Every legislative session, we pick a handful of priorities to advocate for in the budget and legislative process, based on what we hear is important to our community and where we know we can make an impact. 

This bill prohibits the use of physical pain to change the behavior of a person with a physical, intellectual, or developmental disability. It also prohibits programs treating persons with disabilities from denying them reasonable sleep, food, shelter, bathroom access, and other human needs.

Hearing aids not only help people hear better, but they decrease isolation, a proven issue in prevention of dementia. Prescription hearing aids can cost around $10,000. Most health insurance does not cover any portion of the cost. If they do cover any portion, it is only a couple thousand dollars at most. Over the counter hearing aids cost between $300 -$500 from major drugstore chains, and are not covered by insurance at all.

These bills are all working towards the same goal: to allow spouses to be authorized to serve as paid caregivers in the MassHealth program for the provision of certain home-based care and services. Other relatives are already permitted to serve as paid caregivers. 

Wheelchairs and scooters are often prone to defects and sudden failure. It is common for consumers to be left stranded or isolated in their homes for weeks, or even months, awaiting repairs. By strengthening warranty protections for Massachusetts residents with disabilities and accountability for wheelchair providers, we can level the playing field for consumers, shorten repair wait times, save taxpayer money, and ensure that we are all treated with dignity and respect.

This bill establishes the legal framework for Supported Decision-Making in Massachusetts, an alternative to guardianship in which adults can choose a group of trusted supporters to assist them with making and communicating decisions.

This bill builds more accessible and affordable homes by improving the Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP) and allowing project-basing of AHVP vouchers.

This bill will allow spouses to be authorized to serve as paid caregivers in the MassHealth program for the provision of certain home-based care and services just as other relatives are already permitted to serve as paid caregivers.

Estate recovery is the practice of MassHealth recouping the cost of medical services from the deceased enrollee's family. While mandated by federal law, estate recovery is made even more aggressive by requirements under Massachusetts law. It can result in the sale of the family home, causing excessive financial burden and perpetuating poverty, especially among communities of color and people with disabilities.

Our Housing Bond Bill advocacy is far from over. Governor Healey's version of the Affordable Homes Act has a lot of promising proposals for affordable and accessible housing, but we (along with our allies at CHAPA, the Boston Center for Independent Living, and Stavros) will be advocating for a few key changes.

As reported in the State House News, one of our priority bills, the Wheelchair Warranty Bill (now labeled S.2541), will be voted on by the Senate tomorrow, and we expect it to pass!