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Thank You to those of you who participated in last month’s survey and provided feedback on our monthly newsletter. Overall, we learned that our newsletter is a reliable resource that is accessible and understandable for a wide audience, is easy to navigate, and engages our readers through mission-related content. With the continued goal of sharing relevant and timely information, you will see a few changes to our newsletter based on your suggestions! An easy click at the end of this newsletter will let us know what you think.
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From the Executive Director
Dear Independence Alliance Supporters,
Our entire staff recently came together to watch a wonderful documentary that was featured on PBS American Experience: “Change,Not Charity: The Americans with Disabilities Act.”
This one-hour documentary went into the history of just how the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) came to be landmark civil rights legislation for people with disabilities in the United States. Getting to be signed into law by President George H. W. Bush (43) on July 26, 1990, was a massive struggle that took many years and jumped many hurdles. The film educated me about things I did not know about the history of the legislation and opened my eyes to the some of the sacrifices made by people with disabilities to see this to fruition.
After the documentary we had a discussion and shared the following:
Watching “Change, Not Charity” evoked a sense of empathy for those who faced discrimination and injustice; it was a powerful and emotional documentary.
I found it very moving and informative. It was great to see faces put with events that I have been made aware of over the years. I remember some of those events occurring.
The ADA is not perfect and there remains much work to be done to address inequities in civil rights for people with disabilities. This summer, follow us for information on how YOU can celebrate 35 years of the ADA and be part of the changes for the future.
As always, I enjoy hearing from you. How has the ADA changed your life or the life of someone you know? Feel free to share with me by email or give me a call at 513-338-5100.
My best wishes to you and yours for a meaningful summer season.
Yours Truly,
Rob
P.S. This month’s disability trivia: Name one of two people with a significant disability to have served as the Governor of New York? The fourth person to email me with the correct answer will win a $10 Amazon gift card.
Watch the documentary (53 minutes):
Change, Not Charity: The Americans with Disabilities Act | American Experience | Official Site | PBS
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Personal Reflection on "Change, Not Charity: The Americans with Disabilities Act"
Dawn Engel
Youth Transition Services Specialist
Born with a congenital disability of legal blindness, I experienced a flood of emotions while watching the documentary Change, Not Charity: The Americans with Disabilities Act. In many ways, I felt that I had been living the very history it portrayed.
During high school and college in the 1980s, I relied on Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act to receive accommodations for my visual impairment. While studying Special Education at Syracuse University, I came to deeply understand the impact of this legislation, along with others such as Public Law 94-142—now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Although IDEA was not highlighted in the film, I believe it plays a critical role in the broader narrative of disability rights.
The documentary highlighted a significant moment in disability history: the appointment of the first Deaf president at Gallaudet University in 1988. A few years later, in 1991, I attended Gallaudet University for graduate school. Living and learning on a Deaf campus, I witnessed and shared in the triumphs of the Deaf community. As a visually impaired student in a Deaf world, however, I had to learn how to advocate for myself in new and challenging ways.
Despite the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), I still faced significant obstacles in getting my needs met. However, by my second year, I began to feel truly heard. Those two years at Gallaudet, during the early years of the ADA, laid the foundation for my commitment to self-advocacy and to supporting others with disabilities.
As the documentary asserts, the ADA was a pivotal step in disability advocacy. Yet, even 35 years later, the work is far from finished. In my current role as a Youth Transition Services Specialist, I am dedicated to empowering a new generation of self-advocates—young people who will continue the fight for equity, inclusion, and access for all individuals with disabilities.
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"Change, Not Charity" - A Personal Experience
Suzanne Hopkins
Director of Ohio Programs
Watching Change, Not Charity was a deeply personal experience for me. As someone with a significant physical disability and more than 30 years of experience working at a CIL, I found myself relating to nearly every aspect of the film. While I may not fully agree with all forms of civil disobedience, I do understand why many advocates felt it was necessary to take bold action in order to be seen, heard, and valued. Sometimes disruption is the only way to force long-overdue conversations.
What made the film especially meaningful was seeing disability rights leaders whom I have had the privilege to meet in person, and two of whom were my professors at the University of San Francisco. These individuals have shaped both the movement and my own path as a lifelong advocate. Through my work at the CIL, I have focused especially on the critical importance of personal care assistance services and ensuring real opportunities for people with disabilities to live independently and with dignity.
The documentary’s mention of the “poster child” syndrome struck a particularly personal chord. As a former Easter Seals poster child, I participated in a swim film where I dove off a diving board without limbs—an image designed to evoke pity and inspire donations. That experience became bittersweet when my parents were later sent a bill for future swim lessons. This contradiction highlights a painful truth: while some charitable organizations use images of disabled children to tug at heartstrings, they do not always deliver on the promises they publicly champion.
