Christine Griffin

Joyce is honored to have back as her guest Christine Griffin, a strong disability rights advocate and current Bender Consulting Services’ Senior Search Specialist Consultant on the show. During the show, she will be discussing her long career which includes her past work as Commissioner of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and Deputy Director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management during the Obama Administration. She will also discuss her protection and advocacy work, and her current work with Bender Consulting Services and the Bender Leadership Academy.

Christine Griffin: Her Long Career in Disability Advocacy

Ellen Duffield

Joyce welcomes Ellen Duffield, President and CEO of Highmark Wholecare, to the show. Highmark Wholecare is a health insurance provider caring for the whole person - physically, mentally, and financially. It is committed to connecting its members with the right resources to meet health needs. Ms. Duffield will share with the listeners her story of how she became President and CEO of Highmark Wholecare, and the personal reason she supports the commitment that Highmark Wholecare places on hiring people with disabilities in its workforce.

Ellen Duffield: Highmark Wholecare Hires People with Disabilities

Gerald Homme

During Disability Pride Month, Joyce welcomes Gerald Homme to the show. The two discuss disability employment equity, the importance of unity, and disability pride.  They also discuss the various products and services that Bender Consulting Services offers people with disabilities and how these services lend themselves to helping people with disabilities have a greater sense of pride in their disability.

Gerald Homme: Employment Equity and Disability Pride

Joyce welcomes Mick Malec, CEO, enGen and Enterprise Technology and Operations Officer, Highmark Health, back to the show. enGen’s dynamic ecosystem of smart automation and technology supports streamlines complex operations for health plans and their provider partners. Founded in 2014 as HM Health Solutions (HMHS), enGen is a wholly owned subsidiary of Highmark Health. enGen has more than 3,500 employees and works with health care plans serving more than 10 million members nationwide. Mr. Malec will discuss enGen’s continued commitment to hire people with disabilities as part of a diverse workforce.

Mick Malec: enGen’s Commitment to Hire People with Disabilities

Joyce is pleased to welcome Theo Braddy, the new Executive Director of the National Council of Independent Living (NCIL) in Washington, DC.  Mr. Braddy will discuss the direction he plans to take the organization under his capable leadership.

Theo Braddy: Vision for NCIL Under His Leadership

Judy Heumann

As we celebrate America’s birthday, Joyce takes time to celebrate the life and accomplishments of Judy Heumann a major American disability rights leader and activist. Originally aired: December 15, 2020, Joyce welcomes Judith Heumann, internationally recognized leader in the disability rights independent living movement, to the show. Judy worked with a wide range of activist organizations (including the Berkeley Center for Independent Living and the American Association of People with Disabilities), NGOs, and governments since the 1970s and has contributed greatly to the development of human rights legislation and policy benefiting disabled people. Judy discusses her new book, Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist, which was published in February 2020.

In Memoriam: Celebrating the Life of Judy Heumann

Joyce welcomes Brian K. Bond, Executive Director of PFLAG National, to the show. PFLAG is the nation's largest organization dedicated to supporting, educating, and advocating for LGBTQ+ people and those who love them. Mr. Bond will share his career-long commitment to the civil rights of the LGBTQ+ community and share the mission of PFLAG National.

Brian K. Bond: Mission of PFLAG National

Joyce is honored to have as her guests, Steve Locke, Executive Director of the Michigan Statewide Independent Living Council (MISILC), and Jan Lampman, Committee Chair, on the show. The guests will discuss the mission of MISILC, an organization of people with disabilities advocating for inclusion, equity, and accessibility in all communities.

Locke, Lampman: Mission of MISILC

Jonathan Lovitz

Joyce welcomes Jonathan Lovitz to the show to discuss his role as a nationally recognized small business and public policy advocate, DEI leader, and most recently a special advisor to the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce. He will discuss his recent appointment by President Biden to a leadership role within the US Department of Commerce.

Jonathan Lovitz: Advocating for LGBTQ+ and Disability Communities

In recognition of Pride Month, Joyce welcomes back to the show, Jason Mida. Jason serves as President &amp; CEO at Mida Associates. As President &amp; CEO, Jason collaborates closely with all clients to provide oversight for each engagement to ensure their daily success. During the show he will share his story of his youth and what encouraged him to get involved in the LGBTQ+ community as an advocate. In addition, he will share what encouraged him to become an entrepreneur and the mission of Mida Associates LLC.

Jason Mida: Entrepreneur and LGBTQ+ Advocate

Competitive employment and empowerment for people with disabilities is the emphasis of this show.  Broadcast live and captioned in real-time for individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing, we discuss how people with disabilities can secure career opportunities, and how employers, organizations and individuals can support employment and empowerment of people with disabilities.

