~~Sentinel & EnterprisePOSTED: 03/06/2014 06:51:36 AM EST
By Jonathan RileyStatehouse Correspondent
BOSTON -- State Sen. Jennifer Flanagan was honored Wednesday for her work supporting developmentally disabled residents with an award from the Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council at its 36th annual legislative reception.
Senate President Therese Murray presented the Legislator of the Year award, calling Flanagan her "very worthy colleague.""I want to sincerely thank the senator for her tireless advocacy on behalf of our disability community, as well as her being such a valued member of our Senate, and I can't think of anyone more deserving of this award," Murray said.
Flanagan, a Leominster Democrat, said she was "just truly honored that they've noticed the work that's being done on Beacon Hill.""It's not easy to get to the Statehouse, so to have so many people in attendance really means a lot," she said, referring to the gathering in the Statehouse's Great Hall.
Flanagan also mentioned the importance of finding ways to fund programs and the agenda of the Legislature-created Autism Commission in the coming year.
Dan Shannon, executive director of the Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council, said the reception was about more than just honoring lawmakers.
"We give awards to legislators of the year, but the real purpose behind the reception is to get individuals with disabilities, and families and advocates, to come and meet with their elected officials," he said. "We believe that the greatest influence on public policy occurs through self-advocacy, and so the way that we try to foster that is during this annual reception."House Ways and Means Chairman Brian Dempsey, D-Haverhill, was also honored with an award from the Arc of Massachusetts, which co-hosts the annual event.
The Arc of the United States is a nationwide nonprofit advocating for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.Leo Sarkissian, executive director of The Arc of Massachusetts, said the local branch serving North Central Massachusetts is one of the most active in the state.
"We have 17 affiliates, some bigger than others," he said. "I would say the one in Fitchburg, which is the Arc of Opportunity, is a key partner not only on legislation, but they deliver hard services from housing, to employment, to family support."
Although The Arc was specifically honoring Dempsey, who didn't attend the event, Sarkissian also praised Flanagan.
"We're very happy that she's being recognized," he said, noting that Flanagan is sponsoring a bill to allow developmentally disabled people who aren't intellectually disabled to receive services after reaching adulthood.
"It's a big deal because people have functional impairments," he said, "but they actually don't get included because they may not have an intellectual disability."
State Rep. Stephen DiNatale, D-Fitchburg, also lauded Flanagan at the reception, saying she's been a "champion of people with these kind of needs and she'll continue to be."
"I've been a big supporter of The Arc in North Central," DiNatale said. "The services that they provide to this group of individuals is just beyond compare. They do a great job."
Anne Fracht, chairwoman of Massachusetts Advocates Standing Strong, who has epilepsy along with other disabilities, said Flanagan and Dempsey had earned their awards. "They've done a lot for us," she said.
Fracht also spoke about the importance of the annual reception for developmentally disabled people.
"It's an event where we can speak up and tell people what we actually need, and want, to make our lives better," she said.
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