Fishers prepares for Disability Awareness Month in March

LarryInFishers.com

Fishers City  Councilor Cecilia Coble is serving her second stint as President of the Council.  One project dear to her is serving those in the Fishers community with disabilities.  She was key in fashioning a city ordinance creating a permanent city advisory committee on disabilities.

Councilor Coble, along with committee member Stacey Oldham, will be leading the activities during March, celebrating Disability Awareness Month.  The month-long list of activities include a number of community partners, including Old National Bank, Indy Fuel, HSE Schools, Fishers Arts Council, OneZone Chamber of Commerce, Hamilton East Public Library, and Fishers Parks.  Special Needs Living Magazine and Guardian Care are this year’s Platinum Sponsors..

“We are excited to add the Indy Fuel to the list of community partners for 2024 March Disability Awareness Month,” said Cecilia Coble, president of Fishers City Council and co-chair of the Fishers Advisory Committee on Disability. “They are committed to working alongside the City of Fishers and the disability community to provide inclusive and accessible opportunities for all guests at the new Fishers Event Center.”

“Our theme is Fueled for the Future due to the many accommodations and programs that Fishers is putting in place for those with disabilities,” said Stacey Oldham, board member of the Fishers Advisory Committee on Disability and keynote speaker at this year’s kickoff event. “The vision is not only for now, but far into the future. Our partnership with Indy Fuel is key. As an example, the Fishers Advisory Committee on Disability, City of Fishers, and the Indy Fuel have worked together to ensure the new Fishers Event Center will be welcoming for all.”

The month gets underway with the March 1st kickoff at Launch Fishers.

Here is a full list of Disability Awareness Month activities, as provided by the City of Fishers:

2024 Disability Awareness Month Kickoff & Awards: Fueled for the FutureFriday, March 1 / 8:30-10 a.m.Launch Fishers TheaterMayor Scott Fadness and the Fishers Advisory Committee on Disability invite the public to celebrate the kick-off of Fishers March Disability Awareness Month. Stacey Oldham, Fishers resident and board member of the Fishers Advisory Committee on Disability, will present the keynote address as she shares the inspiring story of her 40-year journey with Multiple Sclerosis. The morning will also feature the presentation of the annual Fishers Advisory Committee on Disability’s Inclusion and Accessibility Awards, which are given to those who inspire and advocate for the disability community. No registration is required for this free event.
 
Fishers Parks’ Storywalk: Just Ask
Begins March 4 / Daily, dawn to dusk
Brooks School Park (11780 Brooks School Road, Fishers)
Enjoy an easy, family-friendly hike around Brooks School Park as you enjoy March’s featured book, Just Ask, written by United States Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. The #1 New York Times bestseller is the winner of the Schneider Family Book Award. No registration is required for this free event. Learn more at playfishers.com/Storywalk.
Fishers Arts Council’s Second Friday: March Disability Awareness Art ExhibitionFriday, March 8 / 6-9 pmHamilton County Community Foundation’s FAC Hub GalleryFishers Arts Council hosts an evening for all ages including live music and various kinds of artistic expressions on display in the gallery.  All are welcome to this “Second Friday” celebration of artists with different abilities. Speakers from the Fishers Advisory Committee, Ignite Studio, and the Fishers Arts Council will make comments at 7 p.m. but guests are invited to visit in an open house style. Light refreshments will be available. No registration is required for this free event.
OneZone March Luncheon: Disability Awareness PanelWednesday, March 13 / 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. FORUM Events Center Find your next great hire at OneZone’s March luncheon. Local employers will share their experiences hiring individuals with disabilities and tips on how your company can too. In the lobby after the luncheon, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a reverse job fair with prospective individuals. Registration is required for this paid event. Learn more at onezonechamber.com.

Preparing for Your Next Employment OpportunityFriday, March 15 / 9-11 a.m.Grace Church FishersWith an unemployment rate under 3% in Hamilton County, employers find it difficult to hire for open positions. However, the unemployment rate among qualified potential employees with a disability is well over 50%. Hosted by the Fishers Advisory Committee on Disability’s Allies for Disability Employment subcommittee, individuals with disabilities who are ready to work will have an opportunity to participate in an open house style event with stations for resume development, job seeking tips, online interview practice, and mock interviews. Hamilton County resources will also be available to help people learn about seeking, finding, and landing a job. Registration is requested for this free event. Learn more at fishersIN.gov/DisabilityAwareness. Indy Fuel Game: March Disability Awareness Night Friday, March 22 / 7 p.m.    Indiana Farmers ColiseumCome cheer on the Indy Fuel as you support the Fishers Advisory Committee on Disability. Purchase tickets for a special rate of $25 and a portion of your ticket will go back to support the committee. The first 100 tickets purchased will also receive a special “Fueled for the Future” t-shirt. Purchase tickets at fishersIN.gov/DisabilityAwareness.Hamilton County Transition FairWednesday, March 27 / 6-7:30 p.m.  Hamilton Southeastern High School, enter through door 18Talk directly with the agencies and providers who support individuals with special needs at all levels and stages of life. No registration is required for this free event.Hamilton East Public Library Workshops Dates and locations varyJoin the Hamilton East Public Library for various workshops and programs themed around Disability Awareness Month. Learn more at hamiltoneastpl.org.

  • Get Involved with Special Olympics Indiana | Teens & Adults | Tuesday, March 5 | 6-6:45pm | Fishers Library
  • Dyslexia 101 |Adults | Wednesday, March 13 | 5:30-7:30pm | Fishers Library
  • Supporting Children with ADHD | Adults | Saturday, March 16 | 2-3pm | Noblesville Library
  • Notes on Blindness | Adults | Tuesday, March 19 | 5-5:45pm, 6-6:45pm, 7-7:45pm | Fishers Library
  • Preparing for Adulthood on the Autism Spectrum | Adults | Sunday, March 24 | 3-4pm | Virtual
To register for events, download the Ally Toolkit, and learn more about the work of the Fishers Advisory Committee on Disability, visit fishersIN.gov/DisabilityAwareness. Follow along on social media at #FishersDisabilityAwareness.