Episodes

Joyce welcomes Dr. Carr Bettis, chairman of the board and executive chairman of AudioEye, Inc. Also on the show will be Todd A. Bankofier, a member of AudioEye’s advisory board. Incorporated in Tucson, Arizona in 2005, the company focuses on achieving Web access equality and usability for all people, through technological expertise and innovation. Both men will discuss their roles in the organization and explain how their company can help business comply with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Ac...

Joyce welcomes Jerry MacCleary, president of Covestro LLC (formerly Bayer MaterialScience LLC) for North America. He also leads the Polyurethanes business for the North American region, a responsibility he has held since 2004. Mr. MacCleary will discuss his continued commitment at Covestro LLC to hire people with disabilities as part of their diverse workforce.

Joyce welcomes Jill Houghton, executive director of the US Business Leadership Network (USBLN). The mission of the BLN is to help business drive performance by leveraging disability inclusion in the workplace, supply chain, and marketplace. Ms. Houghton will discuss the success of the 2015 US Business Leadership Network's 18th Annual National Conference entitled, From Compliance to Competitive Advantage: The Legacy of the ADA and the Next 25 Years held in Austin, Texas September 28 through Octob...

Joyce welcomes Peri Jude Radecic, chief executive officer of the Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania. During the show, Ms. Radecic will discuss the mission of the organization in depth, which is to advance, protect, and advocate for the human, civil, and legal rights of Pennsylvanians with disabilities.

Joyce welcomes Ben Matlin contributing editor at Institutional Investor and Financial Advisor magazines and author of MIRACLE BOY GROWS UP: HOW THE DISABILITY RIGHTS REVOLUTION SAVED MY SANITY (Skyhorse, 2012). During the show he will discuss his disability rights advocacy. His essays have been featured on NPR's Morning Edition and in THE NEW YORK TIMES, NEWSWEEK, SELF magazine, USA TODAY, the LOS ANGELES TIMES, the CHICAGO TRIBUNE, and Washington Post.com.

Joyce welcomes Beth Cobert, acting, director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to the show. She will discuss the OPM’s role in assisting agencies with the implementation of their plans to increase federal employment of individuals with disabilities, in support of President Barack Obama’s executive order.

Joyce welcomes Diane Coleman, the president of Not Dead Yet, a national disability rights group which she founded in 1996 to give voice to disability rights opposition to legalization of assisted suicide and euthanasia. She will discuss the mission of this organization in depth, as well as her testimony that she has given four times before Subcommittees of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate. She is a well-known writer and speaker on assisted suicide and euthanasia topics.

Joyce welcomes Stuart James, executive director of the Center for Independent Living (CIL) in Berkeley, California. Mr. James will discuss the mission of the CIL, which provides services, support, and advocacy to enhance the rights and abilities of people with disabilities to actively participate in their communities and to live self-determined lives. The CIL emerged from the independent living movement of the 1960’s as a powerful social catalyst on the University of California at Berkeley campu...

Joyce welcomes Andrea J. Carelli, senior vice president, public relations and special events for PNC Bank to the show. She will discuss PNC’s programs and services and its commitment to employing people with disabilities as well as its efforts to give back to the community it serves.

Joyce welcomes Mark A. Riccobono, president of the National Federation of the Blind and executive director of The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Jernigan Institute, the first institute of its kind developed and operated by an organization of blind people, leads the quest to understand the real problems of blindness and to develop innovative education, technologies, products, and services that help the world's blind to achieve independence. Mr. Riccobono will discuss the programs and serv...

Joyce welcomes Shirl Regan, president and CEO of the Women’s Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh to the show. Ms. Regan will discuss in detail the mission of the organization, which provides high quality, confidential and free programs offered in an environment where cultural competency, justice, autonomy, restoration and safety are priorities. Current programs include: 24-Hour Emergency Shelter, 24-Hour Hotline, Children’s Program, Empowerment Center (Support Groups), Legal Advocacy, Medic...

To examine the history and impact of the ADA, Joyce welcomes acclaimed disability scholar and author, Lennard J. Davis to the show. Davis will discuss his book, Enabling Acts: The Hidden Story of How the Americans With Disabilities Act Gave the Largest US Minority Its Rights. The book is the first significant book on the history and impact of the ADA - the eyes on the prize moment for disability rights. This is the first riveting account, behind-the-scenes and on-the-ground narrative of how a ba...

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. 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....

Joyce welcomes The Honorable, Tony Coelho, author of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to the show. As we celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the ADA, Mr. Coelho will reflect on the passage of the landmark legislation, and share his thoughts on the work that still needs to be done to enhance the lives of people with disabilities.

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.

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.

Joyce welcomes David Holmberg, president and chief executive officer of Highmark Health to the show. Highmark Health is a diversified health and wellness enterprise based in Pittsburgh, PA that serves an estimated 35 million people nationwide. As an insurer-led integrated delivery network, Highmark Health is committed to improving the total health care experience for members, patients and consumers in a rapidly changing health care landscape. During the show, Mr. Holmberg will discuss this commi...

Joyce welcomes Patricia A. Shiu, director of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs at the U.S. Department of Labor. She leads a staff of nearly 800 men and women around the country who are dedicated to protecting workers, promoting diversity and enforcing the law. Over the years, OFCCP’s authority has been expanded by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974. She will be discussing and giving an update on the progress of the Ob...

Joyce welcomes Audrey Russo, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Technology Council. Discussed on the show will be the mission of this organization, as well as the ways in which the group gets involved in the business community to foster and encourage the hiring of people with disabilities.

Joyce welcomes Sara Hart Weir, president of the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS). Under Weir’s leadership, since December

Joyce welcomes Joan Stein, president and CEO of Stein Consulting LLC. Joan’s company works with its clients to find answers, options and opportunities. Focusing on ADA compliance, event planning and operations and fund development, the company provides consulting services to employers and can assist with compliance with newly-implemented OFCCP regulations. It also provides litigation support to companies faced with ADA litigation. Ms. Stein will discuss the company mission in depth.

Joyce welcomes Rebecca Cokely, executive director of the National Council on Disability (NCD). The Council promotes policies, programs, practices and procedures that further the objectives of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) to ensure that Americans with disabilities have the same level of access to civic, social and economic participation as their non-disabled friends, family members and peers. NCD has 15 Presidentially-appointed Council members who live across the nation, and ...

Joyce welcomes Jessi Ryan, manager of education and community programs for the Pittsburgh Symphony. For the first 5 minutes of the show, Ms. Ryan will be promoting a symphony concert, Saturday, June 27, 2015. Led by resident conductor, Lawrence Loh, “Celebrate Pittsburgh” is designed for patrons of all ages with autism spectrum disorders, sensory sensitivities and other disabilities to enjoy an orchestra performance in a welcoming and inclusive environment. Monitors will provide open captioning ...

Joyce welcomes disability rights leader, Madonna Long to the show. Joyce and Madonna will engage in a conversation about Ms. Cheryl Sensenbrenner, an advocate who has fought and keeps fighting for disability rights for all Americans with disabilities. This show is a tribute to her tireless efforts for all Americans with disabilities. During the show, many of her friends and colleagues in the disability rights community will pay tribute to the accomplishments of this disability rights leader.