Annual Meeting 2009

MAB hosted its annual meeting Wednesday, October 14 at MassHousing in Boston. The meeting celebrated MAB’s 106th year of creating opportunities for people with disabilities and recognized Brenda English for her years of service to MAB.

The presentation featured "What Now? A Panel Discussion on Best Practices for Helping Adolescents with Brain Injuries Prepare to Live Full Lives as Adults." The panelists discussed brain injuries, which are the number one cause of disability and death among adolescents. After a diagnosis is made or the crisis of an illness or injury is over, families, advocates, providers, and schools must answer the question “What Now?” as they put services and education plans in place for the student. Since its founding in 1993, MAB’s Ivy Street School has been one of the few schools in the world to have specialized expertise in adolescent brain injury. Ivy Street School Director Ron Allen and the panel of distinguished colleagues had an insightful discussion of best practices in education, behavior management and rehabilitation.

MAB presented Brenda English with a gift of a painting by artist and MAB client Michelle Jasmin, to honor Brenda's dedication and work for MAB for over a decade. The program also included award recognitions for honorees Ken Cunningham and Lou Jones. Ken Cunningham is a real estate partner who has worked with MAB to transform its residences and expand community-based opportunities for adults with disabilities and Lou Jones is a photographer who has helped MAB tell its story by illuminating the lives of our clients and volunteers; both were honored for their partnerships with MAB. The meeting concluded with a special thanks to retiring MAB Board President Larry Guihan, who welcomed Craig Pfannenstiehl as the new President of MAB's Board.