January 2024 Updates from Our Executive Director
January 3
Happy New Year! We hope you had great holidays and that 2024 has gotten off to a great start for you. Last year was a big one for us at DPC, and we're hoping for great things in 2024, including major research projects and some absolutely critical bills that we have the chance to finally pass into law.
One of those bills is about to take a major step forward, as our Wheelchair Repair bill will be voted on by the full Senate on Thursday, and we're very hopeful that it will pass. Read below to learn more about how you can be there and help us thank our Senators for their support and start the critical work of advancing the bill through the House.
We also have a wide variety of opportunities, including new training on disability for medical professionals that is being offered through DPH, as well as a variety of important news articles (see bottom of this post for links), job opportunities, and surveys.
Finally, I unfortunately have some sad news to pass along, as one of Massachusetts' most respected and impactful disability rights leaders has passed away. Joe Tringali was for decades one of our state's most impactful disability leaders, especially in Western Mass, where he, along with Jim Kruidenier and Christo Palames, was a driving force behind the work of Stavros Center for Independent Living. He was a longtime champion of accessible housing, from advocating for AHVP vouchers to developing the Home Sweet Home program to help Western Mass residents access affordable wheelchair ramps for their homes. As recently as the last few weeks, he was fighting to pass estate recovery legislation. Joe will be enormously missed, and we at DPC would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to his friends, family, and everyone at Stavros ILC. If you'd like to donate to them in honor of his work, you can do so here.
January 12
Apart from many of us catching various colds and other bugs this week, 2024 has gotten off to a great start for DPC. Last week saw a huge milestone in our campaign to fix our state's broken wheelchair repair system, as the wheelchair warranty bill we've been championing passed the state Senate and was sent over to the House. We had a great press conference about the bill advancing, with outlets including the Boston Globe (in both video and text form), the Herald, and WBUR. Our thanks go to the Senators and their staffers who made this happen, the journalists who covered the bill, everyone who reached out to their legislators, and especially all the members who testified and shared their stories to make this happen. The fight isn't over however, as the bill still needs to pass the House and be signed by the governor before the session ends in July, and we'll need your help between now and then to make that happen.
In the meantime though, there's another key opportunity for you to speak up and advocate for the needs of people with disabilities, this time around housing. There's a hearing coming up next Thursday on the Governor's housing bill, which includes multiple provisions that would benefit people with disabilities. We need out community to turn out and testify.
We've also got some fresh events for you to peruse, survey opportunities, and more.
Finally, while I suspect I'm largely preaching to the choir here, COVID rates are spiking yet again, and it's critical that all of us take action to stay safe. The hospitals that removed mask mandates earlier this year (over our community's express objections) are now having to bring them back, and we'd urge you to wear a mask indoors as well if you are able, preferable an N95. If you're not feeling well, stay home, and take a COVID test if you have access to them. It's on all of us to do everything we can to keep immunocompromised members of our community safe, and to protect all of us from the effects of Long COVID, especially when our public health system is not taking the problem nearly as seriously as it should. See our COVID-19 resources if you haven’t already.
Be well, take care, and stay safe!
Colin Killick
Executive Director
Disability Policy Consortium
In the News
Check out these recent articles:
Congress Urged To Update SSI Asset Limits by Michelle Diament, DisabilityScoop.com, November 27, 2023.
Too Many Schools Are Misdiagnosing Dyslexia by Sarah Carr, Scientific American, December 1, 2023.
They’re poor, but not poor enough to qualify for emergency housing in Massachusetts by Yvonne Abraham, Boston Globe, December 2, 2023.
How Labor Unions Help Reduce the Pay Gap for Disabled Workers by Aurelia Glass, Center for American Progress, December 6, 2023.
