In 2012, Atlas DIY developed the idea of ACCESS lawyering. The premise for Project ACCESS was the realization that the law had strayed too far from the hands and understanding of the individual. We saw that our clients and the immigrant community were aware of laws limiting their activities but knew very little about the laws and regulations put in place for their protection or that could further their life in the U.S. This created an opportunity for exploitation, and many of our clients had their rights abused in different areas of our life. Thus Project ACCESS came into being.
Project ACCESS stands for Achieving Client Comprehension, Enacting Social Success. The goals of Project ACCESS started as merely empowering immigrants by making them aware of their rights, but now these goals have transcended from just knowledge of rights to application of immigrant rights. Our legal clients are actively taught the law and encouraged to create youth-friendly materials to apply and share their new-found knowledge. These projects - including narratives, videos and artwork - have been showcased on the Atlas DIY YouTube page and have received over 75,000 hits from across the country! Below are some of the stories our clients wanted to share with the larger Atlas DIY community:
Project ACCESS!
Artwork
ACCESS

