Episodes

As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the signing of the ADA and the 25th Anniversary of Bender Consulting Services, Inc. this year, Joyce welcomes Mary Brougher, executive vice-president of operations; Jim Homme, information technology professional and digital accessibility consultant; and Gerald Homme, recruitment specialist and Bender Lead-On Team chair, with Bender Consulting Services, Inc. to the show. The guests will discuss the significance of both anniversaries and what each mean to th...

Joyce welcomes Chai R. Feldblum a partner and director of workplace culture consulting at Morgan Lewis, helping companies and organizations create safe, respectful, diverse and inclusive workplaces. Chai served as a commissioner of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) from 2010 to 2019. Given this diverse background, and the upcoming 30th anniversary of the ADA, she will share her thoughts on the importance of the signing of this landmark legislation into law by President George H....

Joyce welcomes back 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. As our nation prepares to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) this year, which was signed into law by President H.W. Bush on July 26, 1990, both guests will reflect on the impact of this landmark legislation on the lives ...

Joyce welcomes Janni.Lehrer-Stein, disability rights leader and vice chair of the Democratic National Committee Disability Council to the show. Ms. Lehrer-Stein will discuss the impact of COVID-19 on people who are blind and other disabilities.

Joyce welcomes Dr. Suzanne C. Smeltzer, professor and director of the Office of Nursing Research and Evaluation at Villanova University to the show. Dr. Smetzer is a nationally recognize health care expert, nurse and author. She will discuss her views on the impact of COVID-19 on people with disabilities.

Joyce welcomes Sharrelle Barber, ScD, MPH to the show. Dr. Barber is the national advisor and coordinator for the Poor People’s Campaign COVID-19 Health Justice Advisory Committee, comprised of a group of public health experts from Harvard (FXB Center for Health and Human Rights), UCLA (Center for the Study of Racism, Social Justice, and Health), and other academic institutions across the country. During the pandemic, she has provided expert commentary on the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 ...

Joyce welcomes Marcie Roth, executive director and CEO of the World Institute on Disability (WID) to the show. WID’s global mission is to continually advance the rights and opportunities of over one billion people with disabilities. Since 1983, WID remains committed to advancing promising disability inclusion policy and practices globally. Ms. Roth will further explain this mission and discuss how the organization is addressing the needs of people with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Joyce welcomes Cliff Jurkiewicz, vice president of Strategy at Phenom and Parker Bettis, product manager, specializing in accessibility at. Phenom to the show. Phenom is a global HR technology company with a purpose to help a billion people find the right job. This is accomplished through an AI-based SaaS platform called Talent Experience Management (TXM). Each guest will provide an in-depth explanation of the Phenom TXM platform, the importance of career site accessibility, and the recent launc...

Joyce welcomes Liz Weinstraub, senior advocacy specialist for The Association of University Centers on Disabilities ( AUCD), located in Silver Spring, MD. The AUCD is a national, nonprofit organization that promotes and supports the national network of interdisciplinary centers advancing policy and practice through research, education, leadership, and services for and with individuals with developmental and other disabilities, their families, and communities. Ms. Weinstraub will be discussing CO...

Joyce welcomes Peggy Beem-Jelley, president and CEO of the Epilepsy Association of Western and Central PA to the show. She will discuss what people living with epilepsy should be aware of as it relates to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Joyce welcomes Dr. Cynthia Maro, Cranberry Holistic Pet Care in Cranberry, PA to the show. The veterinary clinic provides an integrative approach to pet care, utilizing conventional surgery, dentistry and medical veterinary services, cutting edge diagnostics, like CT scans and complementary acupuncture, herbology, animal chiropractic, massage, craniosacral, STEM Cell/PRP, prolotherapy, water treadmill and rehabilitative care. Dr. Maro discusses the effect of COVID-19 on pets. .

Joyce welcomes Karen Tamley, president and CEO of Access Living to the show. Access Living serves the city of Chicago Its staff work alongside people with many disabilities including intellectual, psychiatric, physical and sensory disabilities. All programs and services revolve around one central belief - that people with disabilities have the right to live the lives they choose for themselves, in an accessible, integrated world. Ms. Tamley will discuss those programs and services and how the or...

Joyce welcomes Howard A. Rosenblum, CEO of the National Association of the Deaf (NAD). In this capacity, he oversees the operations of the NAD to carry out its mission of preserving, protecting and promoting the civil, human and linguistic rights of deaf and hard of hearing people in the United States. He also serves as the legal director overseeing the staff lawyers as they engage in policy advocacy and litigation work within the NAD Law and Advocacy Center. Mr. Rosenblum will continue the disc...

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...