“Breakfast of Champions” honors outgoing legislators

BOSTON (WWLP) – The Association of Developmental Disabilities Providers held a Breakfast of Champions on Wednesday to honor outgoing legislators who have made significant contributions to the disability community.

This organization works to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as those with traumatic brain injuries.

Their ceremony focused on lawmakers who introduced and sponsored ground-breaking disability legislation. One honoree was Representative Smitty Pignatelli of the Berkshires.

While he could not attend in person, his contributions were recognized alongside representatives and senators from across the Commonwealth. "He knew his community. I can tell you he knew about the disability community, for starters. He and his family have a long history of serving and supporting individuals with disabilities," said the president of the Berkshire ARC, Maryann Hyatt.

The president of the hosting organization said that while they are grateful for the contributions of these lawmakers, she is looking ahead to what they can accomplish in the next session–including continuing to ensure human services workers are fairly compensated. "We're really hoping that we can continue the 480 million dollar investment that the legislature made this year for those rates, to be able to start people at 20 dollars an hour," said the Association of Developmental Disabilities Providers CEO and president, Ellen Attaliades.

She also noted that her organization is looking to foster the next generation of legislative champions.

The new session begins in January, and lawmakers will introduce new bills and priorities for the next two years.

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