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Did you know?

Judy Heumann, author of the engrossing memoir Being Heumann, and a central figure in the Oscar-nominated documentary film, Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution, died on March 4 at age 75. Paralyzed by polio at age 2, Judy faced and overcame barriers at school and at work that seem barbaric today, then went on to spearhead the passage of fundamental disability rights legislation in the 70s. Over her decades-long career in Federal administrations, nonprofit institutes, and advocacy orgs, Judy touched almost everyone working on disability inclusion, including staff in Brookline’s Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Community Relations, and members of our Commission on Disability. Judy’s charisma, determination, keen reason, and humor are on display in her memoir and related kids’ book, Rolling Warrior (both available from the Brookline Library, and several booksellers) and in the film (available on Neflix). A bonus for those of us who were alive in the 70’s: Crip Camp will bring back some of the feelings of passion, freedom and hope we may be missing nowadays!

Spotlight Organization(s!)

March is national Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Awareness Month, and the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America is offering four online educational events through April to enhance understanding. Closer to home, the New England chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society now offers a virtual Greater Boston -focused support group. For those not-too-familiar with MS: did you know that it’s the most common progressive neurologic disease of young adults worldwide, and that it takes two major forms, exacerbating/remitting and progressive? But as with many diseases and injuries of the central nervous system, how and when symptoms are experienced or exhibited by an individual is almost as unique as they are. For a quick overview, see the NMSS brochure, What is Multiple Sclerosis? And remember: disability can be invisible or utterly apparent, mild or severe, constant or intermittent, life-long or acquired through trauma, disease or aging…it’s a part of each of us, and of our community of fellow mortals!

News & Events

Massachusetts Office on Disability Employment Workshop: Deciding to Disclose

How does a person with a disability decide whether or not to disclose it at any stage of the employment process?

Date: Wednesday, March 15, 2023, 9:30am - 10:30am

Contact: Massachusetts Office on Disability Client Assistance Program, 617-727-7440

The director of Abilities Dance Boston will be presenting the troupe’s “Intersections V2” initiative, which explores how racial justice and disability rights advocacy interconnect, at the main branch of the Brookline Public Library and via livestream on March 30, 7:00pm-8:00pm.

The Kelly Brush Foundation Active Fund, which provides generous grants for adaptive sports equipment for people with paralysis caused by spinal cord injury, is accepting applications for the Spring funding round until April 12. KBF is headquartered in Vermont, but if you want to meet the people who run it and those who’ve become part of its community, attend A Night to Inspire at Artists for Humanity in the Seaport District, Boston on March 30!

The Brookline Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Relations has released the 2023 Diverse and Inclusive Business Directory, which celebrates and promotes Brookline’s diverse, accessible, and inclusive independent businesses. Ten new businesses were added to the directory this year! Want to get into the 2024 Directory? Submit the form!

Join Us!

BCOD meets monthly, typically on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 5:30 pm. The public is always welcome! Check the town calendar 48 hours in advance to see the agenda and info on how to participate: www.brooklinema.gov/calendar.aspx.