Members of the Alliance Seekers of Grant and Blackford Counties were part of an annual visit to Indianapolis on Tuesday to visit with state officials and talk with them about disability issues.

The event, sponsored by The Arc of Indiana and Self-Advocates of Indiana, is part of a traditional visit by self-advocates and other disability advocates every Valentine’s Day. The theme of this year’s event was “DSPs — The “Heart” of it All,” highlighting efforts to increase wages paid to direct support professionals who provide care. The advocates spent the day talking with the legislators who represent them and also visit with other state officials. Self-advocates from Carey Services presented legislators and state officials — including Gov. Eric Holcomb and Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch — with candy jars produced in the agency’s art studio.