Episodes

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.

Joyce welcomes Don Clayback executive director of the National Coalition for Assistive and Rehab Technology (NCART). NCART is national association of complex rehab technology (CRT) providers and manufacturers focused on ensuring individuals with disabilities have adequate access to specialized wheelchairs, seating and positioning systems, and other adaptive equipment such as standing devices and gait trainers. He has responsibility for monitoring, analyzing, and influencing regulatory policies a...

In recognition of November as national Epilepsy Awareness month, Joyce welcomes Peggy Beem-Jelley, CEO of the Epilepsy Foundation of Western/Central PA. Ms. Beem-Jelley will discuss the mission of this organization and the programs and services it has in place to foster greater awareness of epilepsy.

In recognition of November as national Epilepsy Awareness month, Joyce welcomes Phil Gattone, CEO of the national Epilepsy Foundation. Mr. Gattone will discuss the mission of this organization and the programs and services it has in place to foster greater awareness of epilepsy.

Joyce welcomes, Karen Slaughter, New York Times and international best-selling author, with over 30 million copies of her books sold worldwide. Best known for her Grant County and Will Trent series, Ms. Slaughter will discuss the reason many of the novels she writes feature a character(s) with a disability.

Joyce welcomes Christine M. Griffin, executive director of the Disability Law Center Inc. (DLC), of Massachusetts. The DLC is a private, non-profit organization responsible for providing protection and advocacy for the rights of Massachusetts residents with disabilities. Ms. Griffin will discuss the services of the DLC in depth, and also talk about her background as a life-long advocate for people with disabilities.

Joyce welcomes Fred Maahs, chair of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), to the show. The American Association of People with Disabilities is the nation's largest cross-disability membership organization that promotes equal opportunity, economic power, independent living, and political participation for people with disabilities. During the show, he will share his story of how he became a member of the disability community, what it means to be chair of AAPD, and most impor...

Joyce welcomes Christine M. Griffin, executive director of the Disability Law Center Inc. (DLC), of Massachusetts. The DLC is a private, non-profit organization responsible for providing protection and advocacy for the rights of Massachusetts residents with disabilities. Ms. Griffin will discuss the services of the DLC in depth, and also talk about her background as a life-long advocate for people with disabilities.

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 author, Donna W. Hill to the show. Donna Hill is a writer, speaker and avid knitter from Pennsylvania's Endless Mountains. A songwriter with three albums, she has published her first novel, The Heart of Applebutter Hill. It has received recommendations from professionals in the fields of education, rehabilitation and the arts as a tool to foster full inclusion of people with disabilities. During the show, she will explain why fiction is a safe and highly personal way of introducin...