Chris Hoeh has brought his perspective of a person living with a spinal cord injury to a wide variety of disability rights work since 2017. Currently he is a MA Registered Advocate with the United Spinal Association, the vice chair of the Personal Care Attendant Workforce Council. Chris has taken an active role in a number of advocacy efforts including: Accessible MA, a legislative campaign to increase accessible workplaces and housing; organizing and direct engagement with state officials to improve Non-Emergency Medical Transportation for MassHealth members; and as a member of the home and community-based services (HCBS), communications, and coordinating committee of Dignity Alliance MA . In 2020, Chris received the Elmer Bartels Leadership Award from the Greater Boston Chapter of United Spinal Association.
Chris worked as an elementary educator for over 30 years. He developed an academically rigorous, multi-disciplinary, yearlong curriculum that followed the creation of clothing from cotton, connecting each step to historical and contemporary struggles in social justice. For this work, Chris received national recognition, including the Elementary Social Studies Teacher of the Year (National Council for Social Studies) and the Teaching Tolerance Award for Excellence in Teaching (Southern Poverty Law Center). Prior to his accident, Chris was an avid skier, mountain biker, and athlete. He is also the founder and Director of the Jamaican Plain Youth Soccer Academy for children in grades 1 to 4. Chris and his family live in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts.
In 2017, the Boston Globe wrote an article: In a time of crisis, Chris Hoeh’s generosity comes full circle.
Watch a Disability Law Center video about Chris.
Contact: cdhoeh@gmail.com