March 13, 2003 – Access-A-Ride Press Conference at City Hall

6 photos

A group of people at the press conference holding some signs
No More Stress-a-ride

A group of people (some in wheelchairs and some standing) are seen at the press conference holding some signs reading “WE ARE TIRED OF FALSE PROMISES!”, “COST PER TRIP: BOSTON $24, NYC $54!”, “NO MORE STRESS-A-RIDE”, and “INVESTIGATE ACCESS-A-RIDE NOW!…” (some parts of the sign too small to be legible).

Councilwoman Margarita Lopez and a group of people outside of City Hall
Revamp Access-A-Ride Now

Outside of City Hall on March 13, 2003, a group of people, some standing and some sitting in wheelchairs and scooters, surrounds Councilwoman Margarita Lopez holding a piece of paper. Most of the people in the group are holding up signs such as “REVAMP ACCESS-A-RIDE NOW”, “CHILDREN CAN TOO RIDE ACCESS-A-RIDE!”, “DISABLED IN ACTION”, and “Bad Service! Access-A-Ride Stinks! Riders Won’t Take It Anymore”.

A male Access-A-Ride user, with dark brown hair and in a navy blue trench coat, talks about unsafe vans at a press conference.
Vans are unsafe

A male Access-A-Ride user, with dark brown hair and in a navy blue trench coat, talks about unsafe vans at a press conference. At the podium in front of the speaker is the New York City government logo in an orange and purple circle and a microphone representing Crosswalks Television Channel 74. Several people are seen standing behind the man, including Councilwoman Margarita Lopez. Some of the signs held behind the man read “TOTALLY RESTRUCTURE ACCESS-A-RIDE NOW! DISABLED IN ACTION”, and (partially seen at the upper left corner of the picture) “ACCESS-A-RIDE – EQUAL ACCESS IS THE LAW” (with cartoons of two people in wheelchairs surrounding the words).

A gentleman wearing a black knit hat, dark sunglasses, a black leather jacket and a white collared shirt speaks at the podium in front of City Hall.
Access-A-Ride: Flawed and Mismanaged

A gentleman wearing a black knit hat, dark sunglasses, a black leather jacket and a white collared shirt speaks at the podium in front of City Hall. At the podium holds the New York City government logo in an orange and purple circle and a microphone representing Crosswalks Television Channel 74. To the right of the man is Councilwoman Margarita Lopez wearing a blue parka and pushing the hair behind her right ear. Several other people are standing behind the man speaking including a female senior citizen in red glasses and a black jacket who holds up a sign reading “TOTALLY RESTRUCTURE ACCESS-A-RIDE NOW! DISABLED IN ACTION”

A man holds up a sign reading "CHILDREN CAN TOO RIDE ACCESS-A-RIDE!" while speaking behind the podium.
Children Can TOO Ride Access-A-Ride

Some people surround a man wearing glasses, a dark blue baseball cap bearing the red and orange Fire Department of New York City logo, and a light gray snap-button jacket reading “NEW YORK” in block letters with a wavy line underneath the words “NEW YORK”. The man holds up a sign reading “CHILDREN CAN TOO RIDE ACCESS-A-RIDE!” while speaking behind the podium holding the New York City government logo in an orange and purple circle and a microphone representing Crosswalks Television Channel 74. Behind the man is Councilwoman Margarita Lopez wearing a blue parka. Behind Lopez is a woman, wearing a black hat and coat, holding up a sign reading “9,000 RIDES SCHEDULED BUT HOW MANY ARE ACTUALLY GIVEN? DISABLED IN ACTION”

Councilwoman Margarita Lopez is seen speaking at the press conference in front of City Hall surrounded by fellow protesters standing as well as in wheelchairs while most are holding up various signs protesting Access-A-Ride.
No More Zig-Zags

Councilwoman Margarita Lopez is seen speaking at the press conference in front of City Hall surrounded by fellow protesters standing as well as in wheelchairs while most are holding up various signs protesting Access-A-Ride.

Photos by Philip Bennett

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September 12, 2002 – Ferry Demonstration

5 photos

A group of about 20 wheelchair users and standees is demonstrating next to a set of ferry steps.
DIA demonstrators near the ferry steps

A group of about 20 wheelchair users and standees is demonstrating next to a set of ferry steps.

Photo: Philip Bennett

a flight of about 7 big steps at the dock going up to a ferry
Steps to the Brooklyn and Queens Ferries

Pictured is a flight of about 7 big steps at the dock going up to a ferry.

Photo: John Gresham

A man in a manual wheelchair encounters a step in his attempt to get to a ferry ramp.
Alexander meets a 4-inch step to the ferry

Alexander Wood (pictured center) encounters a ramp that is four inches higher than the level he is on with his wheelchair.

Photo: Philip Bennett

A nondisabled passenger walks up two steps into the ferry.
Man walking up 2 steps into ferry

A nondisabled passenger walks up two steps into the ferry.

Photo: Anne Emerman

Margarita Lopez talks about the inaccessibility of the ferries
Margarita Lopez with ferry demonstrators

Margarita Lopez, a politician, is standing with a group of people with disabilities while she passionately talks about the inaccessibility of the ferries

Photo: Anne Emerman

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September 3, 2002 – Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) Sit-In

2 photos

Disabled In Action members demonstrating for accessible taxis
DIA demonstrates for accessible taxis in September 2002

A group of about a dozen DIA members who use wheelchairs, scooters, or who are standing, are in a circle.

a female wheelchair user gives out flyers and holds a big sign
Luda Demonstrates for Accessible Taxis

Luda, a female wheelchair user, is giving out flyers with her right hand. In her left hand, she holds a big sign reading “Barriers to Access Are Most Disabling – Enforce ADA Rights – Equal Access for All!!! To All Forms of Transportation”

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April 30, 2002 – Access-A-Ride Demonstration at Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Headquarters

4 photos

photo of demonstrators holding signs reading Just Fix It
Just Fix It

Michael (pictured left) is on a scooter and holding up a sign reading “MTA: Fix Access-A-Ride Now! No More Stranded Riders. No More 4 Hour Waits. Just Fix It!” at the demonstration. Next to him is Stacy in a wheelchair with her service dog, Lucky. Both Stacy and Lucky have signs. Lucky’s sign says “Access-A-Ride is inhumane.”

