Dates: September 27 through October 31, 2010
Deadline to register: September 14
Self employment and small business are a defining characteristic of America’s economic landscape, and present a tremendous opportunity for those most challenged by the competitive labor market. Self-employment is increasingly recognized as a viable employment option for people with disabilities. This online course will cover the basics and frequently asked questions that individuals living with MS may have when thinking about starting a business.
• How can I determine if self-employment is for me?
• Where can I get money to start a business?
• Can vocational rehabilitation agencies support self-employment?
• How can a person obtain support from community and business-related agencies such as Small Business Development Centers?
The course will cover the following topics:
• Writing a Business Plan
• Conducting a Feasibility Study
• Accessing Community Supports
• Identifying Funding
• Using Work Incentives
Course Schedule
Week of Sept 27 Self-Employment Overview
Week of Oct 4 Social Security Work Incentives, Medicaid Waivers, and Self-Employment
Week of Oct 11 Accessing Support Services from Vocational Rehabilitation and Community Rehabilitation Programs
Week of Oct 18 Community Supports for Self-Employment
Week of Oct 25 Quick Launch Business Start-Up
Overview Information: ALL courses are web-based. The lectures are in audio format, and you must have the technical requirements for the course as described below to enroll. Information for a specific lesson will be available by 9:00 a.m. (eastern) on the first date listed for any given lesson. The course includes five lessons. Each lesson lasts one week and should take approximately four to five hours to complete. Weekly lessons include an online discussion forum, audio lectures, and select readings. All participants will be assigned to groups. These groups will be asked to correspond with each other on the course bulletin boards. In addition, participants will have the opportunity to ask questions of nationally known experts in self –employment.
Technical Requirements: You will be able to log on to the course at any time of the day and access the audio lectures. Each person MUST have an individual e-mail account to register. If you do not already have an e-mail address, you can set one up, free of charge at www.yahoo.com, www.gmail.com, and many other free services. Updates and feedback on the course activities will be sent via e-mail. Participants must be able to receive and send messages in order to benefit from this online experience.
A certificate of completion will be issued to those who participate in the discussion boards and complete a final essay on the course materials. Participants MUST finish all required assignments within the specified time frame in order to receive the certificate of completion from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Confirmation & log-in directions will be sent to confirmed registrants
Register online for this program
Deadline to register: September 14
Space is limited – Adults with MS Only
This course is being provided to the National MS Society by START-UP/USA a partnership between Virginia Commonwealth University and Griffin-Hammis and Associates, LLC.
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National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Greater New England Chapter
101A First Avenue, Suite 6
Waltham, MA 02451-1115
tel: 1 800-344-4867
fax: 1 781-890-2089
MSnewengland.org
Friday, September 10, 2010
Ensure Stem Cell Legislation Gets Priority Attention
Two weeks ago, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction halting all federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research (ESCR). This was a huge setback on the achievements that MS Activists have fought hard to attain in our efforts to move us closer to a world free of multiple sclerosis. Fortunately, just today, the DC Court of Appeals sided with the Department of Justice and stopped the preliminary injunction from halting federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research. This ruling is temporary and only in place while the full arguments are heard in the Court of Appeals. These full arguments could occur later this month. The Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Dr. Francis Collins, indicated emphatically that he views the attempts to block federal funding as a major crisis in science and that delays will cause irreparable damage to critical research being conducted utilizing stem cells.
With the help of MS Activists, Congress twice comfortably passed bi-partisan legislation permitting federal funding of ESCR, but both bills received presidential vetoes. However, in 2009 an Executive Order lifted previous restrictions on federal funding of ESCR and brought new hope to the millions of people living with chronic and debilitating diseases or disabilities. Click here to see the Society’s historical work with ESCR.
The current judicial proceedings threaten the progress we have made in stem cell research. Once again, MS Activists must mobilize to ensure that scientists and researchers have the funding and authority they need to explore this promising field of ESCR.
While legal battles in the court system are underway, the only way to guarantee a permanent solution is to pass bi-partisan legislation. Congress must make it a priority to secure a legislative fix to this situation immediately. There are already bi-partisan efforts underway, but we need broad support to fuel momentum.
Congress will soon be back from its summer recess but will only have a few weeks before it recesses again for the November election. That time between Congressional recesses may be the last opportunity to secure needed action from the 111th Congress.
The National MS Society has made a commitment to pursue promising avenues that will lead to solutions that stop disease progression, restore function, and ultimately prevent future generations from ever receiving an MS diagnosis. This commitment is reflected in our decision to support the conduct of scientifically meritorious medical research, including research using human cells, in accordance with federal, state and local laws, and with adherence to the strictest ethical and procedural guidelines. This decision was not reached without intense scrutiny and discussion among volunteers, people living with MS, ethicists, researchers and scientists, and MS neurologists.
Ultimately, more research is needed to better understand which stem cells, and from what sources, could hold significant promise for repairing damage and restoring function, as well as provide a better understanding of the underlying disease cause.
Click here to email your Members of Congress today and ask them to make stem cell research legislation a priority this session.
Lifespan Respite Grants to 12 States Announced
On September 7, the U.S. Administration on Aging announced grant awards totaling approximately $2.25 million to twelve states to implement the Lifespan Respite Care Program. Grant awards were made to the following states: Delaware, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nebraska, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Washington, Wisconsin, and Utah.
