As presented in May 2020 to the AFC Summit, hosted by Nonotuck Resource Associates in Massachusetts, USA; and to Massachusetts Families Organizing for Change, June 2020

1. THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING THIS WORKSHOP
NICKY’S LAW: THE JOURNEY
BEFORE WE BEGIN, A MESSAGE FROM CHERYL RYAN CHAN, NICKY’S MOM:
I only pulled this presentation together this morning. I have been putting it off since I was asked to talk
about this topic. While it’s not unusual for me to procrastinate, this was not the usual issue of “poor
time management.”
I will spend the next hour talking about the mechanics of creating a bill, about what Nicky’s Law is
going to do. I will describe the process and describe the steps I took.
What I cannot do in an hour, or even in a lifetime, is put into words the grief and pain that my family
and I still carry over the abuse that Nicky endured, that led to this law. It is constant, it is
consuming. It takes every ounce of strength to suppress the urge to fall apart, scream, hurt myself,
lash out and imagine my hands around the neck of the man who beat my son on multiple occasions. I
can not describe the dreams I’ve had over the past 6 years, where I woke up sobbing. I can’t describe
any of that, because it’s indescribable. And unproductive.
This story needs to be productive. It needs to have a purpose. It needs to teach, remind and empower
others. So that is why I am willing to share this journey and what I’ve learned. It’s the story of the BILL
ABOUT SOULS.

2. MAKING THE CHOICE TO REDACT
This story is about triumph, not about pointing fingers, blaming, or
allowing the abusers, their witnesses, or the agency responsible to
have a voice.
We chose to keep all of them anonymous, so the focus would be on
what needs to change and how.
This story is also not just about Nicky. It is about thousands of
others like Nicky who are abused every day across the country.
The victims are the ones who deserve to have a voice in this story.

3. THE DPPC REPORTS
WE RECEIVED IN THE
MAIL:
THE ONE WE KNEW
WAS COMING

4. THE DPPC REPORTS
WE RECEIVED IN THE
MAIL:
THE ONE WE KNEW
WAS COMING
ALV = Alleged Victim
ALAB = Alleged Abuser

5. THE DPPC REPORTS
WE RECEIVED IN THE
MAIL:
THE ONE WE KNEW
WAS COMING
ALV = Alleged Victim
ALAB = Alleged Abuser

6. THE DPPC REPORTS
WE RECEIVED IN THE
MAIL:
THE ONE WE KNEW
WAS COMING
ALV = Alleged Victim
ALAB = Alleged Abuser

7. THE DPPC REPORTS
WE RECEIVED IN THE
MAIL:
THE ONE WE DIDN’T
EXPECT
ALV = Alleged Victim
ALAB = Alleged Abuser

8. THE DPPC REPORTS
WE RECEIVED IN THE
MAIL:
THE ONE WE DIDN’T
EXPECT
ALV = Alleged Victim
ALAB = Alleged Abuser

9. THE DPPC REPORTS
WE RECEIVED IN THE
MAIL:
THE ONE WE DIDN’T
EXPECT
ALV = Alleged Victim
ALAB = Alleged Abuser

10. ABOUT THE DPPC

11. ABOUT THE DPPC

12. ABOUT THE DPPC

13. EDUCATE YOURSELF ABOUT THE DPPC
WHAT TO EXPECT WHAT NOT TO EXPECT
A report of findings, UNLESS you are the
guardian (of yourself or the victim) AND the
finding was substantiated, opening an
investigation by the DPPC.
You may request a copy of a report in writing:
https://www.mass.gov/doc/access-to-
records/download
Criminal charges by the DPPC; this is not their
role.
You have the right to call and add
information to a report that has been
made.
Investigations typically take months to
conclude.
If DPPC has found criminal activity, they
will refer it to the District Attorney’s
office and you can find out about how to
be involved in any criminal proceeding
(provide testimony, etc).

14. MY FIRST ACTION: A LETTER TO LEGISLATORS

16. ELEMENTS OF THAT FIRST LETTER
• SENT TO THE LEGISLATORS OF THE TOWNS WHERE WE LIVE (AUBURN), WHERE NICKY
LIVES (OXFORD), AND WHERE THE DAY PROGRAM RESPONSIBLE IS LOCATED
(MILLBURY).
• ALLOWED THE WORDS OF OTHERS, THE PROFESSIONALS, TO SPEAK FOR
THEMSELVES; RATHER THAN INSERTING MY OWN EMOTION.
• QUOTED PARTS OF THE DPPC REPORT DESCRIBING THE ABUSES.
• DESCRIBED THE CONVERSATION I HAD WITH THE DPPC INVESTIGATOR, AND THEIR
RESPONSE TO MY INQUIRY.
• PROPOSED A REASONABLE SOLUTION, RATHER THAN SAYING “PLEASE DO
SOMETHING.”
• BACKED UP MY PROPOSAL WITH PRECEDENCE, AND PROVIDED LINKS.
• ASKED FOR THEIR ACTION, OFFERED TO HELP.

