Protecting the power and independence of the Architectural Access Board (AAB)

GBC Advocacy Representative, Chris Hoeh, joined with a coalition of disability rights organizations to plan and participate in a protest outside governor Baker's office on Friday,  October 25th. The group was acting with urgency since the Baker administration had taken steps that threatened to permanently strip the AAB of its independence which would undercut its "integrity and efficacy to uphold the civil rights of people with disabilities, and with it the ability of our community to work, go to school, find housing and carry out our lives." The following article by Joan Vennochi appeared in the Boston Globe on the afternoon of Monday, October 28, is an excellent description of the protest including our demands and the intransigence of the governor Baker's staff. Chris Hoeh, with his United Spinal affiliation, is quoted at the end of the article https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2019/10/29/governor-office-gives-runaround-people-who-can-run/KYCmMQj6RvQ2Sp0zyPF2NO/story.html

The protest and Globe coverage appeared to have motivated the administration to finally take the concerns of our community seriously. This resulted in the a public meeting with the Secretary of Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development on Friday, November 1. The meeting was attended by over 40 people associated with disability rights organizations (including Pam Daly, Ellen Leigh, and Chris Hoeh from the GBC)  and members of the administration. The Secretary seemed to be open to learning of our concerns. The advocates reiterated the demands to reinstate the independence of the AAB, urgently in regards to the board's ability to hire and supervise a new director, and the need for a direct meeting with the governor regarding the administration's approach to the needs for accessibility of all people in Massachusetts. The Secretary did not make any public commitments on the demands but appeared open to addressing them. The advocacy groups committed to continuing an open dialogue while also preparing to take further action if the governor does not meet the demands.

In Solidarity,

Chris Hoeh