Weekly Message From Commissioner McCosh In Assist Of Native Incapacity Group

February 17, 2021

Dear members of the Disability Community,

“As we know, the disabled community includes people of all ages, genders, ethnicities, races and economic backgrounds. Much effort is being made to recognize this intersectionality in the disabled community – not just to ensure inclusion, but also to ensure civil rights those in every protected class.

The ADA followed the civil rights movement and provided a model for disability advocates. While we have much more to do with equality between people of color and people with disabilities, these laws have opened a way forward for proponents.

With that in mind, I’d like to take a moment to talk about Black History Month, which was celebrated in February to honor the achievements of people with color. I want to highlight the work of some strong African American advocates of disability. The following short list is the names of some people you may recognize but who you may not know have had a disability.

For more information on benefits for black people with disabilities, please visit RespectAbility, who compiled this list. We honor their work and continue to follow in their footsteps

As always, please feel free to contact us if you need any information or assistance. You can dial 311 to reach City Hall or call us at 617-635-3682. Our email is [email protected] and for the latest updates, please visit Boston.gov.

Please stay informed until next week, stay safe and stay healthy. ”

With best regards,

Commissioner Kristen McCosh

This press release was produced by the City of Boston. The views expressed here are the author’s own.