Boston Center for Independent Living

03/13/2026

Choose Your Own Path: Education Options after High School

Monday, March 23rd, 4-5 pm

A virtual workshop for transition age youth with disabilities looking to learn more about options for continuing education post high school.

What to expect:
• Learn about common paths after high school
• Match scenarios to post - secondary paths
• Answer common questions students have about choosing a path
• Research programs
To register, scan the QR code.

Questions? Contact Maddie Heavey, Youth Services Program Manager at mheavey@bostoncil.org.

03/12/2026

Rally for PCA services on March 19!

The governor’s proposed budget again looks to reduce PCA services, seeking a cut of $68 million dollars. This could result in a serious loss of services and impact the income of PCAs, who already facing many challenges staying afloat. In response, BCIL, in conjunction with 1199SEIU and disability and senior groups, is rallying for PCA and home care services.

Thursday, March 19, 12:30 p.m.
Massachusetts State House

We fought off proposals that would have cut services in 2024 and 2025. And our voices are needed again!

For more information contact BCIL at contactBCIL@bostoncil.org or 617-338-6665.

Image: Scene from the 2025 rally at the State House for PCA services.

03/11/2026

Tired of waiting for your wheelchair to get repaired?

Join us on Thursday, March 12, from 12–2 PM for a legislative briefing on two of BCIL’s priority bills focused on wheelchair repair reform in Massachusetts.

Register at tinyurl.com/WcBrief26

With H.4358 and S.2662 — bills that would most notably strengthen consumer protections and require providers to complete repairs within reasonable timelines — now before the House and Senate Ways and Means Committees, we’ve reached a critical moment.

Wheelchair users and advocates have the opportunity to speak directly with legislators about why these bills MUST pass, and how repair delays impact every aspect of their daily lives and independence.

We will meet in Hearing Room B2 at the Massachusetts State House, located directly at the accessible Bowdoin Street entrance.

In-person attendance is strongly encouraged for maximum impact, but we understand that may not be possible for everyone. A Zoom option will be available when you register.

Let’s make our voices heard and our presence felt. These bills cannot wait!

Accessible drop-off/pick-up location:
Capitol Coffee House
122 Bowdoin Street, Boston, MA 02111

03/09/2026

Join Access Living, Disability Rights California, and The Arc Minnesota for on March 11: Being an Immigrant and Disabled in the U.S.: Defending Civil Rights Under Escalating Federal Enforcement.

This webinar will focus on coordinating support between disability and immigration advocates to provide more wholistic support to immigrants and their families.

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_hG2kuGtqSDu7gdOqy5qgPA #/registration

02/26/2026

“I couldn’t accept that accessibility tools were priced out of reach for so many people,” said Sharma, now a 17-year-old senior who plans to study engineering and computing in college. “I thought, ‘if the core need is being able to type independently, why should that cost thousands of dollars?'”

When Umang Sharma saw an ad for a $7,000 Braille keyboard, he knew there had to be a better way. Now his nonprofit has grants from Google and Microsoft to distribute a much more affordable version.

02/24/2026

There are still openings for this Adult Learner's Permit Workshop!

Adult Learner’s Permit Exam Workshop
February 24th – April 14th
Every Tuesday 9:30 AM - 11:00 A M

The Boston Center for Independent Living is hosting an Adult Learner's Permit Prep Workshop series. This 8-week series consists of weekly study sessions where consumers can review the MA Driver's Manual with a facilitator, play review games, and ask driving-related questions.

Please contact Aaron Rawley (arawley@bostoncil.org) or Lan Huynh (lhuynh@bostoncil.org) to receive the signup link, or go to https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=c4Q4BsRaZEGcmUL9rucMkGRLs24-WllMrcrMXG-2bUZUN1o4WFVWVEpJMjRYTjdGUkRYTTZHWVJRNC4u

This group will meet via Microsoft Teams. Once you register, you will receive the Teams link and meeting reminders at the email address provided.

02/22/2026

“(We need) to think about the impact our decisions have on persons with disabilities and seniors, and think about how challenging a situation can be for those vulnerable in society that deserve our assistance — it’s federal law, that access to equal access to public spaces is paramount,“ Flynn said, adding that ”we should all accept the blame."

