Join Us!
DRAC is a true cross disability organization. We need the
talents and passion of everyone who shares our vision and goals.
We subscribe to
the pitchfork model of activism/advocacy. The prongs of the pitchfork of social
change are (these are not in any particular order) 1) Communication with those
with the power to make changes--faxes, emails, phone calls and letters. 2)
Meeting or working with those in power to make changes--public testimony,
serving on committees and boards, private meetings with lawmakers, bureaucrats,
etc. Numbers 1 and 2 may be considered working within the political process 3)
Use of the media--press conferences, letters to the editor, writing articles and
editorials for publication, appearing on talk shows, etc. 4) Use of
litigation--taking our complaints to the courts when we believe we have a
legitimate cause of action for defending our civil rights. 5)
Action--protests, which only occasionally involve getting arrested. Often
actions or protests and use of the media go hand in hand.
We believe there is a place for each of these change-making strategies. Therefore, there is a place for everyone in DRAC, so long as you believe in our principles. When you join DRAC we ask that you do something (After all, Action is our middle name), but it can be letter writing, article writing, serving on a committee or just showing up for a news conference. We will not ask that you do anything you are not comfortable with. Start with whatever level of activity you are comfortable with and go from there.
If you believe that nursing homes are not homes and are not fit places for people to live, if you believe that the only disability lies in the attitudes and barriers of society, if you believe we do not need fixing or preventing, if you believe that we have a right to live in the community, to access affordable and accessible housing, to basic medical care, to access businesses and government buildings, to employment and to all other opportunities that everyone else takes for granted, if you want to go where everyone has gone before, then join us! There is real power in numbers.
If you want to join, then fill out the simple on-line application below. Membership fees range from $0 to $5 a year, based on ability to pay.