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“We actually heard from a number of different people in a lot of different communities,” explains Ric Edwards of the town meetings held when Justin Dart visited Indiana. Christine Dahlberg discusses the Indiana Governor's Council for People with…

"After the regulations passed, there was a big infusion of federal dollars to train people, mainly people with disabilities and other advocates on their rights, their new rights under the ADA," explains Christine Dahlberg. The Disability Rights…

"Advocating for disability issues is a broad topic. And when you advocate, you don’t advocate for people with a particular disability, your advocacy affects everyone with a disability,” Christine Dahlberg remarked in 2009. Then Deputy Director of the…

Kathy Christoff and Bill Gilkey talk about the changes they have seen in Indiana mental health services since the 1960s. They discuss the development of mental health centers, improvements in medications, and the success of employment programs.…

"I fell through the cracks bad," describes Karen Ricci of her school experience in the '70s and '80s. Karen discusses her challenges in school, such as teachers not having the training to adapt curriculum. Despite the challenges, Karen did go to…

Betty Williams, an active self-advocate, discusses the importance of getting rid of the R-word and shares the story of how self-advocates helped change the name of the state commission in 2008.Betty was interviewed October, 2016.

"I don't know about you, Congressman, but it's important for me to know how to put my pants on every morning to keep my job here," was how John Dickerson paraphrased Congressman John Brademas in a memorable moment. The Congressman from South Bend,…

This photo shows Byron ("Bikey") Smith in his sixth grade classroom at Rogers Elementary School in Bloomington, Indiana during the 1956-7 school year. When Byron entered Rogers that year, it was the first time a pupil had been transferred to a public…

This 1961 photograph shows 16 year-old Byron Smith, a student at University High School in Bloomington, Indiana, surrounded by members of Indiana University's Delta Gamma sorority. Because of his visual impairment, Byron received help with his school…

"Lights Out!" at the Indiana State School for The Blind didn't deter Byron Smith from his love of reading. He entered the Indianapolis school as a seven-year-old in 1951. He had recently lost his vision due to due to congenital glaucoma. In this…