Legally blind from a young age, David D’Arcangelo, is one of our nation's preeminent leaders on disability, public policy, government and our human condition. David’s distinguished career includes serving as Commissioner of the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB,) Council Member of the National Council on Disability (NCD), Director of the Massachusetts Office on Disability (MOD,) being elected three times as City Councilor At-Large and his current service as a Member of the Board of Directors for the National Industries for the Blind.
As a Gubernatorial appointee, David served MCB & MOD and led both agencies through extensive modernization and innovations that produced positive results for people with disabilities. As a Presidential appointee, David served NCD, which is an independent federal agency that plays a leading role in crafting disability policy, and advising the President, Congress, and other federal agencies on disability policies, programs, and practices.
David is known for his innovative ideas. He championed groundbreaking and transformative projects that led to increased independence and self-determination for people with disabilities. David’s experience is deep and includes service in the Governor’s Office, Massachusetts State Senate, and multiple executive agencies. Additionally, David is a trailblazer for people with disabilities by both serving as an elected official who openly identified as a person with a disability and being the first openly identified person with a disability to reach a statewide ballot when he was the 2014 GOP nominee for Secretary of State.
The Council of State Governments (CSG) recognized David as one of the 30 Leaders in the United States Impacting Disability Policy in their Capitol Ideas Magazine celebrating 30 years of the ADA. David also served on the national “Work Matters” Task Force, which designed a framework for states to use in workforce development for people with disabilities. David’s extensive speaking skills include presenting at the National ADA Symposium, the American Enterprise Institute, the National Governor’s Association State Learning Lab, and numerous other conferences, meetings, and events. He is the recipient of numerous awards and honors including the 2022 Toll Fellowship from the Council of State Governments; Marquis Who's Who in America 2021; I Migliori Government Service Award, Pirandello Lyceum, 2019; Community Collaborator of the Year Award, Career Collaborative, 2017, and others. One of David’s ideas was recently selected into the competitive 10X process, Project #11: Connecting the Vocational Rehabilitation Data Landscape.
Aligning his leadership with social responsibility, David has extensive experience within non-profit leadership and is owner of Arc Angel Communications LLC.
