Indiana celebrates disabilities awareness month during March. It's an opportunity to educate residents about the challenges different people face, but it's also a chance for disabled people to learn about available resources.

For one Middlebury woman, her life has changed while she's been helping others with their disabilities.

With her big smile and steady stride, Sylvia Jackson is a woman on the move for disabled Hoosiers in our area.

A champion for those with disabilities, she was honored with a state award for distinguished leadership for over 30 years, all while dealing with her own struggles.

She was confined to a wheelchair for years and was named Ms. Wheelchair Indiana in 2002.

A knee replacement surgery helped her leave the wheelchair behind but then complications from an infection meant a life saving decision. Sylvia's leg was amputated over a year ago.

“Mine was above knee so I've lost two joints the ankle the foot and the knee. It makes it maybe twice or three times as challenging to learn to walk,” Jackson said.

But she has learned to walk and she says she’s is excited about her new prosthetic leg.

“This is really high tech stuff. It has a computer component and it has a sensor in it.”

It helps her get around visiting others with challenges.

“People contact me for all kinds of things all kinds of problems, all kinds of issues with disabilities, including how to get a hold of agencies,” Jackson said.

There are thousands of organizations out there to help people with disabilities get things they need from wheelchair ramps, transportation to doctors visits, even homes. Jackson is quite proud of hers.

“I have an FHA home loan so, that I'm able to own my own home be independent, be included in the community, so many people could have those services as well.”

When people see Sylvia, they should know that despite her limitations, this woman is going places.

“This is gonna be a positive thing and I'm going to be a witness to other people to be positive that maybe I can help them with some discouragement, something they're going through.”

Sylvia works for the National Able Network and is the president of NIDAN -- Northern Indiana Disability Advocacy Network.

The group is holding an awareness luncheon in Goshen at the Old Country Buffet on March 20th from 11:30-1 p.m.

First United Methodist Church in Middlebury is also holding disability awareness Sunday coming up March 14 at 9 a.m.

To RSVP for either event, call Sylvia Jackson at (574) 825-2585.

We have more information on both of these events at the Big Red Bar.