At a time when it seems like
disability rights are being eroded nationally every day, the League’s
Leadership Academy, a program of its
Inclusion Institute, is helping to create forward momentum in Northeast Indiana and beyond. The idea is that through an eight-month immersive experience, participants gain the necessary skills, confidence, and connections to become advocates and leaders in their communities.
The Inclusion Institute was born out of a unique opportunity in 2021. The
AWS Foundation, which supports causes that serve people with disabilities of all kinds, encouraged organizations to step back and identify barriers to their missions.
“We formed a committee of board members and staff — most of whom are individuals with disabilities — to figure out how we could better serve our consumers,” says The League President and CEO John Guingrich, who’s been with the organization in various capacities for 30 years.
![]()
Halie BrownThis work laid the foundation for what would become the Inclusion Institute, which launched the Leadership Academy in 2023 after a year of preparation. Guingrich considers the Academy to be among the most exciting projects The League has undertaken in his tenure. He says he’s particularly proud of the fact that it’s designed to be accessible to everyone, regardless of disabilities. Materials include closed captions, sign language, and plain language to accommodate diverse learners.
Halie Brown, who facilitates the Academy, brings a personal connection to her role. A graduate of the program herself, Brown is passionate about empowering others.
“I’m a huge disability advocate,” she says. “I’ve co-created events to empower women with disabilities to share their stories and show that having a disability doesn’t stop you from being your own success story.”
To that end, Brown says the Academy’s curriculum is carefully crafted to guide participants through building blocks like storytelling, advocacy, and leadership. Once they have a command of the basics, they can level up and go on to make their mark on the region and country.
“We start with their personal stories, connect them to disability rights, and then build leadership and advocacy skills,” Brown says. “By the end, we’re preparing them to serve on boards, councils, and commissions, or even run campaigns.”
![]()
Practicing public speaking is part of the Leadership Academy's curriculum.The impact of the Leadership Academy is evident in the stories of its graduates — what Brown refers to as “life-changing transformations.” For instance, as she recounts, one participant was initially hesitant to speak in public. He found the confidence to share his story at graduation and later pursued a new career in mental health. Another graduate, who began the program with limited independence, became his own guardian and moved into a more empowering living situation.
![]()
Mark Gordon poses at The League’s Leadership Academy graduation with Mayor Sharon Tucker.Mark Gordon represents one of those graduate success stories. Gordon, a maintenance director from Warsaw, completed the League’s Leadership Academy this year. His experience was nothing short of transformative, empowering him and providing a renewed sense of purpose.
His journey to the Leadership Academy began serendipitously. While attending Ivy Tech’s Warsaw campus for industrial arts classes, he learned about the Leadership Academy through a meeting hosted by Disability Services.
“I was so impressed at that first meeting,” Gordon says. “The respect, encouragement, and camaraderie among individuals with disabilities were incredible. It left me wanting to get involved.”
Gordon has a rare visual disability called achromatopsia, which means he sees the world in shades of gray, with extreme light sensitivity. Despite these obstacles, he was determined to participate, even commuting to Fort Wayne with the help of his family.
The program’s focus on public speaking and structured communication was a game-changer. Reflecting on a past negative experience with public speaking, he says, “I vowed never to do it again. But the League taught me how to structure my thoughts, make every word count, and present confidently. It was a revelation.”
Beyond the practical skills, the program broadened his perspective on the “eye-opening” challenges faced by others with disabilities.
The Leadership Academy also inspired him to advocate for himself in his career.
“I realized my employer was overlooking my contributions, and I addressed it,” he says. “As a result, I got a raise, a new title, and an office.”
Gordon’s experience with the League has left him hopeful for the future. He dreams of bridging the gap between people with and without disabilities, advocating for more understanding and collaboration. In his words, “when people understand, they stop fearing. And when there’s no fear, there’s appreciation and progress.”
Speaking of progress, the Academy has minted 35 graduates so far, and 30 of them are now serving on boards, councils, and commissions. Five were appointed to state-level entities, and she anticipates that trajectory to continue.
Because of support from corporate sponsors and private grants, the Academy is free of charge to participants. However, the value of the experience is hard to quantify.
![]()
Participants work in small groups on team building exercises.“We value the program at about $2,000 per participant, but we’ve never charged anyone,” Guingrich says.
Recruitment efforts are equally robust, with Brown leading the charge. At first, she had to find creative ways to drum up interest.
“I network at community events, reach out to organizations, and promote the Academy wherever I go,” she says. “We want everyone — whether they have a disability or not — to feel empowered to create change.”
As the Academy grows in reach, so does its potential to inspire systemic change. In Guingrich’s estimation, this program could be helpful and relevant to a wider audience someday.
“We’re working on ways to help other organizations replicate this model,” he says. “While we focus on Northeast Indiana, we know this program can have a broader impact.”
For Brown, the mission is deeply personal, and its success, in part, is tied to her identity as a disabled person.
“I want to see individuals with disabilities in leadership roles,” she says. “When you include people with lived experience, you create real, meaningful change.”
Guingrich says the ripple effect can’t be overstated either. In his words, “This is about more than individual success. It’s about creating a world where everyone’s voice is heard and valued.”
Learn more about the Inclusion Institute's Leadership Academy here.