Detroit Disability Power
Detroit Disability Power is a disability-led membership organization that aims to build the organizing power of the disability community to influence policy. They advocate on a city, county, state, and federal level to ensure that disabled people’s needs are met, and lives are improved. They also run community-based programs such as DanceAbility and Community Care Circles. DDP believes that true inclusion is revolutionary and that disability is a positive part of the human experience.
Detroit Disability Power’s first birthday party, June 2019. Photo by Shin-Yi Wang. A diverse group of visibly disabled, invisibly disabled and non-disabled people hold up a banner reading “Interdependence is survival - Naomi Ortiz. Disability Justice is Environmental Justice is Racial Justice.” while holding their fists in the air. They are in front of a colorful mural of a young child holding up a flower in their hand.
Detroit Disability Power is a social justice organization working to dismantle systems of oppression & build political power among the disability community. Since September of 2020, Ani has developed and managed DDP’s Disability Access Consulting (DAC) program offering fee-for-service consulting with organizations across industries to address a range of accessibility solutions. Major clients include JARC, City of Detroit Housing & Revitalization Department, Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, Bedrock Detroit & Decked Out Detroit, Allied Media Projects, Huron Clinton Metro Parks, Groundwork Collaborative, American Studies Association, General Motors, Center for Innovation in Worker Organizing (CIWO) at Rutgers and more.
Access Workshop - Red Bull Arts Detroit, October 2019. A side view of arts practitioners, curators, artists, and the other accessibility consultants sit in chairs and on the floor across from Ani as she presents components in an exhibition space that create accessibility.