We are people with disabilities providing resources and support to others with disabilities and those who want to improve access. We are based in Boston but strive to assist all who see benefit to our services.
For more information about the Boston Self Help Center, please email Jim Wice at: info@bostonselfhelpcenter.org
History
Boston Self Help Center (BSHC) began in 1978 based on a peer-to-peer support model of working with individuals with disabilities which continues now into our 44th year. Over these many years we have found our programs and constituents involved in numerous activities which have included peer-to-peer support groups, paratransit transportation advocacy for those with physical disabilities, and more recently over the past nine years we have focused on adaptive sports and recreation in particular power wheelchair soccer. With this experience and relationships with area colleges providing volunteer student support, our ability to identify and incorporate individuals with spinal cord injuries, an active volunteer Board of Directors, and a strong relationship with a community facility with a gymnasium and other resources, we feel uniquely positioned to expand our role we now have two power soccer teams, are introducing volt hockey to the United States, and continuing to hold adaptive sports and recreation demonstrations.
After 9 years of competitive power wheelchair soccer play with our Boston team always being competitive and the organization meeting players needs and the needs to remain a member of the United States Power Soccer Association and the addition of the Baystate Falcons, we understand what it takes to introduce new individuals with both upper and lower body limitations to an adaptive sport and to help those who are interested obtain equipment for themselves or for the organization to do so. To accomplish this, we raise money for the equipment and travel, coordinate access to facilities, transport players, recruit/schedule volunteers, run our own successful annual tournament, and compete at the annual national tournament and more. We welcome the challenge to bring volt hockey to the United States with the hope that we will send a team and coaches to the World Cup this fall. We also feel a commitment to promoting adaptive sports and recreation opportunities to all individuals with disabilities and especially to those who have not had the opportunity to participate.
Board of Directors:
Ernest Aupperlee
Kim Damato
Jim Farrow, Treasurer
Aiden Fecteau
Karen Natola
Jim Wice, Chairman
In Memoriam:
Longtime board member and clerk, Betty Commerford
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/ledgertranscript/name/elizabeth-commerford-obituary?id=32404983Original starting member of the Boston Brakers, Larry Brennan
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/bostonglobe/name/laurence-brennan-obituary?id=21429400Original starting member of the Boston Brakers, John Winske
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/bostonglobe/name/john-winske-obituary?pid=197229021Longtime board member, Kathryn Piccard
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/bostonglobe/name/kathryn-piccard-obituary?id=15344186