A one panel cartoon in black ink with a plain white background featuring a cerebral palsy man holding a picket sign that reads “DIS – MONSTERIZE DISABILITY ” The man is looking straight forward standing on the sidewalk. At the right of the panel is written “DANIEL AARON HARRIS” in the far right bottom corner is written “ (C) 2021 Daniel Aaron Harris
Dis – Monsterize Disability
Monsterize is defined as
To make something or another into a monster or the appearance of
Or
To give another very bad reputation, demonize, vilify.
As a cerebral palsy man I have experienced monsterization along with a lot of people with disabilities. As an artist and children book author my mission is to change the narrative of people with disabilities are viewed and betrayed in media outlets. I chose “Dis instead of De” for a impactful a word play. Bobby Blue is a cerebral palsy character created by me to help people big and small see the value within the disability community.
Photo of Daniel Aaron: a white man siting in a chair in front of bookselves. He has brown hair with a beard. He has a serious expression. He is wearing a yellow t-shirt that says “Fallen Walls”. He has a tattoo of a lion on his left arm.
Daniel Aaron Harris as an artist, actor and author aims to change the narrative of disability. He lives in Memphis TN, where he runs a ministry called Fallen Walls. Daniel has written 7 children’s books and is currently working on his doctorate of ministry at Western Theological Seminary.
Website- www.fallenwalls901.org Facebook- Daniel Aaron Harris Instagram and Twitter- danielfw901 YouTube – Daniel Aaron Harris
If you’re like me, you’re already sick of political chatter this year. Extremism from both sides of the political aisle is the greatest I recall during my lifetime, and politics seems to be becoming less collegial. Yet, rather than work toward compromise, partisans are turning inward to isolate themselves or “canceling” those of whom they are critical. I have always enjoyed browsing the marketplace of ideas and considering all potential policy solutions to resolve an issue. And Lord knows, I have a lot of issues!
I am not alone; the disability community, too, could be specifically affected by a number of bills introduced in this year’s session of the General Assembly. This blog post is a curated list of some of the bills that I hope will be passed, as well as the bills I view as particularly detrimental to the interests of the greater disability community. I’ve also thrown in some bills that seem just plain weird. In the interest of time, have limited myself to three topics per category. Thus, the good, the bad, and the ugly of the 2021 Session:
The Good
HB 1081 – Medicaid Self-Directed Care. Yes! This bill would require the Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) to submit a State Plan Amendment to the federal government, requesting that the Indiana’s Medicaid program participate in the Community First Choice Option to give more Medicaid enrollees access to self-directed care. Currently, Indiana only allows some participants on its Aged and Disabled Waiver limited options to receive some attendant care services in a self-directed manner. This bill, if enacted, would presumably provide many more Hoosiers much more autonomy over their activities of daily living.
HB 1092 – Tax Credit for Contribution to ABLE Accounts. I cannot think of a single reason anyone would oppose this bill (except, perhaps, for Ebenezer Scrooge, himself). If passed, this bill would provide a state tax credit to any taxpayer contributing to an ABLE account in the state. The tax credit would be the lesser of: (1) the total amount of contributions made by the taxpayer in the taxable year; (2) $1,000 (or, for a married person filing a separate return, $500); or (3) the amount of the taxpayer’s adjusted gross income minus allowable credits. This bill is particularly beneficial to working individuals with ABLE accounts, as they can benefit from funds added to their accounts and the tax credit.
Multiple bills would keep and/or expand telemedicine/telehealth in Indiana, including, HB 1286, HB 1347, and SB 3. During the pandemic, many Hoosiers learned what people with disabilities already knew: sometimes it’s difficult or impossible to go out about for health care purposes. Although having complete choice as to whether one meets in person or remotely would be ideal, at least those with transportation difficulties now have at least one avenue to receive needed medical care.
