684 Mount Auburn Street
Watertown, MA 02472
617-924-0009
Celebrity Website
Email

Type

Pizza, Grill, Ice Cream

Entrance

• Accessible
• Curb Cut Location

Seating & Tables

• Fixed Seating & Tables

Restrooms

• No Public Restrooms Available

Parking

• Parking Lot Available – Adjacent

Other Services

• Delivery
• Take-Out
• Online menu

To read past issues on their website: Past Issues (www.cambridgema.gov/DHSP2/disabilities.cfm)

Consumers can now file complaints directly with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), thanks to new closed captioning complaint rules by the FCC effective February 19, 2010. These new closed captioning rules, requested by the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) and consumer groups in 2004, make it easier for consumers to report closed caption problems. When you see a television program that has no captions, missing captions, delayed captions, captions that are garbled, displayed too fast, or unreadable, please file a complaint with the FCC. Read article in full: FCC Announces New Closed Captioned Complaint Rules

There are exceptions to this rule as noted by the FCC: Exemptions from Close Captioning Rules

From now on, when you put a video up on YouTube it will get captions.

“This is huge. It’s what I dreamt of for years,” said Ken Harrenstein, a software engineer at Google who is deaf. Harrenstein announced the new auto-caption software at YouTube’s headquarters in San Bruno.

Read more from an article on NPR: Youtube Auto-Caption

Conducting Effective Accessibility Surveys Part I
Tuesday March 16 (Part II is on Tuesday April 20)

2 – 3:30 pm EST

Speakers
Don Brandon, Project Director, ADA Northwest Center and Panel

Description
What to measure, how to measure, who is qualified to do a survey and what tools are available to support this activity are commonly asked questions. This two-part series will explore the requirements to conduct accessibility surveys by business, government and educational institutions to ensure that they meet the requirements of the ADA. Topics to be covered include what to look for in an existing facility as well as a facility that has undergone renovation and/or was newly constructed since the implementation date of the ADA. Experts in the field will share their “lessons learned” and tricks of the trade.

How
This session is delivered by telephone (call a toll free phone number). The session is also offered in real-time captioning and streaming audio on the web. Participants are in “listen-only” mode until the question and answer period.

Cost
Non profits
$25 per telephone connection
$15 per streaming audio on the web connection
$15 per real-time captioning on the web connection

For profits
$40 per telephone connection
$25 per streaming audio on the web connection
$25 per real-time captioning on the web connection

Registration at www.ada-audio.org/Registration

If you have problems/questions with registration: contact the Great Lakes ADA Center at 877-232-1990 voice/tty or email gldbtac@uic.edu.

You are welcome to come to our office at 200 Portland Street in Boston to participate at no cost, we’ve already registered. Please call or send us an email. ADAinfo@NewEnglandADA.org or 1-800-949-4232 voice/tty.

Continuing Education Credits: 1.5 AIA Learning Units

The session will be audio recorded and a written transcript will be created. Both will be posted within two weeks of the program to the archives on www.ada-audio.org

The Governor has proposed his budget for FY11 and now is the time to communicate your concerns to the legislators about disability issues. Don’t miss this important training! Come learn:

What’s included in the budget proposal for people with disabilities
How decisions made by your state representatives will affect your services
How you can best communicate your concerns to your elected officials

Wednesday, March 24, 2010
1:00p-3:00p
State House, Room B-1

Please RSVP to Robyn Powell by March 19, 2010
rpowell@dpcma.org or 617-542-3522

Please contact Robyn Powell immediately to request accommodations, such as ASL Interpreters, CART, or alternate formats for handouts.

