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Services to Meet Specific Special Needs
The agencies listed in this section provide services and support for individuals with specific special needs.
| Agency/Business Name | Contact | Street Address | City/Town | Zip Code | Telephone Number | Hours of Operation | Website (if available) | TTY | Fax | Services Provided | Eligibility Requirements | Referral Process | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abilities Unlimited of Western New England | Wendy Wright | 61 Union Street | Westfield | 01085 | (413) 562-5678 | 8:30am-4:30pm | E-mail Wendy Wright | > View the Abilities Unlimited of Western New England website | no tty | 413-562-1239 | The Hilltown Project serves families of children and adults with developmental disabilities who live at home. Services include respite, cash assistance, advocacy, information, referral, and a Parent Group. | All Developmental Disabilities, Autism, Blindness, Hearing Impairment/hard Of Hear, Mental Retardation | DMR |
| Alliance for Mentally Ill of Western MA | Mary Rives | 717 1/2 Main Street | Agawam | 01001 | (800) 295-2121 | 8:30am-4:30pm | amiwma@aol.com | > View the Alliance for Mentally Ill of Western MA website | no tty | (413) 789-1137 | Volunteer organization affiliated with National Alliance for the Mentally Ill. Provide support groups, respond to requests for advocacy. Information resource center. Provides educational meetings on different aspects of mental illness. Speakers available | None | None |
| Community Resources for people with Autism | Jeanne Troxell Munson | 116 Pleasant Street, Suite 366 | Easthampton | 01027 | 413-529-2428 | 9:00am-5:00pm | Munsonj@theassn.org | > View the Community Resources for people with Autism website | (800) 892-7003 | (413) 529-2567 | Family advocates who work in the home; monthly parent resource groups; workshops; newsletter and library | Ages 3-22 with autism; DMR eligible | Through DMR; pediatricians and early intervention |
| Dunbar Community Center, Inc. | Polly Prunuske | 33 Oak St. | Springfield | 01109 | (413) 788-6143 | no hours | pprunuske@dunbarma.org | > View the Dunbar Community Center, Inc. website | no tty | no fax | The SNAP is a family-directed support program that serves individuals with developmental disabilities. It provides relief for both the caregiver and the consumer in the forms of respite, advocacy, family support and referral services. French, Haitian-Creole, and Spanish are also spoken. | no requirements listed | DMR, DPH, DSS |
| Easter Seals Massachusetts | Susan Caracciolo | 484 Main Street | Worcester | 01608 | (508) 757-2756, (800) 092-28290 | 8:00-4:00 | scaracciolo@easterseals.com | > View the Easter Seals Massachusetts website | (800) 564-9700 | (508) 831-9768 | Camps, therapy, assistive technology and job-training | depends on need | None |
| Parent and Training Information Center located at the Federation for Children with Special Needs | Julie Sinclair | P.O. Box 1345 | Belchertown | 01007 | (413) 323-0681 | 9:00-5:00 | sinclair@fcsn.org | > View the Parent and Training Information Center located at the Federation for Children with Special Needs website | (800) 331-0688 | (413) 323-0681 | support, parent training in IEP process, information for persons with medical disabilities and monthly publication "News line" | documented disability | School District Referral and self-referral |
| Lutheran Community Services | Alicia Sadowicz | 593 Main Street | West Springfield | 01089 | (413 787-0725 | 9:00-5:00 | aliciasa@lcssne.org | > View the Lutheran Community Services website | no tty | (413) 734-0859 | Family support/ case management/ education advocacy primarily for Russian language. | Through DMR | Letter form DMR |
| Multicultural Community Services for Westfield | Mary Beattie | 3 State Street | Westfield | 01085 | (413) 562-4885 | no hours | marybeattie@mcsnet.org | no website/coming soon! | no tty | (413) 572-9707 | Core Elements, Activity Club/Life Enrichment Classes, Intensive Flexible Family Support, Hispanic Parent Support, Family Information, Resource and Support Team, Parent Advocacy Group, Hispanic Transition Project | DMR | DMR Referral
|
| New England Center-Deaf Blind Project | Delma Boyce/Family Specialist Susan DeCaluwe/ Education | 175 North Beacon Street | Watertown | 02472 | (617) 972-7515 | 8:00-5:00 | nec@perkins.org | > View the New England Center-Deaf Blind Project website | (617)972-7515 | (617) 972-7354 | Serves western Mass-assists team in future planning; involves Mass Commission for the Blind & links with case worker. | Some hearing or sight loss | Must register: can be done on-line |
| New England Index | Becky Olsen | The Shriver Center 200 Trapelo Road | Waltham | 02154-6319 | (800) 642-0249 | 9am-4pm Mon | rebecca.olsen@neindex.org
| > View the New England Index website | (781) 642-0248 | (781) 642-0122 | Maintains referral database of physicians, consultants programs and agencies. Multilingual resources | None | None |
| The Association for Community Living | Mary E. Houghton | One Carando Dr. | Springfield | 01104 | (800) 377-7791 | no hours | houghtom@theassn.org | no website | no tty | no fax | no description listed | no requirements listed | no process listed |