THE INDIANA GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES STATES THAT IT'S TIME THAT WE START TALKING ABOUT CREATING A WORLD IN WHICH EVERY PERSON IS A VALUED PARTICIPANT IN A HEALTHY AND VIBRANT CULTURE FOR IF A LIFE RICH IN EXPERIENCES AND REWARDS IS WHAT WE ALL SEEK, WHY SHOULD IT BE ANY DIFFERENT FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES?

>> WE'LL BE TALKING WITH INDIVIDUALS FROM AGENCIES WITH THE NORTHEAST INDIANA DISABILITY ADVOCACY COALITION ON THE POWER OF INCLUSION THAT CONTRIBUTES TO BUILDING A STRONGER COMMUNITY TOGETHER ON THIS WEEK'S PRIMETIME.

AND GOOD EVENING.

I'M BRUCE HAINES WITH US TODAY FROM THE LEAGUE IS PRESIDENT AND CEO JOHN GINGRICH AND KEVIN SHOWALTER, THE LEAGUE'S YOUTH SERVICES COORDINATOR.

>> AND JOINING JOHN AND KEVIN WILL BE BILL BAILEY.

HE IS A RETIRED HISTORY TEACHER AND YET A VERY ACTIVE VOLUNTEER AT TURNSTONE CENTER FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES.

AND YOU CAN JOIN OUR CONVERSATION AS WELL.

YOU CAN CALL IN YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS BY USING THE NUMBER THAT YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN AND WILL WIDEN OUT JUST A LITTLE BIT.

AND THERE IS KEVIN WALTER.

>> GOOD EVENING, SIR.

HOW ARE YOU?

GOOD EVENING.

I'M GREAT.

HOW ARE YOU?

WELL, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME TO BE HERE.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

THE LEAGUE IS IS CONQUERING AT LEAST TWO THIRDS OF THE SCREEN AND JOHN GINGRICH IS WITH US AS WELL.

>> JOHN, GOOD EVENING TO YOU.

HEY, BRUCE .

GLAD TO BE HERE.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

MY PLEASURE.

SO FOR BOTH OF YOU BUT JOHN, LET ME START WITH YOU FOR A LITTLE CONTEXT.

TALK ABOUT THE LEAGUE IF YOU WILL, AND ITS WORK AND THEN WE'LL GET TO ITS CONNECTION WITH THE COLLEGIAL AGENCIES IN THE AREA ON WHAT NADEX PURPOSES HAPPY TO SO THAT THE LEAGUE IS A DISABILITY RIGHTS ORGANIZATION.

WE FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THAT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE COMMUNITY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND AS MUCH AS THEY DESIRE AND TO THAT END BETWEEN OUR ADVOCACY EFFORTS AND PEER SUPPORT AND INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS AND JUST A WIDE VARIETY OF SERVICES, WE HELP PEOPLE ACHIEVE WHATEVER POTENTIAL THEY DESIRE TO.

>> WE'RE KIND OF THEY SET THE GOALS OF WHAT THEY WANT TO GO AFTER AND THEN WE HELP THEM FIGURE IT OUT.

>> MM HMM.

AND IN CONSULT WELL IN FACT WE YES, KEVIN BECAUSE YOUR WORK IN PART OF THAT THE BREADTH OF SERVICES OFFERED OFFERED RATHER YOUTH SERVICES IS ITS OWN UNIVERSE TOO I IMAGINE.

>> YES, SIR.

ABSOLUTELY.

YEAH.

WE WE PROVIDE A LOT OF EDUCATIONAL ADVOCACY THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR AS WELL AS GENERAL CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES, PEER SUPPORT EXCUSE ME WE OFFER SOCIALIZING NETWORKING EVENTS FOR THE KIDS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

WE HELP PROVIDE SUPPORTS FOR CHILDREN TO GET INTO INCLUSIVE SUMMER PROGRAMING OR SPRING BREAK OR AND WHENEVER THEY'RE ON BREAK FROM SCHOOL AND THAT TRANSITION PERIOD THAT'S OUR MAIN GOAL IS IS TO HAVE THEM TRANSITION TO FROM HIGH SCHOOL TO WHATEVER COMES AFTER THAT THEIR CHOICE AS INDEPENDENTLY AND AS SUCCESSFULLY AS POSSIBLE.

