Youth Summer Workshops
2024-07-24 10:00 - 13:00, 2024-07-22 10:00 - 11:30, 2024-07-18 10:00 - 11:30, 2024-07-17 10:00 - 13:00, 2024-07-16 13:00 - 14:30, 2024-07-15 10:00 - 11:30, 2024-07-11 10:00 - 13:00, 2024-07-09 13:00 - 14:30 (America/New_York) and 1 more date
Want to learn skills to live independently in the community? Attend our workshops and community days!
The Boston Center for Independent Living is once again hosting a series of Summer Workshops & Community Days!
BCIL’s Summer Programming aims to support students in learning about all aspects of independent living. Students will be able to participate in hands-on lessons and activities to explore topics like work readiness, post-secondary education, money skills, self-advocacy, housing, and more!
Excursions into the community include visits to the Museum of Science to explore STEM careers, the grocery store to complete a successful budgeting and shopping activity, and the MBTA mobility center to learn more about travel training.
Workshops

Participate in hands-on lessons and activities to learn about:
How to get a job
Money skills
College & trade school
Housing & apartment living
Disability identity
Self-advocacy
And much more!

Community Days

Meet up at the BCIL office & travel into the community together to explore:
Boston City Hall
A grocery store
MA State House
The Museum of Science
The MBTA Mobility Center
An assistive technology demo

All of BCIL’s Youth Summer Program offerings are free. Students are welcome to join all the groups or pick and choose! Please select for each group whether you want to participate in person or virtually. Our accessible office is located at 60 Temple Place, 5th Floor, Boston, MA 02111.
All community days are in person. Students should meet at BCIL’s office at or before 10AM to participate in community days.
Our groups are open to students ages 14-22 years with a documented disability, such as IEP or 504 plan, and enrolled in high school or a post-secondary education or training program. A copy of your disability documentation is required to complete registration. Documentation can be attached at the end of this form or emailed to ewalters@bostoncil.org.
Register here at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSenz9hpKPUCtDwvrDlGsTrNsdz2MdRvaIvhbhJ4gyLx9K7PNQ/viewform
Full descriptions of each program can be found at https://bostoncil.org/youth-services/youth-events/
If you have any questions, please contact Elizabeth Walters at ewalters@bostoncil.org.

Housing Workshop - In-Person & by Zoom
2024-07-24 10:00 - 12:00, 2024-06-26 10:00 - 12:00 | BCIL Offices, 60 Temple Place, 5th Floor, Boston Center for Independent Living, Boston, MA, 02111, United States
Housing Workshop – In-Person & by Zoom
Join3 us on the first and third Wednesday of every month to learn more about and how to apply for affordable housing options in your area. Our knowledgeable staff will answer all your questions and put you on the path to finding the housing that is right for you.
This workshop will teach you about:
• Types of housing available in the Boston area
• Navigating subsidized and affordable housing
• Conducting a housing search
• Communicating with housing authorities, agencies, and landlords
• Completing applications for state voucher programs
• How to request reasonable accommodations for your disability
Each workshop will include a period when you can ask questions.
To register: email Jackie at jmcglinchey@bostoncil.org with your full
name and phone number. You will receive a confirmation email from
Jackie that will include the Zoom webinar link and password.
To request reasonable accommodations, please let Jackie know when
you register.

Youth Summer Workshops
2024-07-23 13:00 - 14:30, 2024-07-10 10:00 - 11:30
Want to learn skills to live independently in the community? The Boston Center for Independent Living is once again hosting a series of Summer Workshops & Community Days!
BCIL’s Summer Programming aims to support students in learning about all aspects of independent living. Students will be able to participate in hands-on lessons and activities to explore topics like work readiness, post-secondary education, money skills, self-advocacy, housing, and more!
Excursions into the community include visits to the Museum of Science to explore STEM careers, the grocery store to complete a successful budgeting and shopping activity, and the MBTA mobility center to learn more about travel training.
Workshops

Participate in hands-on lessons and activities to learn about:
How to get a job
Money skills
College & trade school
Housing & apartment living
Disability identity
Self-advocacy
And much more!

Community Days

Meet up at the BCIL office & travel into the community together to explore:
Boston City Hall
A grocery store
MA State House
The Museum of Science
The MBTA Mobility Center
An assistive technology demo

All of BCIL’s Youth Summer Program offerings are free. Students are welcome to join all the groups or pick and choose! Please select for each group whether you want to participate in person or virtually. Our accessible office is located at 60 Temple Place, 5th Floor, Boston, MA 02111.
All community days are in person. Students should meet at BCIL’s office at or before 10AM to participate in community days.
Our groups are open to students ages 14-22 years with a documented disability, such as IEP or 504 plan, and enrolled in high school or a post-secondary education or training program. A copy of your disability documentation is required to complete registration. Documentation can be attached at the end of this form or emailed to ewalters@bostoncil.org.
Register here at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSenz9hpKPUCtDwvrDlGsTrNsdz2MdRvaIvhbhJ4gyLx9K7PNQ/viewform
Full descriptions of each program can be found at https://bostoncil.org/youth-services/youth-events/
If you have any questions, please contact Elizabeth Walters at ewalters@bostoncil.org.

