Boston Disability Advisory Board Approves Minutes, Hears BPS Inclusion Data and Adaptive Sports Update

Uncategorized · Meeting of July 19, 2026

Boston's disability advisory board hears adaptive sports expansion, BPS inclusion gaps at July meeting. The Mayor's Commission for Persons with Disabilities Advisory Board unanimously approved its April and May meeting minutes at its July 19 session, chaired by Wesley Ireland. Jim Weiss, board president of Boston Self-Help Center, described two adaptive power soccer teams heading to nationals in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and a bolt hockey program of roughly 22 interested participants that has been invited to compete at a world cup in Sweden September 16 through 18 with an allotment of 20 spots.

Boston Public Schools Assistant Superintendent for Special Education Ethan presented data showing 10,167 students hold active IEPs, with 28.9 percent of students with disabilities educated in substantially separate settings — a rate the presenter called "too many" — and Black students overrepresented in substantially separate placements compared to white students, of whom 67.3 percent are served in inclusive settings. Board member Olivia Richard drew attention to a counterintuitive finding that white students have the highest rate of out-of-district placement, which the presenter acknowledged as "another version of disproportionality." Commissioner Kristen McCosh confirmed the city is planning to make its pandemic-era outdoor dining program permanent, and board member Carl Richardson agreed to draft an accessibility standards letter in time for a vote at next month's meeting.

In the full story:

• Commissioner Kristen McCosh delivered a wide-ranging update. Key items
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 3,381 words

Source: the Uncategorized meeting of July 19, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.