>> WELL, JOHN, I KNOW THAT OUR REGION IS IS MOST BLESSED WITH A NUMBER OF AGENCIES THAT ARE ABLE TO STEP IN AND BE OF ASSISTANCE ACROSS THE SPECTRUM OF INTELLECTUAL PHYSICAL CHALLENGES AND OVERCOMING THOSE ON A REGULAR BASIS MEETING AND BEATING IN MANY WAYS AND WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TOUCH ON A LOT OF THAT HERE.

BUT IT SEEMS THAT WHAT IS IT THE WHOLE IS GREATER THAN THE SUM OF THE PARTS WHEN THESE AGENCIES COME TOGETHER TO FORM SOMETHING CALLED NIDETCH.

>> WALK US THROUGH THAT.

>> SO THE NORTHEAST INDIANA DISABILITY ADVOCACY COALITION WAS FORMED WHEN ALL THESE VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS THAT SERVE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES REALIZE THAT A LARGE NUMBER OF ISSUES THEY ALL HAVE AGREEMENT AND AND ADVOCATING FOR THOSE ISSUES.

YOU HAVE A STRONGER VOICE AS A AS A COALITION OF TWENTY TWO OR TWENTY THREE ORGANIZATIONS VERSUS ONE ORGANIZATION OUT THERE ON ITS OWN OR OR UNORGANIZED EFFORTS TO ADVOCATE FOR WHAT WE BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE NEED WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.

IT IS A IT IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS CONTINUED TO GROW.

NOT ONLY IS IT DECENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT SERVE DIRECTLY PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES BUT IT'S ALSO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE MAKING EVERY EFFORT TO INCLUDE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES SUCH AS OUR ARTS COMMUNITY AND THE YMCA AND THEY JUST DO A PHENOMENAL JOB OF COMING TOGETHER AND MAKING OUR COMMUNITY MORE INCLUSIVE.

>> MM HMM.

AND WHEN IT'S SAID THE COMMUNITIES ARE STRONGER WHEN THEY ARE MORE INCLUSIVE, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> WHAT WHAT GOOD DO SOME TEND TO CONFUSE INCLUSIVELY WITH INTEGRATION ?

SO TO BE TRULY INCLUDED MEANS THAT WE'RE REMOVING THE BARRIERS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT THAT PREVENT YOU FROM PARTICIPATING WITH WITH EVERYBODY ELSE AND TO BE TRULY INCLUDED.

I MEAN WE ALL WANT TO HAVE THAT SENSE OF VALUE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND TO BE TRULY INCLUDED I DO INTEGRATION A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

WE WE INTEGRATE PEOPLE BUT WE REALLY GIVE THEM NOT ONLY A SEAT AT THE TABLE BUT WE ALSO LISTEN TO WHAT THEY SAY OR DO OR DO WE CONSIDER IT WOULD WE CONSIDER THEIR PERSPECTIVE AND THEIR POINT OF VIEW AND AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ARE KIND OF UNIQUE THAT IT THEY BRING A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE TO EVERY CONVERSATION.

AND WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT DIVERSITY, IF YOU'RE NOT INCLUDING DISABILITY, THEN THEN WE'RE MISSING SOMETHING AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE COME BACK TO KNOW THAT BECAUSE IT'S ALSO NOT ONLY ADVOCATING BUT IT'S CELEBRATING THAT DIVERSITY WITHIN OUR REGION AND IN SO DOING IT MAY BE HELPFUL FOR JUST A COUPLE OF IMPORTANT FACTS FOR US TO TUCK AWAY ABOUT WHAT PERHAPS WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT OUR LOCAL DISABILITY COMMUNITY.

