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Permanent Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities
Board Information
Policy Area
LegislativePurpose
The commission shall work to advance the cause of all persons with disabilities in the commonwealth. The commission shall be empowered to (i) study, review, advise and report on: (A) any disparities across service or geographical areas concerning the range of available options within state disability services; (B) the status of transportation for persons with disabilities including access to employment opportunities; (C) the effect of public assistance for persons with disabilities as it pertains to earning limits and eligibility for subsidies for food, housing, child care and other benefits; (D) establishing school-to-work activities for transition aged youth with disabilities that establish a bridge to self-sufficiency and engage school supports, family members and employers; (E) the status of the strategic plan to make the commonwealth a model employer by seeking to increase the number of people with disabilities employed by the executive branch; (F) the enhanced enforcement of state requirements that promote diversity in state government employment; and (G) the number of persons with disabilities who apply for state disability services and are unsuccessful in receiving services; (ii) facilitate and promote public awareness to encourage inclusion of persons with disabilities as employees and vendors within the private and public sector workforce, including under-represented business sectors of all sizes; (iii) assess programs and practices in all state agencies as they affect persons with disabilities, as the commission deems necessary and appropriate; (iv) advise executive and legislative bodies regarding the impact of proposed legislation on persons with disabilities; and (v) promote and facilitate collaboration among local disability commissions, disability rights advocacy organizations and disability employment service providers.Legal Authority
Board Members
↓↓ Sort members table by selecting table header for Member, Seat Name, Appointing Authority, or Term End Date.
| Member↓↓ | Seat Name | Appointing Authority | Term End Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mr. Gyasi Omari Burks-Abbott | Governor Appointee 1 | Governor | March 31, 2024 |
| Mr. Charles Carr | Disability Policy Consortium | Ex Officio | - |
| Representative Gerard J. Cassidy | Speaker of the House 2 | House of Representatives | - |
| Representative Denise Garlick | Speaker of the House 1 | House of Representatives | - |
| Ms. Nancy Garr-Colzie | Governor Appointee 2 | Governor | March 31, 2024 |
| Representative Kay Khan | Speaker of the House 3 | House of Representatives | - |
| Mr. Andrew Levrault | ED, Disabled Persons Protection Commission | Ex Officio | - |
| Ms. Ann Lynch | Attorney General | Ex Officio | - |
| Mr. Felix Nicolas Martinez | Governor Appointee 3 | Governor | March 31, 2024 |
| Mr. Oswald Mondejar | Governor Appointee 7 | Governor | May 21, 2024 |
| Representative Mathew Muratore | House Minority Leader | House of Representatives | - |
| Ms. Bridget Murphy | State Secretary | Ex Officio | - |
| Ms. Angela N. Ortiz | Governor Appointee 4 | Governor | March 31, 2024 |
| Senator Patrick O’Connor | Senate Minority Leader | Senate | - |
| Ms. Kathy Petkauskus | UMASS Med, Work Without Limits | Ex Officio | - |
| Mr. Carl Richardson | Senate President 2 | Senate President | - |
| Ms. Nancy E. Rumbolt Trzcinski | Governor Appointee 6 | Governor | March 31, 2024 |
| Mr. Dan Shannon | MA Developmental Disabilities Council | Ex Officio | - |
| Mr. Paul Spooner | Senate President 1 | Senate President | - |
| Ms. Kerry Thompson | Governor Appointee 5 | Governor | March 31, 2024 |
| Mr. Christopher White | MA Assoc. Of Developmental Disabilities Providers | Ex Officio | - |
| Ms. Liz Zelnick | State Treasurer | Ex Officio | - |
| - | Senate President 3 | Senate President | - |