Some folks believe providing direct services to individuals, as a case manager for instance, is band-aid work. They say one can really only have an impact on society's problems through affecting policy. On the other hand, policy-making can distance advocates from real people and they sometimes lose touch with what is going on in the real world. Both approaches to disability advocacy have their place and will be discussed in this article as 'micro' and 'macro' disability advocacy.

Micro-Advocacy

The Hawkins Center of Law and Services for the Disabled, located in Richmond, CA, is a non-profit organization that provides expert legal assistance and support services for people with disabilities. This is an example of what I call micro -advocacy. The staff focuses on assisting individuals who receive or are applying to receive Social Security disability benefits. The Center provides the following services and programs: Children's SSI Disability Program, Community Education, HIV Legal Services, a Helpline, Homeless Advocacy Program, Legal Representation and a Social Work Program.  

Hybrid Organization

The Independent Living Resource Center of San Francisco (ILRCSF) does a little bit of both micro- and macro-advocacy. The staff works one-on-one with individuals to help them secure employment, housing, etc. (micro), and advocates to promote systems change to help disabled people gain full access to services, locations and activities (macro). ILRCSF has the following programs: Latino Outreach Program, Chinatown Outreach Program, Tools for Living-Assistive Technology Program, a Peer Counseling and Peer Training Program, and a Transition to Community Living Program, among others. They provide personal assistance services, housing advocacy and counseling, community leadership and advocacy, opportunities for mentoring, information and referral, and benefits and employment planning advice.

Macro Advocacy

Disability Rights Advocates (DRA) is a macro advocacy law firm based in Oakland, California. The attorneys at DRA work to increase access for people with disabilities in the United States. Some of their recent victories include:

• a "complete overhaul of the California State Department of Corrections/California Youth Authority's systems to address illegal and inhumane conditions" - important because 85 percent of youth wards have disabilities according to recent estimates;

• Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ordered the City of Sacramento to improve access to all pedestrian rights of way and sidewalks;

• More than 1000 Deaf United Parcel Service workers won a class action lawsuit requiring UPS to cease systematic employment discrimination; and finally,

• the first chain-wide retail disability access settlement in the nation - Macy's must make the merchandise of all 75 California stores completely accessible to disabled persons.

For details on these and other cases visit http://www.dralegal.org.

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