Disabled in Action
Encyclopedia
As stated on their website, the organizations aims to "fight to eliminate the barriers that prevent [people with disabilities] from enjoying full equality in American society."
DIA believes in the motto, "Nothing about us without us!"
The organization meets monthly in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and publishes a newsletter, in print and online, called The DIA ACTIVIST.
Disabled In Action, along with the New York City Commission on Human Rights, is involved with The One Step Campaign, a coalition of disability, advocacy and service organizations. The campaign encourages stores, restaurants and other places of public accommodation in the New York City area to provide wheelchair accessibility.
History
According to Judith E. Heumann, the organization was originally called "Handicapped in Action". She, along with the organization's other founders, disliked that name so they lobbied that the word "handicapped" was a "beggar's term." Heumann explained, "How could we, as a new organization, be calling ourselves 'Handicapped in Action'?" As a result, the name of the organization was changed to Disabled in Action.In the late 1970s, some Disabled In Action members formed a musical group called The DIA Singers and have recorded two albums, In Motion and ...and the Parking Spots Are Nothing But The Best.
On April 19, 2006, it was announced that after nearly 5 years, Duane Reade
Duane Reade
Duane Reade Inc., a subsidiary of the Walgreen Company, is a chain of pharmacy and convenience stores, primarily located in New York City, known for its high volume small store layouts in densely populated Manhattan locations...
, a chain of drugstores primarily located in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, finally agreed to settle with Disabled In Action to make all of its stores ADA
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 is a law that was enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1990. It was signed into law on July 26, 1990, by President George H. W. Bush, and later amended with changes effective January 1, 2009....
-compliant. According to the New York Daily News
New York Daily News
The Daily News of New York City is the fourth most widely circulated daily newspaper in the United States with a daily circulation of 605,677, as of November 1, 2011....
, Duane Reade estimates it will take two years to inspect and revamp its stores for wheelchair access.
NBC's original The More You Know
The More You Know
The More You Know is a series of Emmy award-winning public service announcements broadcast on the NBCUniversal family of channels in the United States and other locations. The spots feature personalities from various NBC shows...
logo is very similar to the DIA's logo. The DIA had considered legal action against NBC for copyright infringement, but has subsided those claims since the logo was changed.