About DCAL

Disability Community Action Lab (DCAL) was started by the Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living in 2020. While there are a number of agencies and organizations that advocate for people with disabilities, we saw a desire among our constituents to learn more about becoming advocates themselves or increasing their skills or effectiveness in their advocacy efforts. As with many of our programs, people this one sprang from people with disabilities in our community. We began to think about how we could support these voices.

We put together a team to work on the idea, considered possibilities, and targeted the 30th anniversary of the ADA as a launch date. In the meantime, we researched programs across the country, interviewed leaders in similar programs, and began constructing and adapting a short course of three modules, as well as the host of other resources potential and current advocates find useful.

And, of course, we applied for funding for this 'start-up'. With support from ADA Michigan and the Jackson Social Welfare Fund, we secured the resources to launch. And then came COVID ... so we pivoted quickly and decided to start DCAL as a program that can be run remotely, with a firm eye on making it an in-person program as well, when the time is right.

We are glad you are here, and we hope to be in touch!