I'M SURE SO YOU KNOW OUR LOCAL DISABILITY COMMUNITY THE REALITY IS PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES MAKE UP NEARLY A QUARTER OF THE ADULTS YOU'RE EVER GOING TO MEET.

THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL WILL TELL YOU THAT ONE IN FOUR ADULTS WILL HAVE A DISABILITY AT SOME POINT IN THEIR LIFE .

IF YOU THINK OF THE POPULATION IN IN NORTHEAST INDIANA, THAT'S ABOUT NINETY THREE THOUSAND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES SPREAD THROUGHOUT 11 COUNTIES.

AND WHEN YOU LOOK WHEN YOU LOOK JUST AT ALLEN COUNTY, YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S IT'S A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PEOPLE JUST IN ALLEN COUNTY IF YOU TAKE IF YOU IF YOU FIGURE OUR POPULATION IS THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND AND YOU LOOK AT A QUARTER OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND THAT'S NOT INCLUDING THE KIDS WITH DISABILITIES.

AND FOR THAT IN FACT THERE IS A POINT OF CONTEXT OF ITS OWN IN A GRAPHIC WE CAN SHARE REGARDING THE PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS IN INDIANA AGED THREE THROUGH TWENTY ONE.

>> THIS IS NOW GETTING INTO YOUR SWEET SPOT, I BELIEVE.

ABSOLUTELY.

>> YEAH.

WE WE SERVE CHILDREN ROUGHLY AROUND THAT THREE YEARS OLD AGE ALL THE WAY UP TO TWENTY FOUR SO YEAH.

>> AND THEN TO ROUND THAT OUT AS WE WERE TOUCHING ON THIS LAST MONTH WITH MAY BEING DISABILITY AWARENESS MONTH BUT FRANKLY WAS MONTHS ARE DRAWN FORWARD TO CALL OUT A VARIETY OF TOPICS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

IT IS SOMETHING TO BE FOCUSED ON THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND THAT IS THE NUMBER OF THOSE PERSONS ABLE TO BE EMPLOYED JOHN, WHERE ARE WE WITH THAT BECAUSE YOU HAD BEEN FOLLOWING US FOR SOME TIME WITH YOUR WORK WITH THE CITY AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT BEFORE MOVING OVER TO THE LEAGUE.

WHAT'S YOUR WHAT'S YOUR TAKE ON THIS NUMBER?

>> SO YOU KNOW YEAH.

I MEAN IF YOU LOOK AT THAT IF YOU LOOK AT THAT STATISTIC, YOU KNOW, 17 POINT NINE PERCENT OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WANT TO BE EMPLOYED OR ARE EMPLOYED.

THAT'S THAT'S A DRASTICALLY LOW NUMBER AND I KNOW WHAT WE TALKING ABOUT THE MYTHS BUT I MEAN WHEN YOU COMPARE THAT TO YOU KNOW THAT THAT MEANS THAT IT'S EIGHTY THREE PERCENT EIGHTY TWO PERCENT OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ARE UNEMPLOYED WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT UNEMPLOYMENT RATES FOR FOR OUR NON DISABLED PEERS ARE NOW ARE UNDER SIX PERCENT AND THIS BRINGS US THEN TO AT LEAST THREE MYTHS.

>> THERE ARE MANY BUT WITH THE TIME PERMITTED, LET'S FOCUS ON THREE MYTHS THAT ARE ABOUT INCLUSION FOR INDIVIDUAL DISABILITIES IN OUR COMMUNITY THINGS THAT IF WE CAN STRAIGHTEN OUT SOME MISPERCEPTIONS WE WILL HAVE ACHIEVED OUR HALF HOUR.

AND JOHN, THE FIRST ONE HERE IS IS THE ONE WE'D LIKE TO SHARE THAT THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ARE TOTALLY DIFFERENT THAN THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WITHOUT DISABILITIES .

THE REAL FACT IS PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WANT WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE WANTS.

