The Plan for Special Needs Trusts

Dr. Moses S. Dixon, PhD, is a leading practitioner in Global Health and Social Medicine with a comprehensive background in the non-profit and governmental sectors locally and nationally. He has served as the President & CEO of Senior Connection, formerly the Central Massachusetts Agency on Aging, Inc. (CMAA), since 2019. Dr. Dixon earned a doctorate in Community and Public Affairs from The State University of New York at Binghamton, a Master of Medical Sciences in Global Health Delivery from the Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA, a Master’s in Community Development and Planning from Clark University in Worcester, MA, and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Howard University in Washington, DC.

Dr. Dixon’s expertise in global health delivery, particularly in culturally appropriate care for black and brown older adults and caregivers, has been recognized by the Harvard Medical School. He focuses on grandparents raising their grandchildren, known as ‘Grandfamilies’. Prior to this, he served as a legislative fellow staffer to former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (Nevada) and a legislative aide on Beacon Hill to Massachusetts State Representative Mary S. Keefe from the 15th Worcester District.

Massachusetts Governor Maura T. Healey appointed him to serve on the Governor’s Council on Black Empowerment for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to advise Governor Healey and Lieutenant Governor Driscoll on issues related to the economic prosperity and well-being of Massachusetts’ Black community, including education, health care, housing, and workforce development. Governor Healey appointed him to serve on the Public Education Nominating Council. In this role, Dr. Dixon advises the governor concerning appointments to the Board of Education, the Board of Higher Education, and all board trustees of community colleges, state colleges, and the University of Massachusetts.

In January 2024, Dr. Moses S. Dixon was named one of 60 Scholars who formed the ninth Presidential Leadership Scholars (PLS) class. The PLS initiative has brought together a diverse network of leaders, encouraging them to collaborate and create meaningful change in the United States and around the world while learning about leadership through the experiences of the presidential administrations of George W. Bush, William J. Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Lyndon B. Johnson.

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Representative Sean Garballey is a champion of inclusion. PLAN of MA & RI partner, Special Olympics Massachusetts, recently awarded the Jack Brett award to Rep. Garballey for his work on behalf of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. “Special Olympics is very very important to me. I’ve been volunteering with Special Olympics for a pretty long time; and last year I was able to get money from the state budget dedicated to supporting Special Olympics across the commonwealth of Massachusetts.”

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Rob Wrubel has had an amazing journey to get to where he is. He talks about following his purpose and passion on his life’s journey. He is the father of a special needs daughter. Rob uses his knowledge to help special needs families by serving as their financial advisor and by speaking to families and professional groups throughout the country. “Special needs families face financial challenges not faced by other parents, such as protecting governmental benefits by good planning and balancing savings for retirement while having funds available to pay for disability-related expenses. People often come to my office in a state of fear and anxiety. They are overwhelmed with the decisions they need to make about their financial life and future planning. I understand their concerns because I am in their shoes. I look at this as a personal and professional mission”.

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Senator O’Connor’s legislative platform aligns with the mission of PLAN, as he has been consistently working throughout his time in the State Senate to serve those with disabilities in helping to preserve assets, protect benefits, and to live well. Providing resources not just to those who are living with disabilities, but also ensuring that their family is taken care of, are aligning priorities that both PLAN and the Senator share.

Since being sworn in, Senator O’Connor has been advocating for those with developmental and intellectual disabilities. In 2016, the Joyce family made him aware of the abuse their son Dana was experiencing in his group home, which ignited the legislation that would be signed into law in March 2020, “Dana’s Law.” This law establishes a registry of individuals found to have committed abuse against those with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Group homes serving these populations would now be required to check the registry during the application process, and any individual on the registry would be barred from employment.

In 2019, Senator O’Connor co-hosted a panel with the MDDC to discuss the challenges and achievements regarding employment and accessibility for those living with disabilities, discussing strategies that will allow the Commonwealth to increase employment opportunities for those living with disabilities.

Some recent relevant active legislation that benefits the disabled community primarily sponsored by Senator O’Connor includes An Act to increase the safety of individuals with disabilities relying on life-support equipment, An Act relative to accommodating special needs students taking the MCAS examination, An Act creating a scholarship fund to increase the number of medical providers who are knowledgeable in autism, and An Act establishing tax credit for families caring for elderly relatives and victims of Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Senator O’Connor has secured money in the Massachusetts Fiscal Year 2025 budget for the ARC of the South Shore Autism Resource Center, Raising Harts (an organization dedicated to supporting families with autistic and neurodiverse children), the SAIL Program (Supported Access to Independent Living, a new initiative based out of Scituate to create housing solutions for those who have IDD and/or autism and their families). The local organizations that Senator O’Connor has provided support for are of the utmost priority to him. Aiding those throughout the district he represents, beyond into the state of Massachusetts who have disabilities, and their families is what he is proudest of and will continue to make a top legislative priority.

