Episodes

Joyce welcomes Interim President and CEO of the Epilepsy Foundation, and author of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Tony Coelho. This is National Epilepsy Awareness month, and he will discuss the 2011-2012 goals for the organization. He will also reflect on the progress that has been made in the disability rights movement since the ADA became law.

Joyce welcomes Evan Moss and his mother, Lisa Moss, to the show. Evan Moss is an 8-year-old boy who has tuberous sclerosis and epilepsy. He has written a book entitled, “My Seizure Dog”, which helped the family raise money to purchase a service dog to help him manage his seizures. Lisa Moss serves on the board of directors of the national Epilepsy Foundation; she believes in advocacy, both for her family and for others.

Joyce welcomes Ronnette Smith, senior manager, corporate affairs at Walmart, Inc. She will discuss Walmart's commitment to hiring people with disabilities as part of their corporate diversity hiring practices.

Joyce welcomes Judy Painter, executive director of the Epilepsy Foundation of Western/Central Pennsylvania. She will discuss a number of topics including the mission of the organization, her insight into why she feels people are afraid to disclose they have epilepsy, and what parents can do to help their children who are bullied at school. She will also share details about the organization’s annual fundraiser, the Mardi Gras Gala, in Pittsburgh, PA.

Joyce welcomes Judy Pamer, disability advocate for ACHIEVA. ACHIEVA provides a full spectrum of services for people of all ages and abilities and their families. Ms. Pamer is also co-founder of UP KIDS support group for kids with Downs Syndrome and their families. Ms. Pamer has a son, Karl with Downs Syndrome, and knows first-hand, the issues that families of children with Downs Syndrome face. She will discuss the current bullying crisis that is facing kids in schools today, especially those wit...

Joyce welcomes Michael Murray, the American Association of People with Disabilities’ (AAPD) director of programs. Michael will be discussing Disability Mentoring Day (DMD), which is Wednesday, October 19, 2011. DMD is a job-shadow and career exploration program designed to link students and jobseekers with disabilities to employers interested in hiring people with disabilities. AAPD coordinates DMD through a network of more than 350 volunteers. AAPD is the country's largest cross-disability memb...

Joyce welcomes Matthew Ray, EVP and CIO for Highmark, Inc. He will discuss Highmark’s long-standing commitment to hiring people with disabilities, the company’s demonstrated experience in this area, and what he believes it means to be successful in the information technology industry.

Joyce welcomes Judy Pamer, disability advocate for ACHIEVA. ACHIEVA provides a full spectrum of services for people of all ages and abilities and their families. Ms. Pamer is also co-founder of UP KIDS support group for kids with Downs Syndrome and their families. Ms. Pamer has a son, Karl with Downs Syndrome, and knows first-hand, the issues that families of children with Downs Syndrome face. She will discuss the current bullying crisis that is facing kids in schools today, especially those wit...

Joyce invites back Brenda High, author of “Bullycide in America” and crusader against youth suicide caused by bullying. Brenda will again share the story of her son Jared’s struggle with bullying and how it led to his untimely death. She will also discuss the ways she has used this tragedy to shine a spotlight on this growing problem and has ultimately turned this tragedy into triumph. Brenda has become an advocate to help children and their families overcome this issue.

Joyce welcomes Stacey Milbern, community outreach director, and A’ishah Meghan Hils, member of the governing board of the National Youth Leadership Network (NYLN). NYLN is a youth-led organization that works to build empowerment among people with disabilities between the ages of 16-28 years old. NYLN supports young people in their role as the next generation of leadership in the disability rights movement. Founded in 1997, NYLN is the only youth-led disability rights nonprofit organization in th...

Joyce welcomes Judy Pamer, disability advocate for ACHIEVA. ACHIEVA provides a full spectrum of services for people of all ages and abilities and their families. Ms. Pamer is also co-founder of UP KIDS support group for kids with Downs Syndrome and their families. Ms. Pamer has a son, Karl with Downs Syndrome, and knows first-hand, the issues that families of children with Downs Syndrome face. She will discuss the current bullying crisis that is facing kids in schools today, especially those wit...