The Bad
SB 12 – Service Dog Endorsement on Operator’s License. This bill worries me more than any other, especially as a service dog owner. If passed, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) would have to ask those obtaining or renewing driver’s licenses whether they voluntarily want their license to describe the use of their service animal. Critically, the bill defines “service animal” differently than federal law does. Moreover, the BMV has no mechanism to truly know whether a service animal is legitimate. For these reasons, the public will be more confused than ever about service dog laws. In addition to navigating that confusion, service dog handlers will also likely encounter more fake service dogs than ever. Please let Senator Kruse know that people with legitimate service dogs denied entry to public facilities already have resolution methods. SB 12 would only make the problem worse.
Several bills, including HB 1295 and HB 1375, for the Elimination of Gun-Free Zones. Don’t get me wrong; I generally be support Second Amendment and believe the world would be a lot safer if everyone was packing. However, there are a few places where guns do not logically belong, including State-operated facilities for individuals with mental illness. I am not associating mental illness with criminal violence. However, I am concerned that if individuals working in these facilities bring weapons onto the campus, the risk of suicide and other forms of bodily harm is needlessly increased. As a State employee who is physically unable to wield a gun, I am also uncomfortable with the idea that frustrated members of the public could legally carry guns when coming to confront me or my colleagues.
Another batch of bills, including HB 1315, HB 1437, and SB 369, would allow government bodies to meet and conduct business remotely. As noted when discussing the telehealth bills, remote participation is usually a nice option for people with disabilities. However, government bodies do not seem as attuned to the needs of people with disabilities as do medical providers (and, as those using American Sign Language can certainly attest, medical providers still fall short granting reasonable accommodation requests). Just trying to watch the 1102 Commission meetings during the coronavirus pandemic was an ordeal, even though the subject matter was intellectual and developmental disability services. Thus, I am concerned that if more government business is conducted electronically, people with disabilities will be shut out of the conversation more easily. Not all platforms are accessible to individuals with various disabilities, not everyone has access to the Internet, etc.
The Ugly
HB 1333 – Cultural Awareness and Competency Training. I appreciate the intention behind this bill, which is to ensure that healthcare professionals have ongoing cultural awareness and competency training – including disability-related training. The problem is that the Department of Health and the Office of Minority Health must develop the training. I don’t know about you, but I would much prefer the Governor’s Council on People with Disabilities or Indiana Disability Rights to provide disability awareness and competency training.
SB 286 – Disability and Rehabilitative Services. This bill provides criteria as to what individuals comprise the Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services (DDRS) Advisory Committee. Two things about this bill bother me. First, only two self-advocates are permitted to serve on the Committee, although its work pertains exclusively to people with disabilities. Second, and the reason why I categorize this bill as “ugly,” is because it is disability-specific, limiting membership to those involved with or having intellectual and developmental disabilities. As we know, DDRS serves people who are blind, people who are Deaf or deaf, people with physical disabilities, and people with mental illness, in addition to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
A handful of bills would, if passed, raise the minimum wage, including HB 1345 and SB 334. Importantly, neither of these bills would change the definition of “employee” in the Indiana Code. This means that, even if one of these bills went on to increase Indiana’s minimum wage, it would still be lawful to pay people with disabilities working in sheltered workshops as little as one cent per hour. I encourage you to reach out to these bills’ sponsors and see if either would be willing to see wages increase for all Hoosiers.
I promised to be brief, which has precluded me from discussing other important bills. I also encourage you to check out: SB 74, which would make it illegal for an employer to require an employee to vaccinate; SB 378, regarding electronic monitoring in nursing homes; HB 1261, which would require places of public accommodation to use closed captioning on all televisions in use; nearly every voting bill; and SB 202, SB 206, and SB 229, which would generally preclude nursing homes from excluding visits from all family members during a public emergency. Although this might ban me from social media, I have to say it: Keep fighting for disability rights!
(Picture of Emily Munson wearing green V-neck shirt and green beaded necklace. She is smiling and has shoulder length black hair) Emily Munson, 36, is an Indianapolis attorney with spinal muscular atrophy, type 2. She enjoys advocating for disability rights, reading, and cuddling with her service dog, Rigby.
An ink illustration of a highland calf who is galloping towards the right. This artwork contains an embedded words, “Productivity does not define your worth. Your worth is unconditional.”
