Commission Membership
| Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| Ed Augustus (Chair) | Secretary, Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities |
| William Joyce | Executive Director, Massachusetts Architectural Access Board |
| Richard Haggerty | House Chair, Joint Committee on Housing |
| Julian Cyr | Senate Chair, Joint Committee on Housing |
| Allan Motenko | Executive Director, Massachusetts Office on Disability |
| Michael Muehe | Access Analyst, Boston Center for Independent Living |
| Valerie Fletcher | Executive Director, Institute for Human Centered Design |
| David Gillespie | Senior Vice President for Development, Avalon Bay Communities |
| Matthew Steele | Staff Attorney, Disability Law Center |
| Catherine Boyle | Vice President, Autism Housing Pathways |
| Danna Mauch | President & CEO, Massachusetts Association for Mental Health |
Commission Charge
The Affordable Homes Act tasked the Accessible Housing Commission with:
(i) Examining accessibility features in residential housing that benefit persons with disabilities and seniors, including, but not limited to, features for individuals with physical, sensory, intellectual, mental health and neurodivergent disabilities;
(ii) Reviewing the definition of accessibility in housing for persons with disabilities and seniors;
(iii) Reviewing and considering the potential financial barriers, impacts on programs, and the impact of climate change on housing for persons with disabilities and seniors; and
(iv) Making recommendations, particularly related to the Massachusetts State Building Code (780 CMR).
Timeline and Methods
The commission first convened on March 18, 2025, and met each month through December 2025, both as a full body and in smaller, informal working group discussions. In these meetings, Commissioners worked to identify pressing challenges in expanding the supply of accessible housing and develop proposals for administrative, regulatory, and legislative actions which could help to mitigate or overcome these challenges. Throughout its work, the commission consulted with experts from across the Commonwealth and the United States who provide the services and support which these households need to thrive.
The recommendations contained in this report represent the consensus reached by the members of the Special Commission on Accessible Housing. They do not necessarily reflect the official positions of the Healey-Driscoll Administration, its constituent agencies, nor those of each individual Commission members. Rather, they are recommendations submitted to the Administration and the Legislature by the Special Commission as an independent advisory body for consideration and potential future action.