Episodes

Joyce welcomes Shane Claiborne, a prominent speaker, activist, and best-selling author. Shane worked with Mother Teresa in Calcutta and founded The Simple Way in Philadelphia. He heads up Red Letter Christians, a movement of people committed to living as if Jesus meant the things he said. Shane is a champion for grace, which has led him to jail advocating for the homeless and to places like Iraq and Afghanistan to stand against war. And now grace fuels his passion to end the death penalty. Mr. C...

Michael Morris, founder and executive director of National Disability Institute, is a former legal counsel to the US Senate Subcommittee on Disability Policy and is a key architect of the ABLE Act. He serves as a subject matter expert on financial inclusion and poverty reduction concerning people with disabilities to the FDIC, IRS, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, National Council on Disability and multiple state ABLE programs.

Joyce welcomes Carlos Carter, newly elected Executive Director, of the Homeless Children’s Education Fund (HCEF) to the show. The HCEF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1999 in Allegheny County to advance the education of children and youth experiencing homelessness, guiding them to be productive, empowered citizens. Over the years, HCEF’s role in the community has developed and expanded to meet these needs. As a national model for addressing the educational needs of unstably-...

Joyce welcomes Daniel Kleinmann, special project coordinator for Traditional Paths to Independent Living (TRPIL) in Washington, PA. TRPIL is a Center for Independent Living that brings together individuals who face common barriers – equal access, assistive technology, education, employment, housing, and transportation – in order to solve these problems. Mr. Kleinmann will discuss this organization’s mission in depth during the show.

Joyce welcomes Joan Stein, president and CEO of Stein Consulting, LLC. Joan’s company focuses on ADA compliance, event planning and operations and fund development. The company provides consulting services to employers, can assist with compliance with newly implemented OFCCP regulations, and supports companies faced with ADA litigation. Ms. Stein will discuss the company mission.

Joyce welcomes Dr. Gerald Buckley, National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) President and Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Vice President and Dean. Dr. Buckley will discuss the commitment of both universities to serving the deaf community.

Joyce welcomes Molly McCully Brown, an author and indispensable new voice for disability rights. Ms. McCully Brown will discuss her new collection of poems, The Virginia State Colony Epileptics and Feebleminded. The title is named after an actual place of the same name, a government-run residential hospital in Amherst, County, VA that opened in 1910. The facility was recognized as a center of the eugenics movement, where patients, who were at the time viewed as defective, underwent sterilization...

Joyce welcomes Marsha Blanco, president and CEO of ACHIEVA. ACHIEVA is the only agency of its type in southwestern Pennsylvania that provides lifelong supports. From early intervention therapies, in-home support, to older adult protective services for senior citizens, ACHIEVA provides services through the entire life-span. ACHIEVA is a nonprofit parent organization providing comprehensive services and supports to more than 14,500 individuals with disabilities and their families. Ms. Blanco will ...

Joyce welcomes Colleen Starkloff, co-founder and co-director of the Starkloff Disability Institute (SDI). SDI works on changing societal attitudes and perceptions about people with disabilities through activities that send a positive message about living with disability in order to create a world that welcomes people with disabilities. Ms. Starkloff will discuss the programs and services of the institute and her role with the organization.

Joyce welcomes 2017 American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) Paul G. Hearne Leadership Award recipient, Ola Ojewumi to the show. Ms. Ojewumi founded two non-profit organizations, Sacred Hearts Children’s Transplant Foundation and Project ASCEND. These organizations provide college scholarships to low-income students, funding for women's education programs, support for global mentorship groups and literacy programs, and distribute teddy bears and books to children awaiting organ tr...

Joyce welcomes Kelly Buckland, executive director of the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL). The National Council on Independent Living is the longest-running national cross-disability, grassroots organization run by and for people with disabilities. Founded in 1982, NCIL represents thousands of organizations and individuals including: Centers for Independent Living (CILs), Statewide Independent Living Councils (SILCs), individuals with disabilities, and other organizations that advoc...