YOU KNOW THEY WANT TO BE THEY WANT TO BE INCLUDED.

THEY WANT THEY WANT TO BE IN RELATIONSHIPS.

THEY WANT A HOME.

THEY WANT A JOB.

THEY WANT TO FEEL VALUED IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

THEY WANT TO VOTE.

THEY WANT THEY WANT TO BE INCLUDED AS MUCH AS ANYBODY ELSE.

AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT DISABILITY IS ONE OF THOSE ONE OF THOSE UNIQUE THINGS THAT THAT WHILE IT MAKES YOU A MINORITY GROUP, IT MAKES YOU THE MINORITY GROUP THAT SPANS ALL OTHER MINORITY BECAUSE DISABILITY DOESN'T CARE IF YOU'RE IF YOU'RE STRAIGHT OR IF YOU'RE GAY OR IF YOU'RE CATHOLIC OR IF YOU'RE JEWISH OR IF YOU ARE BLACK OR IF YOU ARE WHITE OR IF YOU ARE YOUNG OR IF YOU ARE OLD.

DISABILITY HAPPENS TO IT ACROSS ALL THE VARIOUS SOCIOECONOMIC GROUPS THAT WE TALK ABOUT.

>> AND IN THAT REGARD THIS IS WHERE WE SAY THAT YOU ARE A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY, YOU ARE NOT THE DISABILITY AND KEVIN , I'M ASSUMING THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN BEFORE YOU AT TIMES.

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

>> GROWING UP, YOU KNOW, YOU SEE THE THE LOOKS FROM THE KIDS ON THE PLAYGROUND OR YOU SEE THE ASSUMPTIONS OF SOMETHING YOU CAN'T DO.

>> BUT YOU KNOW, I'M SO MUCH MORE THAN A WHEELCHAIR.

I'M SO MUCH MORE THAN MY SPINAL CORD INJURY THAT HAPPENED WHEN I WAS 14 MONTHS OLD.

THAT'S A CIRCUMSTANCE IN OUR LIFE BUT THAT IS NOT OUR LIFE WE OVERCOME WHATEVER THAT IS TO LEAD FULL LIVES JUST LIKE EVERYBODY STRIVES TO.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THAT TAKES US TO OUR SECOND MYTH AND OUR OUR OUR SPECIAL GUEST WHO'S ABLE TO JOIN US BY PHONE I BELIEVE BILL BAILEY.

>> CAN YOU HEAR ME, SIR?

YEAH, I CAN HEAR YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO DO THIS AND TO BE A PART OF THE PROGRAM WITH THE VARIETY OF WORK THAT YOU ARE CURRENTLY INVOLVED WITH AT TURNSTONE.

I'D LOVE TO HEAR THAT WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF MYTH NUMBER TWO WHICH WE'RE GOING TO SHARE ON OUR SCREEN HERE THAT I UNDERSTAND YOU CAN TRULY SPEAK TO WITH WITH SIGNIFICANT DISABILITY IS SOMETHING YOU ARE BORN WITH.

BILL, GIVE GIVE US SOME BACKGROUND JUST IT'S JUST AN OUTAND OUT LIE AND SOMETHING YOU'RE BORN WITH I MEAN THERE ARE CERTAIN DISABILITIES THAT PEOPLE ARE BORN WITH BUT THE PERCENTAGE IS NO GREATER THAN THE PEOPLE WHO THAT HAVE THEM LATER ON IN LIFE AS I HAD MY LOST MY LEG 30 YEARS AGO AND THIS AND IT CHANGED MY LIFE BUT IT CHANGED MY LIFE FOR THE BETTER AND IN MANY WAYS IS THAT I CANNOT COUNT ON THIS THE MAN I WAS THIRTEEN YEARS AGO AND THE MAN THAT I AM NOW ARE TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN THIS AND I I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH TIME YOU HAVE I GUESS BUT WORKING WITH TURNSTONE I HAVE COME TO APPRECIATE AND I HAVE A BABY IN MY NEW UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORD DISABILITY.

