August 2021 Advocacy Update

Access Complaint Form

Have you encountered barriers when trying to visit local stores or restaurants?

It's super easy to file a complaint with the state Architectural Access Board (AAB), and you don't need a lawyer!

Visit the AAB website at here for more info. For technical assistance on filing a complaint, send an email to Michael Muehe, Access Analyst for the Boston Center for Independent Living at mmuehe@bostoncil.org.

Transportation

FORECAST: FREE WHEELING IN BOSTON

On July 14, Boston announced the settlement of a class action lawsuit that will install and upgrade thousands of City curb ramps per year.

Boston has over 23,000 curb ramps, fewer than half of which are currently in compliance with federal disability access requirements, and many sidewalk corners are missing curb ramps altogether. Under the settlement, the City of Boston will construct and/or upgrade approximately 1,600 curb ramps per year until every corner at a pedestrian crossing has an ADA-compliant curb ramp. Work has begun, and Boston hired its first ADA coordinator who is focused on street capital improvements.

Who do we have to thank? The named plaintiff is wheelchair user Michael Muehe, who worked wonders for Cambridge streetscape accessibility during his years in residence there before moving to Boston, and who lends this Chapter his expertise via our Advisory Committee. The Disability Law Center and others provided the legal horsepower. But we also need to thank EVERYBODY who took the time to report accessibility problems to the Boston Disabilities Commission. The squeaky wheel gets the grease!

What can YOU do? Show this press release to your community’s Department of Public Works, to your Commission on Disability, and/or to your Mayor or Council. Find out who to notify of any sidewalk, roadway, crosswalk, signal, transit stop, and other streetscape accessibility problems you encounter where you live. Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper about what accessibility improvements like this mean to you—your fellow residents who also use wheels (think: strollers, luggage, carts…) will realize that accessible streetscapes should be a priority for all!

For hints and help, contact Abby Swaine, Chapter Advocacy Rep, at abby.swaine@gmail.com

CATCH AN UBER OR LYFT COURTESY OF THE MBTA

Some of you may have tried the MBTA’s “Provider Options” aka “On-Demand” Pilot, which a couple of years ago began offering those qualified for traditional paratransit trips on The RIDE the alternative of booking a wheelchair-accessible van ride with a ridesharing company. With that experience under their (seat) belts, the MBTA has launched The RIDE Flex to make booking a same-day ride more convenient: you can book discounted rides directly with Uber or Lyft, or through TRAC, the booking system for The RIDE. The MBTA is also re-negotiating contracts with Uber and Lyft to guarantee more accessible vehicles are available when requested, and other improvements.

The Chapter participates in MBTA Riders’ Transportation Access Group (R-TAG) quarterly meetings, and we have a strong sense that the MBTA’s Chief of Paratransit and colleagues are sincerely committed to developing and refining flexible and reliable mobility options for wheelchair users. Please give them feedback via the Contact section of The RIDE Flex website. And consider participating in R-TAG meetings, or becoming an MBTA “secret shopper.” The squeaky wheel…you know!

Feel free to contact Abby Swaine, Chapter Advocacy Rep, at abby.swaine@gmail.com to share experiences and ideas!

Take Action To Improve Wheelchair Repair System in MA

All of us who rely on wheelchairs to live full lives, even just to get out of bed and roll around our homes, know that the system for maintaining wheelchairs is broken. You can help change that. Currently there is legislation being considered in Massachusetts that would make a big difference. Here are some highlights from the bill-

Requires manufacturers to provide replacement wheelchairs or reimbursement to consumers while their broken wheelchairs are being repaired
Requires providers to maintain stock of replacement wheelchairs and wheelchair parts, so that they can repair chairs quickly.
Incentivizes providers to complete repairs on a quicker timeline
Increase warranty coverage for a minimum of two years -- or three years if providers violate this law
Protects wheelchair users’ right to reasonable repair

Several of us gave oral testimony at a hearing last week. The legislators were outraged to hear our stories and they encouraged everyone to send in written testimony.

We know that politics can be a turnoff. You also know how horrible it is to wait for repair. And we’ve made it easier for you to submit written testimony.

