Malden Asian Disability Advocacy Coalition Parent Association
明德家長會 (Vietnamese name pending)
Photo: friends at the 4th Annual Picnic 2007
MADAC Parent Association (2004) is an informal group, and an addition to the Malden Asian Disability Advocacy Coalition project that Great Wall Center started in 2002 with support from the Massachusetts Developmental Disability Council and the Institute for Community Inclusion affiliated with University of Massachusetts in Boston.
It has served a number of Chinese and Vietnamese families from the Metro North Boston area by providing a forum for networking, social and recreational activities and sharing of their common experience in caring for children with a developmental disability or special need.
The group also discussed their children's educational and developmental issues in the context of American society and how they feel as a parent from Asian descents. It tries to enhance communication and linkage with local school district, service organizations and government entities; to enhance family support.
Members actively involved in local activities, such as the annual Lunar New Year Celebration of MAPAC, visited their legistrators in the state house, organize annual picnic, attended annual conferences organized by MRC and DMR. Parents also organized IEP training workshops and network with other Asian parents from around the region in the Greater Boston area. In the several years, Parent Association is also linked and working with fellows from Leadership Education of Neuro-developmental Disability program sponsored by ICI and Boston Children's Hospital.
MADAC Parent Association welcomes the participation of any Asian families, volunteers, interns or like minded organizations in the area that share the same challenges; and dreams to help expand inclusion for all residents including people with disability or special healthcare needs. Most parents speak English as a second language and an Asian dialect. The Parent Association meets at the third Wednesday 6PM every month at 110 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA 02148. The meeting is informal. Members share food, stories and information from the field that serves people with a disability. New members or visitors are welcome. Please contact Lily Chin for more information and update meeting schedules and issues.
Parent Association
貴和中心
Great Wall Center, Inc.
110 Pleasant Street
Malden, MA 02148-3849
Phone: 781-388-6931
Fax: 781-388-6984