Great Hall at the State House, March 25, 2024

Thank you to MASILC Coordinator, Aliza Levine, and the PIE (Public Education and Information) Committee for organizing the 2024 event – another success!

(scroll down for more photos)

Priorities

Download the IL Ed Day pdf for more information!

Budget:

• Independent Living Centers Line Item 4120-0200 – $10 Million for 10 Independent Living Centers (increase of $2 million)
• Maintain Funding for Personal Care Attendants
• Increase the Alternative Housing Voucher Program funding (Line Item 7004-9030) to $30 million ($18.8m + Prior Appropriations continued) and incorporating H.1305 & S.884 into budget language.
• Increase Accessible Affordable Housing Grants (Line Item 7004-9031), which offer grants to create or rehabilitate units into accessible housing prioritized for AHVP voucher holders to $2.5 million.
• Increase MassAccess Registry funding (Line Item 4120-4001) to $300,000 to assist low-income people with disabilities to search for accessible housing.

Legislative

• Building a More Accessible Massachusetts – S.1553: An Act Building a More Accessible Massachusetts and H.2291: An Act expanding the availability of adaptable housing for people with disabilities and seniors. These bills align MA accessibility regulations with federal regulations.
• Estate Recovery – H.1168 and S.726: An Act protecting the homes of seniors and disabled people on MassHealth
• Spouses as Paid Caregivers – H.216 and S.67: An Act allowing spouses to serve as caregivers
• Support Regional Transit Authorities (RTA) – S.2277 and H.3272: An Act to increase regional transit accessibility in the Commonwealth
• Changes to the Affordable Homes Act – The Independent Living Network supports The Affordable Homes Act (H.4138) as an opportunity to help alleviate the state’s housing crisis

Speakers

• Welcome: Steve Higgins (Independence Associates) and Brianna Zimmerman (STAVROS)
• Senator Joe Comerford
  • Joe Tringali memorial
  • Estate Recovery and Spouses as Paid Caregivers
• Representative Mindy Domb
• Isaias Ruiz, PCA
• Senate President Karen Spilka
• MA Rehabilitation Commission, Commissioner Toni Wolf
• Nancy Garr-Colzie re: PCAs
• Representative Rob Consalvo (AHVP)
• Ewidji Vincent, youth with Easter Seals
• Senator Lydia Edwards