James T. Brett to serve on President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities

President Biden announced the appointment of MAMH Board member James T. Brett to serve as a member on the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities (PCPID).

PCPID acts as a federal advisor to the President and the Secretary of Health and Human Services on a broad range of topics that impact people with intellectual disabilities. Individuals appointed to this Committee represent the diversity of America and include people with intellectual disabilities and their family members, researchers, service providers, and other professionals, community and business representatives, and systems advocates.

A former state representative, Brett served on PCPID under former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, including one term as chair from 2011 to 2013. Brett has served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the New England Council, the nation’s oldest non-partisan regional business association, since 1996. As a disability rights advocate, Brett serves as Chairman of both the Massachusetts Governor’s Commission on Intellectual Disabilities and the Disabled Persons Protection Commission. He also serves as Vice Chairman on the National Council on Disability.

Brett has been recognized for his dedication to disabilities rights. He was inducted into the Massachusetts Special Olympics Hall of Fame and received the Disability Law Center’s Edward M. Kennedy Leadership Award. Additionally, the University of Massachusetts Boston established the nation’s only endowed chair in disability and workforce development in his name, the James T. Brett Chair.

As former President and current member of the MAMH Board, Brett has played a significant role in MAMH’s continued efforts to advance mental health and well being, eliminate stigma and discrimination, and ensure full social, economic, and political inclusion in all aspects of community life.

Brett’s leadership and experience will help inform national disability policy, and we congratulate him on this meaningful and impactful honor.