Episodes

Joyce welcomes Peter Rousseau, to the show. Mr. Rousseau will discuss living with Asperger's Syndrome as a child and as an adult, including his techniques for dealing with childhood bullying. He will also share how he is using this experience to inspire other students with Asperger’s and other disabilities to deal with bullying and focus on achieving their goals.

Joyce welcomes 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.

Joyce welcomes Evan Frazier, senior vice president of community affairs for Highmark, Inc. to the show. Mr. Frazier will discuss plans for the 31st National Paralyzed Veterans Wheelchair Games. Highmark is a corporate sponsor of the event which will take place August 1-6, 2011 in Pittsburgh PA. The event is the largest annual wheelchair sports competition in the world. It offers 17 different sports to veterans who use wheelchairs. The games promote rehabilitation, through rigorous competition in...

Joyce welcomes Debbie Scott, district school-to-work transition coordinator New Castle County Vo-Tech School District in Delaware and David Scott, graduate of the Bender Leadership Academy Program. Debbie will discuss her work with other teachers in the district to develop the Bender Leadership Academy in conjunction with Bender Consulting Services, Inc. and CSC in Delaware to prepare students with disabilities for the world of work, to teach them methods to address bullying and to become respon...

Joyce’s honored guest is Chai Feldblum, Commissioner of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The EEOC released its final regulations to implement the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA) on March 24, 2011. The regulations are designed to simplify the definition of “disability” and make it easier for people with disabilities to establish that they are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Commissioner Feldman will discuss the work the Commission did over the past mo...

Joyce welcomes Diane DuFour-Gaudio, who is affiliated with the Beaver Valley intermediate Unit, holding various positions over the past 30 years, from instructor to her current position as Transition Consultant for the Beaver County School Districts. Also on the show will be Nathan Bowden, a sophomore with the Hopewell School District in Pittsburgh, PA. Ms. DuFour-Gaudio and Mr. Bowden will discuss their work to prevent bullying among youth in our schools. In response to the bullying crisis occu...

Joyce welcomes Dr. Brien Smith, chair-elect of the national Epilepsy Foundation. Discussed on the show will be his goals for the organization during his two–year tenure as chair, which will begin in mid-May 2011.

Joyce welcomes Mike Schneck , president of the board of directors of Variety the Children’s Charity. The organization’s mission is to assist children with mental and physical disabilities and other health challenges, 21 years of age and under, in a ten county area of southwestern Pennsylvania by providing services such as wheelchairs and other devices to help them enrich their lives. Mr. Schneck will discuss his new appointment to the post and the direction he plans to take the charity during hi...

Joyce welcomes Brandon Macsata, Managing Partner of the Macsata–Kornegay Group, Inc.(TMKG) and advocate for people with disabilities. TMKG is a national political and fundraising consulting firm specializing in grassroots campaigns, media messaging and fundraising. In addition to this work, Brandon will discuss his advocacy work on behalf of people living with HIV/AIDS and his advocacy work on behalf of seniors in an assisted living facility in North Carolina.

Joyce’s honored guest is Chai Feldblum, Commissioner of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The EEOC released its final regulations to implement the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA) on March 24, 2011. The regulations are designed to simplify the definition of “disability” and make it easier for people with disabilities to establish that they are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Commissioner Feldman will discuss the work the Commission did over the past mo...

Michael Keenan, member of the board of directors, national Epilepsy Foundation will discuss the 2011 Boots & Suits Gala, to benefit the national Epilepsy Foundation on Tuesday March 29, 2011, his work with the national Epilepsy Foundation, and his personal commitment to empowerment of people with disabilities.

Joyce welcomes back live, 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 Brett Eisenberg, executive director for Bronx Independent Living Services (BILS), which is an independent living center in New York. He will discuss his role and the mission of this organization.

Joyce welcomes Meredith Ryan-Reid, vice president at Marsh USA and treasurer of the board of directors of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD). She will discuss the work of the AAPD, including the benefits to companies who support them. Meredith will also discuss her leadership in the area of employment and empowerment of people with disabilities.

Joyce welcomes Richard Denness, the new CEO of the national Epilepsy Foundation who will discuss his goals for the organization, supporting people living with epilepsy and their families.

Joyce welcomes back Kevin Bales, world renowned author, expert on modern slavery, and president 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 David E. Hale, sr. director of development and communications, for the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD). Mr. Hale will discuss the upcoming 2011 AAPD Leadership Awards Gala, scheduled for Tuesday, March 15, 2011 in Washington, DC.

Joyce welcomes Dinah F. B. Cohen, director, Department of Defense (DoD) Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program (CAP). Discussed on the show will be her role within CAP to work closely with senior leadership throughout the federal sector to ensure employees, beneficiaries, and members of the public with disabilities have equal access to federal services and employment. Over 97,000 requests for accommodations have been filled since CAP’s inception in 1990.

Joyce welcomes 2010 Philadelphia Eagles cornerback, Geoffrey Pope to the show. He will discuss his volunteer work with the national Epilepsy Foundation and the upcoming National Epilepsy Walk, Sunday, March 26, 2011 in Washington, DC. Pope is again serving as team lead for the Gridiron Gang, a walk team established to honor his grandmother, who has epilepsy, and to encourage young athletes to pursue their dreams despite living with epilepsy.

Joyce welcomes Dave Myers, director, global product marketing, sleep therapy for Philips Respironics and another representative from the Pittsburgh Chapter of the American Heart Association. When he was 34 years old, Dave experienced some significant angina and was diagnosed with coronary artery disease; he had a stent placed in his left anterior descending coronary artery which was 99% blocked. Dave will share his story and stress the importance of supporting the efforts of the American Heart A...

Joyce welcomes Bender Consulting Services, Inc. director, Neal Lutz and managers, Jamie Watts and Mike Gravitt to the show. They will discuss the impact that employment has on the lives of people with disabilities.

Joyce welcomes author, and inspirational speaker, Bonnie St. John who will discuss her book and radio show of the same name, Live Your Joy.

Joyce welcomes Bill Wolfe, executive director of the Homeless Children’s Education Fund (HCEF). Mr. Wolfe will discuss in depth, the mission of this non-profit organization, which is to serve as a voice for the homeless children of Allegheny County, PA and to ensure they are afforded equal access to the same educational opportunities and experiences as their peers.

Joyce welcomes Chris Kobus, president of the board of directors for Variety the Children’s Charity of Pittsburgh, PA. Ms. Kobus will discuss the mission of this charity, which assists children with mental and physical disabilities and other health challenges, 21 years of age and under, in a 10 county area of southwestern Pennsylvania. Also discussed will be the organization’s recent fundraiser, a two-day Radiothon on Q-92.9 FM, in Pittsburgh, PA.