I THINK THAT IF YOU ASK ONE HUNDRED PEOPLE TO DEFINE DISABILITY YOU MIGHT GET A HUNDRED DIFFERENT ANSWERS ON THIS BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE JUST UNDERSTAND THAT SOMEONE IN THEIR FAMILY MAY HAVE LOST A LIMB THAT'S THERE THAT'S DISABILITY AND THAT'S SOMEONE ELSE'S REALITIES.

SOMEBODY CAME BACK FROM THE WAR AND AND HE'S HAS PTSD.

YOU KNOW THAT THAT'S DISABILITY AND ALL THESE DIFFERENT TERMS WE HAVE BUT THEY ALL BOIL DOWN TO THE SAME WORD DISABILITY AND THIS AND A TURNSTONE WHEN PEOPLE WALK IN THE DOOR IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THEIR DISABILITY IS.

IT'S YOU WELCOME.

COME ON IN.

YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO DO?

AND THIS IS AN ADULT DAYCARE.

IS IT THE FITNESS PROGRAM?

IS IT THE DIFFERENT SPORTING ACTIVITIES?

THEY HAVE JUST A PHENOMENAL ORGANIZATION AND THIS AND THERE'S A I THINK THAT IN MANY WAYS IS A MICROCOSM OF WHAT NIVAT DOES AND THIS IS JUST JUST TERRIFIC IN THIS AND I JUST LOVE TO BE A PART OF IT.

>> WELL, AND I THINK OF YOUR ROLE AS YOUR CAREER, IF YOU WILL.

AND WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT CAREERS SO LOOKING FORWARD TO WHATEVER THAT MEANS IN THE YEARS TO COME.

BUT FOR YOU IN YOUR SITUATION YOU WERE YOUR HISTORY TEACHER AND ENGAGING STUDENTS AND NOW THROUGH TURNSTONE BEING INVOLVED WITH AN AMPUTEE SUPPORT GROUP BEING INVOLVED WITH THE FITNESS AND AQUATIC CENTER REPRESENTING TEAM TURNSTONE IN THE ANNUAL FOUGHT FOR FITNESS FALL FESTIVAL.

>> THAT LEADERSHIP THAT THAT PROFESSIONAL CAPACITY SEEMS TO BE CARRYING OVER IN A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT FIELDS.

>> AND I'M ASSUMING YOU DIDN'T EXPECT THAT.

NO, NOT AT ALL.

I SOME OF THAT I JUST FELL INTO LIKE THE AMPUTEE SUPPORT GROUP THE MAN WHO STARTED A GROUP AND ONE OF THE TWO MEN THAT STARTED THE GROUP UNFORTUNATELY PASSED AWAY SUDDENLY AND IT'S JUST KIND OF FELL INTO MY LAP.

SO I'M LIKE THE TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN OF THE AMPUTEE SUPPORT GROUP AND I GET THIS THE GREAT THING ABOUT IT IS THAT I'VE GOT A CALL FROM THE HOSPITAL OR FROM A PROSTHETICS COMPANY OR JUST SOMEBODY WHO SAW OUR FACEBOOK PAGE AND THEY'LL WANT TO TALK ABOUT EITHER SOMEONE IN THEIR FAMILY WHO'S RECENTLY HAD AN AMPUTATION OR AND BIZARRE AS IT SOUNDS THIS PAST YEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER I HAD TWO PEOPLE THAT CALLED ME AND THEY WANTED ADVICE ON WHETHER OR NOT THEY SHOULD GET AN AMPUTATION OR NOT.

THIS NEW ONE WAS HAD A DISABILITY ONCE I WAS BORN THE OTHER GUY HAD AN INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENT AND THEY WERE LIKE, YOU KNOW, WHAT WOULD YOU AMPUTATE IF THIS WAS YOUR SITUATION?

IT'S IT'S LIKE YOU DRAW THE LINE AT THAT POINT IT'S LIKE NO, I'M SORRY, I CAN'T HELP YOU THERE.

