Episodes

Joyce welcomes back, Kevin Bales, world renowned author, expert on modern slavery, and co-founder of Free the Slaves, the U.S. organization of Anti-Slavery International (the world's oldest human rights organization). Mr. Bales will discuss the latest information in modern slavery and what is being done in increase awareness and encourage its prevention.

Joyce welcomes Daniel Bull founder of Zero Six Eight (068), an incubator that works to promote the fully innovative potential of ex-offenders as they pursue goals of employment, entrepreneurship, and independence. Portfolio companies include products and services in Ecommerce, cyber security, medical devices, apparel, and other licensed IP. During the show, Daniel will share inspiration for 068 which came about while Daniel was serving a sentence of 21 months in Elkton Prison (Lisbon, Ohio) for ...

Joyce’s honored guest is Secretary of Labor for the Obama Administration, Tom E. Perez. Mr. Perez was nominated by President Obama and sworn in on July 23, 2013, as the nation’s 26th Secretary of Labor. Mr. Perez’s priorities for the department include ensuring a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work; connecting ready-to-work Americans with ready-to-be-filled jobs; promoting gender equality in the workplace; ensuring that people with disabilities and veterans have access to equal employment oppor...

Joyce welcomes James J. Weisman, senior vice president and general counsel of the United Spinal Association, and renowned, ground-breaking figure of the disability rights movement whose legal strategizing was critical to the creation of the transportation section of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Mr. Weisman will discuss his friendship with the late, Paul Hearne, co-founder of the American Association of People with Disabilities ( AAPD), and his gradual move toward disability law as a care...

Joyce welcomes Curtis L. Decker, executive director of the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) the nation’s largest non-governmental enforcer of disability rights, Curt oversees all activities related to training and technical assistance, membership services, and legislative advocacy. He will discuss his life-long commitment to enforcing disability advocacy and disability rights.

Joyce welcomes Susan Palmer Mazuri director of Global Public Policy, AT&T Services Inc. and a member of the board of directors

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 medically fragile senior citizens, ACHIEVA provides services through the entire life-span. ACHIEVA is a nonprofit parent organization that has comprehensive services and supports and serves more than 14,500 individuals with disabilities and their f...

Joyce welcomed 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 has discussed and gave an update on the progress of the Obama Adm...

Joyce welcomes Stuart Pixley, president, Kathryn Carroll, secretary, and Michael Gilberg, board member of The National Association of Attorneys with Disabilities (NAAD). The NAAD is the national association of attorneys, judges, law professors, law students, and others. It represents the interests of those parties and anyone with disabilities in the legal profession so that persons with disabilities can achieve success. Its members include solo practitioners, large firm lawyers, corporate counse...

Joyce welcomes Josie Badger, a national disability rights leader and chair of the #IWantToWork campaign and Karen Priore, co-lead of the campaign for Giant Eagle, Inc. Tens of thousands of Pennsylvania teenagers and young adults with disabilities want to work. While the state’s unemployment rate is close to 5%, 65 out of 100 Pennsylvanians with disabilities can’t find jobs, or have given up looking for work. At the same time, Pennsylvania has a workforce shortage crisis with more the 200,000 unf...

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 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. 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 advocate for the human...

Joyce welcomes Mark Johnson, director of the Shepherd Center. Located in Atlanta, Georgia, Shepherd Center is a private, not-for-profit hospital specializing in medical treatment, research and rehabilitation for people with spinal cord and brain injury. Founded in 1975, Shepherd Center is ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the top 10 rehabilitation hospitals in the nation. Mr. Johnson will discuss the programs and services of this facility, in depth.

Joyce welcomes Julie McCawley founder of SJS Kids Support group, a branch of the Stevens-Johnson Syndrome Foundation. She is presently a junior at Metropolitan State University of Denver where she is majoring in human development and minoring in education. During the show, Julie will explain the mission of the Stevens-Johnson Syndrome Foundation, share why she has become a strong advocate for the organization, update everyone on her advocacy efforts against bullying and share her insight as to w...

Joyce’s honored guest is Chai Feldblum, commissioner of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) since September 15, 2010. Ms. Feldblum will discuss the mission of the EEOC, the progress of federal hiring successes of people with disabilities and other initiatives such as Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act, requiring federal contractors to take affirmative action to include people with disabilities within their workforce.

Joyce welcomes Joanne Sharer, owner and president and Danielle Filip, vice president of operations for Sign Language Interpreting Professionals (SLIP) to the show. SLIP is dedicated to providing sign language service to the deaf community in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and the North Central Pennsylvania region that is reliable, consistent, and professional. Joanne and Danielle will discuss the reasons that motivated them to start this business and the criteria that sets them apart from other sign l...

Joyce welcomes three leaders within the disability rights movement to the show, Rhonda Neuhaus , policy analyst for government affairs at the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF), Dara Baldwin, with the National Disability Rights Network, and Rebecca Cokley, executive director of the National Council on Disability. Each will discuss highlights of the progress that has been made in disability rights for 2014.

Joyce welcomes Colleen Starkloff, co-founder of the Starkloff Disability Institute. The Starkloff Disability Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to helping 18+ percent of America’s population – people with disabilities – participate fully and equally in all aspects of society. Founded in 2003, the Starkloff Disability Institute works on changing societal attitudes and perceptions about people with disabilities through activities that send a positive message about living wi...

Joyce welcomes back 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 organization’s success with the “My Bike” program, and the start of the “My Voice” program. The “My Bike” program provides adaptive bikes to children with disabilities so they may have the freed...

Joyce welcomes three leaders within the disability rights movement to the show, Rhonda Neuhaus, policy analyst for government affairs at the

Joyce welcomes Dr. Melissa Vayda, President and CEO of Volunteers of America of PA to the show. Dr. Vayda will share the mission of Volunteers of America of Pennsylvania, a faith-based human service nonprofit organization. With compassionate care that touches mind, body, heart and spirit, their highly effective programs help seniors, adults, youth and children reach for their full potential. Dr. Vayda will share the programs and services offered by the organization that help this population.

Joyce welcomes The Salvation Army’s Treasures for Children Coordinator to the show. The Salvation Army's Treasures for Children program (Allegheny County, Pittsburgh, PA) strives to consistently provide hope and joy to families, especially children, in need at the most wonderful and blessed time of the year. Known in other regions of The Salvation Army as the Angel Tree Program, Treasures for Children provides a personal experience for the donors because they are able to choose a specific child ...

For the first-half of the show Joyce welcomes back, Daniel Budzinski, president of Compassionate Touch International. Compassionate Touch International is a mission’s organization that brings the message of the Gospel to the world. Mr. Budzinski will discuss this mission in depth. He will update listeners on the progress of his organization since his last visit on August 26, 2014. For the second-half of the show, Joyce welcomes back, author, Donna W. Hill to the show. Donna Hill is a writer, spe...

In continuing with Epilepsy Awareness as the topic for November, Joyce welcomes The Honorable Tony Coelho, author of the Americans with Disabilities Act and former congressman from California to the show. Mr. Coelho will discuss his journey living with epilepsy, and the progress that has been made nationally to end the stigma.