People living with disabilities represent 15% of the global population. However, accessible housing and neighborhoods are few and far between for people living with disabilities. We invite you to attend the Spring 2023 ADA Amplified Symposium where two housing solutions will be presented:
Register for the ADA Amplified Symposium
March 22nd | 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. (doors open at 9 a.m.)
PFW/IUFW Campus
International Ballroom
Walb Student Union, Union Cir Dr, Fort Wayne, IN 46815
Parking Garage 2 (P2)
Wednessday, March 22nd 2023, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. (doors open at 9 a.m.)
International Ballroom - PFW / IUFW campus
Walb Student Union, Union Cir Dr, Fort Wayne, IN 46815
Parking Garage 2 (P2)
With support from the AWS Foundation, The Inclusion Institute of The League and Indiana University Fort Wayne are pleased to host community and housing leaders. Join us for this in-person three-part symposium focused on fostering greater awareness, diversity, and inclusion for people with disabilities, and are using their platforms to create movements for meaningful change. The symposium will address several aspects affecting housing in our community:
Register for the symposium events
Registration closes Friday, March 17th.
10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Join us to hear from two experts in the areas of disability awareness, housing and accessability.
Ronald Duchovic, PhD
Ronald Duchovic earned a B.S. from the University of Notre Dame, an M.S. from the University of Michigan, both in mathematics, and a PhD in theoretical physical chemistry from Wayne State University. He subsequently held postdoctoral fellowships at Northwestern University and Argonne National Laboratory. His work experience includes nearly a year as a professional mathematician for the National Security Agency (NSA), nearly three years with the Eloret Institute as a contractor for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and more than twenty-six years teaching chemistry at Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). While at IPFW Dr. Duchovic was a Teaching Fellow for the Center of Learning and Teaching (CELT), was elected in 2005 to Indiana University’s Faculty Academy on Excellence in Teaching (FACET), and in 2015 authored a General Chemistry textbook for life sciences students. His research has been supported by the Petroleum Research Fund (PRF) of the American Chemical Society (ACS), the Purdue Research Foundation, IPFW, Argonne National Laboratory, and the National Science Foundation (NSF).
After retiring from IPFW in 2016 with Emeritus status from Purdue University, Dr. Duchovic has been actively engaged with the community of greater Fort Wayne. In 2017-2018 Turnstone sponsored his participation in the 2018 class of Leadership Fort Wayne. He continues to serve on the Turnstone Program Committee. In 2017 he was appointed a member of the Fort Wayne/Allen County Disability Advisory Council and in December of 2021 was elected Chairperson of the Council. He became a member of the Board of Directors of The League in October of 2018 and was re-elected Board Chairperson in October 2022. In addition to his commitment to the community of disabled individuals in Fort Wayne and Allen County, Dr. Duchovic’s long-standing engagement with education and literacy continues by his service, since January 2020, on the Board of Directors of the Literacy Alliance (TLA) and as Chairperson of the Governance Committee of TLA.
Kimberly Paarlberg, R.A.
Kimberly Paarlberg is a Senior Staff Architect in Technical Services with the International Code Council (ICC). Her experience with ICC includes work in the plan review and code development departments with responsibilities for code development, providing code interpretations, instructing technical seminars, and authoring and reviewing instruction materials, code commentary and publication articles. Kimberly serves as code development secretariat for the General and Means of Egress/Accessibility committees for IBC and IRC Building committees for the I-codes. She is ICC representative for development of the referenced technical standard, ICC A117.1 “Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities.” Kimberly is the staff secretariat for the ICC Health Care Committee (HCC) and the Building Code Action Committee (BCAC). She is also secretariat for the ICC 300 - Bleachers, Folding and Telescopic Seating and Grandstands, and the ICC 500 - Design and Construction of Storm Shelters.
Before joining ICC, Kimberly worked as a structural engineer and architect. Kim is a licensed architect in Illinois and holds an Accessibility Inspector/Plans Examiner certification. She is a member of the Indiana Steering Committee for the Great Lakes ADA Center which facilitates dispersal of information and technical assistance for ADA. She is also a member of her county Civil Emergency Response Team (CERT) and has completed SAP Evaluation Training and several FEMA classes.
1 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Following lunch, a panel of experts will share information on home modifications, related funding resources and the building of visitable homes.
Panelist: Ryan Herrick
Ryan acquired a disability at the age of 29. He was a passenger in an automobile accident that resulted in his quadriplegia. Since the accident, Ryan has been active in and passionate about disability advocacy work. He is a member of several groups such as the Inclusion Institute, Spinal Cord Support Group, and Accessible Neighborhood Team. Before his accident, Ryan owned and operated a construction company in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He has approximately 13 years of experience in construction, two of which include being a business owner.
Panelist: Dawn Gallaway
Dawn Gallaway is a Principal and President of Keller Development, Inc. a developer and general contractor of multi-family affordable housing. She is a licensed Real Estate Broker in Indiana and Michigan and also volunteers her time as a board member for Brightpoint’s Development Fund, the Indiana Affordable Housing Council and CASS Housing.
Panelist: James Atz
James Atz is a Community Development Administrator with the City of Fort Wayne’s Office of Housing and Neighborhood Services. The Office of Housing and Neighborhood Services is within the City’s Community Development Division. As part of the OHNS group, he helps strategically utilize public resources to improve the quality of life and build stronger neighborhoods. James takes pride in supporting the citizens of Fort Wayne. He is passionate, committed to the vision, and optimistic about advocating for his community.
Moderator: Amanda Stuckey
Amanda is a Fort Wayne native. She acquired a disability during the summer of 2015. She was paralyzed, put on life support twice, and eventually diagnosed with Transverse Myelitis and lesions at C5-6. She is active and lives independently with her two children. She is passionate about helping others with similar issues. She enjoys the collective efficacy and social cohesion of the disabled community.
INDIANA UNIVERSITY FORT WAYNE
2101 E. Coliseum Blvd.
