Episodes

Joyce welcomes back to the show, Peri Jude Radecic, CEO of Disability Rights Pennsylvania. Disability Rights Pennsylvania is an independent, nonprofit corporation authorized by the U.S. Congress and designated by the Governor of Pennsylvania's as the Protection and Advocacy System in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Their mission is to advance, protect, and advocate for the human, civil, and legal rights of Pennsylvanians with disabilities. She will discuss issues affecting Pennsylvanians with ...

Joyce welcomes Eric Jacobson, executive director Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities and Marlyn Tillman, co-founder and executive director, Gwinnett Parent Coalition to Dismantle the School-to-Prison Pipeline (Gwinnett SToPP) to the show. In keeping with our commitment to cover how the COVID-19 pandemic is being addressed for those with developmental disabilities, Mr. Jacobson will discuss how this population is being assisted during this critical time. While Ms. Tillman will discuss G...

Joyce welcomes Danielle Filip, vice president of operations, at Sign Language Interpreting Professionals (SLIP) to the show. Founded in 2003, SLIP provides reliable, consistent and professional communication and consultation services thereby connecting the deaf and hearing communities of Pittsburgh. During the show, Danielle will discuss the services provided by SLIP and ways that businesses and hospitals can assure members of the deaf community that clear communication is provided for them duri...

Joyce welcomes Nedra Dickson, international/national business leader and disability advocate to the show. Ms. Dickson is managing director, Global Supplier Inclusion and Sustainability Programs across 18 countries at Accenture. Accenture is a leading global professional services company, providing a broad range of services in strategy and consulting, interactive, technology and operations, with digital capabilities across all of these services. They combine unmatched experience and specialized c...

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.

Joyce welcomes Maria Town, the president and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and Kelly Buckland, executive director of the National Council of Independent Living (NCIL) to the show. Her guests will discuss the issues facing people with disabilities now amid the current outbreak of COVID-19 and will answer questions from callers. The AAPD promotes equal opportunity, economic power, independent living, and political participation for people with disabilities, whi...

Joyce welcomes Megan Grabski, consultant and project manager, and Heather Sedlacko, director, of programs for seniors and people with disabilities at United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania to the show. In addition to sharing their prospective roles at United Way, they will discuss the Pittsburgh, PA-based Disability Inclusion Consortium. 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 impe...

Joyce welcomes Gerald Homme, recruitment specialist for Bender Consulting Services, Inc. to the show. Gerald will discuss the various talent program recruiting services offered through Bender Consulting and how to apply for a job through the company. He will explain what differentiates Bender from an employment agency. Among other topics discussed, Gerald will share tips to prepare for interviews, what he looks for in a candidate, and the importance of providing references to us and getting refe...

Joyce welcomes Craig Radford, director of Connect Direct to the show.

This year marks the 30th Anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act ADA. Originally signed into law by President George H.W. Bush on July 26, 1990. To commemorate this momentous anniversary, Joyce welcomes back Gary Dick, Chief Information Officer of Highmark Health Solutions to the show. Mr. Dick will discuss the value that the Careers2B program has brought to Highmark Health Solutions workforce since its inception in 2007. The Careers2B initiative is a program designed t...

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 Eva...

Joyce welcomes Kristy Trautmann, executive director of the FISA Foundation to the show. The FISA Foundation seeks to build a culture of respect and improve the quality of life for three populations in southwestern Pennsylvania: women, girls and people with disabilities. The organization makes charitable grants to nonprofits serving those groups. Ms. Trautmann will discuss the various programs and services of the organization in-depth.

Joyce welcomes Greg Pollock,vice president of Human Resources and Accessibility Officer at PNC Financial Services. He currently works at PNC’s corporate headquarters in Pittsburgh, PA.. He will discuss the commitment of of PNC to hire a diverse workforce, including those with disabilities.

Joyce welcomes Charlie LaVallee, CEO of Variety the Children’s Charity of Pittsburgh to the show. Variety – the Children’s Charity is a non-profit organization that strives to enable children with disabilities to live life to the fullest with a focus on mobility, communication, and social interaction / inclusion throughout 64 counties in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Mr. LaVallee will discuss the various programs and services of the organization and its goals for 2020.

Joyce welcomes Michael Kiel, author of the book, Challenge the Moment, and state board member of the Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation to the Show. Mr. Kiel, will discuss the book in detail. This memoir is about his perspective on life - his entire life - before, during, and after a life-altering spinal cord injury. He shares many of his highs and lows, the importance of humor, and the incredible support around him. His brutally honest life story, along with his poems, and humorou...

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...

Joyce welcomes Pastor Scott Stevens from Northway Christian Community Church’s Wexford, PA location on this Christmas Eve show.

For a special holiday gift to her listeners, Joyce welcomes international musician, Scott Mulvahill to the show. Scott is a Frontman, singer/songwriter, world-renowned upright bassist, and multi-instrumentalist. For the past decade, Scott has left his unique mark on the intersecting worlds of Americana, bluegrass, folk, jazz, rock & roll, and roots music. Already acclaimed for his work alongside icons like Ricky Skaggs and Bruce Hornsby, he turns a new page with Himalayas, a versatile solo album...

Joyce welcomes Leigh Ann Davis, director of Criminal Justice Initiatives for The Arc of the United States and oversees The Arc's National Center on Criminal Justice and Disability (NCCJD), a clearinghouse for research, information, evaluation, training and technical assistance for criminal justice and disability professionals. She serves as a consultant for the U.S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center (OVC TTAC) and Vera Institute of Justice...

Joyce welcomes Dionna Harris, guidance counselor with Networks School of Employability Skills based in Newark, Delaware. Networks prepares students to become productive members of a workforce. This is accomplished by combining career technical education and employability skill training through the operation of 11 community-based enterprise areas. A hands-on instructional approach is supported by equipment and technology as textbooks and each enterprise area as a classroom. Ms. Harris will explai...

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.

Joyce welcomes best-selling novelist and disability advocate Karin Slaughter; Gerald Homme, recruitment specialist with Bender Consulting Services, Inc. and chair of the Bender Lead-On Team; and Sherry Lapaglia, manager of Talent Programs for Bender Consulting Services, Inc to the show. Discussed on the show will be the mission of the Bender Leadership Academy and its partnership with New York Times bestselling novelist, Karin Slaughter, to bring awareness and propose action to end stigma of all...

Joyce welcomes Randy Dearth, president and CEO of GCP Applied Technologies to the show. The company is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts and sells chemicals and materials used in construction, as well as sealants and coatings used in packaging. Mr. Dearth will discuss the corporate-wide commitment that he and all levels of the organization have toward a diverse workforce including people with disabilities.

Joyce welcomes Sara Oliver-Carter, Duquesne Light Company’s (DLC) first chief diversity officer to the show. Ms. Oliver-Carter joined the energy provider on August 19, 2019 and is responsible for creating and advancing DLC’s diversity and inclusion (D&I) strategy and associated initiatives. She will explain her vision for the company moving forward.