation
of staff time by funding source and priority area
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The extent to which the
case, if successful, would benefit others with disabilities
While recognizing the
need to allocate limited resources through adherence to the priorities, the
Law Center acknowledges the importance of the organization's outreach and
service to historically under-served ethnic communities. Accordingly, some
non-priority cases which come to the organization's attention as a result of
outreach efforts to historically under-served ethnic communities may be
accepted.
In addition, the
Disability Law Center will challenge any attempts to limit its access -
mandated by federal law - to facilities, records, or individuals.
Finally, if circumstances warrant, additions or deletions to this document
may be made during the year.
If you wish to contact us
regarding our priorities for this year, or if you would like to attend a
focus group for next year’s priorities please e-mail us at
mail@dlc-ma.org or call us at (800)
872-9992 for voice and (800) 381-0577 for TTY.
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