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This photograph shows Betty Louise Williams (1959-2018) as a girl, sitting on a bicycle in front of a Christmas tree. Betty grew up in Richmond, Indiana in the 1960s and 70s. She became a leader in the self-advocacy movement, serving as president of…

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…

This photograph shows Betty Louise Williams (1959-2018) as a young girl, wearing a pink dress. Betty grew up in Richmond, Indiana in the 1960s and 70s. She became a leader in the self-advocacy movement, serving as president of both Self-Advocates of…

This is a school photo of Betty Louise Williams (1959-2018) in 1974, during her time in junior high school. Betty grew up in Richmond, Indiana in the 1960s and 70s. She became a leader in the self-advocacy movement, serving as president of both…

Richmond, Indiana native Betty Williams was appointed to the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities in 2014. She served as President of both the national organization Self-Advocates Becoming Empowered and of the statewide…

“I was learning something about that Title and how we could apply it to the community in which we lived in and how it can help people's lives.” When the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) passed, Betty Williams wanted to learn more about how the…

"They was mean to me. And I'm glad I'm not in an institution no more.” Beth was sent to an Indiana institution when she was young. She didn’t have the opportunity to go to school but states she learned to write and do math. After leaving Muscatatuck…

"I was laid off work for six months." In an excerpt of a 2021 interview, Ashley Porter describes her experience of unemployment and social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Activities such as ballroom dancing were no longer possible, meetings…

"If you've ever seen the movie 'Forrest Gump', my mom was kind of like Forrest's mom." Andy was born with cerebral palsy in 1979, but his mom made sure he had the same opportunities as a child without disabilities. In the 1980s, Andy was mainstreamed…

"He slammed the paper on the principal's table and he says 'Don't tell me that this child is retarded - look at what she's done.'" As a child in Hammond, Indiana, Andrea Pepler-Murray had been placed in segregated special education classes. It took…