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Disability Commission Advisory Board

The advisory group of Boston residents keeps the City's Commission for Persons with Disabilities updated on issues of importance in the local disability community.

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The Commission facilitates full and equal participation in all aspects of life by persons with disabilities in the City of Boston. They strive to reduce architectural, procedural, attitudinal, and communication barriers that affect persons with disabilities. 

Download Advisory Board By-Laws

Upcoming meetings

Upcoming meetings
Disability Commission Advisory Board Remote Meeting
On Dec 11

Dec 11

Board members

The board consists of thirteen members appointed by the Mayor. Learn more about the board members.

The majority of members are persons with disabilities, but:

  • one of the members may be a member of the immediate family of a person with a disability, and
  • one member may be appointed as an official of the City of Boston and shall be an ex-officio member.

Current members

Member Appointed Expires Status
Kristen McCosh 1/6/2014 Active
Carl Richardson 1/18/2023 6/1/2026 Active
Jerry Boyd 7/13/2020 6/1/2023 Active
Dusya Lyubovskaya 7/13/2020 6/1/2023 Active
Zary Amirhoussini 1/18/2023 5/1/2025 Active
Olivia Richard 1/18/2023 8/1/2024 Active
Juan Ramirez-Tapia 1/18/2023 8/1/2024 Active
Elizabeth Dean-Clower 1/18/2023 8/1/2024 Active
G. Paul Caron 1/18/2023 8/1/2024 Active
Wesley Ireland 1/18/2023 8/1/2024 Active
Richard Glovsky 1/18/2023 1/6/2026 Active
Charlie Kim 9/19/2022 1/6/2025 Active
Paulette Spriggs Durrett 1/6/2023 1/6/2026 Active
Tara Southard 8/5/2024 1/1/2027 Active

2024 meetings

Commission Advisory Board meetings are open to the public. Everyone interested in issues affecting the disability community in the City of Boston is welcome to attend.

Attendees are welcome and encouraged to bring their own concerns affecting the disability community to meetings. A section of the meeting agenda is reserved for public input. Meetings are televised live and streamed online with captioning.  

When:

Once a month on Wednesday's from, 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Where:

Boston City Hall, 1 City Hall Square

5th floor, Iannella Chamber

Boston, MA 02201

2024 meeting dates
Standard agenda
  • Call to Order
  • Introductions
  • Approval of Minutes
  • Chair’s Report
  • Commissioner's Report – Kristen McCosh
  • Architectural Access Update – Patricia Mendez
  • Old Business
  • Old Action Items
  • New Business
  • New Action Items
  • Public Input
  • Adjournment

Meetings are broadcast live on Comcast channel 24, and RCN channel 13, as well as live online.

The public is always welcome to attend advisory board meetings without prior notice. However, if a larger group would like to attend, we would request that they RSVP to the Commission for Persons with Disabilities at 617-635-3682 or disability@boston.gov. It would assist us in arranging the meeting space.

Board activities

  • Successfully advocated for the appointment of a Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities.
  • Planned with the City and AAB regarding streetscape improvements, including an accessible route across City Hall Plaza to be finished by November 2011.
  • Reached agreement with the City on the repair of Huntington Avenue by installing a concrete path of travel over the next three years.
  • Helped prioritize curb cut and sidewalk repairs throughout the city. Successfully advocated for a change of sidewalk crossing design on Forsyth Way in Fenway.
  • Wrote letters and testified before the ZAB on applications for variances.
  • Researched, wrote letters, and testified in favor of Department of Public Health regulation change to allow flexibility regarding central air-conditioning in apartment buildings.
  • Consulted with Transportation Department on sidewalk surface materials and HP parking.
  • Reached agreement with the City to no longer use City Hall paver bricks.
  • Worked with the Hackney Division to ensure access to accessible cabs.
  • Worked with the City and MBTA on snow clearance responsibilities.
  • Advocated for the implementation of a citywide ADA transition plan.

Board information

Resources:
Enabling legislation
Boards and commissions information

Minutes, agendas, and reports

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