Add Your Voice, Inform State Planning on Digital Equity  

The Ware Council on Aging knows that people in our communities have different experiences when trying to use the internet or computers. We are committed to helping promote “digital equity” - the ability of all residents to have access to the internet and to feel capable and confident using it. 

As part of the statewide Internet for All initiative, the Massachusetts Broadband Institute created a survey to collect information about how households throughout the state  access and use of the internet. Together with our partner, the Western Mass. Alliance for Digital Equity, we are reaching out to residents like you to make sure that your perspectives and experiences are included in state plan. With significant federal funding coming soon, we want to make sure that money is available to meet the needs identified by people in our region.

Please take the time to do this survey – it will take about 7 minutes. The survey is anonymous and is available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Vietnamese, Russian, Arabic, and Khmer. Respondents can be anonymous. If you don’t know the answers to some questions, don’t worry. Whatever information you can share is helpful.

You can take this household survey here.

Feel free to share this with your neighbors, friends, and colleagues. If you need to print out a copy, you can find them here.

Looking for a fulfilling volunteer opportunity?
Can you spare 2 hours a month to represent older adults in your community?

WestMass ElderCare, an Area Agency on Aging designated by the federal government through the Older Americans Act, is responsible for planning and delivering services to older adults and caregivers in Belchertown, Chicopee, Granby, Holyoke, Ludlow, South Hadley, and Ware.  WMEC is currently seeking volunteers from these communities who are interested in helping to advocate for their needs by serving on its Citizens Advisory Council.  No special qualifications are needed but some experience and familiarity with needs of older adults and family caregivers is preferred.

Monthly Advisory Council Meetings are held on a rotating basis at local Senior Centers and Libraries in the communities listed above.  We usually meet on the second Tuesday of each month from 10-11 a.m. (except for July and August when there are no meetings).

If you would like to represent your town on WMEC’s Citizen’s Advisory Council, please contact Sarah Aasheim, Director of Community Programs.  She can be reached at 413-538-9021 X536 or saasheim@wmeldercare.org.

THANK YOU!