Beaverbrook STEP, Inc.

08/07/2026

What to do when you are feeling down after losing a loved one … ask your CAB (Community Advocates Board) friends to dance (and eat cookies) with you at the weekly concert. What do you do to cope with sad news? Or to cheer up on a bad day? Share your favorite coping strategy in the comments 💛

07/26/2026

Amplifying the anniversary of the ADA (American’s with Disabilities Act) being signed into law 36 years ago. Much more work and advocacy is needed, but we appreciate this important progress. What might you do in honor of this anniversary to keep moving forward? 💙🤍❤️

in 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into law. The ADA is a landmark civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on physical and mental disabilities. It also requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations and establishes accessibility requirements for public spaces.

The law is divided into five titles:
• Title I prohibits disability discrimination in employment for employers with 15 or more employees.
• Title II guarantees accessible state and local government programs, public transportation, and public housing.
• Title III ensures equal access to the goods, services, facilities, and accommodations of places of public accommodation.
• Title IV requires telecommunications companies to provide functionally equivalent services for individuals with disabilities.
• Title V includes technical provisions and protects individuals from retaliation for exercising their rights under the ADA.

The ADA was the result of years of advocacy. In 1978, the National Council on Disability (NCD) was established and later recommended Congress pass a "comprehensive equal opportunity law." The first version of the ADA was introduced in 1988 by Senator Lowell Weicker and Representative Tony Coelho with bipartisan support before being reintroduced in the 101st Congress. On March 13, 1990, hundreds of disability rights activists gathered at the U.S. Capitol to demand the bill's passage, with more than 100 protesters arrested. On July 26, 1990, the House passed the bill and President Bush signed it into law.

Since 1990, the ADA has continued to evolve. The ADA Amendments Act of 2008 broadened protections after several Supreme Court decisions narrowed the law's scope, and ongoing advocacy has expanded accessibility standards to include digital spaces such as websites and other online services.

07/20/2026

We are still buzzing with the amazing celebratory energy of Ginny’s retirement gala last month highlighting her extraordinary leadership and unbelievable compassion. As our Board president said, “her vision, integrity, and deep commitment to advocacy, dignity, and empathy have shaped not only our programs, but the very heart of who we are.”

On June 4th, we gathered to celebrate the incredible career of Ginny Connolly with special guests, a proclamation from the Commonwealth, unique gifts to match our one-of-a-kind leader, and overflowing appreciation. This special evening honored her lasting impact on the countless lives she has touched with more than five decades of her pioneering leadership, compassion, and dedication. While she stays actively supportive in our Beaverbrook STEP family as our Executive Director Emeritus, we also celebrated new beginnings and continued exceptional leadership with Jessica Kirwan taking the role of Chief Executive Officer. Inspiration and gratitude were and are in abundance! 💖💖💖

07/18/2026

Just a friendly reminder that July is Disability Pride Month. Check out these local disability pride events:

https://www.figcitynews.com/2026/05/newton-free-libary-newton-disability-pride-celebration-july-19/

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZsThPPOtSN/

07/07/2026

We are beyond grateful to Rev. Diego and Rev. Mark at First Church of Chestnut Hill for helping support one of our individuals in saying goodbye to her mom with kindness, compassion, creativity, and empowerment! They helped transformed a sad story into a life-affirming one; and words cannot express how appreciative we are to them. 💛💐

chestnuthill_firstchurch

07/01/2026

How are you celebrating freedom and independence for America’s 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence? Rights all people deserve! Watertown and neighbors have some fun plans starting tonight with several activity options (including the return of summer concerts followed by a light show with a DJ). And then our neighboring towns are hosting celebrations all week. Stay safe and have a wonderful time! 💙🤍❤️

06/26/2026

Just when you thought it wasn’t possible to LOVE this awesome shop in Belmont run by our amazing Options individuals more and they go add a 20% discount and lots of July 4th decor to get ready to celebrate the big holiday in style! ❤️🤍💙

06/17/2026

We amplify these images to honor and celebrate Juneteenth this Friday on June 19th! 💚🖤❤️💛. We post this early so you can check out some local events and learn more about this important holiday.

The Watertown Juneteenth Committee presents the 4th Annual celebration in Watertown of JUNETEENTH! from 2:00 pm until 4:00 pm at 114 Riverside Street in Watertown. We are so excited to host another special Juneteenth for our community to continue to learn, grow, and celebrate our Black American History. Join us at 114 Riverside Street for: Great music, Juneteenth crafts, Kids book reading, Dance party, and Popsicles. Watertown Citizens are honored to co-host this event. Learn more at www.watertowncitizens.org

NEWTON JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION Celebrate Juneteenth with live performances, food trucks, and a New England Patriots skills and drills clinic at the 6th annual Newton Juneteenth celebration. Hosted by the Newton-based antiracist coalition Families Organizing for Racial Justice, attendees can shop from local vendors, meet Patriots cheerleaders, watch live African dance and poetry performances, and close out the night with a screening of “Black Panther.” Reggae Foods and Gourmet Kreyol, two food trucks serving up Caribbean cuisine, will be on location. June 19, 3-10 p.m. Hyde Community Center, 90 Lincoln St.Free, registration recommended. eventbrite.com

BROOKLINE JUNETEENTH CARNIVAL Celebrating the theme of “One Freedom, Many Flags!,” the Brookline Juneteenth Carnival is a free celebration of freedom and culture. Featuring waterslides, bouncy houses, Caribbean music, food, and more — it’s set to be one part fairground, one part block party, and a whole lot of fun. June 19, noon-4 p.m. Brookline High School, 115 Greenough St., Brookline. Free. eventbrite.com.

Waltham celebrates Juneteenth on Friday, June 19, 2026, with a free community event on the Waltham Common from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Hosted by the Waltham Boys & Girls Club, the event features live performances, Black-owned business vendors, food, and family-friendly activities. It also includes cultural entertainment, a bounce house, interactive storytime, lawn games, and local vendors.

MIT OPEN SPACE JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION Step outside and dance to live reggae music from the Roots Alley Collective with special guest Dion Knibb on Juneteenth Eve. Attendees can also look forward to ice cream, lawn games, food trucks, and more. June 18, noon-2 p.m. Kendall MIT Open Space, 292 Main St., Cambridge. Free admission. openspace.mit.edu.

MFA JUNETEENTH OPEN HOUSE Admission will be free for all Massachusetts residents at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston for a special Juneteenth edition of its Open House. Ticket holders can challenge chess masters or play on a life-size board, create clay poem jars in honor of the holiday, watch live performances of Haitian song and dance, and of course, explore the museum’s galleries. June 19. 10 a.m.-10 p.m. 465 Huntington Ave. Free, Tickets required. mfa.org

06/12/2026

Flashback to May 26th when 30 members of our C.A.B. (Community Advocates Board) attended the Boston Red Sox game celebrating Disability Pride. Check out the folks on the field and see if you can spot the individual from our Beaverbrook family (helping to kick-off the festive night) 😎 ⚾️ 🤩

06/01/2026

🌈 Amplifying local news about one of many PRIDE celebrations this month! 🏳️‍⚧️