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).
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
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.