About the Art
I created this shortly after my chronic lyme diagnosis and after beginning the first several months of treatment. As my ability to work and be “productive” in ways that are rewarded by capitalism have decreased, I’ve been struggling to disentangle self-worth from ideas of productivity. This is valuable and important and hard. I’m learning to listen to my body more and trust my own emotions. I used to ignore pain, fatigue, and my emotional state to force myself through work. Now if I cry, I know it’s because I’m too tired and I’m reaching meltdown status. I need to stop and rest. Let’s create a world together in which people are valued for their humanity, not their productivity.
Faerie Bear Art is an art adventure by Skye Ashton Kantola (she/they) founded in late 2016. Skye is a fat, white, trans, queer, and intersex, chronically ill autistic person. Skye’s art focuses on trauma healing and uplifting marginalized communities. 10% of all art sales are donated to BreakOUT! Youth, a QTPOC youth lead organization focused on abolition and decriminalization in Louisiana. In some cases, the profits from certain pieces are also split with collaborators.
What is this Resource? Below is a list of agencies, arranged by county, that are invaluable resources to those looking for financial, emotional, and social support for their families and children.Many resources listed are agencies specifically prepared to support children who have experienced trauma and violence.
How to Find What You Are Looking For: The fastest way to find resources relevant to you is to scroll down to the county where you live (counties are listed in alphabetical order). Another way to find resources is to access this list on a computer and hold down “control” and tap the letter “f” (for PC) or hold down “command” and tap the letter “f” (on Mac). These keys will bring up a search bar and you can type any search term, such as the county or specific services. Then click “next” in the search bar to scroll through every found matching term.
Adams County
SAFE (Supporting All Families Everyday) in Adams County
Mission: SAFE in Adams County works to prevent child abuse through education and events to educate and support children and families.
Services: Educational classes for children, parents, and community; activities for families throughout the year.
Location: 125 E. Monroe Street Decatur, Indiana 46733
Mission: SCAN protects children, prepares parents, strengthens families, and educates our community to Stop Child Abuse and Neglect
Services: Home-based therapy, community and family connections development, fatherhood engagement
Location: 500 W. Main Street Fort Wayne, IN 46802-1406 (Serves the following counties: Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wells, & Whitley)
Mission: Prevent Child Abuse in Boone County is dedicated to preventing child abuse and neglect, and is committed to making Boone County a better, safer place for our children.
Services: The Counseling Program, mental health talks
Location: 218 E. Washington Street, Lebanon, IN 46052
Mission: Prevent Child Abuse Clark/Floyd Counties is dedicated to making Clark and Floyd Counties a better and safer place for Indiana’s most precious resources – our children.
Services: It incorporates a broad array of services and supports organized into a coordinated network such as mental health care and substance use treatment are available and accessible to children and youth.
Location: 3000 Technology Drive New Albany, IN 47150
Mission: Prevent Child Abuse strives to bring child abuse awareness and prevention education to Dearborn and Ohio County residents, promoting healthy families through information, workshops, community events and special promotions.
Decatur County 4 Kids Prevent Child Abuse Council, Inc.
Mission: Prevent Child Abuse strives to bring child abuse awareness and prevention education to Dearborn and Ohio County residents, promoting healthy families through information, workshops, community events and special promotions.
Mission: CAPS’ mission is to ensure that every child lives a life free from abuse and neglect
Services: CAPS accomplishes this through education, advocacy, and intervention with families and the community to support safe, stable, nurturing relationships for all children.
Phone: 574-522-1998
Location: 1000 West Hively Avenue Elkhart, IN 46517
Location: 2508 Western Avenue, Ste E Connersville, IN 47331
Email: jmccarrell@childrensbureau.org
Floyd County
Prevent Child Abuse Clark/Floyd Counties
Mission: Prevent Child Abuse Clark/Floyd Counties is dedicated to making Clark and Floyd Counties a better and safer place for Indiana’s most precious resources – our children.
Services: It incorporates a broad array of services and supports organized into a coordinated network such as mental health care and substance use treatment are available and accessible to children and youth.
