We advocate for mostly disabled people although we assist others too. Dr. John Cohen–Colby is a postdoctoral researcher and advocate who studied computer science and linguistics at UC Santa Cruz (UCSC) and UC San Diego (UCSD). He also studied Archaeology at Palomar College in San Marcos, California. His mentors were UCSC linguist Geoffrey Pullum, UCSC (computational) logician Phokion Kolaitis, UCS
C computer scientist Darrell Long, UCSC then University of Florida (UFL) computer scientist Manuel Bermudez, former UCSC disability counselor now theology student Karen Keen, his medical providers at UCSC, his former therapist Marc Darrow, then UCSD computer scientist Laurette Bradley and archaeologist Leslie Quintero. Patricia Colby is an artist who first studied fashion design at Los Angeles FIDM then worked a multitude of jobs finally working her way through the newspaper business to become a journeyman printer at the Santa Cruz Sentinel (where she was disabled because her male supervisor refused to raise a cutting table for a "woman" causing her to work above her shoulders permanently damaging her wrists, arms and shoulders). After a long period of severe depression, she began to study jewelry fabrication at Cabrillo College, then Digital Media and finally Communications. She had numerous mentors at Cabrillo College including but not limited to: Kanda Whaley, Charlotte Morris, Margaret Loos, John Govsky, Steve Hodges, Tom Marshall and Jackie Logg. We share the results of our investigations with attorneys, nonprofit advocacy organizations, the media and the government. We use computer science, investigative journalism, Freedom of Information laws and social media to help empower disenfranchised groups and individuals. We leverage information to make the government serve the people. We are storytellers. Essentially we articulate other's stories — amplifying their voices — so they can be heard in the halls of power. We are persistent, ferocious advocates struggling against injustice. But we are also kind, patient and understanding. We are especially sensitive to the needs of poor and disabled people because we are both poor and disabled. We understand government services for poor and disabled people because we have used those same services, making the government fulfill its obligations to us. Our clients are those who fall through society's cracks. We're forcing the government to serve their interests rather than the interests of the rich and powerful — we're leveling the playing field — we're equalizers. Dr. John Cohen–Colby's doctoral training with world renowned linguist Geoffrey K. Pullum and his professors at UC Santa Cruz's Baskin School of Engineering (BSOE) uniquely prepared him for our mission. We intend to demonstrate the power of the (spoken and written) word is greater than the power of money and influence. Our tools are: computers, electronic accessories, various software packages, an office laser printer, a multifunction scanner/fax/laser printer, digital video cameras, digital cameras, digital audio recorders, electronic fax service, postal mail, email, and pen and paper. We believe strongly in the power of education to inform, empower and connect people with diverse skill sets and from diverse backgrounds. Education transformed our lives. We would like to see it transform other lives too.