17. LESSON 1:
STUFF TAKES TIME. IT
SHOULDN’T, BUT IT
DOES.

18. THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS
6/27: We receive a letter and redacted copy of the reports from DDS Office Of Investigations - our first communication about
these incidences. We call the investigator at DPPC who has been assigned to the case. She explains the complaint
process. She tells us that a criminal complaint has been filed with the WC DA's office. She tells us that the incidents of abuse
took place in Worcester and Auburn but that the report says Brookfield; that the report was sent to Brookfield but needs to be
redirected. She states that she will immediately contact the DA office offers to include me in on that email.
The DA was on vacation for 14
days.
I received a call from Terry McLaughlin on July 24, after I reached out to report these unacceptable delays to Senator
Mike Moore's office. Terry told me that I would be contacted by the Auburn and Worcester detectives "shortly." I
received a call from Auburn within days.
On August 8th we shared this communication with the Auburn PD…
On August 26, we received a call from Worcester PD saying that the incident had actually taken place
in Millbury - they realized this once the witness stated the location - and that the reports would have
to be sent to Millbury. We sent the following email to Sandra and Courtney and received no reply…
Beginning the week of September 8, I began calling the Millbury PD to see if they had received the
report. They had not received it as of September 17th but on September 19th I received a call from Detective
Brothers in Millbury. She was returning my call and at that time had a message about my son but no
reports.
She volunteered to reach out to Worcester directly to request the reports instead of waiting for the DA's
office.
I scanned the original reports from DDS and emailed them to her myself.
Today, September 29th, I found out that the perpetrator is being arraigned
tomorrow, September 30th; 105 days after the first incident was reported.

19. 3 MONTHS AFTER THE REPORTS ARRIVED
”EXTRAORDINARY PATIENCE…”

20. HUH. LOOK AT THAT.

21. LESSON 2:
USING THE MEDIA
• THINK VERY CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU CONTACT THE MEDIA.
• THE STORY SHOULD BE MORE THAN THE TRAGEDY, OTHERWISE IT BECOMES JUST
ANOTHER SAD STORY. THERE SHOULD BE SOMETHING VALUABLE TO THE REPORTER
– THAT THEY CAN INVESTIGATE.
• BE PREPARED TO MAKE THE CONTACT YOU WARN ABOUT IF YOU ARE NOT
SATISFIED.
• WE RECEIVED A SWIFT REPLY, SO WE DID NOT CONTACT THE MEDIA. THE THREAT
WAS ENOUGH.
• YOU WILL MAKE AN ENEMY OUT OF ANYONE YOU NAME OR CALL OUT AS BEING
PART OF THE PROBLEM. THE MEDIA WILL GO TO THEM FOR A RESPONSE. YOU
WILL BURN THAT BRIDGE – THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH YOU MAY NEED THEM IN
THE FUTURE.

22. WHEN YOU BECOME THE FACE
• BE PREPARED TO BE CALLED FREQUENTLY BY THE PRESS
• PRACTICE A 20-30 SECOND STATEMENT UNTIL YOU CAN SAY
IT FIRMLY AND AUTHORITATIVELY
• DON’T BE AFRAID TO SHOW EMOTION, BUT MAINTAIN
CONTROL
• STAND YOUR GROUND REGARDING PERSONAL INFORMATION
OR DECISIONS (LIKE NOT NAMING ABUSERS OR PROGRAMS, IN
OUR CASE)
• BE PREPARED TO BE INVITED BY ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS
TO SPEAK
• BE PREPARED TO PARTICIPATE IN LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY
• ALLOW THE EXPERTS TO GUIDE YOU

23. PARTNERING WITH SENATOR MOORE, DANA’S
FAMILY AND THE ARC OF MASSACHUSETTS
Senator Mike Moore (D), responded to my first letter
and brought in the Arc of Massachusetts as a partner in
drafting the bill and a leader in the lobbying and
legislative advocacy to get the bill passed.
This partnership was the KEY to passage of Nicky’s
Law. The Arc has the access to legislators, recognition
as a voice of the disability community, and experience
in working at the State House that are critical to
success.
Dana’s family were working with another legislator,
Senator Davis, on a similar bill to Nicky’s Law. We
combined our efforts shortly after learning about
Dana’s family, and became a force for change.

24. RAISING UP THE VOICES OF THE COMMUNITY

25. LESSON 3: YOU’RE ONLY AS STRONG AS THE
COMMUNITY YOU BELONG TO
• AS SOON AS WE PUT OUR FACES OUT IN THE PUBLIC, WE RECEIVED HUNDREDS OF EMAILS
OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS, FROM FAMILIES WHOSE LOVED ONES HAD ALSO BEEN
TRAUMATIZED BY ABUSE.
• PEOPLE TURNED TO US TO BE THE VOICE FOR THEM; A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY
• WE COLLABORATED WITH THE ARC, AFAM, LEGISLATORS; PRESSED THE MESSAGES AND DIALOGUES
THEY WERE SHARING (NOT CREATING OUR OWN THAT MIGHT DISAGREE OR SEEM LIKE WE WEREN’T
ON THE SAME PAGE)
• FACEBOOK BECAME THE LEADING TOOL WE USED, TO DISSEMINATE CALLS TO ACTION AND
PROVIDE UPDATES
• WE ALSO USED FACEBOOK TO GIVE PRAISE AND GRATITUDE TO THE COMMUNITY, ACKNOWLEDGING
INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR STORIES AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE (WITH PERMISSIONS, ALWAYS)
• IGNORING NEGATIVITY WAS ALWAYS THE STRATEGY; RISE ABOVE!

26. A DAY OF TRIUMPH

27. DDS PROVIDES SUPPORT TO OVER 40,000 INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND
DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES IN A VARIETY OF RESIDENTIAL SETTINGS (RANGING
FROM STATE OPERATED FACILITIES AND GROUP HOMES), COMMUNITY-BASED DAY
PROGRAMS, AND EMPLOYMENT SETTINGS, AMONG OTHERS.
BECAUSE OF NICKY’S LAW
EFFECTIVE JANUARY 31, 2021, ANY INDIVIDUAL LISTED ON THE REGISTRY
CANNOT BE HIRED OR WORK FOR DDS OR ANY OF ITS LICENSED OR FUNDED
PROVIDERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.