A Time for Hope

In honor of Down Syndrome Awareness Month “Sometimes advocacy begins not in a boardroom, but in a backyard.” Where It Began October invites us to reflect on what inclusion truly means—not as a slogan, but as a practice of care, compassion, and thoughtful design. This month, as we celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness Month, I want to share the personal story that inspired the Safe Parks Plus Initiative—a project rooted in love, urgency, and the belief that every child deserves th

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month — a time to celebrate the talents, aspirations, and dignity of people with disabilities in the workforce. Across Indiana, individuals with autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and other challenges are ready, eager, and highly capable of meaningful work — if we as a society continue to clear away unnecessary barriers. This year, a different headline captured my attention: President Trump’s claim that Tyl

For fourteen minutes, he cried out. For fourteen minutes, he was held and bruised, his body restrained by force. For fourteen minutes, he fought not just against the weight of adults far stronger than him, but against fear, confusion, and betrayal. I was not in the room with him—but I live with those fourteen minutes every single day. I’ve heard his cries when I sleep, and I’ve seen the aftermath in his eyes. I knew our story could not end there. Jonathan Carey died. How man

A Time for Hope Marya Patrice Sherron "Indiana has a proud history of leading in disability rights. We can do it again—if we choose courage over cuts, and people over policies. Families are speaking. Leaders must listen." On July 2, an Indiana mother opened the letter she had dreaded. Medicaid had denied the waiver services her son depended on for nursing care. Her choices were unthinkable: quit her job to provide care full-time or risk her child’s health without the support

Marya Patrice Sherron The whiteboard squeaked beneath my marker: “What makes a great leader?” The answers came quickly—bold, confident,...

There are moments when policy becomes personal. This is one of them. Medicaid cuts in Indiana are no longer theoretical—they are active,...

Marya Patrice Sherron I still remember where I was sitting when my brother told me he was gay. We were teenagers—just beginning to find...

They don’t need a perfect parent. They need a present one. They need to know: You see me too.

Marya Patrice Sherron I didn’t set out to be an advocate. I was just a mom trying to get my son what he needed—a quiet place to regroup,...

Hope isn't easy... but it must be present. A reflection on what it means to hold onto hope when the systems we trust begin to unravel—and...

May is Mental Health Awareness Month—a time to pause, reflect, and advocate for what so often goes unseen. This year, I want to speak directly to families like ours—families living the daily reality of invisible differences and disabilities.

This week, the CDC released updated data showing that autism now affects 1 in 31 eight-year-old children—up from 1 in 36 in 2020 and a dramatic rise from 1 in 150 in the year 2000. Whether this increase is due to greater awareness or improved diagnostics, one truth remains undeniable: the need for support, education, and community has never been greater.

Indiana Is Showing Up Closer to home, my heart swells at the incredible work happening across the state of Indiana to support, uplift...