This is a detailed template for writing and submitting your testimony-

Wheelchair Warranty/Repair Legislation Written Testimony

Instructions for Submitting Written Testimony:

1. Write your testimony. See below for a template you can fill in. Please fill out the bracketed sections.

2. Send your testimony to the Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure

a. Use this as your subject line: Testimony in Support of H.446/S.184

b. You can put your testimony in an attached .doc or .pdf document, or in the body of the email.

c. Email your testimony to jointcmte-consumerprotection@malegislature.onmicrosoft.com.

d. cc your state representatives on the email. Find your state house representatives and their emails by going to https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator.

e. cc Harry Weissman, Community Organizer at Disability Policy Consortium at hweissman@dpcma.org

3. If you have any questions about what to write in your testimony, or what the bill would do for wheelchair users you can refer to the attached factsheet, or feel free to call community organizer Harry Weissman at 617 977 4084 or email him at hweissman@dpcma.org.

Examples of Stories Wheelchair Users Included in their Testimony:

1. “One time my wheelchair stopped working while I was in a reclined position. This meant that I was unable to be transferred from the wheelchair to my bed. I called my wheelchair provider and was told that the earliest they could get to me would be 2 weeks.”

2. “I went through all of winter with tires that had no traction. Every day, on my way to work, I was sliding everywhere on the sidewalk, on the ice and in the snow. It was really dangerous. Multiple times, I’ve almost slid off the sidewalk and into the street. I called, and did everything I was supposed to do. Tires should be readily available. Instead, it took more than two months! We need vendors to stockpile common parts! This bill would fix that.”

3. “I want you to imagine yourself driving in the middle lane of Route 93 and your car suddenly stops, and you can’t unbuckle your seatbelt. You call a tow company and they say nothing can be done for 2 weeks, and that they will send somebody out then. So, there you are in your car unable to get out of it, and unable to move until a repair person arrives. This is the situation that people with wheelchairs face when our wheelchairs break down and need to be repaired.”

Testimony template

Action Alert from United Spinal Nation Advocacy

It's time we closed the digital divide for the disability community.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought about many societal changes. Most of all, it made it necessary that major parts of our daily lives — work, school, and health care among them — become virtual experiences that take place via the Internet. However, for those individuals who lack access to reliable broadband Internet service, this made the already-existing digital divide that much wider… continue reading by pressing the Take Action button!

Take Action

Help Pass Accessible Housing and Workplaces Legislation

Please join the GBC’s ongoing advocacy to pass legislation to address the need for safe, accessible housing in our communities for older adults and people with disabilities as well as legislation to remove barriers to employment for people with disabilities.

One of the best ways to help is to email and call your state senator and representative. You can get the contact information by putting your address into Find My Legislator.

Ask your Senator to cosponsor and support S.1629 ACCESSIBLE MA ACT that deals with housing and workplace accessibility.

Ask your Representative to cosponsor and support H.2420 ADAPTABLE HOUSING MA that focuses on housing. And H.2419 ACCESSIBLE WORKPLACES MA that focuses on making workplaces accessible.

More details about each piece of legislation can be found on these fact sheets:

ACCESSIBLE MA ACT (Senate) fact sheet

ADAPTABLE HOUSING MA (House) fact sheet

ACCESSIBLE WORKPLACES MA (House) fact sheet

Please contact Chris Hoeh if you have questions, or want to be more involved in this effort.

Accessible MA legislator email template

Hello [Representative/Chairperson/President] [NAME], I hope you’re doing well. I {OPTIONAL am a member of [ORGANIZATION] and we } would like you to cosponsor H.2420 ADAPTABLE HOUSING MA which will expand the availability of housing that can efficiently be adapted to allow older adults and people with disabilities to live safely in the communities of their choice; and H.2419 ACCESSIBLE WORKPLACES MA which would remove barriers to employment for people with disabilities, finally bringing the state into compliance with the ADA. Both of these pieces of legislation were filed by Rep. Moran and Rep. Barber. I’ve attached fact sheets that provide more information about each bill. {OPTIONAL: This issue is important to me because….}

Please contact me with any questions and I look forward to hearing that you will be adding your name as a cosponsor.

Sincerely,

(Your Name)

Hello [Senator/Chairperson/President] [NAME], I hope you’re doing well. I {OPTIONAL am a member of [ORGANIZATION] and we } would like you to cosponsor S.1629 ACCESSIBLE MA, filed by Sen. Moore, which would remove barriers to employment for people with disabilities, finally bringing the state into compliance with the ADA, and expand the availability of housing that can efficiently be adapted to allow older adults and people with disabilities to live safely in the communities of their choice. I’ve attached fact sheets for both pieces of legislation. {OPTIONAL: This issue is important to me because….}