BCIL Advocacy

BCIL believes that greater independence for people with disabilities is a social imperative and that people with disabilities must unite to speak out on larger issues that affect our lives such as housing, healthcare, and transportation access. We employ Community Organizers to foster civic engagement by developing leadership and advocacy skills within our burgeoning group of over 400 grassroots advocates, and by working with this group to advocate for specific programs for people with disabilities.

BCIL cultivates grassroots leaders by coordinating Neighborhood Action Groups, Monthly Leadership Development meetings and periodic Leadership Forums. We also organize an annual Advocates Summit to discuss and prioritize issues affecting the disability community. The result has been stronger, larger and more effective grassroots campaigns on behalf of people with disabilities.

Recent successes include:

Improving access to the MBTA. BCIL and its partner in T advocacy, Greater Boston Legal Services, settled a landmark class-action lawsuit against the T for violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Public transportation service was essentially off limits to many people with disabilities, denying them reliable access to jobs, cultural offerings, educational opportunities and recreation around Greater Boston. $310 million has been earmarked by the T to improve access to buses, subways, and stations, and MBTA management is demonstrating a commitment to overhaul how they serve customers with disabilities.

Some of the gains that have vastly upgraded the system over the last two years include:

Improved system-wide elevator performance, now operating at near 100% capacity
Design of several redundant elevators at key stations with more to follow
Procurement of 310 new low-floor buses Improved vehicle maintenance, ensuring operating bus lifts.
Retraining of many bus personnel in providing service to customers with disabilities
Development of a comprehensive internal access monitoring program
Creation of the Department of System-Wide Accessibility
Development of a plan to reduce subway platform gaps that trap wheelchair users
Improved Green Line access at several stations, though more needs to be done

Protecting the PCA program and supporting affordable healthcare. PCA Quality Workforce Council legislation, drafted with 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East and now enacted into law, establishes a registry of PCAs, making it easier for a disabled individual to find a PCA. The legislation also allows for collective bargaining and improved compensation for PCAs, enabling more people to stay with the job or be attracted to it, reducing turnover. More than 15,000 people utilize over 28,000 Personal Care Attendants each year in Massachusetts in order to maximize their independence, stay out of institutional settings, raise families, pursue jobs and continue schooling.

Promoting better municipal access. BCIL has sought compliance by the City of Boston with the ADA. A January access forum organized by BCIL was attended by 80 people who presented lists of access barriers to attending city officials. This led to Mayor Menino announcing on the 18th anniversary of the signing of the ADA this past July, a $20 million commitment from the city to specifically fix curb cuts and pedestrian ramps that are not up to ADA codes. Also, language that requires ADA compliance was added to all Public Works contracts, as well as any project that goes through the Public Improvement Commission.

There are also ongoing city efforts to improve polling access in response to BCIL advocacy, and through our work with the Disability Law Center (DLC) the city has moved 30 sites to accessible locations, while barriers at other sites are being addressed by use of portable ramps and special threshold mats. The city also now has Automark machines at all polling sites, with employees trained on how to use them. Automark machines enable people with vision disabilities to fill in a ballot and cast their vote. Much more needs to be done—regular meetings with city officials, combined with poll monitoring by our members, are helping the city move forward and make voting possible for all who wish to exercise this sacred right.

Housing. Housing continues to be the number-one issue for people calling BCIL for assistance. BCIL's advocacy efforts have generated millions of dollars for programs that support integrated, accessible, and affordable housing for people with disabilities, including the Home Modification Loan Program, the Community Based Housing Program, and the Alternative Housing Voucher Program.