by David Kingsbury | From BayLines Express, December, 2023
2023 has been a year of notable accomplishments for BSCB, as well as for the Massachusetts blindness community as a whole.
I said it at our Spring Convention and I will say it here again: BSCB was the only organization in the Massachusetts blindness community to speak out publicly on the necessity of removing MCB Commissioner D’Arcangelo. This happened in April, shortly after publication of an article in The Boston Globe. Since then, we have worked closely with the new Commissioner, John Oliveira, to provide input and advocacy on the remedial actions needed to help return MCB to its position as one of the best state blindness agencies in the nation.
While preparing this article, I reread the BayLines Express article I wrote last December. There I mentioned several priorities for the coming year, among which were continuing to rev up our various committees and develop our capabilities to organize hybrid events.
I am proud to report that our committees really stepped up this year to the challenge of developing priorities and acting upon them. Each committee—Advocacy, Communications, Membership, Social, and Transportation—met regularly, identified priority actions, and worked systematically to achieve objectives. Notable achievements included:
- As already mentioned, advocating both publicly and behind the scenes for MCB regime change.
- In the Spring, BSCB successfully advocated for acceptable Fiscal Year 2024 funding levels for MCB and library services. Earmarks were also passed to increase funding for MCB technology training and equipment, and to boost much needed MCB staffing levels.
- Revamping the BSCB website to increase its functionality and visual appeal.
- Establishing a BSCB Ambassador Program to promote awareness of our organization and boost our membership.
- Initiating dialogue with the Massachusetts Association of Regional Transit Authorities (MARTA) on actions to improve paratransit experience for riders with disabilities.
- Organization of a social lunch after the Spring Convention and initiating planning of a full calendar of 2024 social activities.
We successfully pulled off this year’s Fall Conference, held in November at the Grousbeck Center at the Perkins School for the Blind, in hybrid fashion. With assistance of ACB Media in the person of our good friend Rick Morin, we proved that we could come up with a formula for successful join in-person and remote participation.
In addition to refurbishing the website, the Communications Committee has hit full-stride as a “well -oiled machine”, regularly producing content via BayLines Express, Third Thursday Zoom calls, Council Connection, and social media. Council Connection is our most enduring and innovative communications vehicle, available every month via radio, ACB Media, podcast, telephone, and an email link. In recognition of his outstanding service broadcasting Council Connection over more than 15 years, Steve Dresser received the ACB Vernon Henley Media Award at the national convention in July.
What are our most important challenges for next year?
2024 is of course an election year. Consequently, we need to re-initiate the dialogue we began with the Secretary of State’s office to ensure that absentee balloting remains accessible. Massachusetts is one of just a handful of states where absentee voting is completely accessible. And as the first generation of voting machines age out, we need to be sure that the next generation of machines are fully accessible, and that polling center personnel are properly trained to manage them.
In 2023, BSCB began a healthy dialogue with MARTA on standardization and streamlining of procedures for renewing ADA eligibility for accessing paratransit services. 2024 needs to the year when several suggested measures are operationalized. These include designing and adopting an accessible form for initial signup for paratransit services, renewal, and adoption of expedited renewal procedures for those riders whose disability is permanent. Finding ways to make it easier for those whose eligibility has already been established in one RTA to ride in other ones will also be a priority.
A lot of preparatory work took place this year to develop our Ambassador Program, including making audio recordings about advocacy achievements by ACB and BSCB. The plan is to identify community centers and other venues where we can spread the word about BSCB and hopefully increase our membership numbers.
In 2023, the Advocacy Committee began developing materials related to the accessibility of health care records and documentation. Extending this work to increase awareness around the Commonwealth, and developing coalitions with like-minded organizations will be important next year.
In 2024, we hope to put together a full calendar of social activities, including going to restaurants for food and conversation, accessible tours and museum visits. We are always looking for new ideas for social events, and if you have any, don’t hesitate to contact of Social Committee Chair, ElizabethAnn Johnson.
Let me conclude by thanking all those who, through their efforts, contributed to make 2023 a very successful year for BSCB. Here’s hoping that we will outdo ourselves in 2024!