By Bob Katzen

The Senate approved legislation that would rename the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission to MassAbility, a change that supporters say will better and properly define the agency’s role in supporting residents with disabilities to live independently. In April, the House approved a different version of the bill and the Senate version now goes to the House for consideration.

Supporters said the name change reflects the intention of the commission to empower individuals living with disabilities and move away from outdated terminology as the office undergoes broad changes toward a more expansive model for disability employment services and independent living. They noted that the legislation also removes offensive terminology in current Massachusetts law referring to people with disabilities.

“This legislation is not just a name change but a mission enhancement,” said Sen. Nick Collins, Senate Chair of the Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight. “By defining the commonwealth’s response now with emphasis on the abilities of our citizens, we are taking the MassAbility Commission in a new proactive, positive direction to better serve the community’s needs.”

“This historic legislation represents the state’s commitment to propelling the disability movement forward,” said Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commissioner Toni Wolf. “Language has the power to shape people and culture, tackle stigmas, biases and stereotypes. For too long, the words we’ve used have not reflected the strengths, resilience and determination of the disability community. This legislation changes that. We are changing life in Massachusetts for the better, making it more equitable, accessible and inclusive for people with disabilities.”

“Every person has the right to live an independent and meaningful life regardless of ability, with the same access to work, housing and services that every resident deserves,” said Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland). “This name change reflects the strong work of MassAbility to deliver that access to every individual who works with them. In removing archaic laws, we are taking an important step toward making our laws reflective of the equitable commonwealth we continue to strive for.”