Joyce welcomes John Williams, professional writer and disability rights advocate;; Kevin Linde, physical therapist and Dr. Rubin Clintron, Neurologist. All 3 guests will discuss their latest research into the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.

Joyce welcomes Katherine Perez, a 2017 AAPD Paul G. Hearne Leadership Award recipient. Topics discussed on the show will be the mission of AAPD and highlights of this year’s AAPD Leadership Awards Gala.

Joyce welcomes representatives from Envision Technology Camp at Witchita Kansas University and its Level-up High School Conference July 9-14, 2017.. On the show will be lead instructor, Terese Goren, and fellow teacher, Hannah Christenson. Joining them will be Alison Roots an 18 year-old student at the university who is a long time participant of the Envisions Level Up Technology Camp. The mission of Envision is to improve the quality of life and provide inspiration for the blind and visually im...

Joyce welcomes Colleen Flanagan, currently the co-founder and Executive partner to Disability Action for America a political action committee dedicated to electing candidates who value disability rights, and recruiting more people with disabilities to run for public office.

Joyce welcomes Tony Coelho, Author of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Christine Griffin, Executive Director of Disability Law Center of Massachusetts, and Andy Imparato, Executive Director of The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD). The guests will discuss the mission of 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 Developmenta...

Joyce welcomes legendary Pittsburgh morning radio host, keynote speaker, and storyteller, Jack Bogut to the show. Jack Bogut has been featured on both ABC’s Good Morning America and in USA Today as one of the top five radio personalities in the nation. He eventually became number two in the country. He will discuss his entry into broadcasting, and his charity work with both Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh while at NewsRadio 1020 KDKA for over a decade and his charity work with “Make-A-Wish” Fo...

Joyce welcomes Debra Germany, founder of Divine Intervention Ministries (DIM). DIM started in 2002 by using billboards to bring attention to unsolved murders and to find community solutions to crime. It also sought to soothe grieving family members who lost their loved ones to violence. In 2006, the organization changed direction, and focused on restoring the lives of incarcerated adults and at-risk youth by launching the Interceding Making Positive Actions Come Together (IMPACT) program. Ms Ger...

Michelle Sie Whitten is the Co-Founder, President and CEO of the Global Down Syndrome Foundation (Global). Global is dedicated to significantly improving the lives of people with Down syndrome through research, medical care, education, and advocacy. Ms. Whitten will discuss the mission of the foundation and her other work associated with Down syndrome.

Joyce welcomes Mathew McCullough, executive director of the District of Columbia Developmental Disabilities Council (DDC), which promotes independence and equal opportunity for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Mr. McCullough will discuss the mission of the organization.

Joyce welcomes Todd Bankofier, CEO of Audio Eye, Inc. Incorporated in 2005, AudioEye provides enhanced web access and usability for its customers. AudioEye’s custom and proprietary Digital Accessibility Platform testing suite automatically detects Section 508 and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 success criteria violations and details best practices to remediate issues. Mr. Bankofier will discuss how Audio Eye is helping companies improve digital accessibility.

Michelle Sie Whitten is the Co-Founder, President and CEO of the Global Down Syndrome Foundation (Global). Global is dedicated to significantly improving the lives of people with Down syndrome through research, medical care, education, and advocacy. Ms. Whitten will discuss the mission of the foundation and her other work associated with Down syndrome.

January 24, 2017 Joyce welcomes Charlie LaVallee, CEO of Variety - the Children’s Charity of Pittsburgh. Variety’s mission is to provide children with disabilities in southwestern Pennsylvania with unique programs, experiences, and adaptive equipment so they may live life to the fullest. Mr. LaVallee will discuss the charity’s programs and services overall, but specifically highlight the “My Bike” Program, which provides adaptive bikes to children with disabilities so they may have the freedom o...