The programs listed below give free legal information, advice and/or representation to low-income people who live in Massachusetts. The list includes , court based programs, law school clinics, bar association programs and other nonprofits.
>>Click HERE to link to Mass Legal Resource Finder for Additional Info>>
>>Click HERE to link to Northeast Legal Aid for Additional Info>>
>>Click HERE to link to Mass Legal Resource Finder "Guide Me if I Have a Housing Problem>>
SHINE provides FREE unbiased health insurance counseling information and assistance to Massachusetts residents with Medicare, their caregivers and those approaching Medicare eligibility. Statewide, there are more than 600 certified volunteer counselors trained to assist residents with Medicare.
To find a local counselor in a city or town near you click here. SHINE is administered by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elders Affairs under a grant from the Administration for Community Living. The SHINE Program partners with Council on Aging, Elder and Disability Service providers and other public and private community-based organizations
>>Click HERE to link to SHINEMA.ORG for Additional Info>>
PEABODY, MA — A new program designed to alert Peabody police officers that those they may interact with during the course of a traffic stop or other police business may be on the autism scale and require special considerations is now accepting registrations.
Under the Autism Awareness Program, families and students can register with the police department with a name, vehicle description, and photo to then receive a special seatbelt cover that will signal to officers that the person is on the autism scale, or has another related disability, and may not be receptive to certain instructions or actions perceived to be aggressive.
The voluntary program will allow dispatchers to relay that information to officers in the case of a traffic stop or other similar interaction and could include likes/dislikes, communication techniques, and other information tailored to each individual to assist in those interactions with law enforcement.
"It's really for the safety of everybody," Peabody School Committee member John Olimpio said at Tuesday's School Committee meeting. "In this day and age, nothing is routine. If you get pulled over for a traffic stop with somebody who is on the spectrum of autism, or has another disability, it just gives the police a little bit more information on who they are dealing with."
Those with someone who may be traveling with them who qualifies can fill out the registration form here. The form includes uploading a current photograph of the person using the seatbelt cover and submitting the requested documents.
Once received, a member of the Peabody Police Department will contact the first emergency contact listed to verify receipt of the registration. Unverified contacts will not have the information entered.
Upon verification, the information will be kept on file with Peabody police. Police encourage updated information on a periodic basis, including recent photos, address changes or emergency contact information changes.
"It's a wonderful program," said Olimpio, who worked with Police Chief Thomas Griffin and Lt. David Bonfanti for multiple years to bring the program online. "The seatbelt covers really could prevent a lot of misinformation or, under a worst-case scenario, (a threat to) somebody's safety."
(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)
