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In 1991, Darcus Nims traveled to Washington D.C. to receive the national Victorian Award for Achievement from President George H. Bush, for overcoming overwhelming challenges in her life. She had lunch at the White House and it was "the first time I…

In 2016, Betty Williams received the Champions of Equal Opportunity Award from the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities. Betty received the award for her leadership in promoting voting rights, serving on committees…

"That's only for regular people, not for us kind of people." That’s what Darcus Nims says she was told when she wanted to take a typing class in school. Darcus founded Self-Advocates of Indiana, the statewide group of advocates with…

“We have an opinion and it matters,” states Kelsey Cowley. Unfortunately, Kelsey didn’t feel many people listened to her during her school years. She says, “They just didn’t understand people with disabilities to the whole extent.” As President of…

In 2006, we asked Darcus Nims to discuss her biggest accomplishment. She said, “Most proudest thing would be getting self-advocates started, that showing people that what all the special stuff that disability people can do, you know.” Darcus founded…

This photograph shows Darcus Nims addressing attendees at a celebration of the 15th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The celebration was held on July 26, 2005 at the Indianapolis Artsgarden. Darcus was the founder of Self-Advocates…

Darcus Nims and Betty Williams, two of the founding leaders of Self-Advocates of Indiana, describe how their self-advocacy skills helped the inexperienced travelers maneuver around Washington, D.C.. Darcus was interviewed in 2006 and Betty was…

"Darcus had such a beautiful way of speaking the truth about people's experiences, the lack of freedom and choice in people's lives." In this interview excerpt, Deborah McCarty, executive director of the Back Home in Indiana Alliance, reminisces…

"What she has taught me, there's no way to ever repay it." Dan Stewart met self-advocacy leader Betty Williams in 1997, when he was applying for the position of executive director of the agency now known as Achieva Resources, a disability service…

This is a photograph of the Board of Directors of Self-Advocates of Indiana (SAI) in 2002. SAI is a statewide organization of adults with intellectual disabilities. It was founded in 1990 with a mission “to learn our rights and to speak out about…