“When we start debating the city budget — we’re actually starting now — we have to ask ourselves, ‘What impact does our decisions have on persons with disabilities? How will programs, or how will cuts to programs, impact persons with disabilities, including students with disabilities in our Boston Public School System?’“

Boston city councilors have scheduled a hearing on snow removal with plans to discuss the creation of a snow corps and the purchasing of snow melters.

02/20/2026

Adaptive BOCCIA in Boston!

Are you interested in finding out about BOCCIA? Boston Self Help Center will be holding an informational Zoom introduction to the sport being presented by Tim DALTON, USA BOCCIA. Sunday, March 1 at 1 PM. 

RSVP for the Zoom link with Jim Wice at, jjwice@gmail.com.

02/19/2026

Tired of waiting for your wheelchair to get repaired?

Join us on Thursday, March 12, from 12–2 PM for a legislative briefing on two of BCIL’s priority bills focused on wheelchair repair reform in Massachusetts.

Register at tinyurl.com/WcBrief26

With H.4358 and S.2662 — bills that would most notably strengthen consumer protections and require providers to complete repairs within reasonable timelines — now before the House and Senate Ways and Means Committees, we’ve reached a critical moment.

Wheelchair users and advocates have the opportunity to speak directly with legislators about why these bills MUST pass, and how repair delays impact every aspect of their daily lives and independence.

We will meet in Hearing Room B1 at the Massachusetts State House, located directly at the accessible Bowdoin Street entrance.

In-person attendance is strongly encouraged for maximum impact, but we understand that may not be possible for everyone. A Zoom option will be available when you register.

Let’s make our voices heard and our presence felt. These bills cannot wait!

Accessible drop-off/pick-up location:
Capitol Coffee House
122 Bowdoin Street, Boston, MA 02111

02/09/2026

Adult Learner’s Permit Exam Workshop
February 24th – April 14th
Every Tuesday 9:30 AM - 11:00 A M

The Boston Center for Independent Living is hosting an Adult Learner's Permit Prep Workshop series. This 8-week series consists of weekly study sessions where consumers can review the MA Driver's Manual with a facilitator, play review games, and ask driving-related questions.

Please contact Aaron Rawley (arawley@bostoncil.org) or Lan Huynh (lhuynh@bostoncil.org) to receive the signup link.

This group will meet via Microsoft Teams. Once you register, you will receive the Teams link and meeting reminders at the email address provided.

02/08/2026

Puerto Rican partially deaf performer Celimar Rivera Cosme, who will lead a "multilingual signing program" during Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime performance on Sunday, is readying to make history and shed light on the Puerto Rican deaf community on one of music's biggest stages.

Rivera Cosme will sign the high profile performance in LSPR, or Puerto Rican Sign Language, distinct from American Sign Language in its unique grammar, rhythm and cultural identity, due to the history of Puerto Rican deaf community.

"In a historic first, the signed rendition of the Apple Music Halftime Show will feature a multilingual signing program incorporating Puerto Rican Sign Language, led by Deaf Puerto Rican performer Celimar Rivera Cosme," an NFL release stated.

https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/culture/story/puerto-rican-deaf-interpreter-primed-make-history-bad-129852828?fbclid=IwY2xjawP13TJleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFudFBqbVRwa0dtUnlOR2Zmc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHjTkQ7DQ2Qzu7AAh963tnGN4T8aKDGI15emx3KDUdq0lhmA4FZ5uUD-q-0yN_aem_xRmuo1sxa-Y09zBrtXc0_A

A Puerto Rican deaf interpreter will make history leading the signing program during Bad Bunny's Super Bowl LX halftime performance.

01/24/2026

“We’re thrilled to continue our commitment to providing all viewers with more accessibility to our Winter Olympics coverage than ever before,” said Amy Rosenfeld, senior vice president of NBC Olympic Production. “It’s only fitting that an event of such magnitude deserves top-tier audio description and closed captioning services.”

Television coverage of the upcoming winter Olympics is on track to be more accessible to people with disabilities than ever before.