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'Disability Town Hall' in Columbus will elevate community voices, inform statewide planning

Saturday, May 30, 2026 at 5:20 AM

Courtesy-Indiana Statewide Independent Living Council

COLUMBUS, Ind. - The Indiana Statewide Independent Living Council (INSILC) will host a Disability Town Hall on Wednesday, June 3, bringing together people with disabilities, community leaders, and local organizations for an evening of dialogue, connection, and public input.

The event will be at The Commons in downtown Columbus from 5 to 8 p.m. A registration form is available here.   

The INSILC Disability Town Hall will focus on elevating the voices of people with disabilities and creating opportunities for direct engagement with decision-makers. Input gathered during the session will help inform Indiana’s next Statewide Plan for Independent Living, which outlines priorities and goals identified by people with disabilities across the state.   

The program will feature a panel discussion on accessible community engagement, along with opportunities for attendees to share their experiences and perspectives. A community conversation table will provide space for more informal dialogue, with a focus on Indiana’s Medicaid Waiver Reset and its impact on consumers, families, and caregivers.   

The panelists are:

  • Amber Scherer, Interim Executive Director, Thrive Alliance
  • Grace Kestler, City Councilor At-Large, City of Columbus
  • Jacob Sipe, Director of Community Development, City of Columbus
  • Kevin McCracken, Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychology and Mental Health Counseling, IU Columbus
  • Wendy Kirts, Executive Director, The Arc of Bartholomew County

Community exhibitors include:   

  • ADA Indiana
  • Bartholomew County Public Library
  • Bartholomew County Veteran Services
  • Empowered Pathways
  • Foundation for Youth
  • Go Beyond Limits
  • Indiana Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities
  • REACH Columbus Inc.
  • Southern Indiana Center for Independent Living (SICIL)
  • Stone Belt Arc, Inc
  • The Arc of Bartholomew County
  • Thrive Alliance

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