Overcoming Barriers

After losing her vision in 2012, Shanese Simmons says the world was becoming a smaller place. No longer able to drive, the idea of finding a job was daunting and she found herself becoming more isolated. A move from Gary to Fort Wayne three years later changed her life. That’s when she learned about The League.

“I never in a million years thought this is where I would be, so to know that there’s an organization like this is tremendous,” she stresses.

Simmons is among the thousands of people in our region who benefit from the services offered at The League, which provides and promotes opportunities that help people with disabilities achieve their potential. 

“What makes that unique for us is that we are the only organization in northeast Indiana that serves any person with any significant disability of any age,” explains President and CEO John Guingrich. There are lots of organizations that we partner with that serve specific disabilities, but we serve any disability: physical disabilities, hearing, vision, mental health issues, intellectual disabilities. This sets us apart.”

This year, The League is celebrating its 75^th anniversary. Guingrich has been affiliated with the organization for 30 of those years, serving as a staff member, volunteer and board member. He’s been at the helm since 2019, working to grow 15 mission-driven programs and services. Consumers and their families can learn about and get access to adaptive equipment, peer support, youth services such as individual education plans, advocacy, inclusive recreation, benefit enrollment, and more. Through the HomeCare+ program, they can get help with household tasks and personal care to help them maintain their independence and live in the home of their choice.

The League’s Inclusion Institute, launched in the spring of 2022, takes the agency’s advocacy efforts one step further by focusing on systemic change that benefits everyone who lives in our community. As part of the program, The League developed a leadership and advocacy academy, in which participants invest 40 hours over eight months of training. The first cohort graduated 22 advocates and allies. To date, 25 people with disabilities have become engaged in service on various committees, boards, councils and commissions in northeast Indiana and at the state level.

It’s something David Leininger, the treasurer of The League’s board of directors, is especially proud of. “We’re really helping leaders in this community who have disabilities to help amplify their voice and that’s helping to drive a lot of the change,” he says. “The more that we can eliminate barriers to employment or inclusiveness, the more value that these individuals are going to bring to organizations.”

“Through the Inclusion Institute I see such positive momentum where individuals are now gaining their voice and being able to go out into the community and not only advocate for themselves, but advocate for systemic change,” adds board secretary Nikki Quintana.

In addition to taking advantage of services provided by The League, Shanese Simmons is now participating in the Inclusion Institute’s Leadership Academy, learning how to advocate for herself and others with disabilities. Now working as a paraprofessional at an elementary school, she’s become a shining example of how The League can help transform lives.

“There are so many different things that you can do despite the fact that you have a disability. Don’t let your disability hinder you. The League has anything and everything that you could need. Somebody will be able to help you,” Simmons emphasizes.

This March, Guingrich and other leaders at The League want to draw attention to Disability Awareness Month, citing a huge disparity between those with disabilities and those without. “The employment rate for people with disabilities is roughly 37%, where the employment rate of people without disabilities is over 80%. March is a time of year to highlight the fact that people with disabilities are a very employable population that is often overlooked and underused. Oftentimes, they’re more loyal and they miss less work,” Guingrich says.

“We know there are companies that need to fill positions and we also see that the unemployment rate for individuals with disabilities is twice as high as those without,” Quintana says. “I think it’s really important that people understand that these individuals are out there, they’re willing to work, they’re able to work and they’re able to do the job.”

When it comes to hiring people with disabilities, executives at The League practice what they preach. Of the organization’s 62 staff members, 65% are people with disabilities. All nine people on the leadership team have a disability, and 70% of the members of board of directors are people with disabilities. Guingrich says not only does that reinforce the idea that people with disabilities have a lot to contribute to the workforce, but it also helps The League better serve consumers. “While our staff members are highly qualified for their positions, oftentimes the best expert isn’t a professional who just has a degree,” he acknowledges. “It’s somebody who’s lived what you’re living.”

The League’s current facility on South Anthony Boulevard is busting at the seams, Guingrich says, and he predicts the need for the agency’s services is only going to grow. “The reality is that people with disabilities are the largest minority in the country. If you look at the Centers for Disease Control numbers, roughly 27% of people in northeast Indiana at some point in their life will have a disability. You may not have a disability today, but you could tomorrow. The longer you live, the more likely you are to have a disability because, if nothing else, it’s a condition of aging. Everybody is touched by disability in some way.” 

Leininger encourages people to consider giving to The League’s current capacity campaign, in which they hope to raise approximately $13 million dollars for a building expansion. After all, he says, someday you may be the person in need of help. “As we get older, we never know how our bodies are going to change, or what our needs will be because of an accident, or simply a result of aging. We may not use services that The League provides today, but you never know what tomorrow brings.”

The League hopes to break ground as early as next spring, once it has raised 70% of the funds. In the meantime, it will continue to fulfill its mission of helping people with disabilities through individual support and systemic change. “I really don’t know what I would’ve done without The League,” Simmons says. “I’ve developed a lot of relationships. I can’t imagine what this community would be like if we didn’t have The League.”  

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