Antoinette Williams holds sign reading Stress A Ride
The Sign by Antoinette Williams

Antoinette is holding her colorful sign that says it all: “Stress-a-Ride!” Antoinette uses a scooter.

Pamela Bates holds a sign reading Fix Access-A-Ride
Pamela Bates says Fix Access-A-Ride!

Pamela is looking at us and holding a sign that says, “MTA, fix Access-A-Ride. Peter Kalikow and Lawrence Reuter – Meet with us! No More Late Pick-Ups! No More Stranded Riders!” Her sign also tells the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to meet with us and to stop picking people up late or stranding them.

photo of Simi Linton and other protestors at demonstration
Simi Linton at the Access-A-Ride Demo

Simi Linton, a disability rights consultant, author, and teacher, is facing us and smiling. She uses a wheelchair. In the background are demonstrators at the Access-A-Ride demonstration on April 30, 2002, at MTA (Metropolitan Transportation Authority) headquarters.

Photos: Jean Ryan

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December 5, 2001 – Demonstration in front of Governor Pataki’s Manhattan office

1 photo

Twenty adults of different ages and races, most in wheelchairs and scooters, at the demonstration
Demonstration in front of Pataki’s Manhattan office

Twenty adults of different ages and races, most in wheelchairs and scooters, but some also standing, are facing each other in a layered circle outside a modern building. Some of them have signs. In the background, there is a bored-looking policeman with his arm across his chest. The people look like they are waiting for something.

Photo by Rolando Alvarez

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November 8, 2001 – Rochester ADAPT Members Demonstrate in Albany

1 photo

This photo was taken from inside a meeting room looking toward the door. Blocking the doorway are 2 people in power wheelchairs. The woman is carrying a sign that says, "Rolling Back Access ten percent" and the sign also has a smiley face on it. In the foreground on the right side, another woman is facing the photographer with a sign that says, "Ten percent is Pity." Four other people of various ages and races are near her. One man is wearing a tie, and the others are casually dressed. One person is holding up a sign that says, "Another step backwards." That person is wearing an ADAPT T-shirt. Someone on the left has a sign that says, "Access is a Civil Right." Although the doorway is wide, no one can pass through it because of the wheelchairs. Just on the other side of the two people blocking the door with their chairs are a man and a woman talking. The man is wearing an ADAPT T-shirt. In back of them are 3 State Troopers and a man in a suit who are looking into the room. Another man in a suit is looking in another direction.
Activists block door at Albany Building Codes Meeting

This photo was taken from inside a meeting room looking toward the door. Blocking the doorway are 2 people in power wheelchairs. The woman is carrying a sign that says, “Rolling Back Access ten percent” and the sign also has a smiley face on it. In the foreground on the right side, another woman is facing the photographer with a sign that says, “Ten percent is Pity.”

Four other people of various ages and races are near her. One man is wearing a tie, and the others are casually dressed. One person is holding up a sign that says, “Another step backwards.” That person is wearing an ADAPT (American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today) T-shirt. Someone on the left has a sign that says, “Access is a Civil Right.” Although the doorway is wide, no one can pass through it because of the wheelchairs. Just on the other side of the two people blocking the door with their chairs are a man and a woman talking. The man is wearing an ADAPT T-shirt.

In back of them are 3 State Troopers and a man in a suit who are looking into the room. Another man in a suit is looking in another direction.

Photo by U-Wen Wong

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Early DIA Demonstrations

4 photos

early demonstration at a store
Some protesters (standing as well as sitting in wheelchairs) are holding up signs reading “I WILL GIVE YOU MONEY TO GO ELSEWHERE” (with the word MONEY non-present; a United States dollar bill in its place), and “THIS STORE BREAKS THE LAW”.
post office demonstration
Frieda Zames sits in a scooter (with a yellow base) while holding up a sign reading “WE ARE P.O.ed AT THE PO! NYC DIA. (We are pissed off at the Post Office! New York City Disabled In Action.)
early demonstration
A protester, wearing a brown striped zip-up hooded sweater, sits in a wheelchair and holds a sign reading “ONE STEP IS ONE TOO MANY!! DIA of NYC (Disabled In Action of New York City).
telethon demonstration
At a demonstration protesting the Muscular Dystrophy telethon, protesters sitting in wheelchairs were holding signs, some reading “FREEDOM – NOT PITY” and “THE TELETHON MISINFORMS THE PUBLIC”.
female protesters at telethon demonstration
At a demonstration protesting the Muscular Dystrophy telethon, a young female protester, wearing a red sweater, is standing while holding a sign reading “HEALTH CARE IS A RIGHT. NO MORE TELETHONS!”. An older female protester, wearing sunglasses with a blue jacket, a white shirt and jeans, also stands and holds a sign reading “EQUAL RIGHTS NOT HAND OUTS”.
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Judy Heumann – Founder of Disabled In Action

1 photo

Judy Heumann in a power wheelchair
Judy Heumann

Disabled in Action was organized in 1970 by Judy Heumann, a young militant disabled woman, and other disabled activists at Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus. Ms. Heumann sued the New York City Board of Education when her application to obtain a teaching license was rejected because of her disability. Although the suit was settled out of court, the publicity it received served as the impetus for founding DIA.

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