THAT'S YOU YOU KNOW, YOUR CONSCIENCE, YOUR GUIDE AND WHOEVER I SAID BECAUSE YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT'S LIKE AND HOW IT CHANGES YOU INSTANTLY AND YOU CAN'T GO BACK THERE'S NO NO DO OVERS WITH THIS AND YOU KNOW ,YOU CERTAINLY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN A VERY DEEP WAY IN HELPING OTHERS AND I'M SURE IT COMES BACK TO HELPING YOURSELF IN THE MOVING FORWARD AND THROUGH TURNSTONE WHO WILL BE FEATURED HERE IN JUST A FEW MOMENTS AND WE WILL TIME PERMITTING RETURN AND I DO APPRECIATE YOU JOINING US BY PHONE.

WE HAD SOME VIDEO CONNECTION CHALLENGES BUT GREAT TO HAVE YOU AS A PART OF THE PROGRAM.

>> MYTH NUMBER THREE DESERVES ITS MOMENT BEFORE US AND KEVIN , THIS IS ONE THAT IS STILL SEEMS TO BE OUT THERE EVEN AFTER THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT 30TH ANNIVERSARY.

YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ARE NOT A VIABLE WORKFORCE.

THAT'S THAT'S LIKE YOU HEARD ALREADY.

>> THAT'S JUST FALSE.

I MEAN WE YOU KNOW, WE'RE EDUCATED AS MUCH AS THE NEXT PERSON, YOU KNOW, FOR MYSELF I HOLD DOWN TWO JOBS AT THE SAME TIME WE WANT TO YOU KNOW, WE STRIVE TO BE INDEPENDENT JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.

AND PART OF THAT INDEPENDENCE'S IS BEING CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF SOCIETY AND YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO WORK JUST AS HARD AS EVERYBODY ELSE.

IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW WE DO THINGS.

>> IT JUST MATTERS THAT WE DO THINGS AND YOU KNOW, WORKFORCE'S IS DEFINITELY PART OF THAT IS THERE ARE A VARIETY OF STUDIES THAT ARE SUPPORTING TO THE THAT IT'S NOT ONLY IMPORTANT FOR THE DIVERSITY WITHIN THE COMPANY BUT AS YOU SAY, A DIVERSITY OF PERSPECTIVES AND THE ACCOMMODATIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE NOW FOR WORK TO BE DONE.

>> YES, OUR STAFF ARE STAGGERINGLY COOL.

ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

AND I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T SAY THAT YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE GOOD THINGS ABOUT WORKING AT THE LEAGUE IS THAT A MAJORITY OF OUR OUR STAFF AND OUR BOARD MEMBERS ARE QUALIFIED PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

>> SO WE YOU KNOW WE KNOW THE PROCESS IS THAT THESE THESE CONSUMERS THAT WE WORK WITH ARE GOING THROUGH.

SO YOU KNOW WHAT WHO BEST TO HAVE YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY HELP THEM OUT AND SOMEBODY WHO'S BEEN THROUGH THE PROCESS THEMSELVES.

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S INTERESTING FROM AN EMPLOYMENT PERSPECTIVE THAT TYPICAL OF THE TYPICAL ACCOMMODATION FOR FOR AN EMPLOYEE IS FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS OR LESS.

AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE TIME THAT WE HAD THAT WE AS BUSINESSES PUT INTO RECRUITING AND AND INTERVIEWING AND SCREENING WHEN YOU CAN ACCOMMODATE SOMEBODY FOR FOR LESS THAN FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS IT MAKES GOOD BUSINESS SENSE.

I'VE I'VE BEEN BLESSED THAT WHILE I WORK AT THE LEAGUE I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK I WORKED FOR AN ENTREPRENEUR WHO PUT ME AS THE FACE OF OF HER BUSINESS TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

I WORKED I WAS THE DIRECTOR OF A SUMMER CAMP PROGRAM FOR FOUR TYPICAL KIDS.