Joyce’s honored guest will be Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) of the United States Senate. Senator Harkin will discuss his April 2011 speech to the United States Chamber of Commerce in which he discusses the current state of employment of people with disabilities, and his challenge to U.S. businesses to improve that employment outlook. He will also reflect on the impact that President Obama’s signing of the executive order last year to increase the hiring of people with disabilities in the Federal gov...

Back by popular demand, we will be re-airing the July 12, 2011 edition of “Disability Matters with Joyce Bender”. Joyce welcomes Mark Perriello, president and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD). The AAPD is the largest cross-disability organization for people with disabilities. Mr. Perriello, who has had a visual disability since childhood, has a proven track record of increasing organizational standing with decision makers through creative and high-impact grassro...

Joyce welcomes Ken Spangler, senior vice president, Information Technology, and CIO for FedEx Ground He will discuss the company’s commitment to diversity, including hiring people with disabilities. Mr. Spangler will also discuss what he believes it means to be successful in the IT industry.

Joyce welcomes Matthew Ray, EVP and CIO for Highmark, Inc. He will discuss Highmark’s long-standing commitment to hiring people with disabilities, the company’s demonstrated experience in this area, and what he believes it means to be successful in the information technology industry.

Joyce welcomes John Walsh, vice president and program manager, TSA ITIP, Enforcement, Security, and Intelligence Group for CSC. He will discuss CSC’s commitment to hiring people with disabilities, the company’s demonstrated experience in this area, and what he believes it means to be a successful in the IT industry.

Joyce welcomes Rex Althoff, Chief Information Officer and President, Technology, Federated Services Company, a division of Federated Investors, Inc. He will discuss the importance of hiring people with disabilities and his past experience in this area and what he believes it means to be a leader in the IT community.

IDAR Dart, daughter of the late Disability Rights Leader, Justin Dart, will be discussing her father’s life-long mission to ensure that people with disabilities obtain civil rights.

Joyce’s honored guest will be Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) of the United States Senate. As we approach July 26th, the anniversary of the signing of the ADA, Senator Harkin will discuss his April 2011 speech to the United States Chamber of Commerce in which he discusses the current state of employment of people with disabilities, and his challenge to U.S. businesses to improve that employment outlook. He will also reflect on the impact that President Obama’s signing of the executive order last year ...

Joyce welcomes Mark Perriello, president and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD). The AAPD is the largest cross-disability organization for people with disabilities. Mr. Perriello, who has had a visual disability since childhood, has a proven track record of increasing organizational standing with decision makers through creative and high-impact grassroots and grass-tops programs across America. As a political strategist, he has overseen highly successful efforts t...

Joyce welcomes The Honorable Tony Coelho, author of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and immediate past chair of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) to the show. Mr. Coelho will discuss his personal experience as a person living with epilepsy. In addition, he will reflect on the changes that have taken place in the lives of all people with disabilities since the ADA was signed in to law on July 26, 1990.

Joyce welcomes Commissioner Karen Tamley, from the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) to the show. Ms. Tamley was named Commissioner of the MOPD by Richard M. Daley in March of 2005. MOPD promotes total access, full participation and equal opportunity people with all types of disabilities with the goal of making Chicago the most accessible city in the nation. Ms. Tamley will discuss her job duties in the position; as a person with a disability, she will also discuss her career-lo...

Joyce welcomes Marca Bristo, board president of United States International Council on Disabilities (USICD), to the show. Ms. Bristo will discuss the organization's mission, to catalyze and help focus the energy, expertise and resources of the US disability community and the US government to optimize their impact on improving the lives of and circumstances of people with disabilities worldwide. She will also discuss the organization's commitment to the disability community in Japan, as they reco...

Back by popular demand, we will be re-airing the May 31, 2011 Disability Matters with Joyce Bender show featuring 18 year-old Connor Doran, champion indoor kite flyer and person living with epilepsy. Connor will discuss how he became interested in kite flying, his recent notoriety as a contestant on America’s Got Talent in 2010, and how he has used kite flying and subsequent publicity to increase awareness of epilepsy.