Fishers’ Disability Awareness Month celebration returns in March with ‘Connected Through Language’ theme

Month-long celebration will feature launch of county-wide closed captioning initiative, community events & more

The City of Fishers and Fishers Advisory Committee on Disability will hold their annual celebration of National Disability Awareness Month next month with a month-long lineup of special events and programs aimed to raise awareness of what life is like for those with physical and intellectual disabilities in the community.

The celebration presented by Old National Bank is themed Connected Through Language and will strive to highlight the power of language in cultivating identity and connections, from the perspective of residents who are Deaf or hard of hearing. As part of the celebration, March will also feature the launch of a county-wide closed captioning initiative that aims to foster and inclusive and accessible experience for everyone in public places. The countywide initiative, led by Hamilton County Tourism with support from the Fishers Advisory Committee on Disability, encourages and educates business owners on the benefits and logistics of using closed captioning.

“Since establishing the Fishers Advisory Committee on Disability in 2017, our group has been committed to working with the City of Fishers to ensure that those with disabilities have the necessary accommodations, support, and opportunities to thrive in our community,” said Cecilia Coble, co-chair of the Fishers Advisory on Disability and Fishers City Councilor. “Our committee looks forward to March as a time to elevate the stories, accomplishments, and challenges of the local disability community and encourage residents, businesses, and community leaders to rally behind this important cause.”

The celebration will include the return of the popular Ally campaign, which invites residents to become advocates for disability inclusion. Free Ally toolkits will be available for community members to showcase their advocacy, educate themselves and others, and further the discussion on disability inclusion. Toolkits including a T-shirt, yard sign, stickers, and other materials will be available for pick up at the March Disability Awareness Month Kickoff on March 3 at Fishers City Hall Theater, 1 Municipal Drive. Virtual toolkits are also available with information on how to best serve as an Ally, including a language guide, social media graphics, an Ally pledge, and more. The virtual toolkit is available for download at FishersIN.gov/DisabilityAwareness.

“The Ally campaign is a great way to engage residents who don’t have a direct tie with the disability community in the celebration and build a support network to rally for inclusivity and accessibility,” said Kelly Hartman, committee co-chair and president and CEO of KQuad Consulting. “I love seeing residents with their t-shirts and yard signs, showcasing their allyship with pride.”

The 2025 event lineup features several events hosted by community partners like the Fishers Arts Council, OneZone, and Hamilton East Public Library, truly making this a community-wide celebration.

The programming lineup includes:

2025 Disability Awareness Month Kickoff & Awards: Connected Through Language
Monday, March 3, 8:30 to 10 a.m.
Fishers Municipal Center Theater, 1 Municipal Drive
Free, no registration required

Mayor Scott Fadness and the Fishers Advisory Committee on Disability invite the public to celebrate the kick-off of National Disability Awareness Month in Fishers. To highlight this year’s Connected Through Language theme, this event will feature a panel discussion with Fishers residents Jason Magner, Irina Burke, and Greg Gantt about the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community, history of American Sign Language (ASL), and the celebration of Deaf culture.

The event will also include the presentation of the annual Fishers Advisory Committee on Disability’s Inclusion and Accessibility Awards. The three awards – Life Without Limits Award, Cornerstone Employer Award, and Accessibility Award – are community-nominated awards are given to individuals and organizations that inspire and advocate for the local disability community.

Fishers Parks’ Storywalk: My Brain is Magic
Begins March 1, Daily, dawn to dusk
Holland Park (1 Park Drive)
Free, no registration required

Enjoy an easy, family-friendly hike around Holland Park as you enjoy March’s featured book, My Brain is Magic, by Prasha Sooful. No registration is required. Learn more at FishersParks.com/Storywalk.

OneZone Disability Awareness Breakfast
Wednesday, March , 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.
Fishers Municipal Center Theater (1 Municipal Drive)
$15 for members, $25 for guests
Registration required

Join One Zone for a small breakfast of coffee and pastries to learn about Damar Services, Inc. and the positive impact of hiring an individual with a disability from Dr. Jim Dalton, the President and CEO.

Fishers Arts Council’s Second Friday: March Disability Awareness Art Exhibition
Friday, March 14, 6 to 9 p.m.
Fishers Municipal Center Theater (1 Municipal Drive)
Free, no registration required

Fishers Arts Council hosts an evening for all ages including live music and various kinds of artistic expressions on display in the gallery. All are welcome to this open-house style “Second Friday” celebrating artists with different abilities. Speakers from the Fishers Advisory Committee, Ignite Studio, and the Fishers Arts Council will make comments at 7 p.m. Light refreshments are also available.

Hamilton County Disability Resource Fair
March 26., 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Carmel High School, 520 E. Main St.
Free, no registration required

All are welcome to a countywide resource fair for individuals with disabilities and their families. No registration required.

Hamilton East Public Library Workshops
Hamilton East Public Library, 5 Municipal Drive

Join the Hamilton East Public Library’s Fishers branch for various workshops and programs themed around Disability Awareness Month. Learn more at hamiltoneastpl.org.

• Unbound by Limits: The Power of Movement in Art: Saturday, March 8, 11 to 12:30 p.m. and 2 to 3:30 p.m. Registration is open now.
• Neurodivergent Teen Hangout: Game Night: Sunday, March 9, 2 to 3 p.m. Register here.
• Preparing for Adulthood on the Spectrum: A Disability Awareness Month Workshop: Tuesday, March 18, 7 to 8 p.m. Virtual. Register here.
• Notes on Blindness: A Virtual Reality Experience: Thursday, March 27, 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. and 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. Registration opens at 5:30 p.m. Feb 25.

This celebration is made possible by sponsors including Old National Bank (presenting sponsor), and platinum sponsors Fishers Magazine, Hamilton East Public Library, Fishers Arts Council, and OneZone. To register for events, download the Ally Toolkit, and learn more about the work of the Fishers Advisory Committee on Disability, visit FishersIN.gov/DisabilityAwareness. Follow along on social media at #FishersMDAM.