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Disability Resources
The Burlington Public Library is completely wheelchair accessible, with elevator access to both floors, automatic doors at the entrance and exit of the building and reserved handicapped parking. If you are unable to come into the library due to a disability or other condition, we also offer a Home Delivery service to bring books and other library materials to you. Please talk to a librarian for more information.
24/7 Immediate Response Contact Numbers
Disability & Disaster Hotline
- Call/Text: 1-800-626-4959
- The Disability & Disaster Hotline provides information, referrals, guidance, technical assistance and resources to people with disabilities, families, allies, and organizations assisting disaster impacted individuals with disabilities and others seeking assistance with immediate and urgent disaster-related needs. The Disaster Hotline is always available for intake calls, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. The hotline staff is led by experts on the many issues affecting people with disabilities in disasters and strategies for meeting those immediate needs. The team will respond to your call as soon as possible, often immediately, and responds to all callers within 24 hours. The hotline staff can provide accessible and multilingual information to callers, including via videophone for Deaf callers, upon request to hotline@disasterstrategies.org.
National Mental Health Hotline
- Call 1-866-903-3787
- The Mental Health Hotline can help during a mental health crisis. A mental health crisis might involve emotional distress, disconnection from reality, an inability to function, or overwhelming feelings of anxiety or panic. Examples include situations like severe mood swings, going off psychiatric medications, substance use, or eating disorders. If there is doubt about whether the situation is safe, call 911. If the situation is ongoing but not an immediate threat, it’s time to talk to someone about getting help. More information about this service at https://mentalhealthhotline.org/.
Disabled Persons Protection Commission Hotline
- Call 1-800-426-9009
- The Disabled Persons Protection Commission (DPPC) operates a 24-hour Hotline to which citizens of the Commonwealth can report incidents of suspected abuse involving adults with disabilities by dialing 1-800-426-9009. Deaf and Hard of Hearing callers, please use Video Relay Services (VRS) or MARelay (711) to contact DPPC hotline. A written report is also required within 48 hours of the oral report. A written report of deaths must be forwarded to DPPC within 24 hours of the death. The DPPC Hotline and the Intake/Oversight Unit staff who operate it are a vital part of the DPPC’s efforts to protect adults with disabilities, who are dependent upon others, from abuse and neglect. More about this service at https://www.mass.gov/info-details/how-to-file-a-report-of-abuse-or-neglect.
Alzheimer's & Dementia Helpline
- Call 1-800-272-3900
- The Alzheimer’s Association Helpline is a free service provided by the Alzheimer's Association offering support for people living with dementia, caregivers, families and the public. Connect with a live person who can provide information, local resources, crisis assistance and emotional support. Contact the Helpline any time, any day of the year. Help is available in your preferred language through our bilingual staff or interpreter service, which accommodates more than 200 languages. All conversations are confidential. More information about the helpline and the Alzheimer's Association is available at https://www.alz.org/help-support/resources/helpline.
Burlington Disability Access Commission
- Phone: 781-270-1740
- Website: https://www.burlington.org/410/Disability-Access-Commission
- The Town of Burlington Disability Access Commission helps residents by providing access or referrals to a variety of different programs and services for individuals with disabilities. The organizations hosts bimonthly community meetings which are held at the Grandview Tavern at 55 Center Street. Agendas and past recorded meetings can be viewed online. Staff can also provide more information about the Burlington Special Education Parent Advisory Council.
MassAbility
- Phone: 617-776-2662
- Address: 245 Commercial Street, Malden, MA 02148
- Website: https://www.mass.gov/orgs/massability
- MassAbility empowers people with disabilities to live life on their own terms by providing services that break down barriers, create equal opportunities, and make life better for all. MassAbility works with the Statewide Independent Living Council, advisory panels created through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council and the Massachusetts Mental Health Planning Council. Major services provided include assistive technology, career services, help with home and community life, financial support and information on disability benefits and rights.
Northeast Arc
- Phone: 855-696 -3272
- Address: 1 Southside Road, Danvers, MA 01923
- Website: https://ne-arc.org/
- The goal of the Northeast Arc is to ensure that children and adults with disabilities are able to live, work, engage in civic life and play in the community. The organization works toward that goal by offering a wide variety of programs including Autism Services, Day Habilitation, Deaf Services, Early Intervention, Employment Services, Family Support, Personal Care Assistance, Recreation, Residential and Transition Services. Northeast Arc is overseen by a volunteer Board of Directors composed of individuals with disabilities, parents and siblings of people with disabilities, and business and community leaders.
Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services
- Phone: 617-727-5608
- Address: 1000 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02118
- Website: https://www.mass.gov/orgs/department-of-developmental-services
- The Department’s mission is to create, in partnership with others, innovative and genuine opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to participate fully in their communities and meaningfully engage as valued members. DDS works with adults to connect them with an array of employment and day program supports, community living and other residential aid, and family support. DDS works with children to provide family support and supplement educational services through specialized programs. Services are individualized and planned using a person-centered approach.
Disability Resources Directory
- www.disabilityresources.org/massachusetts.html
- Massive compilation of Massachusetts resources for employment, independent living, rehab services, transportation, childcare, support groups and more.
Massachusetts Disability Law Center
- www.dlc-ma.org
- Part of the National Disability Rights Network, provides legal assistance to people with physical, cognitive & psychiatric disabilities facing discrimination or denial of services.
- www.usa.gov/benefit-finder
- Includes an online Benefit Finder program for needs related to food assistance, utility bills, housing, social security, etc.
- www.requipmentma.org
- Provides access to free, gently used durable home medical equipment and assistive technology, as well as questionnaires and FAQs for understanding the best equipment to suit your needs.
- www.cdc.gov/disability-and-health/
- Informational guides on disability inclusion, healthy living, emergency preparedness and regularly updated research and statistics related to disability issues.
Massachusetts Inclusive Postsecondary Education
- www.mass.edu/maipse/about/about.asp
- Broad resource for students seeking higher education opportunities and their families with a list of colleges and partnership programs across the state.
The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)
- www.aapd.com
- National disability justice organization led by disabled people working towards policy changes & advocacy, with disability mentorship and internship programs.
Click on the titles to see the books in our online catalog!
Disability Pride: Dispatches from a Post-ADA World (2022)
by Ben Mattlin
Legal Planning for Special Needs in Massachusetts: A Family Guide to SSI, Guardianship and Estate Planning (2017)
by Barbara D. Jackins
The Anti-Ableist Manifesto: Smashing Stereotypes, Forging Change and Building a Disability-Inclusive World (2024)
by Tiffany Yu
A Modern Guide to Hearing Loss for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (2019)
by Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Accessible Vacations: An Insider’s Guide to 10 National Parks (2021)
by Simon J. Hayhoe
Demystifying Disability: Who to Know, What to Say and How to be an Ally (2021)
by Emily Ladau
Born Extraordinary: Empowering Children with Differences and Disabilities (2023)
by Meg Zucker
Disability Intimacy: Essays on Love, Care and Desire (2024)
by Alice Wong
Nolo's Guide to Social Security Disability: Getting & Keeping Your Benefits (2018)
by David A. Morton III
Looking for a book related to disability but not seeing it here? Contact a reference librarian at 781-270-1691 or ref@burlingtonpl.org.
Updated 7/22/2025