Learner’s Permit Prep Group: Study for Your Permit Test with BCIL!
2024-07-19 16:00 - 17:00, 2024-07-12 16:00 - 17:00
The Boston Center for Independent Living’s Transition to Adulthood Program is once again hosting our Learner’s Permit Prep Workshop series. This series will be 8 weeks of weekly study sessions, where students can go through the MA Driver’s Manual with a facilitator, as well as play review games and ask any driving-related questions they may have.
Eligibility:

High school students, ages 14-22 with a documented disability (i.e. Individualized Education Plan, 504 plan, other disability documentation). You are not required to submit your disability documentation to participate in this group.

To register, click here. Students under 18 must have a parent signature in order to participate.
Students and families have the option to pick up physical MA Driver’s Manuals from the BCIL Downtown Crossing office at 60 Temple Place, Boston. Individuals looking to pick up a physical manual should email ewalters@bostoncil.org to schedule a time for pickup. 15 books are available and an email will be sent out if all of the books are claimed. Please only pick up a manual if you are planning on participating in the group for the full 8 weeks.
The manual is also available online at mass.gov/doc/english-drivers-manual/download. The physical manual is not necessary to participate in the group, but students may prefer having the book to read along, highlight, and annotate.
If you have any questions or need assistance completing this form please contact Elizabeth Walters at ewalters@bostoncil.org.
Para la forma de inscripción en español, haga clic aquí: forms.microsoft.com/r/jUFZVYu4P2

Virtual Housing Workshop
2024-07-10 10:00 - 12:00 | BCIL Offices, 60 Temple Place, 5th Floor, Boston Center for Independent Living, Boston, MA, 02111, United States
Virtual Housing Workshop
Join us on the first and third Wednesday of every month to learn more about and how to apply for affordable housing options in your area. Our knowledgeable staff will answer all your questions and put you on the path to finding the housing that is right for you.
This workshop will teach you about:
• Types of housing available in the Boston area
• Navigating subsidized and affordable housing
• Conducting a housing search
• Communicating with housing authorities, agencies, and landlords
• Completing applications for state voucher programs
• How to request reasonable accommodations for your disability
Each workshop will include a period when you can ask questions.
To register: email Kat at kvilson@bostoncil.org with your full
name and phone number. You will receive a confirmation email from
Kat that will include the Zoom webinar link and password.
To request reasonable accommodations, please let Kat know when
you register.

Learner’s Permit Prep Group Info Session
2024-07-08 17:00 - 17:30
The Boston Center for Independent Living’s Transition to Adulthood Program is once again hosting our Learner’s Permit Prep Workshop series. This series will be 8 weeks of weekly study sessions, where students can go through the MA Driver’s Manual with a facilitator, as well as play review games and ask any driving-related questions they may have.
Eligibility:

High school students, ages 14-22 with a documented disability (i.e. Individualized Education Plan, 504 plan, other disability documentation). You are not required to submit your disability documentation to participate in this group.

To register, click here. Students under 18 must have a parent signature in order to participate.
There will be a mandatory Information Session on 7/8 at 5 PM on Zoom. The purpose of this session is to inform both parents and students of the Learner’s Permit process, and set ground rules for the group. Click here for the Zoom link.
If you are unable to make it to this session, please reach out to ewalters@bostoncil.org.
Students and families have the option to pick up physical MA Driver’s Manuals from the BCIL Downtown Crossing office at 60 Temple Place, Boston. Individuals looking to pick up a physical manual should email ewalters@bostoncil.org to schedule a time for pickup. 15 books are available and an email will be sent out if all of the books are claimed. Please only pick up a manual if you are planning on participating in the group for the full 8 weeks.
The manual is also available online at mass.gov/doc/english-drivers-manual/download. The physical manual is not necessary to participate in the group, but students may prefer having the book to read along, highlight, and annotate.
If you have any questions or need assistance completing this form please contact Elizabeth Walters at ewalters@bostoncil.org.
Para la forma de inscripción en español, haga clic aquí: forms.microsoft.com/r/jUFZVYu4P2

Office closed
2024-07-04 - 2024-07-05
The Boston Center for Independent Living will be closed Thursday, July 4th, and Friday July 5th, in observance of the Independence Day holiday.