This is great. If you guys like to &amp; please look at marriage rights for us people with disabilities. There is a Facebook page called marriage equally for people with disabilities. Please please look into it. I find it very sad as to why we are denied medical stuff once we get married. That is so unfair &amp; cruel. We shouldn&#39;t have to choose money over love. :&#39;( Also another thing some schools don&#39;t have special ed programs &amp; because of that disabled kids can&#39;t learn as well &amp; also get bulled because of it. This needs to be available all around the states! We ether need to help those school fund those programs or send the kids with disabilities with a school who actually have special ed classes. That is all keep it up. I just subscribed! ^_^

This is the best podcast ever!

Disability Matters

Joyce welcomes Michael Gamel-McCormick, disability policy director, Special Committee on Aging for Senator Bob Casey, Ranking Member and Kelly Buckland, executive director of the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) to the show.  Both men will offer their perspective on the U.S. House of Representatives recent passage of HR-620.  The House bill is poised to gut title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act by removing any incentive for businesses, organizations, and anyone who provides services to the public to make their services accessible if passed in the U.S. Senate.

Impact of Passage of HR Bill 620

Joyce’s honored guest is Senator Ted Kennedy, Jr.  Senator Kennedy became a  member of the 12th district of the Connecticut State Senate on January 7, 2015.  Among the topics Senator Kennedy will discuss will be his distinguished career, his reflections on the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and what it means for the country, and all people with disabilities.  In addition, he will discuss his commitment to increase  the employment of Americans with disabilities.

Senator Ted Kennedy Jr.  Reflections on Meaning of the ADA and the Importance of Hiring People with Disabilities

Joyce welcomes three disability leaders, Kelly Buckland, executive director of the National Council on Independent Living; Jill Houghton, president and CEO of Disability:IN; and Maria Town, president and CEO of American Association of People with Disabilities to the show.  The guests will discuss issues, accomplishments, and trends in the community to keep Joyce's listeners appraised on what is happening on a national basis in the area of disability.  They will reflect on the past year and what to look forward to in 2020.

2019 reflections and 2020 goals for disabiliy community

Joyce welcomes Joan D’ Alessandro, founder of Christopher’s Kitchen, a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to feeding the caregivers of children admitted to Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC. Christopher’s Kitchen is committed to helping families and caregivers take care of themselves, so they can better comfort those around them.

Christoper's Kitchen Mission

Joyce welcomes Tari Hartman Squire, founding CEO of EIN SOF Communications, Inc, JD Michaels, executive vice president, director creative engineering/director of Diversity at BBDO Advertising Agency and Alec Frazier, director of Autistic Reality.  They will discuss the Lights! Camera! Access! 2.0 Collaborative to increase media employment of people with disabilities, improve portrayals across media delivery platforms and advocate for captions and audio descriptions. Jd and Alec met at LCA2.0 at The White House in 2016 and have been working on exciting projects ever since, including Alec’s new book Veni, Vidi, Autism.

The Launch of the Disability Collection

Joyce welcomes Paula Vieillet, author, speaker, founder and CEO of My Employment Options, Inc.  The organization specializes in Work at Home and onsite job placement for those on SSDI or SSI disability and is an authorized Social Security Ticket to Work employment network. Ms. Vieillet will further explain the mission of My Employment Options, as well as her passion for over 25 years of  helping people with physical, mental, and emotional challenges find suitable jobs as a Certified Vocational Evaluator (CVE).

Mission of My Employment Options

Joyce welcomes Sherry Lapaglia, Manager Talent Programs, Gerald Homme, Recruitment Specialist, and Scott Hammerstrom, Team Lead, Talent Programs with Bender Consulting Services, Inc.  Discussed on the show will be employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

Employment Opportunities for People with Disabilities

Joyce welcomes Jonathan Duvall, a postdoctoral researcher in the University of Pittsburgh’s Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology focusing on assistive technology for people with disabilities at the Human Engineering Research Laboratories.  For his master’s thesis developed a sidewalk roughness standard for the United States Access Board to add guidelines for accessibility so that wheelchair users are not subjected to harmful levels of vibrations.  For his doctoral dissertation focused on the design and evaluation for a bed scale for wheelchair users to be able to weigh themselves at home.

Advances in Assistive Technology for People With Disabilities

Stacia Kalinoski

Joyce welcomes Emmy award-winning video journalist, Stacia Kalinoski, to the show.  Stacia, whose career has taken her to local news stations in Nebraska, Oregon, and Michigan, will discuss how being diagnosed with epilepsy after a seizure in 2014 led her to produce Brainstorm, a documentary about her journey with epilepsy.

Stacia Kalinoski, Video Journalist Discusses Epilepsy Documentary

Joyce welcomes Jennifer Mathis, deputy legal director and director of Policy and Legal Advocacy of the Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law. She engages in litigation and policy advocacy to promote community integration of individuals with mental disabilities, other non-discrimination work under the ADA and Section 504, and the Medicaid rights of adults and children with disabilities.  During the show Ms. Mathis will explain her duties in-depth.

