[Massachusetts-NFB] For Immediate Release: John Oliveira Appointed Commissioner of the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind

Tue Sep 19 13:06:42 UTC 2023

Congratulations!

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Today's Topics:

   1. Re: For Immediate Release: John Oliveira Appointed
      Commissioner of the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind
      (Robert Baran)
   2. MAPBC September Meeting Minutes (Liz Lesperance)

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Message: 1
Date: Mon, 18 Sep 2023 17:12:54 -0400
From: Robert Baran <robert.baran01013 at gmail.com>
To: "'NFB of Massachusetts E-mail List'"
	<massachusetts-nfb at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [Massachusetts-NFB] For Immediate Release: John Oliveira
	Appointed Commissioner of the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind
Message-ID: <029901d9ea74$e4868f70$ad93ae50$@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Congratulations

From: Massachusetts-NFB <massachusetts-nfb-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of
MCBInfo via Massachusetts-NFB
Sent: Thursday, September 14, 2023 12:49 PM
Cc: MCBInfo <mcbinfo at mass.gov>
Subject: [Massachusetts-NFB] For Immediate Release: John Oliveira Appointed
Commissioner of the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

September 14, 2023

CONTACT

Olivia James, EOHHS | Olivia.James2 at mass.gov <mailto:Olivia.James2 at mass.gov>

John Oliveira Appointed Commissioner of the Massachusetts Commission for the
Blind 

BOSTON - Today, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kate Walsh announced
that John Oliveira, who has served as Acting Commissioner of the
Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB) since April, has been appointed
to the role of Commissioner, effective immediately. Oliveira has held
numerous roles at MCB since joining in 1987, including 10 years as Deputy
Commissioner before his appointment as Acting Commissioner.

"Through decades of work at MCB, John has proven his dedication to the
community he serves and to the team at MCB" said Secretary Walsh. "Over the
last few months, I have heard overwhelmingly positive responses from the
community and our partners who are excited about the breadth of experience
that John brings and his passion for the work of the Commission. I look
forward to our continued work together to support MCB consumers in living
full, independent lives in communities across Massachusetts."

"I am grateful and fortunate for this opportunity to continue to serve the
residents of the Commonwealth who are legally blind, as well as the broader
blindness community," said Oliveira. "I am looking forward to leading our
dedicated staff as we continue working together to build on this agency's
tremendous history of providing social rehabilitation and employment
opportunities to consumers with the goal of increasing their independence
and full community participation."

Legally blind since birth, Oliveira is an advocate for increased
independence for people who are blind and visually impaired, and inclusivity
for the blindness community.

Oliveira first joined MCB as a rehabilitation teacher, providing adaptive
living skills to MCB's consumers. From there he moved through the Commission
holding a number of roles, but always focused on supporting the mission of
MCB, and overseeing the opportunities for those who are blind and visually
impaired in Massachusetts. He has also held the positions of vocational
rehabilitation counselor, employment services supervisor, director of
training and staff development, and director of assistive technology,
allowing him to learn every facet of MCB. Through case work and leadership
positions he constantly found solutions for consumers with complex needs
that would grant them autonomy, whether through employment opportunities or
consumer services. 

###

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Message: 2
Date: Mon, 18 Sep 2023 21:20:29 -0400
From: Liz Lesperance <liz.karsok at gmail.com>
To: NFB of Massachusetts E-mail List <massachusetts-nfb at nfbnet.org>,
	Liz Lesperance <liz.karsok at gmail.com>
Subject: [Massachusetts-NFB] MAPBC September Meeting Minutes
Message-ID:
	<CAOT0yfC7=RfNsWg81U+sf09YsJEP4BUTGFaB36kg4jbDAfgNRg at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

Good Evening Everyone,

Attached and pasted below you will find the minutes from our most recent
Parents' Division meeting held last Thursday, Oct. 12th. Have a wonderful
night!

Best Regards,
Liz

********************************

The MAPBC held their monthly meeting on Thursday, Sept. 14th. The meeting
began at 6:02PM

Those in attendance included:

Youme Nguyen Ly

Hai Nguyen Ly

Stephanie Valdes

Liz Lesperance

We had enough members present to form a quorum.

Youme recited the NFB pledge

Liz went over the presidential release highlights

Our current treasury balance is $125.25

Youme put forth a motion to approve the July meeting minutes which Liz
seconded. The minutes were approved unanimously

Stephanie provided a status on the Parents' Rights bill. Stephanie spoke
with Justin Salisbury following our July meeting with Katherine Nemens of
the Family Law Project. The best course of action appears to be for NFB
members who support this bill to compose written testimony. We can hear each
written testimony aloud and decide which is most powerful. That testimony
can then be presented in person at the next hearing. At this time, we do not
know when the next hearing will be. There is a tendency for the hearings to
be scheduled last minute.

Stephanie suggested we could create a YouTube page to spread awareness of
the bill. She will review idea further with Shara. Also, Stephanie has a
connection to a person involved in news media who could spread further
awareness of the bill.

We discussed potential fundraising options including Giving Tuesday, the
Giving Bean coffee fundraiser, the GiveButter fundraiser, and holding a
50/50 raffle at the Pub 99.

We discussed the need for childcare at the March state convention. At this
time, there is no confirmed need but we will inquire further as the
convention draws near.

The meeting adjourned at 6:47PM.

Our next meeting will be Thursday, Oct. 12th at 6:00PM.
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