Living Well in the Community Workshop
2024-07-02 14:00 - 16:00, 2024-06-25 14:00 - 16:00, 2024-06-18 14:00 - 16:00, 2024-06-11 14:00 - 16:00, 2024-06-04 14:00 - 16:00, 2024-05-28 14:00 - 16:00, 2024-05-21 14:00 - 16:00
The Boston Center for Independent Living is excited to announce our upcoming Living Well in The Community Workshop!
LWIC will be conducted in a hybrid model (In person and over zoom) every Tuesday starting May 14 through July 2nd
Each session incorporates facilitated discussions, fun activities, access to informative videos and resources, and the opportunity to meet others with similar experiences!
This 8-week workshop is an initiative led by the Department of Public Health (DPH) and the Community Living Advocacy Program (CLA), aimed at supporting the health and wellness of individuals living with disabilities.
Participants interested in attending must be ages 18 and older, identify as living with a disability and be a member of BCIL
LWIC is a Free, 10-session workshop aimed at empowering the health and wellness of people living with disabilities.
Topics include:

Goal setting
Eating well
Advocacy
Healthy communication
Building support

Why should you enroll?

Learn and practice skills that support a healthy and independent lifestyle
Meet others with similar experiences
Up to $100 in gift cards!

To register, please contact Julie Tamayo at 617-821-4398 or jtamayo@bostoncil.org

Conversation on Civic Engagement
2024-06-06 14:00 - 15:00
On Thursday, June 6 at 2:00 pm, BCIL will host a one-hour virtual forum on how persons with disabilities can get involved in the political process.
Have you wondered about:

How to run for office?
How to work on a campaign at the local, state, or national level?
How to get involved with a political party?
How to register to vote?
How to early vote or vote by mail?
What accessibility accommodations are required at the polling site?

Featured speakers for this virtual forum include State Republican Party Chairperson Amy Carnevale, Democratic State Committee member Rebecca Morris, Republican State Committee member Judy Crocker, and a representative of Rev Up from the Disability Law Center.
In addition to working on their party state committees, Morris also advocates on health care and climate issues, Carnevale is a member of the Massachusetts Commission on Intellectual Disabilities, and Crocker is involved in numerous civic activities on Cape Cod.
To register for this virtual forum click here.
ASL and CART will be provided.
ADA reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request. To submit a request, contact Austin at aoconnor@bostoncil.org or (617) 338-6665. As part of your request, please include a description of the accommodation you will need and include as much detail as you can. Please provide your contact information in case we need more information. When possible, please allow at least seven days advance notice. Last-minute requests will be accepted but may be difficult to fill.

Housing Workshop - In-Person & by Zoom
2024-06-05 10:00 - 12:00 | BCIL Offices, 60 Temple Place, 5th Floor, Boston Center for Independent Living, Boston, MA, 02111, United States
Join us on the first and third Wednesday of every month to learn more about and how to apply for affordable housing options in your area. Our knowledgeable staff will answer all your questions and put you on the path to finding the housing that is right for you.
This workshop will teach you about:
• Types of housing available in the Boston area
• Navigating subsidized and affordable housing
• Conducting a housing search
• Communicating with housing authorities, agencies, and landlords
• Completing applications for state voucher programs
• How to request reasonable accommodations for your disability
Each workshop will include a period when you can ask questions.
To register: email Kat at kvilson@bostoncil.org with your full
name and phone number. You will receive a confirmation email from
Kat that will include the Zoom webinar link and password.
To request reasonable accommodations, please let Kat know when
you register.

RTAG General Meeting
2024-05-23 17:30 - 19:30
This is a forum where riders can provide input and feedback regarding accessible transportation. The group meet with the MBTA, Department of System-Wide Accessibility and The RIDE.
Date: Thursday, May 23rd, from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM.
Location: Zoom
Register here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwvd-CspjItGNULujkr3Yj5LG7Cg8W5pYh0
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.

MassHealth PCA Program EVV Information Session
2024-05-20 14:00 - 16:00
Please join MassHealth for another PCA EVV Public Information Session. We will discuss EVV Implementation in the PCA Program. This meeting will occur on 5/20 from 2:00pm – 4:00pm.
Please find the information to join below
You are invited to a Zoom webinar.
When: May 20, 2024 02:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Topic: PCA EVV Information Session 5/20
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://zoom.us/j/94858866190?pwd=[REDACTED]
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Or One tap mobile :
+13092053325,,94858866190#,,,,*[REDACTED]# US
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Or Telephone:
Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
+1 309 205 3325 US
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Webinar ID: 948 5886 6190
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International numbers available: https://zoom.us/u/acILiy1rwh

BCIL 50 Years In: Wins, Lessons and What’s Next for Independent Living
2024-05-16 13:00 - 16:00
2024 marks a major milestone for BCIL: we’re celebrating our 50th Anniversary. As one of the first Independent Living Centers in the country, BCIL plays a transformative role in creating and advocating for equal access to health care, affordable housing, accessible transportation, job and educational opportunities, and ADA compliance for residents of Greater Boston and beyond. As we look ahead, this work remains as critical as ever and demands that we imbue every effort with a commitment to disability rights as a social justice issue.
Keynote, Moderator and Panelist Bios
Register Now