I WORKED IN A BANK AND THEN I'VE ALSO WORKED AT THE LEAGUE AND IT'S ALL BECAUSE THERE WAS THAT ONE INDIVIDUAL THAT WAS WILLING TO TAKE A CHANCE THAT WAS WILLING TO LOOK BEYOND THE DISABILITY THEY SAW AND REALIZE, HEY, YOU KNOW, THIS PERSON ADDS VALUE THIS PERSON AND THIS PERSON HAS SKILLS.

THIS PERSON CAN DO A JOB.

YEAH.

AND A SHOT IS SURE.

>> AND WITH THESE WITH THE MINDSET THAT NEEDS ITS ALIGNMENT PERFORMED SEEMS TO BE UNDER THE GUIDANCE THE DISABILITY SHOULD NOT GET IN THE WAY OF HOW WE INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER AND AND TO THAT I WANT TO BE SURE WE INCLUDE A VERY I THINK APPROPRIATE WHAT DEPARTURE POINT THAT FIRST WE'RE ALL PEOPLE TAKE A LOOK.

IT'S NO SECRET THAT WE ALL HAVE SIMILARITIES DIFFERENCES.

BUT FIRST WE'RE ALL PEOPLE BY CELEBRATING OUR DIFFERENCES AND EMBRACING EVERYONE UNIQUE ABILITIES WE CAN CREATE BETTER RELATIONSHIPS AND STRONGER COMMUNITIES ADMISSABLE IS A PERSONAL CHARACTERISTIC JUST LIKE RACE, GENDER, ETHNICITY OR SEXUAL ORIENTATION.

JUST LIKE THESE OTHER CHARACTERISTICS, DISABILITIES SHOULD NOT GET IN THE WAY OF HOW WE INTERACT WITH EACH.

>> LET'S LOOK AT SOME EASY WAYS WE CAN SHOW RESPECT TO OTHERS WHEN COMMUNICATING WITH THEM.

WHEN YOU MEET SOMEONE WITH A DISABILITY SIMPLY INTRODUCE YOURSELF.

DON'T BE AFRAID TO LOOK AT ME AND GREET YOU WITH A SMILE AND A FRIENDLY TONE OF VOICE AND A WAY OR A HEAD NOT THUMBS UP AND ER HIGH FIVES ARE OK AND DON'T BE EMBARRASSED TO USE COMMON PHRASES THAT RELATE TO A PERSON'S DISABILITY SUCH AS SEE YOU LATER TO SOMEBODY WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENT OR DID YOU HEAR THAT FOR SOMEONE WITH A HEARING IMPAIRMENT WHEN TALKING TO A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY USE EYE CONTACT AND SPEAK DIRECTLY TO ME NOT TO THE PERSON I'M WITH AND IF YOU STRIKE UP A CONVERSATION CHANCES ARE YOU'LL FIND THAT WE HAVE COMMON INTERESTS.

DON'T MAKE ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT WHAT I CAN AND CAN'T DO.

IF YOU OFFER TO HELP, WAIT UNTIL THE OFFER IS ACCEPTED THEN LISTEN OR ASK FOR DIRECTIONS ON HOW TO HELP ME INSTEAD OF DOING WHAT YOU ASSUME IS NEEDED, TREAT ADULTS AS ADULT.

DON'T PATRONIZE ME FOR MY DISABILITY PATTING ME ON MY BACK OR CALLING ME SWEETIE TAKE THE TIME TO GET TO KNOW ME.

WHEELCHAIRS AND OTHER ASSISTIVE DEVICES LIKE WALKERS AND CANES ARE A PART OF THE PERSONAL SPACE AND THE PEOPLE USE THE MEANING OF MY WHEELCHAIR WOULD BE LIKE ME WINNING IN THE TOUCH THE GLASSES ON YOUR FACE EVERY IS GOING IN A WHEELCHAIR.

