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Karen Scherer began her career as a work adjustment specialist at Morgan County Rehabilitation Center in Martinsville, Indiana. She was soon asked to serve as the coordinator for the supported employment grant received by the center in 1986.

In…

“I remember her having a lot of apprehension,” recalls Patrick Sandy of a meeting with a mother on why her son could succeed in supported employment. When her son was born, physicians told her to put him in an institution and forget about him. Now,…

“I was like 21 and decided to set down and write a book,” says Melissa. Ever since she was a young child in Lafayette, Indiana, Melissa wanted to write a book about how we are all different in some way or another. Her book is called, “Follow Your…

Muriel LaDuke's third child, Tim, was born in New Albany, Indiana with physical disabilities. A few months after his birth in 1959, a doctor told her not to bother teaching Tim to do anything. When Tim was about five, doctors suggested Muscatatuck.…

In 1977, Sue Beecher started her professional career at New Castle State Hospital in New Castle, Indiana. In this video, Sue recounts some of the institution's early history and speaks about her experiences working there.

The supported employment movement, an initiative to expand the opportunities for people with disabilities to find work in their own communities through vocational rehabilitation and ongoing job coaching, began spreading across the United States…

Dee Ann Hart discusses her educational opportunities in the late 1960s and the impact her decision to attend the Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired had on her and her family. She attended the school for 14 years, entering in 1969.

"What do they mean, us kind of people?" Darcus wanted to learn math skills. She wanted to learn how to type. Unfortunately, her teachers would tell her those skills were for "regular" people. When Darcus turned 18, no one asked her what she wanted to…

“We can get things done. Yes, so it just made me more independent,” explains Courtney of her service dog, Donner. After applying for a service dog, it took two more years before Courtney was matched with Donner. Courtney talks about how his presence…

In the 1970s, schools systems throughout the state of Indiana sent children with challenging behaviors to the Developmental Training Center (DTC) for educational support and service. Kim Davis, an employee at the DTC during that time, talks about the…