Grace Kestler, a Columbus city council member, Arc of Bartholomew County executive director and consultant, will highlight March as Disabilities Awareness Month with a livestream Disability Town Hall presentation at 6 p.m. Thursday via Zoom for the Bartholomew County Public Library. Viewers can interact by posting thoughts and questions in the comments section.
She plans in part to highlight city improvements in areas such as downtown, including curb cuts for those with disabilities; the rights of those with disabilities, including renting or owning a home; how people with disabilities can make sure their voice is being heard regarding rights; and the recourse people have if they feel they are not being heard.
She also will discuss a local transportation study highlighting accessibility with city buses and bus stops.
Government figures from last year show that 19 percent of Hoosiers have some level of disability.
“And when you add in all those people’s family members or caregivers, that adds up to a lot of people,” Kestler said. ” … “And we have to remember that anyone at any age can acquire a disability through aging or an accident, whether short-term or long term.”
Kestler, who uses a wheelchair, has become a significant local resource and speaker about these issues in the past few years.
In 2019, Kestler led an in-person library presentation on “Around the World With a Disability,” highlighting travel in Europe and elsewhere. She once lived in Berlin, Germany and elsewhere in the country. And the globetrotter sometimes uses humor to make a down-to-earth point.
Just the other day, she posted on Facebook a shot of her riding a camel in Morocco “to remind everyone that people with disabilities can ride camels too.”
In the past, she also has hosted workshops on disability awareness and inclusion for Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce businesses. When she worked at Cummins Inc., she was part of the team that developed the company’s first strategies aimed at hiring a diverse workforce, with specific focus on veterans and people with disabilities.
She also used social media to remind the public during the recent big snowstorm that homeowners and business owners are required to clear walks in front of their property.
“I know it’s kind of a harsh reality when you realize that you should plow your sidewalk or maintain a clear path for anyone using it, including those walking or rolling to work,” she said. “I know it can be an extra hassle, bit it’s that holistic approach that helps us all.”
She has focused her accessibility concerns beyond Bartholomew County, too. She recently penned an article for the accessibility-oriented site curbfreewithcorylee.com about Indianapolis’ accessibility with everything from restaurants to lodging to entertainment.
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Who: Columbus City Council member, ARC Executive Director and consultant Grace Kestler talking about a wide range of disability issues during Disabilities Awareness Month
When: 6 p.m. Thursday
Where: Via Zoom for the Bartholomew County Public Library. The session will then be posted on the library’s Facebook page and its YouTube.com channel
To register: Go to mybcpl.org under Events get the Zoom link
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