Anastasia Somoza will champion disability community at City Council
AM New YorkJul 26, 2018
She grabbed headlines in 1993 as the fearless 9-year-old who grilled then-President
That led to a lifetime of advocacy and friendship with the Clintons. Somoza, a graduate of
Thursday
What do you hope to accomplish in this new role?
When I spoke with Speaker [
What are some of the important issues that impact the lives of the disability community in
Getting around the city has been one of the big issues I have dealt with my entire life. In order to be able to go to school, socialize, become and remain gainfully employed, you have to be able to get around. Lack of access to transportation is one of the biggest reasons the disabled population here in
Members of the disability community recently complained they were left out of the process when the
I've been looped in with some of the work going on between the Council and the community to address their concerns. We are making sure the language in the bill is edited so they will not have to prove to a restaurant and business owner why they are disabled enough to make that request [for a straw]. There are valid concerns that the current language would make it difficult for them to access something they need in order to do something everyone else takes for granted: drinking a glass or water or soda or juice.
What would you want New Yorkers to know about the disability community?
My personal mission as a lifelong advocate has been about humanizing disability and reducing the gap between us and them. You can become a member of the disability community from one second to the next. That's why I don't like the word special needs. I don't have special needs. My needs are not more or less human than yours.
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