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This is an undated photograph of Darcus Nims (1957-2008), a member of the Back Home in Indiana Alliance Steering Committee, speaking at a National Home Ownership Month (June) celebration in Greencastle, Putnam County, Indiana. Darcus lived in…

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…

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…

“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…

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…

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…

“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…

A little over 30 years ago, a doctor told Sharon Hauss to put her infant son in an institution. Sharon’s response, “He’s my son. I couldn’t do it.” Her son, Michael Ely, went on to be fully included in school. Using part of a script he wrote for the…

"He asked me if I wanted out. I said yeah, do what it takes to get me out." Jamie Beck shared her story about how she ended up living in a nursing home shortly after graduating from high school. She says her father's stage four cancer led to her…

"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…