Office closed
2026-01-01
The office will be closed Thursday, January 1st in observance of the New Year’s Day holiday.

Learner's Permit Exam Prep Group
2025-12-29 16:00 - 17:00, 2025-12-15 16:00 - 17:00, 2025-12-08 16:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
A Workshop Series for Youth (14-22) with disabilities
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.

Study tips and how to stay motivated
Setting up testing accommodations for the exam
Review of the driver’s manual
Practice tests and review games

Dates: Mondays, December 8th- February 9th (No session 12/22 or 1/19)
Time: 4:00-5:00 PM
Virtual: On Zoom
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. Once registered, you will receive the Zoom link in your email.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Maddie Heavey, BCIL’s Youth Services Program Manager, at mheavey@bostoncil.org
Best,
BCIL Youth Services Team

Office closed
2025-12-25 - 2025-12-26
The Boston Center for Independent Living will be closed Thursday, December 25th, and Friday, December 26th, in observance of the Christmas Day holiday.

Housing Workshop - In-Person & by Zoom
2025-12-17 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-11-19 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-10-15 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-09-17 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.

Daniels–Finegold v. MBTA Settlement
2025-12-10 13:00 - 15:00
Join us for a historic milestone discussion and feedback session about the status of the Daniels-Finegold v. MBTA settlement agreement! Since its signing in 2006, the agreement has resulted in sweeping accessibility improvements that have benefited all riders. This progress would not have been possible without the dedication and ongoing collaboration between the named plaintiffs and the MBTA.
While more work remains, Independent Monitor Judge Patrick King will be discussing the MBTA’s substantial compliance with the agreement and the plaintiffs; and the MBTA’s plans to shift towards a community-based monitoring model, led by the Riders’ Transportation Access Group.
This public meeting will be an opportunity for riders to share feedback about the MBTA’s compliance with the settlement and proposed plans for the future directly with Judge King, Greater Boston Legal Services, the Boston Center for Independent Living, the Riders’ Transportation Access Group, Interim MassDOT Secretary and MBTA General Manager & CEO Phillip Eng, and the MBTA Department of System-Wide Accessibility.
Note: This meeting is focused on bus, subway, Commuter Rail, and ferry accessibility, not on the RIDE.
Date: Wednesday, December 10, 2025
Time: 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Where:

Join us in person: MBTA Boardroom, 10 Park Plaza, 2nd floor, Boston, MA 02116

Join us virtually: via Zoom

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.
Visit the Event Page & Register in advance for the virtual Settlement Update Meeting

Housing Workshop - In-Person & by Zoom
2025-12-03 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-11-05 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-10-01 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-09-03 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.

Office closed
2025-11-27 - 2025-11-28
The Boston Center for Independent Living will be closed Thursday, November 27th, and Friday, November 28th, in observance of the Thanksgiving Day holiday.

MassHealth Public Information Sessions
2025-11-21 14:00 - 16:00, 2025-11-17 14:00 - 16:00
MassHealth will be holding two Public Information Sessions. MassHealth will be discussing Programmatic and Proposed Regulatory Changes.
Topic: PCA Public Information Session 1
When: Monday, November 17, 2025
Time: 2:00pm – 4pm

Topic: PCA Public Information Session 2
When: Friday, November 21, 2025
Time: 2:00pm – 4pm
Click here to register
Read about Changes to the Personal Care Attendant (PCA) Program beginning January 1, 2026, by clicking here.

PCA Day at State House
2025-11-20 11:00 - 15:00
PCAs, Consumer Employers & Advocates: Join us for PCA Day at the State House
November 20th, 11AM – 3PM
MA State House (24 Beacon Street)
Meet at Nurses Hall – 2nd floor
———————————
1199SEIU invites you to come share your story with our elected officials about what the PCA program means in your life. Join us for a brief speaking program and then go speak with your legislators.

Supporting Independent Lives: A Workshop for Families of Transition-Age Youth with Disabilities
2025-11-19 18:30 - 19:30
The Boston Center for Independent Living and Partners for Youth with Disabilities invite you to an online workshop for youth with disabilities and their parents and other family members. We will discuss how to support youths in their transition to adulthood, the services available to them, how to build a support system, and getting students involved in their IEP process. We will also answer questions relating to independent living and what PYD and BCIL can offer to students right now and when they are adults.
Date: Wednesday, November 19th, 2025
Time: 6:30-7:30 PM
Virtual: On Zoom
Eligibility: Parents, family members, educators and friends of youth/young adults with disabilities are welcome to attend. The workshop will focus on transition aged youth (14-21) as well as adult services available once students graduate and turn 22. Youth themselves are also welcome to attend.
To register: Click here. Once registered, you will receive the Zoom link in your email.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Benjamin Whidden, PYD’s Assistant Manager of Outreach & Engagement, at bwhidden@pyd.org or Maddie Heavey, BCIL’s Youth Services Program Manager, at mheavey@bostoncil.org

RTAG General Meeting
2025-11-19 14:00 - 16:00
Please join us at our upcoming hybrid RTAG meeting!

