UCP of Western Massachusetts Annual Meeting – September 25, 2025

Good morning, everyone.

It is such an honor to be here today with the UCP family. When I say family, I mean it —because UCP is not just an organization, it is a community built on care, dignity, and possibility.

I want to begin by recognizing the extraordinary leadership of the board, the dedicated staff, the families, the volunteers, and most importantly, the individuals you serve — your members. And I especially want to thank Randy Kinnas for his vision and leadership. Randy, your words remind us of the scale and urgency of this work: one in four households in Berkshire County and the Pioneer Valley include someone with a disability. That’s not a small number — it’s our neighbors, our friends, our families. Your leadership keeps that reality front and center.

Thank you UCP Western Mass Board President Daniel Proskin (left) and CEO Randy Kinnas (right) for your dedication and leadership.

Today is a celebration. This breakfast brings together community members, supporters, staff, and friends to honor the people who make UCP’s mission possible: creating a life without limits for individuals with disabilities.

This year’s theme, “You Made It Happen,” could not be more fitting. Because everything we are celebrating today — every program, every success, every life changed — has been made possible by your commitment, your generosity, and your willingness to step in where others cannot.

UCP has been a trusted partner in Western Massachusetts for decades. Your mission is simple, yet powerful: to help people live a life without limits. And you do this not only by supporting individuals with disabilities across their lifespan, but also by strengthening the very fabric of our communities.

And you do it in ways that are innovative and forward-looking, such as the incredible work of UCP’s Assistive Technology Regional Center — one of only three in the entire state. This center gives individuals the tools to communicate, to learn, to work, and to live with independence. This is what it looks like when education, healthcare, and community services come together to break down barriers.

Each affiliate of UCP tailors its programs to meet the unique needs of its community, but they all share the same mission: to promote inclusion, accessibility, and opportunity. Whether it’s helping a child communicate for the first time, supporting a young adult as they transition to independent living, or advocating for policy changes that improve quality of life, UCP affiliates are on the ground making a real impact every day.

I want to share one story that speaks volumes about the heart of UCP’s work. Not long ago, a young man with cerebral palsy was facing an impossible situation. He had outgrown his childhood bed. His family, living on a fixed income, had exhausted every possible option. State agencies had done all they could. Insurance had refused to help. They were out of options.

At that point, UCP stepped in. Working with your Assistive Technology team, you found a solution. Thanks to a special $3,200 grant program, you purchased a specialized bed that not only meets this young man’s needs today, but will serve him well into the future.

Now, this may sound like a story about a piece of equipment. But what it really is — a story about dignity, comfort, and hope. What could have been a moment of despair became a moment of possibility, because UCP was there when no one else could be. That is the power of your mission.

This story also resonates with me personally. As I’ve gone through my first year as a legislator, I have seen just how many families in our Commonwealth are doing everything they can — and still come up against walls they cannot break through on their own. Whether it’s families navigating disability services, seniors struggling to access care, or rural towns fighting for resources, I’ve seen again and again that the system doesn’t always move fast enough or flexibly enough to meet people where they are.

And that’s where organizations like UCP come in. You don’t wait for the perfect policy or the next budget cycle. You act. You adapt. You respond. And in doing so, you remind me — and you remind the State House — that partnership with community organizations is not optional. It’s essential.

What I also admire is that UCP grounds this work in something deeper: rights. On your website, you lay it out clearly — every individual has the right to dignity and respect, the right to equality, the right to make choices about their own life, the right to privacy, safety, and health. These are not extras. They are fundamental human rights.

And that’s an important reminder for me in my work at the State House. Too often, disability services can be treated as just another line item in the budget. But when I look at UCP’s own “Bill of Rights,” I am reminded that this is not about programs — it is about people. It is about dignity. It is about justice. And it is about ensuring that every individual in Massachusetts has the support they need to thrive.

In my role at the State House, I see firsthand how important it is to have strong voices advocating for accessibility, inclusion, and equitable funding. That is why I am proud to support Chapter 257 of the Acts of 2008. For those who may not be as familiar, this is the state law that requires Massachusetts to set fair reimbursement rates for human service providers—so organizations like UCP can pay their staff a living wage and continue delivering the quality care and support that families depend on.

And let me say this: in my first year, I have come to believe that the workforce crisis in human services is the bottleneck that affects everything else. We cannot fix our healthcare system, expand behavioral health access, or support families with disabilities if the front-line workforce is underpaid and stretched to the breaking point. When we invest in direct-care workers, we are investing in the success of every other policy goal in the Commonwealth.

But none of this happens on its own. It also takes advocates, partners, and storytellers. Which is why my call to action today is simple: keep telling your stories. Share them with your neighbors, share them with policymakers, share them with anyone who will listen. Because stories inspire change. Stories open hearts and shift priorities. Stories are what remind us that behind every budget number and every policy debate are real people —our neighbors, our friends, our family members—who deserve the chance to live fully and without limits.

And I want to leave you with one question to think about: What would it look like if Massachusetts became the first state where every budget, every policy, and every infrastructure project started with the question: “How does this affect people with disabilities?” Not as an afterthought, but as a starting point.

If we began there, we would build a Commonwealth that works better for everyone.

As I close, I want to leave you with this thought: we do better when we do it together. That is the spirit of UCP, and it is the spirit of this community. Thank you for the countless ways you make it happen—not just today, but every day. And thank you for allowing me to be part of this journey with you.

Thank you.