Location

50 Mount Auburn Street Watertown, MA 02472
617-924-0720
Website; www.thewpizza.com

Type

Pizza, Subs, Salads

Entrance

• Accessible
• Curb Cut Location

Seating and Tables

• Wheelchair height counter for ordering
• Table service available
• Accessible * Seating & Tables can be moved

  Restrooms

• Public Restrooms Available
• Unisex Handicap Accessible

Parking

• Street Parking  and Lot Available – adjacent side street
• Accessible Parking Spaces available in public parking area nearby

Other Services

• Take-Out
• Delivery Available
• Visa and Mastercard accepted
• Website: www.thewpizza.com

General items offered on menu

• Pizza with variety of toppings, Subs and Roll-ups, Chopped Salads, Dinners which include salad and fries, All Beef Hot Dogs, Specialty Wraps and Pockets, Sandwiches,Side Order, Chili & Soup, Kids Menus which come with fries or apple sauce and choice of juice pouch or milk!

Disability Policy Consortium Weekly Update
Join DPC today for FREE: www.dpcma.org
www.facebook.com/dpcma
www.twitter.com/dpc_ma

Our Day – February 23, 2010 – Please RSVP by TODAY!!!

Our Day, for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deaf-Blind is being held at the State House on February 23rd. Please attend! Additional information on this exciting event is available at http://www.dpcma.org/News/tabid/716/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/95/Deaf-Hard-of-Hearing-and-DeafBlind-Day.aspx.

An Invitation to an Informational Session on the Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Waivers for Hutchinson Class Members

Please join us at an informational session if you want to learn more about the ABI Home and Community-based Waivers for ResHab and Non ResHab services.

March 23, 2010 – Tuesday
Informational Session for Professionals
2 – 4 pm
One Ashburton Place
Boston, MA
Ashburton Café

March 25, 2010 – Thursday
5:30 – 7:30 pm
BIA of MA
30 Lyman Street, Suite 10
Westborough, MA 01581

April 1, 2010 – Thursday
Middleboro Skilled Care Center
5:30 – 7:30 pm
23 Isaac Street
Middleboro, MA 02346

April 7, 2010 – Wednesday
10 – 12:00 pm
Wingate at Wilbraham
9 Maple Street
Wilbraham, MA 01095

April 8, 2010 – Thursday
10 – 12:00 pm
Tewksbury State Hospital
365 East Street
Tewksbury, MA 01876

April 15, 2010 – Thursday
Rehabilitation Hospital for the Cape and Islands
311 Service Road
East Sandwich, MA 02537

Two documents from EOHSS have been added to The Olmstead Initiative page on the DPC web site.

Draft Diversion Sub-Committee Report 1/25/2010
Activities are organized according to the goals of the Community First Olmstead Plan. Some recommendations have been added or edited based on recommendations from other relevant documents released in the past five years.

Intersecting Activities and Initiatives Related to Financing of Long-term Services and Supports
The Long-term Care Financing Advisory Committee (Advisory Committee) is tasked with identifying strategic options for financing long term services and supports (LTS) for people with disabilities and elders in Massachusetts. The Advisory Committee is one of a number of activities outlined in Massachusetts’ Community First Olmstead Plan, which provides a vision and action plan reflecting the Governor’s commitment to ensuring that people with disabilities and elders have access to community living opportunities and LTS that address each individual’s diverse needs, abilities and background.

While discussing financing options, the Advisory Committee concluded that there are many interconnected issues outside the scope of the Committee’s work that affect an individual’s ability to choose community living. Other Olmstead plan activities and initiatives that address these issues are in process across the Commonwealth. Activities in the following issue areas are described below: affordable and accessible housing; employment; workforce capacity and development; transportation; integrated financing and care delivery; administrative activities; public awareness and access to information; and consumer choice. The Advisory Committee endorses these activities and further work in these areas, and recognizes the importance of their success to the realization of a reformed financing system for LTS that furthers the Commonwealth’s Community First goals.

SENATE PREZ VOWS TO RESTORE PATRICK’S CUTS TO MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET:

Senate President Therese Murray issued a flat rejection Tuesday of Gov. Deval Patrick’s proposed cuts to Department of Mental Health in-patient facilities, telling a group of mental health activists that she would lead a restoration of the funds. “I can assure you that no matter how difficult what we’re fighting will be, I won’t do those cuts,” Murray said. “I won’t do it.” Murray acknowledged the Senate budget would contain reductions elsewhere, but said she had warned Patrick administration officials to stop closing facilities and eliminating beds. “We have worked too long and we have come too far,” Murray said during Great Hall remarks, adding, “We can’t put people on the street that are going to decline.” Patrick’s budget cuts the primary inpatient facilities and community-based mental health services line item from $169.3 million to just below $134 million.

