CHARTER AND BYLAWS OF THE YDMA DISABILITY CAUCUS
Charter:
1. Purpose and Mission: The Young Democrats Massachusetts Disability Caucus shall serve as the organizing body for both Young Democrats and Young at Heart who identify as having one or more disabilities. The goals of the caucus will be to promote accessibility and ADA compliance at meeting and convention spaces statewide, to raise awarenes
s about the disability community, and to include all young democrats with disabilities in the Commonwealth’s Democratic process.
2. Programming and Meetings:: Programming throughout the year shall include recruiting and registering Young Democrats with Disabilities, collaborations with Young Democrats and the State Disability Caucus, and events aimed at raising Disability awareness for Young Democrats, through collaborations with advocacy and awareness building organizations. Additionally, the board shall hold meetings both open to members and closed (board only) to plan and deliberate agenda and action steps for the caucus throughout the year. All programming and meetings must have a virtual component, with captioning provided when possible. Any in-person meeting locations must be ADA compliant. Eligibility: Includes all members of YDMA and its local chapters who 1. Are registered Democratic voters in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (if eligible) and 2. Personally identify as an individual with a disability. For guidance, a disability is any continuing condition that has the capacity to restrict everyday activities. Such impairments include intellectual, psychiatric, cognitive, neurological, sensory or physical impairment or a combination of those impairments. These include but are not limited to, (deafness, blindness, loss of physical limb, mobility issues, Autism Spectrum Disorders, ADHD/ADD, neurobiological developmental disorders, brain injury, or major neuron diseases.) Qualification is not restricted based on current functional limitations, as many conditions have the potential to impact everyday life. Members are never obligated to disclose any information about their condition(s). This body is a safe space and as such, members will never be require to provide proof of such a disability
Members will have the privilege to vote on agenda items and amendments at formal meetings as well as opportunities to assist the chair and vice chair in publicity, outreach, and membership recruitment. Democrats of all ages are welcome to take part, but caucus leadership and voting on official business is restricted to those ages 14-35, per Young Democrats organizational guidelines.
4. Board Positions and Membership: Board shall consist of a Chair, Vice Chair. All other eligible members may still vote on charter amendments and action steps at formal meetings, however the board has the right to call informal meetings as well as closed meetings in which only board members are present. The board shall consist of the following positions as defined accordingly:
-Chair: Shall be responsible for scheduling and facilitating meetings, as well as proposing any changes to by-laws and leadership. The Chair will also be responsible for steering the agenda of the caucus and is expected to be the point person in hosting events and in coordinating with other organizations.
-Vice Chair: The Vice Chair will assist the Chair in program design and outreach, as well as be responsible for all communications both internal and external, including social media and email releases. The Vice-Chair will also play a critical role in membership recruitment and retention. In the event the Chair position is vacated, the Vice Chair will assume the role of the chair.
-Secretary: The Secretary shall be responsible for all caucus records, minutes of meetings, and other caucus documentation. The secretary shall assist the chair and vice c0123
hair with communications both internal and external, including social media and email releases.
-Outreach Director: The Outreach Director shall assist the Vice Chair with membership recruitment and retention. publicity of events, recruitment of members, and coordination of the work of other Democratic organizations (i.e High School Dems and College Dems) in the state.
-Political Director: The Political Director shall serve as principal organizer and coordinator of membership involvement in legislation and campaigns.
5. Elections:
Elections will be held on annual basis and are open to all voting members. Any member who is eligible may be nominated at anytime, provided they have attended at least one formal meeting or event in the past year, which may include any formal meetings held concurrently with an election. In the case of a vacancy, the acting chair may call a formal meeting which will include a special election to nominate the vacant board position and in the interim appoint an officer to serve in the role. If a special election is not called, the chair will be responsible for recruiting and filling a vacancy until the next annual election.