This is a forum where riders can provide input and feedback regarding accessible transportation. The group meets with the MBTA, the T’s Department of System-Wide Accessibility (SWA) and The RIDE.
Date: Wednesday, November 19th, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Location: Hybrid
MBTA Boardroom (10 Park Plaza, Boston) and Zoom
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/LYb3RyK0Rj-4fUuiEnYemg#/registration
Agenda
1. Welcome & Introductions
2. Zoom Directions​
3. RTAG Update ​
4. SWA Updates
5. Keolis Updates
6. Feedback Session: SWA and Keolis
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.

RTAG General Meeting
2025-11-19 14:00 - 16:00
The next meeting in Wednesday, November 19th from 2-4pm. It takes place in the board room at the MBTA Building – 10 Park Plaza in Boston, MA. You can register here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/LYb3RyK0Rj-4fUuiEnYemg#/registration

Office closed
2025-11-11
The Boston Center for Independent Living will be closed Tuesday, November 11th, in observance of the Veterans Day holiday.

DAAHR Forum on One Care Changes!
2025-11-06 13:00 - 14:00
Attend a DAAHR Forum on One Care Changes!
Thursday, November 6, 1:00 pm
Learn what’s happening and share your concerns and needs!
Register for this Zoom forum here: https://bit.ly/DAAHRForum
MassHealth leadership has committed to attend.
Big Changes are coming to One Care!

In January, One Care benefits will change and may be reduced, due to federal changes.
One Care may be affected by new federal requirements for eligibility redeterminations for Medicaid (MassHealth), which in part determines One Care eligibility.
Insurance brokers, not MassHealth, will be reaching out to current and potential One Care enrollees about their options.

One Care health plans cover 40,000 people with disabilities.
Things you need to watch:
*Personal Care Attendant Services *Homemaking services
*Some One Care flex benefits *DME services
*Non-medical and social transportation *Home modifications
Other important updates
In addition to Point32Health (Tufts), UnitedHealthcare (UHC), and Commonwealth Care Alliance, now owned by Care Source, an insurance company based in Ohio, Mass General Brigham (MGB) and Molina are becoming One Care plans, making One Care statewide.
DAHHR— Disability Advocates Advancing our Healthcare Rights— is jointly coordinated by the Disability Policy Consortium (DPC) and Boston Center for Independent Living (BCIL).
For more information contact BCIL at contactBCIL@bostoncil.org / 617-338-6665 or the Disability Policy Consortium at (617) 307-7775 / www.dpcma.org/contact.
CART and ASL have been requested. Contact BCIL at contactBCIL@bostoncil.org if you need other accommodations

Truth Commission on Disability Institutions
2025-11-03 12:20 - 13:20
A Resurgence of Disability Institutions?
Learning from our Nation’s troubled past to avoid future harms
Join HPOD and its co-sponsors, the Boston Center for Independent Living and the Harvard Law School Disabled Law Students Association, on November 3rd, from 12:20 to 1:20pm, in Wasserstein Hall (WCC) 1019 (located at 1585 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02138), for a timely discussion of the history of institutions for persons with disabilities in Massachusetts.
The Massachusetts Special Commission on State Institutions is the world’s first truth commission on disability institutions led by persons with disabilities. Established in 2023 in response to advocates’ demands for an official reckoning with the unresolved legacies of mass institutionalization in the Commonwealth, earlier this year, the Commission released a groundbreaking report. It concluded that Massachusetts has engaged in “a pattern of practices, intentional and unintentional, [that] have prevented the general public from accessing this history, even when the people requesting that access are institutional survivors, their loved ones, and their descendants.” The Commission’s work has gained widespread attention and has prompted Massachusetts’ Governor to propose long-overdue reforms that would help shine a light on a story of mass human rights abuses that the Commonwealth has prevented society from fully reckoning with.
Today, the Commission’s work holds salience not only the Commonwealth but also the country, especially amid the specter of a return to regressive policies that had enabled systemic institutionalization of persons with disabilities in the past. At this event, two of the Commission’s members–HPOD fellow Alex Green and HPOD’s Self-Advocate Associate Anne Fracht–will facilitate a dialogue with two state legislatures–State Senator Mike Barrett and State Representative Sean Garballey–who have played indispensable roles in creating and empowering this “extraordinary” commission. In this way, this event will help to raise awareness of the Commission’s findings and recommendations as well as outline the continuing relevance, so that the mistakes of the past are not repeated.
Learn more at: https://hpod.law.harvard.edu/events/event/history-disability-institutions.
ASL interpretation and lunch provided.
Advance registration requested. Register at: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=9CL6b2hFBUGtQy461HJpV_Iv8GftsvpChPoSVsrjs4NURVBXQ0pXSlRTMUNKWEFVTjVENU5IWU1URC4u&route=shorturl