GO DOWN TO MY LEVEL OR STAND UP AND MAKE THE THANK YOU GO GET MY ATTENTION.

YOUR AD SPEAKS ONLY WITH THE NORMAL VOICE WORK IN MY EYES I HAVE TO MAKE SURE I CAN SEE YOUR LIPS WHEN YOU MEET SOMEONE WHO IS BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED ALWAYS CLEARLY IDENTIFY YOURSELF AND OTHERS WHO YOU'RE WITH.

PLEASE FACE ME, SPEAK DIRECTLY TO ME AND BE SPECIFIC WITH YOUR DIRECTIONS.

WAIT FOR ME TO FILM YOU.

DON'T YOU KNOW THAT THIS IS BLACK PEOPLE?

DISABILITIES ARE NOT ADJECTIVES.

I AM NOT A DISABILITY.

>> I AM JUST THE PERSON THAT HAS ONE.

DON'T WORRY ABOUT GETTING IT RIGHT OR WRONG.

JUST FOCUS ON SHOWING EVERY HUMAN BEING RESPECT AND VALUE FIRST FOREMOST YOU NEED TO FOCUS ON OUR ABILITIES AND CELEBRATE OUR DIFFERENCES.

FOR EXAMPLE I'M A HUSBAND, A FATHER, AN ATHLETE, A BUSINESS OWNER AND SPEAKER.

MY DISABILITY IS NOT THE MOST SIGNIFICANT PART OF MY IDENTITY.

>> FIRST, I'M ILLIANA AND I'M A PARALYMPIC ATHLETE.

>> FIRST I'M DEBORAH AND I'M A TEACHING ASSISTANT FIRST I'M CLIFF AND I'M A REHABILITATED QUAD FIRST IRONMAN AND I LIKE MY FAMILY, FRIENDS AND MY INDEPENDENT.

>> FIRST I'M NAGGIE AND I'M AN ATHLETE HOPING TO REPRESENT TEAM USA AT THE PARALYMPICS FIRST HE TOLD ME A SAY I'M A GO PLAYER FIRST I'M HEAVEN AND I'M A MUSICIAN.

I LOVE FIRST FALSTAFFIAN CHRISTI AND I LIKE MY INDEPENDENCE.

I'M THIRTY.

I LIKE AROUND HERE AT FIRST I'M COLD AND I'M A WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL ATHLETE.

LET'S START THE CONVERSATION ABOUT OUR DIFFERENCES AND THEN CREATE INCLUSION THAT CELEBRATES AND RESPECTS ALL OF OUR DIFFERENCES AS A RESULT WE CAN EMBRACE A UNIFIED COMMUNITY WHERE WE ARE ALL PEOPLE FIRST.

WE ARE ALL PEOPLE.

WE'RE ALL PEOPLE.

WE'RE ALL PEOPLE.

WE'RE ALL PEOPLE.

ALL PEOPLE.

WE'RE ALL PEOPLE FIRST WE ARE ALL PEOPLE FIRST WE'RE ALL PEOPLE WE'RE ALL PEOPLE FIRST INDEED WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO NURTURE INCLUSION.

>> INCLUSION IS A PROCESS ACCOMPLISHED OVER TIME.

WE HOPE THAT YOU'LL TAKE THE TIME TO FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN HELP SUPPORT THE INCLUSION EFFORTS THAT MOVE US FORWARD IN A MORE FULL AND SUSTAINED COMMUNITY.

>> AND YOU SEE THE CONTACT OPPORTUNITIES THERE WITH INDIANA DISABILITY RESOURCE VINTERBERG AND OUR FRIENDS AT NIDETCH AND FOR KEVIN SHOW WALTER AND GINGRICH AND FOR BILL BAILEY.

WE WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING US TO BE A PART OF YOUR EVENING TONIGHT OF YOUR EVENING TONIGHT EVERYONE WITH PRIME TIME, I'M EVERYONE WITH PRIME TIME, I'M BRUCE HAINES.

>> TAKE CARE.

WE'LL SEE YOU SOON.