★★★★★
24 Beacon Street
Boston, MA
Phone: 617-722-2000
http://www.sec.state.ma.us/trs/

035massachusettsstatehouseonducktour.jpgMy friends and I posted two previous wheelchair accessibility reviews of the Massachusetts State House in which we gave it 3 Stars on June 19, 2008 and 4 Stars on July 15, 2008. During our July 19 visit we met Carl Richardson, State House ADA Coordinator and Kinley, his beautiful black lab and seeing eye dog and they were kind to take us around the State House. We gave 5 Stars to Carl Richardson for being a great advocate for the disabled.

After reading the article,  ‘Disabled get more access at State House’ By John C. Drake / Globe Staff / September 30, 2008  we decided to now give Massachusetts State House 5 STARS for wheelchair accessibility due to all the improvements that Carl Richardson, State House ADA Coordinator has made. These improvements have not only improved accessibility for persons in wheelchairs but also have improved accessibility for the Blind and Hard of Hearing.

John C. Drake outlined the improvements that Carl Richardson, State House ADA Coordinator has made: new power door lifts, closed-captioning for webcasts of legislative debates; sign language interpreters available when requested for any proceedings; screens that can be placed in meeting rooms and that can display the text of a speaker’s words in real-time for hard of hearing; wheelchair access to all offices with permanent ramps installed at offices that previously were not accessible; power assisted doors throughout the State House; installation of ATMs with Braille; printed training materials and training sessions for legislative staff!

Carl Richardson is planning future improvements that will help make our State House the most accessible State House in the Country!! He is even planning on making  artwork in the State House  accessible for the blind, through audio descriptions. I’m legally blind and think this is a wonderful idea because I won’t have to depend on someone else to try to explain what is portrayed.

I give FIVE STARS to Massachusetts State House for Accessibility. I give FIVE STARS PLUS to Carl Richardson for a job well done!

Congratulations and Thanks to Carl Richardson, Governor Deval Patrick, Senate President Therese Murray, and House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi for making our State House Accessible to All.