Multicultural Resources

A News-brief about the Massachusetts Network of Information Providers for People with Disabilities

August 13, 2009

MNIP New's "Multicultural Resources" is the seventh weekly issue of resources by topic shared by fellow information & referral specialists at the MNIP regional meetings.

The full report of the MNIP 2009 regional meetings can be found at www.tinyurl.com/MNIP Report. The report includes the full listing of helpful resources, by category, identified by members attending the meetings.

Literacy & ESOL Resources has been recently added to our Multicultural Resources page at Disabilityinfo.org . This suggestion to add literacy and ESOL resources was made by a MRC area representative at the MNIP central meeting.

MNIP Agencies That Serve Multicultural Communities page lists and provides descriptions of twenty two of our MNIP agencies that serve Asian-, Haitian-, Jewish-, Latino-, Portuguese-, Russian- and multicultural communities.

Latino Recreation & Outreach for Persons with Brain Injury or Traumatic Brain Injury
Latin American Health Institute (LHI) has a new program for Latinos with brain injury. Proyecto Conexion is a culturally sensitive programs for Latinos, ages 18+, who are survivors of a brain injury (BI) or traumatic brain injury (TBI). The goal of the program is to help participants gain confidence, motivation and socialization skills through participation in recreation activities. All staff members are bilingual (English/Spanish). Proyecto Conexion also conducts outreach and education to the Latino community.
(617) 350-6800 x165 (Rosa Robledo, Program Coordinator)

Immigration - Legal Services
Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA)MIRA Coalition does not provide direct legal services for immigrant families, but works with many organizations that do. Click on the link below of legal service providers and citizenship service providers to assist with immigration needs.
(617) 350-5480

List of Legal Service Providers for Immigrants

Local Churches
Immigrants are now going through local churches to receive services including legal services.

Refugee / Resettlement Program
Massachusetts Refugee Resettlement Program (MRRP) MRRP is a program to help newly arrived refugees become self-sufficient. The program's main goal is to help refugees get jobs and learn English, so they can support themselves as soon as possible. The Massachusetts Office of Refugees and Immigrants (ORI) is the state agency in charge of this program.

To be eligible for the Massachusetts Refugee Resettlement Program, you must be a refugee, asylee, Amerasian, or Cuban / Haitian entrant; a resident of Massachusetts; and you must meet the time-limit requirements. There are also income limits for Refugee Cash and Medical Assistance.

To apply for the MRRP, contact the local Immigrant Service Agencies (Alphabetical) or Immigrant Service Agencies by Region near you or call the Massachusetts Office for Refugees and Immigrants (MORI) at 617-727-7888.
Asylees may call the Asylee Information Hotline at 1-800-354-0365.

There are also Community Organizations that provide refugee services.

Of interest to a member of MNIP member are Somali resources.
Somali Development Center

sdcworcester@yahoo.com

Special Education Services for Spanish speaking parents
Boston Center for Independent Living (BCIL) can help Spanish and Portuguese speaking parents with children's services, especially SPED plans.

Special Education Interpreter Services page provides translated information in various languages on "Parent's Guide to Special Education" and IEP forms.

Translation/Interpretation Resources
MCS Translation Services / Multicultural Community Service of Pioneer Valley

208 High Street Holyoke
(413) 534-3299 x 109
Contact Person: Carlos Oliva, carlosoliva@MCSnet.org
Provides interpreter and translation services in Springfield and Holyoke area. DDS Funded. Fee Involved. Most popular translation language requests are Chinese, Spanish, Khmer, Russian, Vietnamese, and Portuguese.

Translation Center, University of Massachusetts Amherst
The Translation Center offers professional translation and interpretation services in over 80 languages. Translators are fluent in the target languages, and have an advanced degree in the subject matter, be it business, medical, legal, scientific, or technological. The Center provides a full range of services, including translation and interpretation services, Internet translation, software localization, translation of digital sound files translation of marketing materials, and multi-lingual word processing and design.
(413) 545-2203 Toll Free (877) 77U-MASS
Email: umass.translation@umasstranslation.com

Additional Translation Resources on our Multicultural Resources page.

Diversity

Multicultural Resources