Location: 3000 Technology Drive New Albany, IN 47150
Location: 2508 Western Avenue, Ste E Connersville, IN 47331
Email: jmccarrell@childrensbureau.org
Grant County
Prevent Child Abuse Grant County
Mission: Prevent Child Abuse, Grant County believes the most effective approach to reducing child abuse and neglect is to maintain a network of volunteers to work on the behalf of child abuse prevention in our community
Mission: Prevent Child Abuse Indiana serves as a catalyst for preventing child abuse in all its forms and thereby enhancing the quality of life for children and families in Hamilton County, Indiana.
Services: Advocate for expanded and improved programs and policies to prevent child abuse., Increase awareness of the problem and inform communities about solutions.
Location: 15530 Herriman Blvd, Noblesville, IN 46060
Mission: Provide positive parenting education and raise awareness of child abuse prevention through activities that teach, strengthen, empower, and assist families and the community so that children may grow up in safe and nurturing homes
Services: Monthly council meetings, attend yearly events in the community to share information on prevention of child abuse, and a yearly community forum to share important educational information and services provided to our children and community.
Prevent Child Abuse Harrison County – Blue River Services
Mission: To assist people in realizing maximum personal growth and development in home, work and community by providing a continuum of individualized services and supports in settings least restrictive for the needs of the individual.
Services: Community training, outreach events, family assistance and food drives, as well as an annual spring event to bring more awareness to the community.
Mission: The mission of Prevent Child Abuse Hendricks County is to prevent child abuse and neglect by promoting positive and supportive community for our families.
Services: Events include pinwheel gardens, a proclamation and kick off with the community, a day of free community training and family fun. PCA Hendricks County provides FREE Darkness to Light trainings through the year to the community in an effort to educate and prevent child sexual abuse.
Location: 1925 Crown Plaza Boulevard Plainfield, Indiana 46168
Mission: The Family Service Association (FSA) is a non-profit organization that promotes healthy families and empowers vulnerable individuals and families through education, prevention, and crisis intervention programs.
Services: Parent consulting and healing process information, community and public support activities.
Mission: SCAN protects children, prepares parents, strengthens families and educates our community to Stop Child Abuse and Neglect
Services: Home-based therapy, community and family connections development, fatherhood engagement
Location: 500 W. Main Street Fort Wayne, IN 46802 (Serves the following counties: Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wells, & Whitley)
Mission: Continually work within a statewide organization and network that enables all sectors of the community to play a significant role in preventing child abuse and neglect.
Services: Jennings County Pinwheel Alliance shares information and child abuse/neglect prevention educational materials within our community through participation in community health fairs and public events.
Mission: Continually work within a statewide organization and network that enables all sectors of the community to play a significant role in preventing child abuse and neglect.
Location: 520 Tracy Road, Suite 160 New Whiteland, IN 46184
Mission: Prevent Child Abuse Knox County is a not-for profit group aiming to bring education and prevention efforts to Knox County. Dedicated to preventing child abuse and neglect, and committed to making Knox County a better, safer place for our most precious resources – our children.
Mission: SCAN protects children, prepares parents, strengthens families and educates our community to Stop Child Abuse and Neglect
Services: Home-based therapy, community and family connections development, fatherhood engagement
Location: 500 W. Main Street Fort Wayne, IN 46802-1406 (Serves the following counties: Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wells, & Whitley)
Mission: Our mission is to prevent child neglect and abuse through education, increased awareness, and advocacy.
Services: Prevent Child Abuse Lake County (PCALC), a chartered council of Prevent Child Abuse Indiana, is an all-volunteer board dedicated to educating our community about what we can do at a local level to prevent child abuse. The board works with other non-profit groups and agencies to further this cause through networking and information sharing.
Location: 5201 Fountain Drive, Suite I, Crown Point, Indiana 46307
Email: joyhemi@yahoo.com
Website: www.pcalc.org
Madison County
Prevent Child Abuse Madison County
Mission: Prevent Child Abuse Madison County is a council of concerned citizens and nonprofits helping to educate the community on primary prevention education
Location: 5201 Fountain Drive, Suite I Crown Point, Indiana 46307
Mission: Stars for children of Marion county is the local council that supports families in taking action, addressing issues, recognizing challenges and strengthening the community.
