We Change Lives by Changing Systems

The Indiana Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities (GCPD) improves the lives of people with developmental and other disabilities in Indiana by strategically funding grants, influencing public policy and training people with disabilities and their family members to more effectively communicate and advocate for themselves and their communities. GCPD works to ensure that people with disabilities can live independent and productive lives in the community with the supports and services that they need to maximize their potential. The following is a snapshot of just some of the work that GCPD has done in the past five years:

GCPD awarded over $5 million dollars grants and contracts and leveraged an additional $4.25 million dollars in non-federal funds, including projects that:

• Increase the availability of accessible and diverse housing in Indiana
• Increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities
• Improve transportation coordination and access
• Empower people with disabilities to protect themselves from abuse, neglect and exploitation
• Registered 11,022 individuals with disabilities to vote
• Recruited 28,867 individuals with disabilities to join Indiana’s statewide disability advocacy coalition

Over 130 policies and programs were created or improved through Council activities and collaborations, including policies that:

• Provided greater and safer access to the community for people with disabilities through the adoption of municipal ordinances and/or regulations
• Helped open the doors for individuals with developmental disabilities to attend colleges and universities around the state
• Assisted with the statewide adoption of “Employment First” which makes integrated community employment at competitive wages as the first and preferred outcome for all people with disabilities 

Nearly 21,000 individuals were trained to enhance their leadership skills, increase their knowledge and more effectively communicate with policymakers.

• People with disabilities and families are members of boards and leadership coalitions and remain active in grassroots advocacy since receiving training
• In the words of one recent trainee: “For me, this has been a life changing experience. I now feel that I CAN be the change I want to see in the world.”

Council News

The Governor's Council for People with Disabilities is Holding a Board Meeting Tuesday, June 9th, 2020 Please take notice that a regular meeting of the Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities will be held on Tuesday, June 9, 2020 at 10 a.m. by electronic remote access for the purpose of consideration of issues specified in the linked agenda. Electronic remote access, in accordance with the Indiana Governor’s Executive Order 20-09, will be implemented in response to COVID-19 social distancing requirements. The public may participate in the meeting through Zoom access by computer and smart phone using the following link: https://on.in.gov/gcpdboard or by telephone by calling (312)626-6799 and entering Meeting ID: 962 1364 0514 when prompted.

View the Council's "It's My Life" publication This year, as part of Indiana's Disability Awareness Month celebration, the Council created a new 8-page publication that was distributed in newspapers throughout the state.  Click here to view the publication online.