LOCAL PROGRAMS & EVENTS THROUGHOUT MARCH WILL PROMOTE DISABILITY AWARENESS & INCLUSION Writer / Seth Johnson Photography Provided
When first elected to the Fishers City Council in 2015, Cecilia Coble approached Mayor Scott Fadness about her passion for disability awareness. “Disability is near and dear to my heart,” says Coble, who is now the Fishers City Council president and co-chair of the Fishers Advisory Committee on Disability (FACD). “I have a daughter in high school, and she has autism and cognitive delays. My mother-in-law had a stroke and is now in a wheelchair. She has a disability and is unable to use half of her body.” Given her own experiences, Coble wants to ensure that other Fishers families dealing with disabilities have a support network.
contributions and talents of people with physical and intellectual disabilities, celebrate the successes we’ve had here in Fishers, and highlight some of the opportunities that we’re working on for the community,” Coble says. Each year the FACD selects a theme for its Disability Awareness Month programs in March. This year the theme is FOCUS 2020, where the city will focus on the past, present and future of disability inclusion in Fishers. FOCUS is also an acronym for the following: •F un events throughout March that celebrate the contributions and talents of those with physical and intellectual disabilities in our community. • Discover Opportunities and resources for education, inclusion, employment, accessibility and accommodation.
“Our family was affected in so many ways,” she says. “One of the things I wanted to do •H onor the role of our local Caregivers and was help advocate and build the city where those who serve as direct support providers. there could be opportunities for people with disabilities - more inclusion, accessibility •E xplore how we Unite with community and awareness.” partners to advocate and support the needs of our residents. The FACD was established in 2017. After finding community stakeholders, one of the • Help us acknowledge our Successes as a committee’s first initiatives was to establish community dedicated to making Fishers an a series of events as part of Disability inclusive, accessible community for all abilities. Awareness Month in Fishers. “Every year Fishers has put together month-long events to provide awareness, educate the community, highlight the
The FACD has put together several events throughout the month of March as part of Disability Awareness Month in Fishers. Read on for event details. MARCH 2020
March Disability Awareness Month FOCUS 2020 Kickoff
March 2 from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Fishers City Hall In addition to the unveiling of the 2020 FOCUS theme, this kickoff event will highlight three Fishers caregivers who will share stories about what they do to advocate for disability awareness in Fishers. “They’ll talk about their loved one with disabilities, how things have evolved in Fishers, and how that’s impacted their lives,” Coble says. “It’ll be very personal and impactful.” Fishers Advisory Committee on Disability Quarterly Meeting: Presentations on Caregiver Support and Stress Relief
March 3 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Fishers City Hall In keeping with its scheduled quarterly meetings, the FACD invites the public to join for a special installment featuring presentations on caregiver support and stress relief. Guest speakers will include Kelly Fischer from Ball State University and Colleenia Korapatti from The Anxiety Relief Center in Fishers.
