PLAN of MA & RI is proud to partner with Best Buddies in Massachusetts & Rhode Island. Our work together promotes inclusion and offers support for all people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

PLAN of MA & RI is thrilled to celebrate Eleanor Jones who joined our team, from the Best Buddies Jobs Program, nearly three years ago! The Best Buddies Jobs Program helps people with intellectual and developmental disabilities secure jobs which allow them to earn an income and independently support themselves.

We worked with our partners at Best Buddies in Massachusetts & Rhode Island to match job qualifications with the interests of job applicants. We are so thankful that Eleanor chose PLAN of MA & RI as her new employer!

“Working at PLAN has made me more confident.” “This job has meant a lot to me.” Eleanor Jones.

“Eleanor comes with a positive attitude and she is professional. She wants to learn!” Joan McGrath, Chief Executive Officer, PLAN of MA & RI.

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Elizabeth (Liz) Sandblom is the Chief Executive Officer of The Arc of the South Shore. With a career spanning more than three decades, Elizabeth brings extensive experience and passion to her role, where she leads the organization’s strategic direction and operations.

Before joining The Arc, Elizabeth spent 30 years at the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, most recently serving as Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Operations at the Department of Developmental Services (DDS). In her tenure at DDS, she worked across various capacities, including service coordination, and gained a deep understanding of state-funded programs that benefit individuals with disabilities.

Elizabeth is a strong advocate for person- and family-centered practices and is a recognized Ambassador for LifeCourse Initiatives, championing meaningful change within organizations and communities. Proficient in American Sign Language, she’s committed to ensuring that individuals with disabilities have equal opportunities to thrive in their communities and achieve their fullest potential.

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Anthony Shriver founded Best Buddies International to create friendships and employment opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He launched the new initiative Eunie’s Buddies to support families who are raising children with intellectual and developmental disabilities, honoring his mother, Eunice Kennedy Shriver. Eunie’s Buddies provides families with support, encouragement, and resources, while Best Buddies continues to focus on its mission of inclusion and opportunity through its various programs.

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Margaret (Meg) Hogan currently serves as Chief Executive Officer at Boston Senior Home Care. Before joining the agency in 2017, Meg was Vice President of External Relations for Home Health Foundation, which included Home Health VNA, Merrimack Valley Hospice, and Home Care, Inc., one of the largest home care agencies in Massachusetts. In that role, Meg oversaw the development and implementation of strategic, agency-wide programs and initiatives that advanced and promoted patient care services.

Before joining Home Health Foundation, Meg served as Chief Operations Officer for the National Patient Safety Foundation, Executive Director for the New England Healthcare Assembly, and Director of Education and Marketing for the Massachusetts Hospital Association.

Meg has served on the MA Health Policy Commission Advisory Council and as Board President and Board Treasurer for Massachusetts Women’s Political Caucus.

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James Day Keith is a multi-sport Special Olympics athlete, actor, and passionate advocate for inclusion who starred in the movie Champions.  He promotes friendship, acceptance, and belonging for people of all abilities, shares his story with schools and organizations, and serves as an ambassador for Special Olympics Massachusetts and Best Buddies. He is recognized for his leadership, fitness, and dedication to inspiring others to reach their full potential. He also works as a swim instructor, teaching confidence and a love for fitness to the next generation. 

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Bob Scannell has been the leader of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Dorchester (BGCD) for the past 38 years.  BGCD serves over 4,000 youth each year and have over 202 programs and activities. Their mission is to always welcome and connect young people and families to opportunities that embrace diversity, nurture growth, and inspire success. 

As part of the Boston Inclusion Network for Disabilities (BIND), the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester believes that inclusion is more than placement, it’s being part of what everyone else is doing, being welcomed and embraced as a person – and a Club member – who belongs. On any given day, you will find children of all abilities participating in various activities at BGCD; whether it is learning to shoot a basketball, getting homework help or participating in early education. BGCD encourages parents of children with unique needs to set up a meeting and tour with their Inclusion Coordinator to discuss program opportunities for their child.

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Maura Sullivan, MPA is the new Chief Executive Officer of The Arc of Massachusetts.  In a historic moment, Maura becomes the first parent of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to lead The Arc since its first Director, Pearl Birnbaum Hurwitz, in 1954.

Maura Sullivan has been a dynamic force within The Arc of Massachusetts for over a decade, leading Government Affairs and serving as the Director of Operation House Call, the nationally recognized training program that equips students in medical, nursing, and allied health professions across Massachusetts with the skills and understanding needed to care for individuals with IDD and autism.

Maura is a well-respected advocate, whose work has led to significant legislative achievements, including the passage of Nicky’s Law, Police Training in Autism, and the continued success of Operation House Call. At the State House, Maura has been instrumental in securing increased funding for the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) budget, the direct support workforce, and MassHealth.

Beyond her legislative successes, Maura actively contributes to numerous state and national advisory boards and commissions focused on transition age youth with IDD and autism. She collaborates with prestigious institutions such as Drexel University, the Institute for Exceptional Care, and Harvard Medical School. Her involvement extends to the Massachusetts Governor’s Autism Commission for Healthcare and the Massachusetts Initiative to Improve Healthcare Transitions. In addition, Maura directs the policy and advocacy of Advocates for Autism of Massachusetts.

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Jonathan Gardner is a dedicated advocate for disability rights at both the state and national levels. A homeschool graduate, cancer survivor, and individual who happens to have Autism, Jonathan serves as an Official Ambassador for Operation House Call through the Arc of Massachusetts, a Flutie Fellow for the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism, Co-Chair of the Massachusetts Supported Decision-Making Coalition, a board member of Massachusetts Advocates for Children, and a Council Member of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

Jonathan shares his personal journey, including overcoming early challenges, his autism diagnosis, educational struggles, and his battle with cancer. He explains supported decision-making as an alternative to guardianship and emphasizes its importance for individuals with disabilities in maintaining autonomy. His advocacy work includes passing the Massachusetts Restraints and Seclusion Law, advocating for such bills as Operation House Call, Hospital Training, Health Care Discrimination, Police Training and more. He has also spoken on Capitol Hill about the Autism Care Act and the Education Bill.

Drawing on his experiences with early intervention services, specialized clinics, and homeschooling, Jonathan highlights the significance of personalized education and healthcare. His story of resilience offers valuable insights into effective advocacy, engaging with legislative bodies, and the power of personal stories in creating change. Jonathan encourages building supportive networks and engaging in community efforts to improve educational, healthcare, and legal supports for individuals with disabilities.

Jonathan believes, “As Human Beings, our differences enrich each other. Our voices together can be powerful and significant. We should all strive to create a world where everyone’s voice is heard, and every life is valued.”

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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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