Detroit Evening Report: Detroit disability advocates call on community to help increase city funding
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Local disability advocates are calling on the city of Detroit to better fund the Office of Disability Affairs (ODA).
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Detroit Disability Power (DDP) wants residents to contact local officials to ask that the office receive additional funding.
Analyst Kaci Messeder believes there’s strength in numbers when advocating for the ODA.
“We really take pride in our disabilities and strengths and creativity that they give us,” says Messeder. “We’re stronger together in community, and I would say to anyone who wants a more accessible city to join us.”
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The ODA has a current budget of just over $500,000. DDP says the department would need around $1.4 million to effectively manage its objectives.
According to officials, the increase in funds could help hire a department liaison, produce related programming and bridge the gap between government services and constituents.
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