ABOUTUS

Our History

Disability Legal Services of Indiana (now Ability Allies) 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).

About-Us

OURCLIENTS

Ability Allies provides services to:

  • Families who have concerns about a student’s special education and related services.
  • Families who are concerned with their student’s academic performance or behavior and suspect their student may have a disability.
  • Families of a student who has been subjected to disciplinary measures at school for behavior. 
  • Students who have questions about, or are having trouble accessing, disability services in college.
Questions?
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Services

Board of Directors

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 of Advocates

Andrea Ciobanu

Ben Finegan

Nicole Goodson

Brittany Kelly

Melissa Keyes

Carol Miller

Abbey Parker

Gina Plummer

Julie Burk Smith

 

AA-Icon-WhiteOURSERVICES

Our Ability Allies attorneys represent parents and students in education matters in both state and federal courts and in matters before the Indiana Department of Education, including Special Education Complaints, Mediation and Article 7 Due Process Hearings.

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