Location: 5435 N Emerson Way Indianapolis, In 46225
Mission: The Montgomery County Youth Service Bureau empowers children/youth to become responsible citizens through delinquency prevention, community education, youth advocacy, direct services and information and referral.
Services: Child abuse prevention services, court appointed special advocates.
Mission: SCAN protects children, prepares parents, strengthens families and educates our community to Stop Child Abuse and Neglect
Services: Home-based therapy, community and family connections development, fatherhood engagement
Location: 500 W. Main Street Fort Wayne, IN 46802-1406 (Serves the following counties: Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wells, & Whitley)
Mission: Prevent Child Abuse strives to bring child abuse awareness and prevention education to Dearborn and Ohio County residents, promoting healthy families through information, workshops, community events and special promotions.
Mission: Prevent Child Abuse Indiana is dedicated to preventing child abuse and neglect, and is committed to making Indiana a better, safer place for Indiana’s most precious resources – our children.
Services: Advocate for expanded and improved programs and policies to prevent child abuse, Foster a statewide network committed to child abuse prevention.
Location: 4600 South Springhill Junction, Terre Haute, IN 47802
Mission: Prevent Child Abuse Posey County is dedicated to preventing child abuse and neglect, and is committed to making Indiana a better, safer place for Indiana’s most precious resources – our children.
Services: Advocate for expanded and improved programs and policies to prevent child abuse, Foster a statewide network committed to child abuse prevention.
Coalition Against Domestic Abuse, Inc. (PCA Starke County)
Mission: The Coalition Against Domestic Abuse (CADA) recognizes that the dynamics of domestic violence and sexual assault affect all socioeconomic levels of society. CADA will work toward the goal of the elimination of domestic violence and sexual assault through education and awareness, through referrals of resources to victims, through work toward a combined community response to aid victims, and through support of emergency shelters and transitional housing for victims, and through holding abusers accountable for their actions.
Services: CADA provides information and services to Starke County residents, shelter and services to victims of domestic abuse, rape, and sexual assault in Starke, Porter, and Lake counties. An advocate works in Starke County to assist the victims. CADA seeks to promote awareness and education about domestic and family abuse to victims of abuse and to the public as well.
Mission: SCAN protects children, prepares parents, strengthens families and educates our community to Stop Child Abuse and Neglect
Services: Home-based therapy, community and family connections development, fatherhood engagement
Location: 500 W. Main Street Fort Wayne, IN 46802-1406 (Serves the following counties: Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wells, & Whitley)
Mission: The mission of Tippecanoe Child Abuse Prevention Council is to positively impact the prevention of child abuse through education and awareness, while enhancing the quality of life for families in Tippecanoe County. We strive to educate the community as well as provide fun activities to promote healthy family relationships. In addition to April’s events, we also host events in the summer and fall
Services: Advocate services, Education services, Building coalitions
Wayne County Kids First (Prevent Child Abuse Wayne County)
Mission: Through forensic interviews, advocacy, and education, JACY House will create an environment for children and families that is child-centered and trauma-informed, so that healing can begin.
Services: Forensic interviews, advocacy, and education, caregiver support group
Location: 2508 Western Avenue, Ste E Connersville, IN 47331
Mission: SCAN protects children, prepares parents, strengthens families and educates our community to Stop Child Abuse and Neglect
Services: Home-based therapy, community and family connections development, fatherhood engagement
Location: 500 W. Main Street Fort Wayne, IN 46802-1406 (Serves the following counties: Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wells, & Whitley)
Resources compiled & post written by Reshma Rawlani, Graduate Student Worker at Multicultural Efforts to End Sexual Assault. Post edited by Skye Ashton Kantola, Assistant Director at Multicultural Efforts to End Sexual Assault (MESA).
(Picture of Emily Munson wearing green V-neck shirt and green beaded necklace. She is smiling and has shoulder length black hair) Emily Munson, 36, is an Indianapolis attorney with spinal muscular atrophy, type 2. She enjoys advocating for disability rights, reading, and cuddling with her service dog, Rigby.