October RTAG General Meeting
2025-10-15 17:30 - 19:30
Please join us at our upcoming RTAG meeting!
This is a forum where riders can provide input and feedback regarding accessible transportation. The group meets with the MBTA, the T’s Department of System-Wide Accessibility (SWA) and The RIDE.
Date: Wednesday, October 15th, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Location: Zoom
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/fTjXlkB2TQ2Xg4JaXRxUxg
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.

Office closed
2025-10-13
The Boston Center for Independent Living will be closed Monday, October 13th, in observance of the Indigenous Peoples’ Day holiday.

RTAG General Meeting
2025-09-10 15:00 - 17:00
When? September 10, 2025, from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Where?

Join us in person: MBTA Boardroom, 10 Park Plaza, 2nd floor, Boston, MA 02116
Join us virtually via Zoom

Register in advance for the virtual meeting.
The Riders’ Transportation Access Group (RTAG) is a customer organization with a mission to advise the MBTA on transportation issues that affect people with disabilities and older adults. Please join us for our upcoming general meeting.
All RTAG meetings are accessible to people with disabilities and people with limited English proficiency. Real-time captioning (CART) and an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter will be provided for this meeting. Other accessibility accommodations and language services will be provided free of charge upon request, as available.
To request reasonable accommodation or language services, please email rtagboston@bostoncil.org or call Kat at 978-893-8100 at least two weeks before the meeting.

Office closed
2025-09-01
The Boston Center for Independent Living will be closed Monday, September 1st, in observance of the Labor Day holiday.

Youth Summer Workshops 2025 - Community Day: Visit the MBTA Travel Center
2025-08-21 09:00 - 10:00
Want to learn how to live independently in your community?
Join us this summer for workshops and fun community outings!
Workshops:
Participate in hands-on lessons and activities to learn about:
• How to get a job
• Money skills
• Going to college or trade school
• Finding and living in an apartment
• Building confidence and community
• Speaking up for yourself (Self-Advocacy)
• And much more!
Community Days:
Meet at the BCIL office and go on trips together to places like:
• Boston City Hall
• A grocery store
• MA State House
• Museum of Science
• MBTA Mobility Center
• Try out assistive technology
• UMASS Boston
• ADA23 Day Event*
Dates:
July 7 – August 21, 2025
Format: In-person and virtual options
Who Can Join: Students ages 14–22 with any disability
Register Here: BCIL Youth Summer Program Registration 2025
[Scan the QR code on the flyer]
Thursday, August 21
• Community Day: Visit the MBTA Travel Center | Time TBD
Need More Info?
Email: bcilyouthservices@bostoncil.org
Website: bostoncil.org/youth-services

Youth Summer Workshops 2025 - Managing my First Apartment or Dorm
2025-08-20 13:00 - 14:30
Want to learn how to live independently in your community?
Join us this summer for workshops and fun community outings!
Workshops:
Participate in hands-on lessons and activities to learn about:
• How to get a job
• Money skills
• Going to college or trade school
• Finding and living in an apartment
• Building confidence and community
• Speaking up for yourself (Self-Advocacy)
• And much more!
Community Days:
Meet at the BCIL office and go on trips together to places like:
• Boston City Hall
• A grocery store
• MA State House
• Museum of Science
• MBTA Mobility Center
• Try out assistive technology
• UMASS Boston
• ADA23 Day Event*
Dates:
July 7 – August 21, 2025
Format: In-person and virtual options
Who Can Join: Students ages 14–22 with any disability
Register Here: BCIL Youth Summer Program Registration 2025
[Scan the QR code on the flyer]
Wednesday, August 20
• Managing My First Apartment or Dorm | 1:00 – 2:30 PM
Need More Info?
Email: bcilyouthservices@bostoncil.org
Website: bostoncil.org/youth-services
