Massachusetts Protection and Advocacy
Today, the Disability Law Center (DLC) released a public report discussing findings and recommendations from its intensive monitoring of Bridgewater State Hospital (BSH) from January to June 2024. As Massachusetts’ Protection and Advocacy agency, DLC has federal authority to monitor facility conditions and investigate abuse and neglect of the persons with disabilities committed to BSH. DLC issued a private report to select government officials on July 23..
IMPORTANT NOTICE – A Proposed Settlement May Affect Your Rights Marsters v. Healey – NOTICE OF SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT Six individuals with disabilities who are living in nursing facilities filed a lawsuit…
The report marks ten years of intensive DLC advocacy to protect the rights of and improve care for individuals involuntarily held in BSH, a Department of Correction (DOC) facility. DLC repeats its urgent call for the Commonwealth to transfer oversight of the BSH population to the Department of Mental Health (DMH) and to construct a new psychiatric hospital.
Advocates criticize Municipal Empowerment Act’s approach to public meeting reforms Proposed legislation fails to guarantee equitable access and undermines the spirit of the Open Meeting Law FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: intake@dlc-ma.org DLC Report Finds Harmful Lack of Proper Care for Patients at Bear Mountain Nursing Facility in Worcester Understaffing, overmedicating, and isolating practices plague facility’s long-term…
BOSTON – January 23, 2024 – In a long-awaited victory, incarcerated people who are deaf or hard of hearing will receive life-saving emergency notifications in Massachusetts correctional facilities.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Rick Glassman rglassman@dlc-ma.org DLC Report Exposes Practice of Diverting Millions Annually of SSA Benefits from Vulnerable Foster Youth in Massachusetts Investigation reveals systemic issues in DCF’s…
Action Alert on Outpatient Commitment: This fall, the legislature’s Judiciary Committee will finish its hearing on the outpatient commitment (IOC) bill, H.164/S.980. If you would like to oppose this, instructions…
DLC submitted written testimony to the legislature about the crisis in continuous skilled nursing, including the inability of families to find nurses to fill allotted hours, and the flaws in…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 1, 2023 Contact: Tatum A. Pritchard Director of Litigation Disability Law Center 617-315-4612 tpritchard@dlc-ma.org Disability Law Center Again Recommends Transfer of Oversight of Bridgewater State Hospital…