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Before becoming involved with Best Buddies, Zach was not very socially active and did not participate in many extracurricular activities. After joining his high school Best Buddies chapter during freshman year, that all changed. Zach made tons of friends, went to parties, and even was named the Best Buddies Buddy Director at his school. This led Zach to have the chance to catch a touchdown pass from Tom Brady at the Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port event in Boston, which Zach says was one of the best moments of his life. From there, Zach went on to join his college Best Buddies chapter and to live and work in New York City. Zach is currently part of the Jobs program and is also matched in a one-to-one friendship in the Citizens program.

One of the biggest challenges Zach faced in 2021 was trying to find a Job. After graduating college in May 2020, he did not have much luck getting responses or invitations to interview. That’s when the Best Buddies Jobs team came in. The New York City Jobs team supported Zach in finding employment as a GSIS Statistician at the National Football League (NFL) headquarters, which has been a perfect fit and huge growth opportunity.

“My life has improved in so many aspects since securing my job at the NFL,” says Zach. “Not only have I developed amazing social relationships with my co-workers, but I’m now living on my own for the first time in my life. I’m responsible for paying my own rent, cleaning, buying groceries, and figuring out transportation around the city. Not only has my position at the NFL brought me the tasks that a job provides, but has made it so that I have more responsibilities to succeed now that I’m living on my own in the largest city in the U.S.”

In this role, Zach is responsible for the support, audit, and process of all NFL and NCAA game statistics for the 2021 season. The skills he has learned have been predominantly technical, but what he loves the most is getting to watch football on Sundays with his co-workers.

When describing his experience, Zach says, “Being in an NFL-related job is one thing, but when you add amazing people to work with in that environment, it doesn’t get better than that. Best Buddies has helped me improve my social communication skills, establish close friendships, attend many fun events, and find a job I love. I am very thankful for the opportunities and support Best Buddies has given me since joining.”

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Dr. White was named President and Chief Executive Officer for Road To Responsibility, Inc. (RTR) in September 2008. He has been active in the field of human services since 1980. Under his experienced leadership, RTR has grown more than 30% between 2008 and 2015 and continues to be recognized as one of the top provider organizations in the state.

Dr. White also serves on the Board of Directors for the MA Council of Human Service Providers (The Provider’s Council) and is on the Executive Board for the Association of Developmental Disabilities Providers (ADDP). As one of the original members of the President’s National Task Group on Dementia, Dr. White is regularly invited to speak at national and regional conferences.

In 1982, Dr. White received his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Bridgewater State College (now University). He went on to Harvard University and earned his Master’s degree in Counseling and Consulting Psychology in 1984. Dr. White received his Doctorate in Leadership: Counseling Psychology in 1992 from Northeastern University and is a licensed Psychologist and Health Services Provider in Massachusetts.

Dr. White served as an Adjunct Professor in the Graduate Program of Counseling and Applied Psychology at Northeastern University from September 1994 until September 2014. There, he taught a variety of clinical courses, including two courses which he developed for the department for Core Clinical Skills and Brief Therapies.

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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 a term as Chairman from 2011–2013. In 2016, Congress appointed him to the National Council on Disability. He is also currently the Chair of the Governor’s Commission on Intellectual Disability, and the Chair of the Massachusetts Disabled Persons Protection Commission. In 2013, the University of Massachusetts Boston established the James T. Brett Chair in Disability and Workforce Development, the nation’s only endowed chair in disability and workforce development. In 1996, Bay Cove Human Services of Boston named a new community home for disabled adults “Brett House” in his honor.

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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 own. She is a nationally sought-after speaker on planning for families of individuals with disabilities and co-author of the groundbreaking book, The Special Needs Planning Guide, now in its 2nd edition.

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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 a three-year LIFE program at Clemson University in just two years. Despite going on many interviews, she encountered significant barriers to employment after moving to Boston. However, she never let this dissuade her and began turning her passion for baking into both a successful business and a platform from which to advocate for people with disabilities and improving their employment opportunities.

Please enjoy this fascinating and inspiring conversation between our host Jordan Rich, Collette and Rosemary.

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