Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council

The Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council (MDDC) is pleased to announce that it has received the Certificate in Excellence in Citizen-Centric Reporting  from the Association of Government Accountants (AGA). This is the fourth year in a row that MDDC has won the award.

“We believe that government exists to serve citizens and that government agencies must be accountable for its citizens,” said Dan Shannon, executive director of the Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council. “This Certificate in Excellence in Citizen-Centric Reporting shows we have succeeded in our mission of providing this information to citizens.”        

MDDC was recognized by the AGA for its outstanding efforts in publishing a report that communicates financial and community information. To be eligible for the certificate, governments must create a content-based, visually appealing, readable, and timely four-page report. By supporting government accountability in financial and community reporting, the AGA works to foster innovative means of communication between governments and their citizenry.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

 

The MDDC is pleased to announce that Tim Kunzier, a Boston University graduate with experience participating as a Massachusetts delegation at the annual Disability Policy Seminar in Washington, D.C. has been selected as the 2012 Gopen Fellow.  Kunzier will develop a protocol for medical personnel to follow when working with people who have severe communication issues, particularly communication issues related to a developmental disability. Kunzier, who has personal experiences being misunderstood or ignored during emergency situations because of communication issues, will look at the thoroughness of clinical evaluation. The protocol will help medical professionals better understand the need to obtain information unique to the individual with the disability.   Kunzier will pursue his Fellowship under the direction of the Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council, the Institute for Community Inclusion, UMass Boston, University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center and the Disability Law Center.