Mission of Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law

Joyce welcomes Andy Imparato,executive director of The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD). AUCD is a membership organization that supports and promotes a national network of university-based interdisciplinary programs. Members consist of University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) Programs, and Intellectual and Developmental Disability Research Centers (IDDRC). These programs serve and are located in every U.S. state and territory and are all part of universities or medical centers. They serve as a bridge between the university and the community, bringing together the resources of both to achieve meaningful change. Mr. Imparato, will discuss the mission of the organization in deptth.

Mission and Goals of the AUCD

Joyce welcomes Keri Gray, director for the Rising Leaders Initiatives and Becky Curran, Disability Equality Index (DEI) Program Manager at Disability: IN.  This non-profit organization promotes an inclusive global economy that empowers people with disabilities to participate fully and meaningfully. It empowers business to achieve disability equality and inclusion. There is a shared commitment to collaborate with purpose to promote the full inclusion of people with disabilities, to inspire accessible innovation for all, and to foster cultures of inclusion.  Both guests will discuss their prospective programs and the full mission of the organization in-depth.

Programs and Services of Disability:IN

Joyce welcomes Jennifer Mathis, deputy legal director and director of Policy and Legal Advocacy for the Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law to the show. Ms. Mathis will share advice and suggestions for those dealing with mental health issues,  post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and employers dealing with increased anxiety due to isolation working from home.

Urgent COVID-19 Show: Help and Advice for Those with Mental Health Issues During This Time

Joyce welcomes Jeremy Shapira and Kiersten Crosby to Disability Matters.  Both guests are on the new Pittsburgh, PA-based Disability Inclusion Consortium.  Jeremy Shapira is strategic manager, Inclusion and Diversity for Giant Eagle, and Kiersten Crosby is managing director, Corporate HR Service Delivery, Diversity, Diversity &amp; Inclusion for FedEx Ground.  Led by Giant Eagle, FedEx Ground, and the United Way of Southwestern PA, the Consortium is made up of 30+ Western PA employers who are making it a business imperative to hire more people with disabilities.  These employers have discovered successful ways to leverage an untapped talent pool to satisfy their hiring needs and realize business benefits.  Mr. Shapira and Ms. Crosby will explain the goals of this group in depth.

Mission of Disability Inclusion Consortium

Joyce welcomes Peggy Beem-Jelley, president and CEO of the Epilepsy Association of Western and Central PA to the show.  In recognition of November as National Epilepsy Awareness Month, discussed on the show will be the programs and services of this local association for people living with epilepsy.

November: National Epilepsy Awareness Month

Joyce’s honored guest is former Senator, Tom Harkin (D-IA).  As we prepare to celebrate on July 26, 2015  the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Senator will discuss the journey to get the legislation passed, its importance, and how critical it is to continue advocating for the independence and employment of all people with disabilities.

The ADA:  Its Impact 25 Years Later, and a Review of Journey to get the Legislation Passed

Joyce welcomes Scott Hammerstrom and Jill Zomp from Bender Consulting Services, Inc.  to the show.  The guests coordinate Disability Mentoring Day in Pittsburgh, PA with the largest participation of companies and high school students in the country.  The show will be a discussion of Disability Mentoring Day in the United States and the positive impact that the day has on high school students with disabilities.  This show is great to listen to if you want information about planning for Disability Mentoring Day for 2020.

Mission of Disability Mentoring Day

Dan Miller

Joyce welcomes PA State Representative Dan Miller, Allegheny County’s 42nd District to the show. Representative Miller will discuss his duties as chair of the Allegheny County House Democratic Delegation.  He will also discuss his recent appointment to co-chair the National Task Force on the Future of the Workforce. The initiative is designed to improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The task force is bipartisan, bicameral collection of legislators, agency heads, and advocates from across our country. It has been put together as a collaboration of the US Department of Labor, the Council of State Governments, and the National Conference of State Legislatures. He will also discuss his work as co-chair of the Sub-Committee on Special Education, and the Autism and Intellectual Disabilities Caucus.

Rep. Dan Miller's Commitment to a Disability Workforce

Christine Griffin is a disability rights leader and search consultant at Bender Consulting Services, Inc. She will discuss her background at Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) within the federal government, the Disability Law Center of Massachusetts and her work at the White House.

The Career of Disability Rights Leader Christine Griffin

Jack Bogut

Joyce welcomes back to the show, legendary morning radio host and story-teller, Jack Bogut.  During the holiday season, Mr. Bogut will share more heart-warming stories of his experiences in broadcasting first with KDKA Radio and its Children’s Hospital Campaign, then his work with the Make-A-Wish Campaign in Pittsburgh while working with Wish 99.7-FM WSHH.

Encore: Story Teller Jack Bogut Returns for More Charity Stories

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