Episodes

Joyce welcomes Michael Ellenbogen, diagnosed at a young age, Michael is a person living with Young Onset of Alzheimer’s Disease (YOAD). He will discuss his book, From the Corner Office to Alzheimer’s, as well as his advocacy efforts to find a cure for this disease. He will also discuss his work to increase awareness of the effects of this disease on those living with the illness, and their families.

Joyce welcomes George DiLeo, director of school services for STAR School Programs and Dave Dragosin, director of communications and public relations. They will discuss in depth the mission of the programs, which addresses the destructive behaviors that affect our children from Kindergarten to 12th Grade. Their different programs concentrate on drug and alcohol problems, including DUI, childhood obesity, teen dating violence and anti-bullying.

Joyce welcomes Josie Badger, Ms. Wheelchair USA. Ms. Badger will discuss what it has meant to her to receive this title, and talk about her accomplishments while living with Muscular Dystrophy.

Joyce welcomes Ginny Thornburgh, director of Interfaith Initiatives for the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), author, and wife of former U.S. Attorney General, Dick Thornburgh. Mrs. Thornburgh will be discussing the book: Amazing Gifts: Stories of Faith, Disability, and Inclusion, by the Alban Institute.

Joyce welcomes Dr. Tom Keating, Institute Director at Eugene Research Institute, which conducts assistive technology research and development with an emphasis on cognitive accessible computing and design of systems for community living support, and Karl Smith, founder of Accelerations Educational Software and creator of the DT Trainer and the Activity Trainer. Used in over 1100 school districts, these tools are used to impact students with autism and other learning disabilities. Both men will sh...

Joyce welcomes Ari Ne’eman, President of Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) and Julia Bascom, creators of The Loud Hands Project to the show. They will be discussing the mission of ASAN and The Loud Hands Project, a structured, multi-faceted response by the community of people living with autism to the systematic disenfranchisement, bullying, and abuse experienced by youth, adults, and self advocates with autism.

Joyce welcomes Amy Dawson-Smith, co-owner of AJJLS Yorkies, Yorkie breeders who offer puppy delivery nationwide. Ms. Dawson-Smith will be discussing their commitment to breeding Yorkie puppies to serve as therapy puppies then becoming therapy dogs as adults.

Joyce welcomes Nan DeTurk, co-chair of Pittsburgh’s 20th Annual Rainbow Gala to benefit the Western Pennsylvania Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. The gala will be held Saturday, April 21, 2012, at the Westin Convention Center Hotel. They will discuss plans for this year’s fundraiser honoring Dr. Kenneth Melani, president and CEO of Highmark, Inc. Ms. DeTurk is executive vice president, chief administrative and financial officer, and treasurer of Highmark, Inc.

Joyce welcomes Tony Coelho, interim president and CEO of the Epilepsy Foundation and co-National Epilepsy Walk chairs, Lisa Moss and Matt Miller. They will be discussing plans for the National Epilepsy Walk at the National Mall in Washington, DC on Saturday, March 31, 2012.

Joyce welcomes Mark Perriello, president and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and Mark Barlet, one of two recipients of the 2012 Hearne Award sponsored by AAPD. Discussed on the show will be the 2012 AAPD Leadership Awards Gala, Wednesday, March 21, 2012 at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center in Washington DC. The Paul G. Hearne Award recognizes those outstanding emerging leaders with disabilities who exemplify leadership, advocacy, and commitment to th...

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). He will continue his discussion on how we can end human trafficking.

Joyce welcomes Ari Ne’eman, President of Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) and Julia Bascom, creators of The Loud Hands Project to the show. They will be discussing the mission of ASAN and The Loud Hands Project, a structured, multi-faceted response by the community of people living with autism to the systematic disenfranchisement, bullying, and abuse experienced by youth, adults, and self advocates with autism.

Joyce welcomes Jessica Mayer, president, trainer, and consultant of J. B. Access, Inc., a company that provides workshops on disability awareness and other valuable disability-related services. She will discuss in depth, the mission of this company; in addition, Jessica will discuss her knowledge about the ADA and practical implementation issues.

Pat Shiu, director of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), in the U.S. Department of Labor is Joyce’s guest. She will discuss the new proposed rule from the OFCCP, requiring federal contractors and subcontractors to set a hiring goal of having 7 percent of their workforce be people with disabilities. The proposed rule would represent significant progress in the enforcement of Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, requiring federal contractors and subcontractors to...

Joyce welcomes Alan Ingalls, who recently joined the prestigious firm of Booz Allen Hamilton, as a senior technical manager and business executive in the Engineering and Operations capability, supporting the firm’s Security market and other markets in Central MD. Prior to joining Booz Allen Hamilton, Alan worked at CSC supporting the DuPont account. Alan was a member of the management team that promoted employment of people with disabilities in the workplace. He will discuss his continued suppor...

In keeping with a commitment to bring awareness of bullying of young people, especially those with disabilities, Joyce welcomes author and retired Hall of Fame head football coach, Phil Brooks to the show. He will discuss his current book, Maroon Knights. Its storyline depicts how two friends encounter physical, and emotional intimidation directed at them by a group of rowdy boys. When the main character Charlie Spagnuolo, attempts to save his friend, Benny, from a close encounter with the schoo...

Joyce welcomes Dr. Joseph Harrison, Chief of Recruitment and Retention for the US Army Medical Command (MEDCOM). MEDCOM is the section of the US Army that hires civilians to work alongside those who are enlisted in Army medical facilities, here and abroad, servicing US Army soldiers, veterans and their families. Dr. Harrison will discuss MEDCOM’s extensive efforts to increase the hiring of disabled civilians and veterans.

Joyce welcomes David Morrissey, executive director of the United States International Council on Disabilities (USICD). He will discuss the mission of this non-profit, membership, constituent-led organization committed to promoting the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in the U.S. and abroad.

Joyce welcomes Todd Reeves, executive director of the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children. Discussed on the show will be the mission of this school and his commitment to helping the students reach their full potential.

Joyce welcomes Sister Sheila Carney, Special Assistant to the President for Mercy Heritage and Service to the show. Sister Carney will be discussing the 180th anniversary of the Sisters of Mercy, founders of Carlow University.

Joyce welcomes Ty Ballou, President of PLB Sports in Pittsburgh, PA and founder of the BallouSkies charity. Ty will discuss his son, Ryan who is living with Muscular Dystrophy, as well as the mission of this non-profit organization that provides funds for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy research.

Joyce welcomes David Carson, author of Survival Guide for College-Bound L.D. Students, as her guest. He will discuss his struggles overcoming his learning disability in college and how those struggles led him to write this publication for any college student faced with a learning disability.

Joyce welcomes Marc Eckand#333; an entrepreneur, fashion/media mogul, venture capitalist and education reformer. He is the CEO and a founder of ARTISTS and INSTIGATORS, LLC.

Joyce welcomes the new chairman of the board of the Epilepsy Foundation, Dr. Brien Smith. Dr. Brien Smith is an epileptologist living with epilepsy. He will discuss what it means to him to be the chairman of the Epilepsy Foundation, and why he decided to become an advocate for those living with epilepsy. He will also discuss the various types of seizures that a person with epilepsy can have, and some of the new research initiatives being studied to treat epilepsy.