Boston announces new standards for disability data

15 July 2024

by Jonathan Andrews

New disability-aware standards have been issued by the City of Boston to improve the collection of disability data from residents throughout government processes and their implementation by city workers.

The new standards will support the City of Boston’s workers – who design and operate services, programmes and policies related to disability data – to provide a better user experience and expand opportunities for people with disabilities.

​“Our goal in city government is ensuring that our policies, programmes and services reach everyone and affirm and support our residents each and every day,” said Michelle Wu, Mayor of Boston. “Boston is home to over 78,000 residents with disabilities and we know historically this community has not been fully included in city services and underserved in data standardisation efforts.”

The new guidelines will create a common format for all city departments to collect data on disability – aiming to improve city services and creating a more welcoming experience for residents.

Before the release of the new data standard, Boston primarily collected data on disability with the Disability Survey of Boston residents; however data collection from that effort was too limited. The new disability data standard will collect more meaningful data to ensure city programmes and services are accessible, welcoming, and inclusive to people with disabilities.

“Understanding how disability impacts residents’ participation in City of Boston programmes and services is much more valuable than knowing residents’ medical diagnosis, in most cases,” said City of Boston Disability Commission and ADA Title II Coordinator Kristen McCosh. “We expect the new data standardisation to be more effective when planning and implementing programmes, events, and services, because now we are asking people what people really need.”

Julia Gutiérrez, Boston’s Chief Digital Officer added that her department applied a lot of the lessons learned from developing the Gender-Aware Guidelines and Standards to the collection of data about disability.

“The Disability Data Standard will help ensure more consistent data collection across departments and programmes focused on what constituents need, which makes it easier for the city to understand where we can and should invest in accessibility from both a technology and programme design perspective.”

Image: Demerzel21 | Dreamstime.com

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