Chud Named Chair, Arrigo Vice Chair of WeHo’s Disabilities Advisory Board

James Chud and Michael Arrigo were named chair and vice chair, respectively, of West Hollywood’s Disabilities Advisory Board at Wednesday’s board meeting.

The board, composed of community members appointed by the City Council, meets monthly to address the needs of the disabled community, including people affected by ADA compliance and whose disabilities affect their transportation and housing needs and access to city government. Five members are appointed by individual council members and four by the council at-large. They each serve two-year terms.

Chud, a 36-year survivor of HIV, is a board member of the National AIDS Housing Coalition and commissioner for the Los Angeles County HIV Commission. Previously, he was a member of the LA County’s Hepatitis C Task Force. He was appointed to the disabilities board by Councilmember Jeffrey Prang.

Arrigo, an at-large appointee, was awarded the 2007 Individual Disability Service Award by the disabilities board. He lost his eyesight at the age of 20 and has been HIV-positive for over 20 years. Arrigo has volunteered for The Braille Institute, the Center for the Partially Sighted, Being Alive’s Speakers Bureau and the CONNECT Program, a transportation assistance program for seniors and people living with disabilities. Arrigo has been appointed to the Community Advisory Committee for Access Services, a county transportation service providing transportation for people living with disabilities, and has served on the Service Animal Subcommittee and Mobility Transition Subcommittee.