Who We Are

Advocacy For Students With Disabilities

Disability Legal Services of Indiana, now doing business as Ability Allies, is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that provides free and low-cost legal services to Indiana’s children and adults with disabilities, primarily in education matters.

 Disability Legal Services of Indiana was founded in 2008 in response to a concern over the lack of affordable educational advocacy and legal services for children with disabilities, particularly in education law. When faced with concerns over special education services, parents, foster parents and other caregivers often feel overwhelmed and have few places to turn for assistance. Ability Allies fills this void. 

Our attorneys review each child’s educational needs and assist the families in obtaining an appropriate educational plan, a plan designed to fit the child’s individual needs and to prepare them for further education, employment, and independent living. 

Our work supports the Congressional finding that improving the educational results for children with disabilities is an essential element of our national policy of ensuring equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for individuals with disabilities. 20 U.S.C. § 1400 (c)(1).

Ability Allies Indiana

Mary Jo Wedding, President

Hannah Carlock, Vice-President

Brian Clay, Treasurer

Christine Hennessy, Secretary

Danielle Coulter

Jennifer Dewitt

Margie Ferguson

Chris Jolivette

Katelyn Juerling

Rachelle Mills

Shannan Penaflor

Kelly Scott

Becky Shields

Sabrina Starr 

Board Advocates

Andrea Ciobanu

Ben Finegan

Nicole Goodson

Brittany Kelly

Melissa Keyes

Carol Miller

Abbey Parker

Gina Plummer

Julie Burk Smith

Ability Allies Indiana
Do You Want More Information About Us?

Call 317.426.7733

or fill out and submit our form

How You Can Help

You can support the work of Ability Allies by becoming part of our mission to serve children with disabilities who need a voice in their future.

Donate