Boston Disability Advisory Board Backs Statewide Captioning Bill, Stays Neutral on Aid in Dying

BOSTON -- March 13, 2024, Boston Disability Commission Advisory Board unanimously backs a state captioning bill and declares neutrality on medical aid in dying. Chair Wesley Ireland led the March 13 hybrid meeting, at which board member Jerry Boyd moved to write a letter supporting a statewide captioning bill modeled on Boston's existing captioning ordinance, and board member Carl Richardson seconded; the measure passed without opposition. On the medical aid in dying bill, Richardson moved that the board formally remain neutral after prior discussions produced an approximately even member split; board member Richard Gillespie asked the minutes reflect his personal view in support of the bill. Disability Commissioner Kristen McCosh confirmed the city works closely with the Streets Cabinet and Parks Department on the accessibility issues raised during a lengthy guest presentation from Todd Mistor, Director of Urban Forestry, and Kate England, Director of Green Infrastructure, who showed that trees planted in stormwater infiltration features in East Boston and the Fenway grew significantly faster and with less sidewalk heaving than comparably aged trees in standard pits.