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Two Keys to Disability Support By Darrel Collin

Familial Support and Work Accommodations: Two Keys to Disability Support

During times of distress or hopelessness, familial support and access to helpful resources are essential for coping with my disability. When living with a disability, it can often feel as though you are left to fend for yourself. However, knowing that there are people who support you and that you are not alone in caring for yourself makes an enormous difference.

Work-related resources are also crucial. Accommodations such as job protection during medical leave and opportunities to continue working within one’s limitations provide a sense of stability. These supports help me feel that I am not entirely at the mercy of my disability and that I retain some control over my life.

I have a condition called aplastic anemia, which causes extreme fatigue and shortness of breath. It also makes me more vulnerable to bruising, bleeding, and infections due to a weakened immune system. Family support plays a vital role in managing these challenges. My mother often takes me to medical appointments and helps me keep track of the many details involved in my treatment, especially when I am feeling unwell.

Workplace flexibility has also been incredibly important. Being allowed to adjust my schedule enables me to attend frequent and necessary medical appointments. Additionally, continued compensation during medical leave has been a tremendous help, particularly as I undergo a bone marrow transplant and am currently unable to work.

Together, family support and workplace accommodations have made a meaningful difference in my ability to manage my disability and maintain dignity, stability, and hope.

About the Author

Image Description: This image is a bit blurry, but it depicts a smiling young black man sitting on a bench in front of a yellow brick building. He has his hands clasped together, with a watch on his wrist, and is wearing a white t-shirt and blue jeans.

Artist Bio

In this picture I was participating in a photoshoot aimed at telling my story . My story as an artist and the light that comes with being one . It took place in downtown Indianapolis, the city that birthed and shaped me to this day.

Darrel on the impact of support: In my times of distraught or hopelessness. Familial support and resources to succeed. Many times it can seem like one is left to their own demise when dealing with a disability. But to know that there people that have your back and that you have help taking care of yourself makes a world of a difference. And resources such as being able to leave work and have your job protected to having other work opportunities despite one’s restrictions. These things make me feel like I’m not at the mercy of disability and that I have some sort of control in my life .

Darrel on his disability: I have a condition called aplastic anemia. It makes me very fatigued and short of breath. Also it makes me prone to bleeding and bruising as well as a weak immune system.

The Three C’s By Duncan Forner

Image Descriptions: This image depicts a rectangular painting with three panels. The first panel has a red background with a hand forming the letter C. The second panel has a blue background with light blue and rainbow legos, also forming the letter C. The last panel has a purple background with a more illustrative, light blue, letter C.

About the Artist

Image Description: A smiling young white man poses in front of water. He has pushed back, short blonde hair and is wearing a red polo with the name Duncan written on it.

Artist Bio

“It’s called ‘The Three Cs’ (naturally)”
While early in life verbal expression could be, at times, a struggle for Duncan Forner, artistic expression never has been. Whether paint on canvas, fabric, ceramics, paper, or wood cutting, the results of his imaginative efforts have impressed and thrilled friends, family, and strangers. He’s never not creating in his own unique ways.

Duncan feels empowered when he has opportunities to show people his art. Duncan says, “ People have told me they are not good at art but they think I am and they tell me. So making art and showing it to people helps them know I think differently but can do lots of good things. “
Having created works of letters with clay, felt, paint, wood…seemingly every type of media imaginable, Duncan decided to go beyond different fonts. For this painting he utilized sign language and a ‘Lego-type’ brick font. His favorite letter is D, but he realizes other people have different favorites.

Flexible Accommodations By Ayden Marietta

How would I feel supported or empowered with my disability?

My name is Ayden Marietta. I am 22 years old, and I am currently a student in my senior year at Indiana University – Indianapolis. As a student with an Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and Anxiety Disorder diagnoses I do make use of Accessible Education Services (AES) at Indiana University. This year, the AES accommodation I utilized was extended time provided to complete my exams. This included taking my exams in the AES Lab at the University Library. While I found the accommodation useful and helpful, I found one area of the testing process still presented barriers. As a person on the Autism Spectrum, writing out lengthy answers by hand is not only a challenge due to my poor handwriting/fine motor skills; but also challenging for me to express my thoughts when handwriting answers. For some reason, my mind communicates much more clearly when I type out my answers. Not only that, but with my poor handwriting it takes me much longer to write my answers by hand, making it difficult to complete all test questions to the best of my ability. In this area, I would feel much more supported by being able to type my responses. I did ask about being able to type my responses on a computer with no internet access, but was told that the blue book format was required for grading purposes.

