Tuesday, July 8, 2025
77.2 F
Roseville

Disability Rights Activist Diane Coleman

When Diane Coleman of Rochester, New York, was six, doctors told her parents she would die before the age of 12 due to muscular dystrophy.

When she was nine, doctors changed their diagnosis to spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and said she would live longer. Recently, she had genetic testing, and learned she didn’t have SMA after all, but congenital myopathy. Either way, she has used a motorized wheelchair since age 11.

Said 60-year-old Coleman in a telephone interview, “My parents wanted me to get a good education and pursue a career, so I earned a law degree, a master’s degree in business, and began working as a lawyer in Los Angeles in 1982.”

There she became a board member of an independent living center and was introduced to other well-educated professionals with disabilities. Through their influence, she began thinking of a person’s disability not so much as a medical issue needing rehabilitation, but more in terms of societal discrimination. In 1985, she joined the disability rights group Adapt, which was pushing then for accessible lifts on public buses. Two years later, she was arrested at a protest.

She said, “Back then, I was working as a State of California lawyer and in my free time organizing an Adapt chapter. In 1989, I left the practice of law and spent six months traveling the country with disability rights photographer Tom Olin. During that time, I spent time with and was mentored by (disability rights) movement leaders.”

After seven years running an Adapt chapter in Tennessee, where the primary issue was home- and community-based services, she moved in 1996 to Chicago. Months later, and in the wake of Dr. Jack Kevorkian having been acquitted in the assisted suicide of two women, she founded the nonprofit Not Dead Yet.

She said, “One of our (Not Dead Yet) efforts is to oppose legislation for assisted suicide and active euthanasia. We feel equal rights includes equal suicide prevention. They shouldn’t be carving out old and disabled people and giving them suicide assistance and giving everyone else suicide prevention. That’s a double standard. We’re also concerned about the involuntary withholding and withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment based upon disability. Hospitals, doctors, and family members are allowed in many states to make decisions that violate the civil rights of people with disabilities by taking away lifesaving treatments. This is another form of discrimination against people with disabilities.”

Mendocino 2025

Fleming's Roseville

New Summer Menu!

🍎 Gravenstein Apple Fair

Trending

Range Rover a powerful Plug-in Hybrid SUV

Roseville, Calif.- It doesn't take long to discover the 2025 Range Rover plug-in hybrid is a highly sophisticated SUV that typifies a luxury brand.

Jaguar Rocklin

Visit Jaguar Rocklin, to shop from a wide selection of Jaguar luxury sedans, sports cars, and SUVs. We also offer Jaguar financing, parts & service.

See’s Candies on Douglas Blvd in Roseville

See's Candies chocolate shop at 1825 Douglas Blvd in Roseville is Now Open for online orders & pick up.

7′ Yen Sushi in Roseville

7 Yen Sushi brings an artfully crafted Japanese cuisine to Roseville, California. Their menu caters to a variety of sushi, ramen, and vegan options.

Hidden Epidemic: Clinical depression and its far-reaching causes

Sacramento, Calif. - Depression significantly impacts the lives of at least 10% of the U.S. population. If the same percentage applies to Davis, approximately 6,600 residents in our town suffer from clinical depression.

Topics

Range Rover a powerful Plug-in Hybrid SUV

Roseville, Calif.- It doesn't take long to discover the 2025 Range Rover plug-in hybrid is a highly sophisticated SUV that typifies a luxury brand.

Jaguar Rocklin

Visit Jaguar Rocklin, to shop from a wide selection of Jaguar luxury sedans, sports cars, and SUVs. We also offer Jaguar financing, parts & service.

See’s Candies on Douglas Blvd in Roseville

See's Candies chocolate shop at 1825 Douglas Blvd in Roseville is Now Open for online orders & pick up.

7′ Yen Sushi in Roseville

7 Yen Sushi brings an artfully crafted Japanese cuisine to Roseville, California. Their menu caters to a variety of sushi, ramen, and vegan options.

Hidden Epidemic: Clinical depression and its far-reaching causes

Sacramento, Calif. - Depression significantly impacts the lives of at least 10% of the U.S. population. If the same percentage applies to Davis, approximately 6,600 residents in our town suffer from clinical depression.

Rose Cafe’ & Bagel in Roseville

Rose Cafe' & Bagel in west Roseville bagel and coffee shop.

Winsted Apartments in Rocklin

Winsted at Sunset West offers 1, 2 & 3 bedroom apartments in Rocklin, CA! Fantastic amenities + Great location near Fountains at Roseville.

Round Pizza and Wings

Round Pizza & Wings serves a variety of pizzas and an over-the-top experience from the moment you walk in. Located in Roseville, CA.

Related Articles

Local Spotlight

Mobley Pest Services in Roseville serving the community and region for over 20 years

Roseville, Calif.- Fully licensed and bonded, Mobley Pest Services in Roseville has been providing reliable pest control services for well over 20 years. Serving residents and businesses in the greater Placer and Sacramento region, Mobley Pest Services is locally owned and operated in Roseville.

Roseville Sheet Metal serving community’s heating and air needs for over 70 years

Roseville, Calif. - At Roseville Sheet Metal, we’re proud of our years of service to the Roseville area and look forward to helping you with your air conditioning and heating needs.

Paul Black’s Window Cleaning serving Roseville and South Placer County for over 30 years

Paul Black’s Window Cleaning Inc. has been serving Placer County’s commercial and residential window cleaning needs since 1990.