Episodes

With a special introduction by Joyce Bender: As a tribute to Robert (Bobby) Coward, Disability Rights Activist, who died on Monday, August 25, 2014, we are re-airing his appearance on Disability Matters from February 12, 2008. Robert E. Coward, Jr., was co-founder/director, DIRECT Action (Disabled Individuals for Real Empowerment and Community Training and chair/spokesperson, Capital Area ADAPT. Discussed was “What it means to be and Advocate.”

Joyce welcomes Daniel Budzinski, president of Compassionate Touch International. Compassionate Touch International is a missions organization that brings the message of the Gospel to the world. Mr. Budzinski will discuss this mission in depth.

Joyce welcomes John Kemp, president and CEO of the Viscardi Center, a network of non-profit organizations. The Viscardi Center programs and services include Pre-K through High School education, school-to-work transition services, vocational training, career counseling and placement and workforce diversification assistance to children, adolescents, and adults with disabilities and businesses. Mr. Kemp will discuss the mission of this network in depth, and his more than 50 years of direct experien...

Joyce welcomes Stephen Bennett who leads the international non-profit organization, United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) as President and CEO. He has a 30-year history of success in business development, strategic planning, financial management, marketing, event production, and local and national public policy. He will discuss the mission and his goals for UCP, as well as trends in the area of advancing employment and empowerment of people with disabilities.

Joyce welcomes Gerald Homme, chairman of the “Bender Lead On Team” and Ginny Miller, mother of the late, Sam Miller to the show. Based on Facebook, the Bender Lead On Team is a group of people who help Bender lead the charge to spread the news of employment and empowerment for people with disabilities. Working in high schools and on college campuses, members encourage young people with disabilities to set goals that align with competitive career opportunities. It also provides a forum for young ...

Joyce welcomes Chai Feldblum, commissioner of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Ms. Feldblum will discuss the mission of the EEOC, 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 The Honorable Tony Coelho, author of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). He will discuss the progress we have made since the ADA was passed, and the work that still needs to be done to enhance the lives of people with disabilities.

Joyce welcomes Jerry MacCleary, president of Bayer MaterialScience LLC (BMS) for the NAFTA region and senior representative for Bayer in Pittsburgh and the larger Allegheny County area communities. Mr. MacCleary will discuss Bayer’s commitment to increasing the employment of people with disabilities and the corporation’s efforts in the community to support Variety, The Children’s Charity, “My Bike” Program.

Joyce welcomes to the show, David Morrissey, executive director of the United States International Council on Disabilities (USICD), Tony Coelho, former congressman and author of the ADA, Tom Ridge, former Pennsylvania Governor, Jill Houghton, executive director of the United States Business Leadership Network (USBLN), and Dick Thornburgh, former PA Governor and former U.S. Attorney General. Each guest will talk about the recent efforts to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Di...

Joyce welcomes Mark Perriello, president and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), the world’s largest cross-disability membership organization. As we approach the anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, 1990, Mark will reflect on the progress we have made since the legislation became law and share his perspective on the work that needs to be done to further the rights of all people with disabilities.

Joyce welcomes Lori Gregan, store manager at Roses for Autism. Ms. Gregan will discuss the Roses For Autism business, selling high-quality Pinchbeck flowers to local and nationwide customers alike. In addition, the business also offers training and assessment services to adults with autism spectrum disorder on-site, both inside and outside the floral operation. This affirmative experience prepares their students, participants, and contingent workers to find meaningful work that is well-suited to...

Joyce welcomes Jill Houghton, executive director of the U.S. Business Leadership Network (USBLN) and Patricia J. Richards, director of the USBLN Disability Supplier Diversity Program®. The guests will explain in depth, the USBLN mission to help business drive performance by leveraging disability inclusion in the workplace, and the Disability Supplier Diversity Program® (DSDP). The DSDP was developed and launched by the USBLN® to expand their supplier diversity programs to include businesses that...

Joyce welcomes Coach Jerry Kill, of the University of Minnesota Golden Gofers football team and Chanda Gunn, former Olympic hockey player to the show. Both individuals are among a group of athletes who are involved in a national campaign called Athletes vs. Epilepsy. This national Epilepsy Foundation campaign offers athletes the chance to compete in fundraising events to support the development of new therapies for people with epilepsy. In addition to discussion the Athletes vs. Epilepsy group, ...

