Boston Disability Board Hears $21 Million Behavioral Health Plan, Debates Captioning Compliance

BOSTON — May 15, 2024 — Boston's Disability Commission Advisory Board heard a sweeping $21 million behavioral health initiative and debated closed-captioning enforcement at its May 15 meeting. Dr. Kevin Simon, the city's first chief behavioral health officer, told the board that a $5 million ARPA-funded grant awarded to UMass Boston will train 200 Boston residents as behavioral health workers over two and a half years, part of a broader $21 million package running through 2026 that also includes a trauma-informed school transformation program at 10 Boston Public Schools. Disability Commissioner Kristen McCosh cautioned against moving directly to a fine structure for captioning non-compliance — noting the commission cannot process fine revenue — after Chair Wesley reported that a survey of 11 Boston businesses found just six with closed captions enabled, a rate state Sen. Michael Barrett reportedly views as too low to support statewide legislation. The board unanimously approved prior meeting minutes and deferred a vote on canceling the August meeting to June, with board member Olivia Richard arguing the extra session should be kept as a buffer ahead of a possible return to in-person meetings in the fall.