Category: IL Ed Day

IL Education Day 2024 was held in the Great Hall at the State House, March 25.

Download the flyer for IL Education Day

Speakers

• Welcome: Steve Higgins (Independence Associates)
  Brianna Zimmerman (STAVROS)
• Senator Joe Comerford
  • Joe Tringali memorial
  • Estate Recovery and Spouses as Paid Caregivers
• Representative Mindy Domb
• Isaias Ruiz, PCA
• Senate President Karen Spilka
• Commissioner Toni Wolf, MA Rehabilitation Commission
• Nancy Garr-Colzie re: PCAs
• Representative Rob Consalvo (AHVP)
• Ewidji Vincent, youth with Easter Seals
• Senator Lydia Edwards

2024 Priorities

Summary of Priorities

• Support Independent Living Centers
• Accessible, affordable housing for people with disabilities
• Accessible, affordable transportation for people with disabilities
• Support the PCA program & workforce
• Align MA AAB regulations with the ADA  
• Access to Assistive Technology and Durable Medical Equipment
• Access to healthcare

Detailed Budget Priorities

• Independent Living Centers Line Item 4120-0200 – $10 Million for 10 Independent Living Centers (increase of $2 million)
• Maintain Funding for Personal Care Attendants

• Increase the Alternative Housing Voucher Program funding (Line Item 7004-9030) to $30 million ($18.8m + Prior Appropriations continued) and incorporating H.1305 & S.884 into budget language.
• Increase Accessible Affordable Housing Grants (Line Item 7004-9031), which offer grants to create or rehabilitate units into accessible housing prioritized for AHVP voucher holders to $2.5 million.
• Increase MassAccess Registry funding (Line Item 4120-4001) to $300,000 to assist low-income people with disabilities to search for accessible housing.

Detailed Legislative Priorities

• Building a More Accessible Massachusetts – S.1553: An Act Building a More Accessible Massachusetts and H.2291: An Act expanding the availability of adaptable housing for people with disabilities and seniors. These bills align MA accessibility regulations with federal regulations.
• Estate Recovery – H.1168 and S.726: An Act protecting the homes of seniors and disabled people on MassHealth
• Spouses as Paid Caregivers – H.216 and S.67: An Act allowing spouses to serve as caregivers
• Support Regional Transit Authorities (RTA) – S.2277 and H.3272: An Act to increase regional transit accessibility in the Commonwealth
• Changes to the Affordable Homes Act – The Independent Living Network supports The Affordable Homes Act (H.4138) as an opportunity to help alleviate the state’s housing crisis

In person at the Great Hall in the State House March 23, 2023

IL Education Day was especially exciting this year since our last in-person event was in 2019!

Visit the MetroWest Center for Independent Living website to see all of the photos from the day. Some are posted below.

Accomplishments in FFY 2022

• Massachusetts Residents served in FFY 22: 35,693. 
• 12,771 Consumers, Family Members, Partners in the community, Municipalities, and Government received information or referrals from Independent Living Centers.
• 145 Individuals transitioned from institutionalized settings such as nursing homes to the community.
• 1,080 youth across the Commonwealth received transition services.
• 12,341 individuals obtained access to Health Care services they previously did not have.
• 1,412 individuals obtained Assistive Technology.
• ILCs support individuals with disabilities in going back to work and being productive in their communities.

FY 2024 Priorities

Independent Living Centers Line Item 4120-0200, $10 Million for 10 Independent Living Centers (Increase of 2 million)

The Independent Living Centers are seeking an increase in funding to support;

• An increase in demand for assistance finding affordable accessible housing
• Support to leave nursing homes
• Assistance navigating benefit and vocational options
• Mitigating the impact of inflation

Affordable, Accessible, Available Housing

The Independent Living Network supports legislation and programming that
increases access to affordable, available accessible housing.

• S.1553 – An Act Building a More Accessible Massachusetts. Sponsor: Senator Michael O. Moore and
• H 2291 – An Act expanding the availability of adaptable housing for people with disabilities and seniors Sponsors: Reps. Christine P. Barber and Michael J. Moran
• (H.1305/S.884) An Act to create affordable homes for persons with disabilities Sponsors: Representative Rob Consalvo & Senator Robyn Kennedy.
• Rental Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) Program,
• Emergency Rental and Mortgage Assistance (ERMA) Program,
• Tenancy Preservation Program (TPP)
• Family Shelters, HomeBase and Rapid Rehousing
• COVID Eviction Legal Health Program (CELHP) and Community Mediation Pre-Court,
• Support funding to increase the number of low- income accessible units,
• Continue to support housing voucher programs like AHVP and MRVP and ensure the vouchers are adequate to meet increasing market rents.

Assistive Technology Programs and Durable Medical Equipment

Affordable, Accessible, Available Transportation

• Affordable, accessible and available transportation is a key priority for individuals with disabilities.
• On-demand, accessible transportation to all riders is necessary.
• Support on-demand, accessible transportation pilot program(s), similar to UBER and LYFT MBTA pilot programs.
• Provide funding to RTAs to allow for the continuation of free fare. Assistive Technology Programs and Durable Medical Equipment

Photos

Housing Matters

This year’s virtual event focused on housing. Safe, accessible, affordable, available housing is a foundation for community living.  We shared stories of success, the barriers that still exist and opportunities for the future. 

Agenda

Welcome – Nancy Trzcinski, MASILC Chairperson

Host and Moderator – Steve Higgins, Executive Director Independence Associates

Speakers:

• Commissioner Toni Wolf, Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission
• Senator Susan L. Moran
• Noelle Balutis, Center for Living and Working
• Eric Shupin, Director of Public Policy and Lily Linke, Municipal Engagement Policy Associate Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association
• Shaya French, Boston Center for Independent Living and R. Feynman, Disability Policy Consortium
• Marcelino Guerra, Center for Living and Working Board Member

Community Sharing

Massachusetts has 10 Centers for Independent Living, which together serve all 351 cities and towns in the Commonwealth. The Independent Living Movement is founded in the belief that people with disabilities, regardless of the form, have a common history and a shared struggle, that we are a community and a culture that will advance further banded together politically.

The first Center for Independent Living was founded by disability activists in California in 1972. There are now 403 Centers across the United States, providing Peer Support, Information and Referral, Individual and Systems Advocacy, Independent Living Skills Training and Transition.

Independent Living Education Day is a day to celebrate and share the success stories of IL and give voice to the barriers that still exist.  This year’s event will focus on housing. Safe, accessible, affordable, available housing is a foundation for community living.  This year we will share stories of success, the barriers that still exist and opportunities for the future.   

Independent Living Education Day showcased stories of Independent Living from across Massachusetts.

Enjoy these videos from our virtual Independent Living Education Day, March 31, 2021. It was not the same as being in person, but more people were able to attend, and we are able to share the event with you.

Event Zoom

Community Living

Fighting Isolation

Support from IL Staff