In order to ensure that testing accommodations are more supportive for those with disabilities, I would suggest universities allow more leeway in how testing is done. First, I believe that essay questions should have the option to be typed out. For people like me, typing out our answers is easier as we are able to think and focus more clearly than when struggling with our handwriting and trying to put our thoughts onto paper. Second, asking a student which accommodations they believe they can use to best help them succeed on a test or other assignment, even if different or unusual, should be considered as long as it does not provide an unfair advantage. Finally, allowing a student to navigate at their own pace if they need to slow down to focus on one assignment or an exam can improve their ability to concentrate and allow them to put their best effort in each assignment.

To conclude, I believe that students who are provided flexibility in their choice of accommodations, accommodations that are as unique as the students themselves, allows students with disabilities to feel supported in their coursework and to be able to succeed in their classes.

About the Author

Image Description: A smiling young man standing on a stage, dressed in a black double-breasted suit and a tie.

Artist Bio

My name is Ayden Marietta. I am a senior at Indiana University – Indianapolis majoring in Applied Theater, Film, and Television and plan to graduate in May 2026. Since childhood, I have had a real passion and interest in politics, government, and American history. This passion has led me to volunteer and intern for both local and statewide political campaigns, including Mike Braun’s gubernatorial campaign. I also served as an Indiana State GOP Delegate at the 2024 State Convention. I also co-host, along with my friend Justin George, “The Neurologic Podcast” where we both talk about history, sports, politics, and life on the Autism Spectrum. In my final year in high school, I received the governor’s work ethic certificate in 2022 for my academic performance.

A Letter to My Younger Self By Stayce Robinson

Dear Stacye 1997,

Love yourself. No one else can do that for you. This seems impossible at fifteen but you have to learn somehow. Nothing else will get you through this beautiful but trying life.

Embarrassment is not a fatal condition no matter how much high school might lead you to believe it is. You are powerful because you know how to weep down into your bones. You know you might’ve made a great Juliet in the ninth-grade school play. Sure, the role wasn’t made for an overweight girl with cerebral palsy in a power wheelchair. Still, I’m proud of you for trying because it wasn’t the role they wanted you to play.

Who are they? Some of them are other kids who think you don’t belong in public school, influenced by parents who think your presence in their kids’ lives is an act of grave political significance. Alleged adults will tell you in your classes that they have been unsure of your intellect because you are unsure of yourself. They will write concerning notes on your report card about your startling lack of a social life.

You’re fifteen. You cannot actually remake society. The loud-mouthed women in your life will sometimes encourage you to try. Silent serious persistence aimed at specific goals is more your way, that’s all right.

Your brain cannot save you from your body. Also, your heart’s a mess. The good news is, the world is bigger than Richmond, Indiana where you now live.

At fifteen, you have two friends– maybe three. All of them are gorgeous boys–two blonds and one whose hair is auburn. None of them love you “like that.” Sometimes, you think that because the blond one cannot feel your love, you won’t survive but you do.

Your Mamaw and Papaw met at ten, married at eighteen and were married til they died. You have anxiety that you will fall behind. You won’t. You’ll have three whole weddings.

The bad news is, being loved “like that” still won’t save you from your disabled body. Your husband can’t know what to say or do when the stuff of your life is spoken of in terms of price ADL’s and units. You have to love yourself, because then you are free no matter what anyone else does. Jesus loves you so it doesn’t serve Him not to love yourself.

You are a curious girl, I love that about you. You will try to reshape your body and thoughts in at least a million different ways over the next twenty-seven years. Try not to be terrified of the woman you’ll become who neither diets nor dyes her hair. Life without other women’s beauty rituals doesn’t have to be scary.

It’s not your fault you were born and therefore take up space. Trust yourself more. You can’t be able-bodied , but you can be yourself which is pretty great, I love you, dear child. At least, I’m trying.

Love,

Stacye 2026

About the Author

Image Description: Woman in her thirties in a blue sundress and shawl holds a yellow bouquet, smiling.

Artist Bio

Stayce Robinson lives in Indianapolis with her husband Ryne and graduated with a master of arts in creative writing from Ball State University in 2013.