Joyce welcomes John Kavanaugh, the vice president of finance for CSC's North American Public Sector. In addition to his executive role in the finance organization, John is also actively involved in CSC's Abilities First Network as one of its co-executive sponsors. Discussed on the show will be the CSC Abilities First Network, which serves people with disabilities working at CSC and their supporters, and is one of nine employee resource groups available at CSC. This group focuses on educating and...

Joyce welcomes Allegheny County executive, Rich Fitzgerald to the show. Discussed on the show will the Allegheny 365 program. The program is designed to ensure that all individuals, including those with disabilities, can engage fully in the broad spectrum of county services, year round. Allegheny County has complied with the spirit and requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and, in many cases, exceeded the legislative mandate. Still, the Allegheny 365 program strives to ensure...

Joyce welcomes Jen Gilliland, who was crowned Ms. Wheelchair Pennsylvania 2014, during the annual pageant on Saturday, March 22, 2014 in Bradford, PA. She will discuss living with Transverse Myelitis, and her journey to become Ms. Wheelchair PA; she will also discuss how she plans on using her title to help all residents of PA who are living with disabilities.

Joyce welcomes Sarah Triano of San Jose, California to the show. Sarah was appointed in 2013, by California Governor Edmund G. Brown, as the executive officer of the California Committee on the Employment of People with Disabilities. Sarah was executive director at the Silicon Valley Independent Living Center since 2009. She will discuss her background and how she plans to use this appointment to help the governor advance the initiative of hiring people with disabilities.

Joyce welcomes Dr. Mark Boxer, executive vice president & Global Chief Information Officer for Cigna. Cigna (NYSE: CI) is a global health service company dedicated to helping people improve their health, well-being and sense of security. All products and services are provided exclusively through operating subsidiaries of Cigna Corporation, including Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company, Life Insurance Company of North America and Cigna Life Insuranc...

Joyce welcomes Maureen Cahill senior vice president of Total Rewards at Highmark Health. A native of Western Springs, Ill., Ms. Cahill comes to Pittsburgh from Chicago, where she served in similar roles with the Career Education Corporation and Hewitt Associates (AON Hewitt) after being director of human resources for the Illinois Child Care Bureau for 11 years. She will discuss Highmark’s commitment to hiring people with disabilities as part of their diverse workforce strategy, and her role sup...

Joyce welcomes Robert B. Noll, PhD from the University of Pittsburgh’s Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Related Disabilities (LEND) program. Dr. Noll’s research has focused on gaining a better understanding of the impact of medical challenges for children, their parents, and siblings. The fundamental premise for this body of work is to identify specific domains of functional vulnerability so that clinical trials could be initiated with a specific target; and second, to utilize medical ...

Joyce welcomes Wade Henderson, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and The Leadership Conference Education Fund. The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is the nation's premier civil and human rights coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote and protect the civil and human rights of all persons in the United States. Mr. Henderson will discuss how the Leadership Conference works toward the goal o...

Joyce welcomes William Kiernan, appointed the dean and research professor at the School of Global Inclusion and Social Development at UMASS Boston. He is also the director of the Institute for Community Inclusion at the University Center on Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCED). He will discuss his expertise with transition, employment and public policy development, workforce development and systematic change.

Joyce welcomes Doris Carson Williams, president and CEO of The African American Chamber of Commerce (AACC) to the show. The mission of the African American Chamber of Commerce of Western Pennsylvania is to continuously improve business and professional opportunities for African American business owners and professionals. Guided by the core values of equity in opportunity, economic advancement, self-sufficiency and entrepreneurial excellence, the organization seeks to advance economic parity for ...

Joyce welcomes comic book writer, John McLaren and creator of the comic book superhero “Toteman”. The production team of “Toteman”, created a comic book designed to enlighten the public about epilepsy awareness, including the dangers, the symptoms, the myths and the first aid response. Mr. McLaren will discuss what led to the creation of this comic book and why it is important to him.