Marie Hennessy

Blind from birth, Marie Hennessy has over 45 years of human services experience focused on persons with disabilities, their families, and providers. She currently works for both Massachusetts Advocates Standing Strong (MASS) and the Perkins School for the Blind. She has led and managed highly successful employment programs at the Epilepsy Foundation of New England, Greater Boston Rehabilitation Services, and many other human service organizations, assisting hundreds of persons with disabilities to find competitive, integrated jobs. She has trained countless self-advocates on disability rights and abuse prevention, in addition to having trained professionals in a variety of settings on the education of persons with disabilities, and she has coordinated consumer outreach and follow-up services with Jewish Vocational Services, UMass Medical School, and others. A strong self-advocate, she currently co-chairs the MASS Supported Decision-Making Task Force as well as the Public Policy and Advocacy Committee of the Epilepsy Foundation of New England. She has received awards from the National Epilepsy Foundation and Perkins School for the Blind, where she also formerly served as Alumni Association President. An active outdoorswoman, she has served as Board President of the New England Regional Ski For Light and Board Member of the Adaptive Sports Partners of the North Country. She holds a Master’s from Suffolk University and a Bachelor’s from Assumption College. In her photo, she is pictured with her beloved guide dog Ragu, who was trained by Guide Dogs for the Blind in San Rafael, California.