January 5, 2026

Grant backs special education access

BY Worcester Guardian staffThe Worcester Guardian

WORCESTER—A Worcester-based legal aid program that helps families navigate the often complicated special education system is receiving a $25,000 boost from The Hanover Insurance Group Foundation.

Community Legal Aid announced this week that the funding is going to support its Worcester County Education Access Project, which assists families seeking education supports and services their children are legally entitled to under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

According to the nonprofit, the project focuses on helping families secure special education services that can be critical to keeping students with disabilities engaged and succeeding in school. Without those services, Community Legal Aid said, students may struggle academically or face barriers to remaining in the classroom.

The funding comes from The Hanover Insurance Group Foundation, the philanthropic arm of The Hanover Insurance Group, which is headquartered in Worcester.

“At The Hanover, we believe every child deserves access to the educational resources and support they need to thrive,” Dennis Kerrigan, the company’s chief legal officer and a member of the foundation’s board of directors, said in the announcement. “We’re proud to support Community Legal Aid’s Worcester County Education Access Project, which provides critical advocacy for families navigating the special education system.”

Community Legal Aid serves low-income and elderly residents across five counties — Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire and Worcester — and maintains offices in Worcester, Fitchburg, Springfield, Northampton and Pittsfield. In addition to education-related advocacy, the organization provides free civil legal services in areas including housing stability, family preservation, public benefits access and assistance for victims of crime.

The organization said it is also supported by a range of public and private funders, including the Schwartz Foundation, the Barr Foundation, the United Way of Central Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation.

Residents seeking assistance can apply through Community Legal Aid’s website.

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