Up to one quarter of individuals living with MS require long-term care services at some point during the course of the disease. Often, a family member steps into the role of primary caregiver to be closer to the individual with MS and involved in care decisions. Respite provides temporary relief to caregivers from the ongoing responsibility of caring for individuals of all ages with special needs—including those living with MS. The Lifespan Respite Care Program was enacted in 2006 and is intended to enable states to better coordinate existing respite services, identify service gaps, and create and monitor new respite services while providing opportunities to recruit, train and support paid and volunteer respite providers and raise public awareness about the need for and importance of respite services.
The grants announced on September 7 represent the Fiscal Year 2010 funding. The Society continues to advocate for increased funding for Lifespan Respite in Fiscal Year 2011. The Senate Appropriations Committee recently approved an increase, for a total appropriation of $7 million for Lifespan Respite. Stay tuned for opportunities to weigh in with your federal lawmakers regarding the Lifespan Respite Care Program.
With the help of MS Activists, Congress twice comfortably passed bi-partisan legislation permitting federal funding of ESCR, but both bills received presidential vetoes. However, in 2009 an Executive Order lifted previous restrictions on federal funding of ESCR and brought new hope to the millions of people living with chronic and debilitating diseases or disabilities. Click here to see the Society’s historical work with ESCR.
The current judicial proceedings threaten the progress we have made in stem cell research. Once again, MS Activists must mobilize to ensure that scientists and researchers have the funding and authority they need to explore this promising field of ESCR.
While legal battles in the court system are underway, the only way to guarantee a permanent solution is to pass bi-partisan legislation. Congress must make it a priority to secure a legislative fix to this situation immediately. There are already bi-partisan efforts underway, but we need broad support to fuel momentum.
Congress will soon be back from its summer recess but will only have a few weeks before it recesses again for the November election. That time between Congressional recesses may be the last opportunity to secure needed action from the 111th Congress.
The National MS Society has made a commitment to pursue promising avenues that will lead to solutions that stop disease progression, restore function, and ultimately prevent future generations from ever receiving an MS diagnosis. This commitment is reflected in our decision to support the conduct of scientifically meritorious medical research, including research using human cells, in accordance with federal, state and local laws, and with adherence to the strictest ethical and procedural guidelines. This decision was not reached without intense scrutiny and discussion among volunteers, people living with MS, ethicists, researchers and scientists, and MS neurologists.
Ultimately, more research is needed to better understand which stem cells, and from what sources, could hold significant promise for repairing damage and restoring function, as well as provide a better understanding of the underlying disease cause.
Click here to email your Members of Congress today and ask them to make stem cell research legislation a priority this session.
Lifespan Respite Grants to 12 States Announced
On September 7, the U.S. Administration on Aging announced grant awards totaling approximately $2.25 million to twelve states to implement the Lifespan Respite Care Program. Grant awards were made to the following states: Delaware, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nebraska, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Washington, Wisconsin, and Utah.
Up to one quarter of individuals living with MS require long-term care services at some point during the course of the disease. Often, a family member steps into the role of primary caregiver to be closer to the individual with MS and involved in care decisions. Respite provides temporary relief to caregivers from the ongoing responsibility of caring for individuals of all ages with special needs—including those living with MS. The Lifespan Respite Care Program was enacted in 2006 and is intended to enable states to better coordinate existing respite services, identify service gaps, and create and monitor new respite services while providing opportunities to recruit, train and support paid and volunteer respite providers and raise public awareness about the need for and importance of respite services.
The grants announced on September 7 represent the Fiscal Year 2010 funding. The Society continues to advocate for increased funding for Lifespan Respite in Fiscal Year 2011. The Senate Appropriations Committee recently approved an increase, for a total appropriation of $7 million for Lifespan Respite. Stay tuned for opportunities to weigh in with your federal lawmakers regarding the Lifespan Respite Care Program.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Fall Walk MS
‘Register for Walk MS‘
Walk MS is a simple, but incredibly powerful way
for you to create hope for the future.
Walk MS is our rallying point, a time and a place
for us to stand together and to be together — to
help raise crucial funds that support cutting-edge
research, drive change through advocacy, and
facilitate professional education, while providing
education, support, and services that help people
with MS move their lives forward.
Saturday, September 11 Sunday, September 26
Brewster, MA
Cape Cod Sea Camps Falmouth, MA
Mullen-Hall School
Saturday, September 25
Greenfield, MA
Greenfield High School
The Berkshires, MA
Taconic High School,
Pittsfield
Sturbridge, MA
Sturbridge Town Common
St. Johnsbury, VT
St. Johnsbury School Keene, NH
Wheelock Park
The primary goal of Walk MS is to raise funds to help people who
have MS and their families. All walkers 12 years old and above are
required to turn in at least $25 by Walk Day. If you need help, please
contact walkMSgne@nmss.org or 1-800-344-4867.
National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Greater New England Chapter
101A First Avenue, Suite 6
Waltham, MA 02451-1115
tel: 1 800-344-4867
fax: 1 781-890-2089
MSnewengland.org
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About Me
- Steve
- North Grafton, Massachusetts, United States
- Well-educated, disabled at this point with Multiple Sclerosis. I am very glad that I was able to do the things that I have been able to do over the years. had to change the picture, this one's more realistic.