Disability Advocacy Workshop Recap

Hosted by the Arc of Hancock County

On Saturday, September 28, The Arc of Hancock County hosted over 25 non-profit organizations whose missions support individuals with disabilities. Their goal was for these organizations to network, collaborate and learn about each other in order to better the lives of all individuals with disabilities in Indiana.

The Arc of Hancock County is an advocacy chapter of the Arc of Indiana and was created in 1961 by a group of parents. They provide programs and resources for individuals with disabilities and their families, from adaptive programs for special-needs kids and their siblings to a self-care series for caregivers, to a professional speaker series for therapists and providers.

Included in this workshop was a course designed by the Fund Raising School, an arm of the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University, which was presented by one of their professors, Bobbie Donahue. Additionally, a nonprofit professional (Kristi Howard-Shultz from KHS Consulting) spoke on strategic planning and a business owner (Lyndsay Crespo from Lettera Consulting) spoke on grant writing.

During lunch, self-advocates (individuals with disabilities) joined us to take part in collaborating and give the organizations insight into what programs or events we need to add.

After the last course, we invited businesses and providers from all over the state for an allies networking event, where each nonprofit organization made a pitch for sponsorship or collaboration to the businesses and providers.

LIST OF PARTICIPATING NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS:

• Agape Therapeutic Riding Resources

• Ascending Angels, Inc.

• Black Autism Support Society

• Fishers Thrive Social Corporation

• God’s Embrace Indy

• Hope & Joy from Austin Corp

• ILADD, Inc.

• Muscular Dystrophy Family Foundation

• Outside the Box

• Project WILL

• Shares, Inc.

• Shine On University

• The Arc of Jackson County

• Arc of Shelby County

• Ausome Indy

• Autism Community Connection

• New Hope of Indiana

• Noble Inc.

• Remark-Able Ranch, LLC

LIST OF GENEROUS BUSINESSES:

• Abby Care

• Chapple House Therapies

• Connections Case Management

• Elite Home Healthcare, LLC

• Elite Personal Care, LLC

• MyQuillo

• Special Olympics Indiana

Arc of Shelby County

Tangram

Arc of Hancock County

Arc of Indiana

Visual Impaired Preschool Services(VIPS)

Uniquely You!

Pure Abilities