ODEP Listening Session and Peer Employment Network Event

The Office of Disability Employment Policy of the U.S. Department of Labor is holding a listening session on Wednesday, March 3rd from 9:00am to 5:00pm at the Sheraton Hotel, Boston. The goal of the session is to hear from people with disabilities, service providers, advocates and employers about barriers and best practices regarding the employment of people with disabilities. Information on how to sign up and testify will be forthcoming.

The Peer Employment Network is meeting on Wednesday, March 1st at 6:00 p.m. at the Boston Public Library. The network’s goal is to reconnect and/or make new contacts and learn more about career advancement, reasonable accommodations and other issues relevant to individuals with disabilities who are interested in maximizing their employment opportunities.

Please visit www.employmentnowcoalition.org for further information.

Five Fundamental Rights/Fresh Air bill reported out of committee with major revisions

Greetings fellow advocates,

Today, the Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse reported House Bill #1945/Senate Bill #743 – the “Five Fundamental Rights/Fresh Air bill – out of committee, with major changes.

The version passed eliminates a proposed method to fairly appeal violations of the Five Fundamental Rights [5FRs], which was the central focus of the bill this year. However, it did, for the first time, keep language making access to fresh air and the outdoors a sixth fundamental right – although, in my opinion, it still allows an uncomfortable amount of leeway for hospitals to get around the requirement. Still, it is something.

The revised bill will head to the Health Care Finance Committee, where (like all bills), it faces an uncertain future.

Although I am glad to see stronger ‘fresh air’ language, I am utterly convinced that without the “teeth” of the appeals language, all six rights will continue to be violated constantly, as we see now.

Even though the ‘5FRs appeal’ part of the bill has been eliminated, our work regarding this issue must continue. There’s a huge groundswell of interest and momentum around this effort. I believe it is up to US to educate, publicize, and advocate around the issue. The legislature, DMH, the public, and our peers (many of whom aren’t made aware of their rights under law) – all must be aware of the problem, and not misled by the hospitals and lobbyists who allow these violations to occur.

Despite my disappointment, I am more committed than ever that we will prevail. The strength, dedication, and resilience I see in EVERY peer I meet is all the proof I need. Together, we’ll stop being looked at as second-class citizens, in emergency rooms, inpatient units, and in the community. No human being is any less deserving of civil rights than any other, and they can never be compromised.

Please stay tuned – I plan on restarting the workgroup for this effort soon, and my sincerest thanks to all who called the Committee Chairs!!!

Onward,
Jonathan Dosick
Coordinator, “Five Fundamental Rights/Fresh Air” effort
West Boylston, MA
ambient871@hotmail.com

The Joint Committee on Ways and Means has announced the hearing schedule for the FY2011 Budget.
Three dates are important for human service advocates.

The February hearing are opportunities to listen to the listed state agencies present their budgets. It is possible for the general public to testify at the end of the agency executive’s testimony. This is not a place for large crowds, but well-informed advocates who can present testimony succinctly can be effective.

Friday, February 19, 10 AM
Waltham (place to be determined)
Sen. Susan Fargo & Rep Carl Sciortino, Chairs
Health & Human Services I: Executive Office of Health and Human Services, Office of Medicaid, Dept. of Public Health, Mental Health, Divsion of Health Care finance, Office of Refugees, Elder Affairs, Veterans Service, Soldiers home

Tuesday, February 23, 10 AM
Sudbury Town Hall, 322 Concord Road, Sudbury 01776
Sen. Karen Spilka & Rep. Tom Conroy, Chairs
Health and Human Service II: Dept. Children & Families, Dept. Youth Services, Dept Transitional Services, Dept Developmental Disabilities, Mass. Office on Disability, Mass. Rehabilitation Commission, Mass. Commission for the Blind, Mass. Commission for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing.