(Image provided by City of Valparaiso)
In Valparaiso, the city is joining with the state in recognizing March as Disability Awareness Month. “Disability Awareness Month is an opportunity to come together, become more educated and build a more supportive community,” said Mayor Jon Costas. The initiative is coordinated by the Advisory Human Relations Council’s Disability Awareness and Inclusion Subcommittee and community partners. This week, the public is invited to an author reading and wheelchair basketball demonstration with Paralympian Patty Cisneros Prevo, who won back-to-back gold medals and served as captain of the 2008 Paralympic gold medal wheelchair basketball team. She is also the writer of Tenacious: Fifteen Adventures Alongside Disabled Athletes. The free presentation will be at 10 am March 16, 2024, at Thomas Jefferson Middle School. No ticket or RSVP is necessary, and the event includes booths hosted by local nonprofit organizations, the city said. The city says another highlight of the initiative is Disability Awareness Spotlight featuring Team Agar, the father-son team of Jeff and Johnny Agar. Johnny was born with cerebral palsy and doctors predicted he would never walk. Yet, he and his dad went on to partner in endurance races, a news release from the city said. The free presentation will be at 6 pm on March 20, 2024, at the Harre Union Ballroom on the Valparaiso University campus. In addition to these events, local organizations are hosting their own discussions surrounding disability awareness and inclusion, including the Valpo Chamber, Porter County Public Library System, Valparaiso Noon and Sunrise Kiwanis Clubs, Rotary Club of Valparaiso, and more. The city also has shared online resources, including an Ally Toolkit. Visit this link – tinyurl.com/ValpoDAI – at the city’s website to learn more and access materials.
