Accessibility of Massachusetts State House, Moving in the Right Direction

In January of 2005, the Disability Policy Consortium, (DPC) released the State House Accessibility Review and Evaluation, (SHARE report). The DPC is a statewide cross-disability organization whose mission it is to foster improved quality of life and greater independence for all Massachusetts residents with disabilities. The DPC regularly works with government officials here in Massachusetts in support of budgets for our disability agencies as well as legislation favorable to persons with disabilities. This means that DPC members spend a good deal of time in the Massachusetts State House.

AS the DPC matured, organizational leaders became increasingly frustrated with the lack of accessibility of our State House.

• Many of the doors were too heavy to be used independently by persons with physical disabilities;
• Lifts allowing access to certain areas of the State House were not being properly maintained;
• It was difficult to obtain documents in accessible formats;
• The State House website contained too many PDF documents that were difficult to access such as pending bills and annual budgets which are rather voluminous;
• It was very difficult to get sign language interpreters for important public meetings and hearings;
• Employees were sometimes insensitive to the needs of persons with lesser-known disabilities.

This is how the SHARE Report came into being. This 48-page document contains the results of an extensive accessibility review conducted by members of the DPC and staff of the Massachusetts Office on Disability. This review included physical barriers, barriers to information, attitudinal barriers and problems on the website.

The powers that be here in Massachusetts have so far responded favorably to most elements of the Share report. In August of 2007, Carl Richardson was hired as the State House ADA Coordinator. Carl has been given broad ranging authority to make the State House more accessible including a considerable budget. Richardson is taking a four-pronged approach to improving accessibility:

1. Physical Barriers:

Our State House presents unique challenges to physical accessibility. It was built in a number of stages beginning way back in 1791. Paul Revere helped lay the foundation for the first section. The building features historical architecture which would be very difficult to alter and a few nooks that are at a slightly higher level than the main floor. This necessitates the use of lifts. Richardson says that one of the keys to maintaining good physical access is consistent monitoring of these lifts to ensure that they are always in good working order. Richardson says that all of the doors that do not meet accessibility standards because they are too heavy now have automatic openers.

2. Access to information:

This means a website that is accessible to the blind and visually impaired, documents in accessible formats and the availability of American Sign Language interpreters. Richardson has overseen improvements to the website so that pending bills are now available in html format. This is especially helpful when the budget is released as it is now much easier to search for specific sections of the document. Richardson has developed lists of interpreters and reached out to committee chairs so as to monitor the dates of important hearings. He says that if a person who is deaf requests an interpreter for a given hearing, odds are very good that one will be available. One can even request an interpreter on the State House website. This was most definitely not the case before Richardson was hired. Richardson has also purchased a Braille embosser and translation software. Within the next few months, he will be able to fill requests for Braille documents. He is already filling requests for large print documents. Another barrier to information has also been resolved. The SHARE Report noted that some of the Braille and large print signage had errors or was confusing. He has overseen the installation of newer signs that will assist all visitors in navigating an older building with lots of nooks and crannies.

3. Attitudinal Barriers:

Richardson is working on a comprehensive training program for all State House employees, which is designed to cover a wide range of disabilities and the accessibility needs of persons with disabilities. He also hopes to prepare a disability guide in pamphlet form to distribute to all State House offices. “I want accessibility to be built into all programs and services from the ground up rather than being added in later”, says Richardson.

4. Outreach:

Richardson is getting the word out to consumer organizations, service providers and government agencies that the State House is becoming a friendlier place for persons with disabilities. He is also in the process of creating an advisory committee made up of persons with disabilities, legislators and State House employees.

Given that change usually happens very slowly within government agencies, I am impressed with all the improvements that have been made since the publication of the SHARE report. Let us hope that Carl Richardson and those that follow in his footsteps will maintain and improve accessibility at the State House. Accessibility to the State House for persons with disabilities means access to the democratic process.

Check out the Massachusetts’ State House website at www.mass.gov/legis
To read the SHARE Report, go to www.dpcma.org, click on publications and then click on State House Accessibility Review.