Overall, the film is a powerful reminder that real change comes not from charity, but from rights-based advocacy and the insistence on full inclusion, equity, and respect.
| The rain can't stop us! On Saturday, May 3rd, Independence Alliance handed out hundreds of mini-pigs and selected swag before participating in PigAbilities in the Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon. Congratulations to the athletes that completed their one-mile trek and crossed the Finish Swine in spite of the rain. What a memorable day! | | It has been a year since we began operating as Independence Alliance after being known as Center for Independent Living Options, Inc. (CILO) since 1989. Independence Alliance represents our passion for assisting people with disabilities to live independently and signifies the partnership that connects our organization to those we serve. The last year has been an opportunity for renewed commitment to the services we provide and shows our deep belief in the power of community. Our name change has brought us many opportunities including being the featured nonprofit in the May newsletter for OneSource Center for Nonprofit Excellence. Read the full article here. | | |
The Ohio Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) works with the Centers for Independent Living (CILS) to create the State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL). The SPIL is a three-year plan that gives the SILC and the CILS goals to work on together to improve independent living services for individuals with disabilities and the community.
The current SPIL started in October of 2024. The SILC's State Plan Committee is considering options for amendments. All feedback with be reviewed by the State Plan Committee. Any recommendations provided will be considered. Two major areas of focus for the amendment are:
1) Goal 2, Objective 2. Reason: the CILS included information about conducting Youth Leadership Forums across Ohio. The project was not funded for this summer, so there will not be forums happening to report progress for.
2) The Southeastern Ohio Center for Independent Living would like to expand the use of their current funding to new counties in Ohio including Meigs, Perry, Vinton, Jackson, and Morgan Counties.
View the Current State Plan Here
Public Comment Opportunities through June 30th:
Comments may be submitted by email to Plan Comments or Jeremy Morris.
Complete the survey
Comment by calling 614-982-0390.
Mail comments to 670 Morrison Road, Suite 200, Gahanna, OH 42320
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Every year, Disability Rights Ohio gathers public input from Ohioans with disabilities, advocates, allies, and partner organizations to better understand the issues and barriers being faced in their communities. This information is used to help inform and shape the work of DRO in the year ahead.
The 2026 Goals and Objectives Survey is open now through Friday, June 20th.
There are several different ways to participate in the survey:
You can complete the survey online here.
(https://tinyurl.com/DRO26Survey)
A fillable PDF version of the survey in English is available here.
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Congratulations to our 2025 Living Well in the Community participants!
Living Well in the Community (LWIC) is a ten-week workshop grounded in the Independent Living philosophy that can help people set and achieve quality-of-life goals while building skills to support health and wellness. The workshop helps adults with disabilities develop healthy living habits to live a meaningful, rich life.
Facilitated by our Independent Living Skills Specialist, this year thirteen participants completed all ten sessions and earned a certificate of completion and a gift card!
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An LWIC Success Story:
Empowering through Poetry
Savannaha Stidham is a beautiful and kind person who participated in this year’s Living Well in the Community (LWIC) Workshop. Savannaha became connected to the LWIC Workshop through the Collective Visions Community Program.
Our Independent Living Services Specialist stated “When I met Savannaha in March, I knew immediately there was something special about her after she shared some of her poetry." One of her poems about empowering and uplifting people with disabilities was posted to our social media platforms and shared with hundreds of people in early April.
During the LWIC Workshop, Michael Ginn and Amy Hayden, both writers for the Hamilton County Developmental Disabilities Services publication, My Life, heard Savannaha reading one of her poems during an LWIC session and asked her to share more of her writings with them. We are proud that through LWIC, Savannaha was invited to become one of the contributing writers for the publication. This is a wonderful opportunity for Savannaha to continue to write and share her beautiful poems that encourage people with disabilities.
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Introducing Our New Self-Advocacy Resources!
Self-advocacy is knowing what we need and making choices about how we live our lives, like choosing what we do at home, at work, or in our relationships. As tenants with disabilities, we can use self-advocacy when speaking with a landlord or property manager to make sure our housing meets our needs and is accessible.
We are pleased to introduce our two new resources developed by our Disability Rights & Advocacy Specialist titled Self-Advocacy as a Tenant with a Disability and the Tenant Rights and Disability Guide. These resources are designed to guide consumers to advocate for themselves and understand their rights as a tenant.
Email Dee Henry with any questions about these resources.
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Employee June Anniversaries
Join us in congratulating both Lisa Beane, Kentucky Housing Coordinator, and Anthony Jenkins, Gallery Assistant, as they each celebrate 11 years with us!
Meet our Team
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Do you plan on visiting Independence Alliance?
We maintain a fragrance-free environment; we ask that you avoid the use of fragranced products when visiting our office.
Please know we are available to discuss your need for accommodations or accessibility for your visit with us. Contact us!
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Learn more here about how using your
Kroger Plus Card can support our organization!
Once you have signed up there is nothing more
to do other than use your Kroger Plus Card
at the checkout!
Help us increase the number of households participating by signing up today!
(You will still sign up as supporting Center for Independent Living until further notice.)
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