Episodes

Jan. 7, 2025

David Holmberg: Highmark Grows Standard to Hire Disabled in 2025

Joyce is excited to start 2025 with the returning champion of competitive employment for Americans with disabilities, David Holmberg , President, and CEO of Highmark Health and Chairman of the Board, Highmark, Inc. Mr. Holmb...
Dec. 31, 2024

Town/Schuller/Radecic: Disability Rights Year in Review

Joyce welcomes Maria Town, President and CEO, of American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD); Megan Schuller, Legal Director at the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law; and Peri Jude Radecic, CEO of Disability Ri...
Dec. 24, 2024

Encore Judith Heumann, Disability Rights Leader Discusses Memoir

As a special gift to listeners this holiday season here is a rebroadcast from December 15, 2020. Joyce welcomed the late Judith Heumann, internationally recognized leader in the disability rights independent living movement, ...
Dec. 17, 2024

Mercer, Libengood, Beggs: North Way Christian Communities’ Goals

Joyce welcomes Prayer Pastor Mary Mercer, Executive Pastor of Ministry, Shannon Libengood, and Digital Director, Amanda Beggs, from North Way Christian Community Church in Wexford, PA to the show. The guests will highlight th...
Dec. 10, 2024

Cathy Battle: Keeping Families in Need Supplied with Diapers

Joyce welcomes fellow 2024 Pittsburgh Athena Award nominee, Cathy Battle, to the show. Ms. Battle is the Executive Director of the Western Pennsylvania Diaper Bank, which serves communities in Western Pennsylvania. Ms. Battle...
Dec. 3, 2024

Marcie Roth: December 3, 2024 - WID Promotes Disability Issues

Joyce welcomes Marcie Roth, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the World Institute on Disability (WID). Each year December 3rd is recognized to promote an understanding of disability issues and to generat...
Nov. 26, 2024

Nikki Lancaster Alphonse: Northrop Grumman’s Diverse Workforce

Joyce welcomes Nikki Lancaster Alphonse, Sr. Director Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Northrop Grumman Corporation. Ms. Alphonse will discuss her work with Northrop Grumman and the company’s commitment to a diverse workfo...
Nov. 19, 2024

Kerry McQuone: Epilepsy Advocate and Business Professional

Joyce welcomes Kerry McQuone, Board Member of the Epilepsy Association of Western/Central PA (EAWCP) and Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at GrayMatter, an industrial technology and consulting company with offices throughout the...
Nov. 12, 2024

Dr. James Valeriano: Expert on Neurology and Epilepsy

As we continue to recognize November as National Epilepsy Awareness Month, Joyce welcomes Dr. James Valeriano, Director of the Comprehensive Epilepsy Program at Allegheny Health Network (AHN) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Dr. ...
Nov. 5, 2024

Accomplishments of EAWCP/Plans for the 2025 Mardi Gras Gala

November is National Epilepsy Awareness Month, Joyce welcomes Peggy Beem-Jelley, President and CEO of the Epilepsy Association of Western/Central PA (EAWCP), to the show. They will be discussing the latest accomplishments of ...
Oct. 29, 2024

Taryn Mackenzie Williams: Shaping Disability Employment Policy

Joyce welcomes Taryn Mackenzie Williams, the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy, to the show. In this position, Ms. Mackenzie advises the Secretary of Labor on how the Department’s policies and prog...
Oct. 22, 2024

Mick Malec: enGen’s Commitment to Hire People with Disabilities

Joyce welcomes Mick Malec, CEO, enGen and Enterprise Technology and Operations Officer, Highmark Health, back to the show. enGen’s dynamic ecosystem of smart automation and technology supports streamline complex operations fo...
Oct. 15, 2024

Encore Jill Houghton/Tony Coelho: State of Disability Employment

To kick-off National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), Joyce welcomes Jill Houghton, President and CEO of Disability:IN, and The Honorable Tony Coelho, author of the Americans with Disabilities Act to the show. D...
Oct. 8, 2024

Connie Feda: Proprietor Partners with Bender Leadership Academy

Joyce welcomes Connie Feda, Proprietor and Co-founder of Cookie Cookie Ice Cream in Kennedy Township, PA. Discussed on the show will be the partnership between Cookie Cookie Ice Cream and Bender Leadership Academy to enhance ...
Oct. 1, 2024

Jill Houghton/Tony Coelho: State of Disability Employment

To kick-off National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), Joyce welcomes Jill Houghton, President and CEO of Disability:IN, and The Honorable Tony Coelho, author of the Americans with Disabilities Act to the show. D...
Sept. 24, 2024

Janni Lehrer-Stein/Ondréa Burton: Disability Rights Advocates

Joyce welcomes disability advocates Janni Lehrer-Stein and Ondréa Burton to the show. The topic discussed will be “The disability community realizing the power of the vote.”
Sept. 3, 2024

Mark Johnson: Disability Rights Leader and Advocate

Joyce welcomes Mark Johnson back to the show. Mark is a life-long disability advocate and a founder of American Disabled for Accessible Public Transportation and American Disabled Attendant Program (ADAPT). Mark will share hi...
Aug. 27, 2024

John Register: Motivational Speaker/Paralympic Silver Medalist

Joyce welcomes John Register, award-winning inspirational/motivational speaker, author, and two-time Paralympic Silver Medalist, back to the show. From Paris at the 2024 Paralympic Games, John will share his passion for publi...
Aug. 13, 2024

Edwin Black: Author Committed to Exposing Corruption/Injustice

Joyce welcomes Edwin Black the award-winning, New York Times bestselling international investigative author of 215 editions in 20 languages in 190 countries back to the show. His books including IBM and the Holocaust, War Aga...
Aug. 6, 2024

Hannah Smith: Author/Advocate for Food Allergy Communities

Joyce welcomes Hannah Smith, a passionate children's book author and dedicated advocate for the celiac and food allergy communities. Through her inspiring journey and heartfelt stories, Ms. Smith empowers children to embrace ...
July 30, 2024

O’Donnell/Schuller: Bazelon Center Latest Accomplishments/Mission

Joyce welcomes Holly O’Donnell, CEO, and Megan Schuller, Legal Director, at the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law to the show. They will discuss the mission and accomplishments that the Bazelon Center has made for those li...
July 16, 2024

Chris Rosa: President/CEO The Viscardi Center Upholding the ADA

Joyce welcomes Dr. Chris Rosa, President & CEO of The Viscardi Center, a network of non-profits that educate, employ, and empower children and adults with disabilities. Dr. Rosa will share his passion for the mission of this ...
July 9, 2024

Maria Town: President & CEO of AAPD Upholding the ADA

Joyce welcomes back to the show, Maria Town, President & CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD). As we continue commemorating the 34th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities ...
July 2, 2024

Tony Coelho: Shares History of ADA and ADA Amendments Act

Joyce welcomes The Honorable Tony Coelho, author of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the ADA Amendments Act. As we approach the 34th Anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act on July 26, 2...