An Interview with Carl Richardson, ADA Coordinator
Tell me a little bit about yourself. Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Framingham, Massachusetts. I was born hard of hearing and have always worn hearing aids. At the age of 4 I was diagnosed with Aphasia, a communications disorder, so I was sent to Boston School for the Deaf to learn how to communicate. I was there until the age of 10. I was then mainstreamed into public schools. My senior year in high school was when I was diagnosed with Ushers Syndrome and found out that long with the hearing loss that I would slowly go blind.
Never the less, I went to college and got a degree in Film and Television. I moved out to Hollywood and worked on a few films and tv series but eventually my vision loss progressed to the point of where I had to give up driving so I moved back home and after several years of self-doubt I finally went back into tv and film by working for the Media Access Group at WGBH. This was the best of both worlds. I had a job with my first love of film and television but was also working to make media accessible to people with disabilities.
After several years, I lost my job down to downsizing and during my job search I saw a position for ADA Coordinator for the State House. I applied and got the job and and I am still here 11 years later.
What are your duties here as the ADA coordinator? How long have you been in this position?
I have been ADA Coordinator for 11 years now. My essential duties is to make the programs, services, and activities of the State House accessible to people of all abilities. This can be anything to architectural barrier removal and improvements at the State House, to working on creating an accessible website, to providing communications access for the deaf and hard of hearing.
What are some of the things you’ve worked on while in the position?
I have worked with Legislative Information Services on helping to create an accessible legislative website, I have installed accessible bathrooms, and new wheelchair lifts and help provide access to hundreds of visitors who attend lobbying and advocacy days at the State House.
How did you first come into this industry? How did you know you wanted to be an ADA coordinator?
I came into the industry by accident. I originally wanted to work in film and television. In my previous career, I worked as a marketing rep for a division at WGBH where we worked to make television accessible for the blind and hard of hearing community. When I saw the impact it made on those who had disabilities, I knew then I would always be an advocate. When I found this job and saw that I could be paid to be one, well that was just amazing.
I see you have a service dog. How does the dog help you on a daily basis?
The dog is a guide dog who has been trained to guide me because of my vision impairment. He helps me navigate around so I do not bump into things and get hurt. He helps me to commute to work everyday on busews and subways and go back and forth from home to work and and public spaces.
What is a typical day in the life for you?
A typical day in the life for me is no different than it is for those without disabilities. I wake up, go to work, go home, pay bills, do chores, maybe watch a movie, go for a walk with my wife and then go to bed.
Now not to say that it takes more effort than those who are not blind or visually impaired, but I basically have the same dreams, desires, hopes, and ambitions that everyone else has.
Anything else you want me to know?
Nope.