|
|
2026 Disability Advocacy & Leadership trainings, Special Olympics winter programs, and more are shared in this newsletter. Massachusetts' inclusive holiday theater, sensory friendly holiday/New Year's events are also featured.
Upcoming Disability Events Include:
|
• Advocacy Skills Bootcamp for Massachusetts Families
• Family Leadership Training for Special-Needs Caregivers in Metro Boston & Western Mass
• Adaptive Skiing/Sit Skiing, Snowshoeing, Kick Sledding
• Special Olympics Winter 2026
• Let’s Talk About Financial Benefits for Disabilities
Have a wonderful holiday season! Sharon Marie
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Essential Advocacy Skills Bootcamp: Webinars, January - March, 2026, with the Family Leadership Program of Massachusetts. Join a focused, four-part virtual workshop designed for parents and caregivers of school-aged children with disabilities to equip you with strategic communication methods and a framework for long-term planning. Learn systematic techniques building a compre.... Read more
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
American Sign Language Classes for Youth & Adults: Virtual and in Person in Beverly, January - March 2026, with theThe Children’s Center for Communication. There are a variety of ability levels available to choose from. ASL 101 up to customized classes teaches basic vocabulary words up through conversational skills, deaf culture and...Read more
|
|
|
|
|
Lunchtime Advocacy Roundtable: January 13th and montly through 2026. Presented by the Massachusetts' Family Leadership Series. Participants network with community members to share advocacy successes/struggles, share resources, and discuss hot topics such as Independent Living & Housing Vouchers, Higher Education Access...Read more
|
|
|
|
Inclusive Recreation for All Ages
|
|
|
|
|
✨Sensory Friendly & Inclusive Holiday Events ✨
Boston: Audio Described & Amercian Sign Langauge Performances of “A Christmas Carol”
Boston: Virtual Holiday Party w/ Spinal Cord Injury Boston
Bristol, RI: Sensory Santa House
Concord: Inclusive New Year’s Eve for Ages 18+
Dorchester: Brunch with Santa for Vietnamese Families with Special Needs
Northampton/Florence: Santa’s Train Sensory-Friendly
Northampton: Inclusive Holiday Social
Springfield: New Year’s Eve-Eve Celebration for Individuals with Special Needs
Wakefield: Inclusive Santa event
Worcester: Sensory “A Christmas Carol” Lots More!
|
|
|
|
|
Adaptive Skating : Brockton, East Boston, Fall River Gardner, Holyoke, North Adams, Worcester, with the DCR Universal Access Program. Free admission and equipment use. Use your wheelchair, an ice sled, a skate walker, ice grippers, or conventional skates. There will be pucks and colorful balls to shoot around, obstacle courses, races, and a tower of blocks Ice grippers for those that don't skate...Read more
|
|
|
|
|
Adaptive Snowshoeing, Kick Sledding & Cross-Country Sit Skiing in Massachusetts: Goshen, Millers Falls & Weston, through March 2026, with the State of Mass DCR Universal Access Program.. Enjoy the winter woods with hiking, outdoor ice skating, cross-country and sit cross-country skiing, ice sled skating, kicksledding, or snowshoeing. Instruction, adaptive equipment, and assist....Read more
|
|
|
|
|
|
Splash for All Abilities in Westfield: December 27th, with Roots Aquatics. 30-minute guided swim designed specifically for children with special needs. Each child and parent will experience skill-building, confidence-boosting, and active play in a safe, encouraging environment led by skilled and experienced staff. Ages 3 - 12... Read more
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sensory-Friendly Play Sessions: Every Child Initiative Peabody, December 22nd and the third Saturday of each month, 2 - 4 pm, with the North Shore Children's Museum. The museum supports all families and children with different sensory processing needs. To ensure those with Autism or other sensory processing disorders can enjoy...Read more
|
|
|
|
Special Olympics Winter 2026
Beverly - Special Olympics Sports Basketball Skill Center
Braintree - Special Olympics Young Athletes/Level 1
East Boston - Special Olympics Basketball Skills Center
Hamilton - Special Olympics Young Athletes/Level 1
Marion - Special Olympics Young Athletes/Level 2
Marlborough -Open House Special Olympics Floorball
Northborough - Special Olympics Unified Volleyball
North Andover- Special Olympics Floorball
Plymouth - Special Olympics Cornhole
Salisbury - Special Olympics Pickleball
Waltham - Special Olympics Young Athletes/Level 1
Westwood - Special Olympics Basketball Skills Center
Worcester - Special Olympics Floorball...Lots More
|
|
|
|
Transition & Adult Events
|
|
|
|
|
|
Understanding & Supporting Autistic Teens for Caregivers Webinar, January 12th, with the AANE in Watertown. Parents often wonder how to motivate their Autistic teens. This 90-minute workshop with time for Q&A will cover common challenges and support strategies. Topics include: A strengths-based overview of Autism in adolescence, the intersection of stress, anxiety, and behavior, strategies for building connection and reducing tension, Autism at school, and post-high school transition...Read more
|
|
|
|
|
Let’s Talk About Financial Benefits for Disabilities: Webinar, January 13th, with the Charles River Center of Needham. A guide to financial benefits for adults with special needs. Learn: The difference between Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), how to apply for benefits, MassHealth Premium...Read more
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Epic Community Service for Teens & Young Adults with Disabilities: Boston & Worcester, 2026-2027 Service Warrior Applications deadline: Friday, January 30, 2026. EPIC Service Warriors are young people with disabilities between the ages of 16-23, who live or attend school in Massachusetts. Some Warriors enter the program with rich volunteer, academic, employment, and social experience, while others have had little access to their communities beyond home and school....Read more
|
|
|
|
|
"Navigating Benefits in Uncertain Times" Virtual Conference, February 20th, 2026, with the AANE of Watertown, MA. The Jody Acford Conference - Navigating Benefits in Uncertain Times" will discuss how changing federal policies and budget cuts may impact benefits and services for Autistic adults and their families. Learn from...Read more
|
|
|
|
|
|
There's just not enough room! The buttons below will take you directly to pages dedicated to lot more disability events for specific diagnoses.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
