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All About the Disability Organizing Network
Photo of organizer in San Jose for Disability Pride Parade. Photo of organizer in San Jose for Disability Pride Parade.

In 1997, the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers (CFILC) was awarded a federal grant to build a statewide Disability Organizing Network to educate and organize California’s Disability Community. From 1997 to 2002 CFILC employed 29 Empowerment Team Leaders that worked within the 28 Independent Living Centers through the state.

In 2003, we embraced a new model, one that moved the funding and employment of Empowerment Team Leaders to their local Independent Living Centers, and changing their title to Disability Organizing Advocate. This set the stage for stronger local advocacy strategies and community involvement. The Disability Organizing Network has had many organizing and advocacy successes some of which include increasing the accessibility of polling places, increasing awareness about the lack of access to electronic voting machines, increasing access to airport shuttle services, homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters, housing, transportation, assistive technology and durable medical equipment and medical supplies and healthcare.

In 2012, the Disability Organizing Network is moving into the social networking world with the launch of this DOnetwork website, and we are focusing on organizing local initiatives statewide. We are building local action teams to support the implementation of Olmstead through increasing access to accessible, affordable integrated housing, increasing access to accessible and affordable transportation options, promoting the inclusion of Disability History in California Schools, increasing awareness of about the frequency and impact of bullying on youth with disabilities, increasing civic participation through non-partisan voter education, voter registration and get out the vote activities.

Our Focus
Photo of another organizer in San Jose for Disability Pride Parade.

The Disability Organizing Network focuses on five areas:

  • Community Organizing
  • Voter Education
  • Olmstead
  • Housing & Transportation
  • Schools
Community Organizing

The Disability Organizing Network is working to include people with disabilities in the discussions that impact their lives. The Independent Living Movement is organizing and growing, reminding the world: "Nothing about US without US!" An organized community resembles the people who make it up. It starts small and grows, developing the talents and skills of its members. The Disability Organizing Network works to grow the disability community to be recognized amongst decision makers in California.

Please join DOnetwork to build a larger and more effective Independent Living Movement in your community by clicking here to contact your local Disability Organizing Advocate.

Voter Education

Voting is our opportunity to express an independent voice for people living in our democracy. In California our goals are to:

  • Organize voter registration and education to build a larger Independent Living Voter Block
  • Educate voters and candidates on issues important to people with disabilities
  • Provide the best access to voting and education to voters

Please help us build a larger Independent Living Voting Block by contacting your local Disability Organizing Advocate.


Photo of two men at an independent living center.
Olmstead, Housing and Transportation

The Supreme Court's 1999 Olmstead decision validates the rights of people with disabilities to live in community settings instead of institutions. The 2010 passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, known as health care reform, is driving immense changes to long-term living programs and services that will potentially have a positive and lasting impact on the Olmstead implementation in the state. These changes involve:

  • A shift to managed care, including long-term services and supports
  • Opportunities for expanding the number of people who receive services
  • Opportunities for reducing institutionalization and fragmentation
  • Opportunities to expand peer services, business opportunities and jobs for people with disabilities.

Disability rights organizers will carefully assess all of the opportunities, as well as the challenges, involved in this system re-design. Advocates will work to protect what is strong in the current system, while staying open and engaged to all possibilities of positive change.

Schools

The Disability Organizing Network Advocates are collaborating with the California Foundation for Independent Living Center's program Youth Organizing (YO!) Disabled & Proud around issues that impact youth and California's schools. YO! Disabled & Proud has organized youth-led campaigns such as Disability History Week, Taking Action for Accommodations and OWN MY POWER: Freedom from Bullying.

Photo of volunteers and staff member for DOnetwork. Photo of volunteers and staff at an independent living center.

Together with YO! Disabled & Proud, the DOnetwork Advocates are partnering in a joint Schools Committee to continue this work and increase mentorship within the Disability Community in California. Currently, stakeholders from the DOnetwork and YO! Disabled & Proud meet regularly about implementing disability history in California's schools at the local level under the FAIR Education Act.

Become a stakeholder in California's Independent Living future by clicking here to contact your local YO! Disabled & Proud Volunteer and Disability Organizing Advocate.

Welcome to the Disability Organizing Network (DOnetwork) website! The DOnetwork calls to action the California Disability Communities and allies, through community organizing, advocacy, education, leadership development and coalition building to effect systems change in local, state and national issues.

The CFILC Disability Organizing Network is a statewide disability advocacy network of 28 Independent Living Centers and the communities they serve. In each center there is a full time staff person devoted to increasing civic participation through community organizing, education and advocacy around issues that affect the Disability Communities.