Boston Center for Independent Living

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.

01/22/2026

Please be careful during this expected cold and look out for each other!

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

01/20/2026

BCIL has partnered with the City of Boston to support Ideas in Action, Boston’s citywide Participatory Budgeting initiative—an exciting opportunity for residents to decide how a portion of the City’s budget is spent.

Between now and February 15, you can VOTE on how $2.2 million will be invested in community-driven projects across the city!

Visit Boston.gov/participate to learn about the project ideas and vote for up to five of them!

Your ideas, your city, your vote!

01/17/2026

The new placard design will cut processing time by about 25% by streamlining production, allowing residents to receive placards more quickly. Existing placards will remain valid until their listed expiration dates.

According to MassDOT, the updated placard features a modern look that incorporates the widely recognized universal accessibility logo, is made from more durable material embedded with security features, and includes bilingual instructions in English and Spanish.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) announced on Thursday a redesigned disability placard that aims at improving security, reducing fraud, and speeding up delivery for resident…

01/16/2026

The passing of disability rights leaders

BCIL previously noted the passing of Boston activist John Kelly. A memorial service for him will be held on Saturday, January 17 at Spaulding Rehab in Charlestown. More information is available here: JOHN KELLY Obituary (2025) - West Roxbury, MA - Boston Globe You may also attend virtually at this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85843197007?pwd=XACdiquQju5t5MHLSpv6vutBLfKxTv.1

We also wish to mention the passing of Bob Kafka, a fierce disability rights activist who connected with many people in Massachusetts through his work with ADAPT and REV Up. Bob was a profound advocacy strategist who participated in more direct-action disability rights actions than can be counted over the course of five decades. He was instrumental in the passage of the ADA and the creation of the Money Follows the Person program. More information on Bob’s life and a virtual memorial service on January 31 can be found here: ADAPT of Texas | disability rights group. https://adaptoftexas.org/

In considering the loss of these leaders, it is good to remember the statement Bob Kafka so often shared when ending his emails: Don’t Mourn, Organize!

01/11/2026

MBTA Riders' Transportation Access Group Virtual Meeting
Date: Wednesday, January 21, 2026, 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Register at: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/VtwAHxl2RZOyCPyig00wZg #/registration

Agenda
1. Welcome & Introductions
2. Zoom Directions
3. RTAG Update
4. SWA Updates
5. Bus Lane and Bus Stop Enforcement Camera Enforcement Legislation - Why does enforcement matter?
Key features of the MBTA Program
6. Feedback Session: SWA and Automated Enforcement
7. The RIDE Updates
8. Feedback Session: The RIDE
9. Closing Remarks

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing Zoom access information about joining the meeting.

RTAG meetings are accessible to people with disabilities and those with limited English proficiency. American Sign Language (ASL) will be provided for this meeting. Other accessibility accommodations and language services will be provided free of charge, upon request, as available.

If you have any questions or to request a reasonable accommodation or language services, please contact Kat at rtagboston@bostoncil.org or by phone at 978-893-8100.

01/08/2026

Boston Self Help Center is planning to introduce some new recreation and sports activities and would like to gauge your interest and follow up with you about specifics.

Please take a few minutes to fill out the short survey at the link below. It should only take you five minutes to complete.

Boston Self Help Center (www.bostonselfhelpcenter.org) is expanding its adaptive sports and inclusive recreation programs beyond our current Power Wheelchair Soccer program. We are planning new opportunities for people with a wide range of disabilities, while also creating inclusive activities that....

12/30/2025

Photo: BCIL leading the ADA35 march down Tremont Street in Boston on July 23, 2025, to mark the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, still a vital civil rights law. (photo credit to Marilyn Humphries)

Dear BCIL Supporter,

In a time of challenge, BCIL carried on this year with spirit and tenacity to provide individual services to over 4,000 persons with disabilities, assisting people to find housing, leave a nursing home, transition to adulthood from high school, pursue educational and job opportunities, and obtain Social Security or MassHealth, among many things.

The organization’s in-the-trenches advocacy also had wide reach as we engaged in vital efforts to, among many things:
o Stop cuts to PCA services!
o Support efforts to increase affordable and accessible housing!
o Keep the MBTA focused on its critical work to improve the system’s accessibility!
o Advance timely repair of wheelchairs!

The support of our friends and allies always is fundamental to this work, and any support you can provide now would be truly appreciated. Please go to www.bostoncil.org/donate to support BCIL and services for thousands of people with disabilities and advocacy for hundreds of thousands!

Our best regards this holiday season.

Sincerely,

Dianna Hu Bill Henning
Chairperson Director

12/29/2025

BCIL mourns the loss of renowned disability rights advocate and friend Bob Kafka.

Bob Kafka was an organizer with ADAPT (American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today), a group which advocates for policy change to support people with disabilities.

12/13/2025

The MBTA has spent roughly two decades fulfilling some 200 requirements for accessibility upgrades and reforms established in a settlement agreement to a class-action lawsuit brought by disabled riders.

After 20 years of upgrades following the Daniels-Finegold settlement, the T has added 105 elevators and drastically reduced service denials for disabled riders.

12/10/2025

Though the MBTA reached the end of the agreement this week, officials say it’s not the end of their commitment to making the T more accessible.

Plaintiffs took the Boston-area transit authority to court decades ago. Now, the MBTA has met nearly all of the settlement’s 200 requirements.

12/07/2025

Semi-Annual Settlement Update Meeting on Accessibility

This meeting is a discussion and feedback session on the status of the Daniels-Finegold v. MBTA Settlement Agreement.

Since its signing in 2006, the agreement has led to significant improvements in accessibility, benefiting all riders.

While more work remains, Independent Monitor Judge Patrick King will discuss the MBTA's substantial compliance with the agreement and the plaintiffs, as well as the MBTA's plans to shift towards a community-based monitoring model led by RTAG.

This public meeting will be an opportunity for riders to share their feedback regarding the MBTA’s compliance with the settlement directly with Judge King, Greater Boston Legal Services, Boston Center for Independent Living, RTAG, Interim MassDOT Secretary and General Manager Eng, and the Department of System-Wide Accessibility.

Due to this important meeting, there will be no December RTAG general meeting.

Note: This meeting is focused on bus, subway, and Commuter Rail accessibility. It will not include The RIDE.

Date: Wednesday, December 10, 2025

Time: 1:00 PM–3:00 PM EDT

Location: Hybrid
MBTA Boardroom (10 Park Plaza, Boston) and Zoom

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/YWg5xj67QsyichHVOYAN_g #/registration


Spanish and ASL interpreters and live captioning will be provided. If you need additional accommodations, please email publicengagement@mbta.com or call 857-327-3282.