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March 19, 2024 Clouds | 34°F
The 193rd General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Accessibility Initiatives

This Massachusetts General Court and the Bureau of State Office Buildings (BSB) is proud to work together in a collaborative effort to ensure that all of the State House's many programs, services, and activities are fully accessible. Below you will find some of the many improvements to the State House, along with a number of future initiatives that are in progress as we continue working to improve the visitor experience for all! If you have any suggestions, please contact Carl Richardson, our State House ADA Coordinator, at 617-727-1100 x35502 or via email at carl.richardson@state.ma.us.

Improvements

  • Installation of benches throughout the State House
  • Installation of several power-assisted doors
  • Installation of new mobility lifts in historic Doric Hall and 4th Floor
  • Conducted several trainings with front line staff on the ADA and "Disability Etiquette" to improve the visitor experience.
  • New and improved accessible signage throughout the building
  • Installation of new and improved Assistive Listening Devices
  • New and updated sound system in Hearing Rooms
  • Wheelchairs and walkers now available by request for public use
  • Worked with Secretary of State's Tour Division to make tours more accessible
  • Fully accessible public website
  • Provision of Communications Access for deaf and hard of hearing community, including sign language interpreters and CART
  • All major public spaces have been wired to provide real-time captioning for live events
  • All formal sessions of the Massachusetts House and Senate are captioned on the General Court's website for the deaf and hard of hearing community
  • Installation of ADA compliant stanchions for cane detections and safety
  • Instituted a weekly check of all lifts to ensure full usability
  • Provide a resource to the legislature and state agencies
  • Help make community events at the State House accessible

Planned Initiatives

  • Launching of Braille production services
  • Fully accessible Wayfinding Services for visitors to the State House
  • New and improved safety sensors and announcements in elevators throughout the State House
  • Launching of State House Access Advisory Council with members from the disability community
  • And much more