Celebrating 30 Years of A.D.A. CFS Recognizes the Work of Chris Hoeh

By: Diane Marangoly

Director of Development In September 2019, the Disability Law Center (D.L.C.) and Communication released a short documentary film, Wheels of Justice, Celebrating 30 years of the American MassHealth the standing wheelchair that had been Disability Act (A.D.A.), I thought it was prescribed for him to how D.L.C.’s legal advocacy helped most fitting to do a feature on Chris Hoeh, him to win the appeal. Chris allows the viewers to see former CFS grade 2 teacher (1997-2012 and 2013-2016), grade some of the challenges and supports he receives to live 5 teacher (2012-2013), and volunteer (2019-2020). You may a full life with a spinal cord injury. remember that his antibias teaching at CFS was It shines a light on the need for recognized by Teaching Tolerance in 2014 and appropriate wheelchair technology, he was named the national elementary social equipment, and unfortunately, the studies teacher of the year by the National necessity of legal representation. Council for Social Studies in 2015. Chris has been living with paralysis since a spinal cord As Chris stated in the documentary, injury in February 2017 as a result of a skiing “The stakes of this hearing were accident. He has worked tirelessly towards my life,” which acknowledged his access and inclusion, advocating for the legal need to live a more independent, and human rights of persons with disabilities. productive, and active life, along with Reflecting on his work, Chris states, “I feel his personal need to be able to look like my training, what I’ve been doing, and people in the eye. In an interview the teaching I did at CFS really reinforced my with Chris, he further added, “We’re understanding of how essential it is to be Chris passionately advocating for really pushing back on the idea of active - civically active. It’s our responsibility as disability rights. disability as being about medical human beings to try to make the world a more issues rather than how people are just place.” disabled by barriers societies install or refuse to remove. Since his injury, Chris indicated that he has learned a lot solution to most of our challenges are social changes. more about the history of confronting ableism and society’s And these changes, like curb cuts, benefit everyone.” The pervasive negative attitude towards disability. He recalled the online release of the documentary has been delayed by Ugly Laws which deemed it illegal for people with disabilities to the COVID-19 pandemic. To view a trailer of Wheels of appear in public, the eugenics movement that pinned disabled Justice, please visit: https://vimeo.com/374957367. people amongst other groups as unfit for society, and how the Supreme Court even ruled in favor of forced sterilization. Chris is one of the central organizers of a campaign to Chris referenced National Public Radio’s podcast “Through Line increase the amount of accessible housing and remove A.D.A. Now” as a resource for learning more about the history barriers to employment. This has included advocating of the A.D.A. and disability rights. Chris recognizes that he has for the ACCESSIBLE MA Act legislation. This bill will benefited from the work of the disability rights advocates, but expand the powers of the state’s Architectural Access there is much work yet to be done. which followed Chris’ journey from being denied by We [disabled people] have medical issues, but the

Board (A.A.B.) to enforce accessibility requirements for more about the fight for disability rights and the origins of apartments created when old, large buildings like mills the independent living movement. are renovated for housing and allow the agency to finally enact regulations to make new workplaces accessible as Furthering his work, Chris is volunteering as a member described in the A.D.A. The pandemic has made the need of the coordinating committee for the Dignity Alliance for housing for seniors and people with disabilities even Massachusetts, a new coalition that formed this summer as more evident as a safer alternative to nursing homes. the pandemic brought attention to the tragic deficiencies of In a letter to the editor of The Boston our care for elders and persons with disabilities. The Alliance Globe on October 15, 2020, Chris noted calls for radical restructuring of nursing that “...1 in 7 residents [of nursing homes and for policies that put the dignity homes] died, accounting for more of individuals first, provide affordable than 60 percent of COVID-19 deaths options for community living, and increase in the Commonwealth.” In the fall of the wages and benefits for caregivers and 2019, Chris was part of an ultimately service workers in nursing centers, homes, successful effort to protect the power and community-based settings. and independence of the A.A.B. from the actions of the Baker administration. Due to COVID-19, Chris is no longer Serving as the Advocacy Representative of his spouse and CFS Grade 1 Teacher, for the Greater Boston Chapter of the Laurie Bozzi. He has also had to cut back United Spinal Association, Chris has on his work as the founding director of the been involved with numerous projects and brought others from the community Chris pictured with former student (grade 2 and 5) and organizer, Jack Torres, during the Jamaican Plain Youth Soccer Academy for children in grades 1 to 4. Eagerly awaiting into that work. He has collaborated with March for Our Lives rally. the day when he can return to these disability rights lawyers and the Boston passions of his, Chris remains committed to Center for Independent Living to try to radically reform being a strong advocate for social justice and disability rights the MassHealth program that provides transportation for in our community. Thank you, Chris, for all that you do! members going to and from medical appointments. Chris is also working with another group that is advocating that the state provide the correct wheelchairs or other durable medical equipment and make sure that any repairs are completed quickly. These devices are what allows many people to get out of bed, out of their homes, and participate in their communities.

More recently, Chris became the Vice Chair for the MassHealth Personal Care Attendant (P.C.A.) Program. P.C.A.’s provide care and services that allow seniors and people with disabilities to live in and be productive members of their communities. Along with housing, these services are the cornerstones of the independent living movement. Chris suggests watching the Crip Camp documentary on Netflix produced by the Obamas to learn volunteering in the first-grade classroom

Chris leads drills with a group of students in the Jamaica Plain Youth Soccer Academy in Fall 2018.