Richard Downes Describing himself as a non-political “soft” protestor, Richard is a founder member of the Disabled people’s Direct Action Network (DAN) and took an active role in many protests: blocking traffic to raise awareness for the need for accessible transport, agitating for the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), protesting Disabled people’s lack of access to the London underground, a direct action “invasion” of Harrods and a 1997 election night protest at London’s Festival Hall. He has many years’ experience working as in Disability advocacy.