Defining the divide in Indiana

It just occurred to me that perhaps DIMENET readers might like to know a
bit more about some of the players in the Indiana independent living
fiasco being referenced in Ramona Harvey's posted updates. At the same
time, it might help to explain where some of the real differences lie.

For example, Melissa Madill is the director of the CIL in Indianapolis,
and also a member of the council. She's the person who just threatened
to block Ramona Harvey's e-mails because she doesn't find them relevant
(see http://www.dimenet.com/hotnews/archive.php?mode=A&id=6619;&sort=D).

The Indianapolis CIL's website can be found at
http://www.ircil.org/melissam.html.  Here's a quote from its director's
self-bio:

'I have been in independent living for about 15 years and have come to
realize it is more than a career. It is a set of values; a philosophy I
fully embrace.'

Golly gee whiz, can it be possible to take that long to recognize that
independent living is supposed to be a philosophy, not just a way to
make a living?

And is the way those values are embraced by demeaning and ridiculing
people with disabilities who think that perhaps they might have the
right to ask a couple of questions, or calling the police when they get
tired of waiting months for you to recognize them? Maybe it's denying
reasonable accomodations to people you don't like very much. Or maybe
it's ignoring what the state of Indiana is doing to our people so that
you can have lunch with those you believe to be the important people.

We sort of see things differently around our Center. You can check our
website out at www.everybodycounts.org. 

Our folks agree with Ramona Harvey as to who the truly important people
are. And we're not alone. The number of people who are fed up with the
bottom feeders grows by the day.