James F. O’Donnell has practiced law in Boston in the area of disability law, with emphasis on advocacy for children with disabilities in educational settings. Jim served as Massachusetts Deputy Commissioner for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing from 1999 to 2003 and subsequently worked as Special Education Administrator in the Boston Public Schools. Before initiating private practice, Jim was Executive Officer of the Boston Retirement Board and a member of the Commission for Persons with Disabilities. He has also worked as a specialist in employee benefits and taxes in private industry. Jim holds degrees from Suffolk University Law School and Simmons College, where he earned a Masters Degree in Special Education. In addition, he has served as a volunteer in leadership positions for a variety of non-profit organizations, including the Boston Guild for The Hard of Hearing, Association of Late Deafened Adults, and Hearing Loss Association of America. He currently is a member of the Steering Committee of HLAA’s Boston chapter, Hear@Boston.
Jim writes about advocacy and the law. His essays include: