Mr. Brett has been a lifelong champion for people with disabilities. In May 2022, President Joe Biden appointed him to serve as the Chair of the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities (PCPID) and reappointed him as Chairman in 2023. He previously served on PCPID under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, including […]

Cynthia Haddad is a Certified Financial Planner Professional and a Chartered Special Needs Consultant. She is a founding partner and wealth advisor at Affinia Financial Group in Burlington, MA. As a financial professional and sister and advocate for her brother Ron, who has developmental disabilities, Cindy has dedicated her career to serving families like her […]

In this episode, we hear from Collette Divitto, the founder of the nationally recognized baking business Collettey’s Cookies, as well as her mother Rosemary Alfredo.   Collette, who was born in 1990 with Down syndrome, developed her passion for baking while taking classes in high school in her hometown of Ridgefield, Connecticut. She graduated from […]

April is recognized annually as Autism Awareness Month, so it’s the perfect time to highlight the organizations and partners doing indispensable work to support individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). One of the premier organizations in this field – and a PLAN Partner – is the Asperger/Autism Network (AANE), which provides crucial services and support […]

In this episode, we hear from Leo Sarkissian, Executive Director of the Arc of Massachusetts, as he discusses the history and present of the organization, as well as the state of advocacy and care for people living with intellectual and physical disabilities in the Commonwealth. PLAN actually grew out of the original members and families […]

This past March marked the 60th year of celebrating National Social Work Month across the country. The roots of this effort lie in early efforts by social workers to draw attention to the critical role they play in helping people, especially those who have been marginalized by society or who live with disabilities and other […]

Since 1963, March has been recognized as National Social Work Month, in honor of the tireless workers who break down barriers and help people access critical services across our society. At PLAN, social workers are integral to our mission of helping people with disabilities preserve their assets and live full, dignified lives. Our team of […]