About the Cofar blog and COFAR
This blogsite is intended to highlight, analyze and discuss current issues of concern to COFAR families, and to involve the general public, administration officials, legislators, and journalists in those discussions. We welcome your comments.
COFAR is the acronym for the Massachusetts Coalition of Families and Advocates, Inc., a statewide, family-supported nonprofit organzation that advocates on behalf of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. You can find COFAR’s website here.
COFAR supports a full continuum of choice in high-quality care for persons with intellectual disabilites. Through the efforts of our family members and volunteers, we advocate for adequate funding and staffing for residential and other programs provided by the Department of Developmental Services. We provide advocacy information and advice to families and guardians wherever their loved ones may live.
COFAR blog 
i wish there was someone that could explain the entire process of the services my brother receives, along with what his rights are as a ricci member, asking the service coordinator with DDS i guess is the wrong person to ask. is there an outside agency that a guardian/family member can get all the information they need?
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Is there are similar Site that discusses these DDS topics in the State of CT? If so, kindly advise. Thanks
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I am trying to find out info about specific group homes – and also info relating to other families who have a loved one that has been abused in a group home. Also, I have some questions to ask some of the authors of the posts – how can I contact them? I don’t have a twitter account, so can’t do it that way!
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Hi Laura, You can contact me at davekassel@charter.net. There’s additional contact information on our website at http://www.cofar.org.
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Ohio needs your help in the same battle that the State of Massachusetts went thru ohio now is going the same fight. Let’s link the Tate’s together and share our research & resources.
Very kind regards
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Please point me in the direction of getting help in Ohio. We desperately need guidance and support as two of our DCs are slated to close. One in Youmgstown another in Dayton Can anyone provide resource info. Thank u
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Hi Robin,
You should contact the VOR, which is fighting the closures on a national scale. Their website is http://www.vor.net. If you do belong to an advocacy organization in Ohio, you can use it to mobilize opposition through legislative, media, and other contacts.
Best of luck!
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David
Thank you for taking the time to respond. I will check it out. We have had media exposure. However, we are fighting a very aggressive state system. God bless you.
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I am with a sheltered workshop in Missouri and would like to talk with someone within your organization about the impact MASS is experiencing (pro/con) from workshops being closed. Am also curious if the legislative language is protecting those shops that are still open.
Thanks!
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Hi Tracy, you can contact me at davidskassel@gmail.com. We can exchange phone numbers.
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