Episodes

Joyce welcomes Kevin Epling, co-director of Bully Police USA, a watch-dog organization - advocating for bullied children and reporting on state anti-bullying laws. He is also legislative liaison for Bully Police Michigan, a speaker, and consultant on bullying laws and issues. Mr. Epling knows first-hand about the effects that Bullycide has on families, as his own son, Matthew, committed suicide in the summer of 2002, 40 days after a hazing incident at his high school. This incident has charged K...

Joyce welcomes Gerald Homme, chairman of the Bender Lead On Team and three other members of this youth-run advocacy group, Nathanial (Nate) Bowden, Laura Thien, and Staci Forrest. They will discuss in depth, the mission of the Bender Lead On Team. Through respect, determination, and unity this team will aid our youth in the advocacy of individuals with disabilities, particularly in the field of employment, anti-bullying, and college support. The group is led by, comprised of, and run by people w...

Joyce welcomes Julie McCawley, a 17 year-old high school senior from Westminster, Colorado. At 11 months old Julie suffered from Stevens - Johnson Syndrome (SJS), an adverse reaction to medication from Phenobarbital to control pediatric epilepsy. She will discuss her volunteer efforts developing a website and support group for children that have suffered from Stevens - Johnson Syndrome. She is also an advocate against bullying.

Joyce’s honored guest is Pat Shiu, Director of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs at the Department of Labor. She will discuss her duties since she was appointed by President Obama and her plans to help increase the employment of people with disabilities while at the OFCCP.

Joyce welcomes Dr. Samir Bangalore to the show. Affiliated with Sunrise Hospital Medical Center, in Las Vegas, NV, Dr. Bangalore is a specialist in Neurology including experience with epilepsy. In addition, he has won numerous awards including the Patients' Choice Award. He will discuss his expertise with epilepsy, and the importance of increasing the awareness of epilepsy to help individuals who are living with it.

Joyce welcomes Evan Frazier, senior vice president of Community Affairs for Highmark Inc. Discussed on the show will be Highmark’s commitment to hiring people with disabilities, community diversity, and its stance on bullying of young people, including those with disabilities.

Joyce welcomes members of the band “In Remembrance”. The band performed at the 2010 National Epilepsy Walk in Washington, D.C. as Nick Harris, the band’s original drummer is living with epilepsy. Through music, the band seeks to remind its audience that fallen soldiers are our country’s heroes and should never be forgotten. This is a message inspired by the death of Capt. Brian S. Letendre (the older brother of lead singer Nick Letendre), who lost his life in Operation Iraqi Freedom on May 3, 20...

Joyce welcomes Audrey Russo, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Technology Council. Discussed on the show will be the mission of this organization, as well as the ways in which the group gets involved in the business community to foster and encourage the hiring of people with disabilities.

Joyce’s honored guest is Kathy Martinez, United States Assistant Secretary for Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) in the Department of Labor. She will discuss the work that is being done within ODEP and the Obama Administration to ensure that the Americans with Disabilities Act is being enforced within the federal government in the area of employment since it became law on July 26, 1990.

Joyce welcomes The Honorable Tony Coelho, former congressman, and author of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). He will discuss the long journey he went through to gather support for the passage of this ground breaking piece of legislation. In addition, he will reflect on what it means to him to have the ADA in place, working for Americans with disabilities 20 years later.

Joyce welcomes former Governor of Pennsylvania and Attorney General of the United States, Dick Thornburgh and his wife Ginny Thornburgh to the show. The Thornburghs will share their impressions of the impact of the Americans with Disabilities Act as we celebrate the 20th Anniversary.

Joyce welcomes Andy Imparato, president and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD). He will discuss the mission of the organization, the impact that the Americans with Disabilities Act has had on the organization and how it has impacted the lives of people with disabilities since it became law, 20 years ago, this month.

Joyce’s honored guest is Pat Shiu, Director of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs at the Department of Labor. She will discuss her duties since she was appointed by President Obama and her plans to help increase the employment of people with disabilities while at the OFCCP.

Joyce welcomes Kelly Buckland, executive director of the National Council of Independent Living (NCIL). Discussed on the show will be the NCIL Conference, July 19, 2010 through July 22, 2010 in Washington D.C.

Joyce welcomes Bill Baldwin and Christina Coulston, two high school students from Fox Chapel School District who recently participated in the Bender Leadership Academy. The class prepares high school students with disabilities for the world of work. Bill and Christina will both share what they learned in the class, and how they will apply it to their future career plans.

Joyce’s honored guest is Geoff Pope, cornerback, NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles. Geoff will discuss his off the field charity work with the National Epilepsy Foundation and his personal reason for getting involved to inspire those with epilepsy to persevere and live independent lives.

Joyce welcomes chair-elect of the National Epilepsy Foundation, Brien Smith, M.D., Director of the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. Dr. Smith will discuss his current service on the Epilepsy Foundation Board of Directors, and is the current treasurer of the National Board of Directors, as well as chair-elect of the National Professional Advisory Board.

Joyce welcomes Amy Hawthorne and Dr. Raymond Comenzo, Medical Director of the Blood Bank, Stem Cell Processing Laboratory; The Neely Cell Therapy and Collection Center at Tufts Medical Center, and an attending physician in the Division of Hematology-Oncology, and Departments of Medicine and Pathology. Dr. Comenzo has a large active clinical practice devoted exclusively to patients with plasma cell disorders such as multiple myeloma and systemic light-chain amyloidosis (AL), and also sees many pa...

Joyce welcomes COL Robert F. Norton, USA-Ret., deputy director Government Relations, for Military Officers Association of America (MOAA). He will discuss the mission of MOAA, which is the nation's largest and most influential association of military officers. It is an independent, nonprofit, politically nonpartisan organization. MOAA's highest priority is providing first-class service to its members. They are the leading voice on compensation and benefit matters for all members of the military c...

Joyce welcomes Jonathan Young, the newly appointed chairman of the board of the National Council on Disability (NCD), and vice chair of the Committee on Disability Power & Pride. Jonathan will discuss his new role at NCD and his goals during his term.

Joyce welcomes Andy Imparato, president and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), and Tracie Saab, with the Job Accommodations Network (JAN), and project manager for the Campaign for Disability Employment funded by the Office of Disability Employment Policy, U.S. Department of Labor. Discussed on the show will be the mission of this campaign, which is to establish collaborative partnerships among disability and business organizations to promote positive employment o...

Joyce welcomes Arlene Gorelick, president of the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan since 1989, to the show. Ms. Gorelick will discuss the current mission and goals of this affiliate, as well as the accomplishments this organization has made to bring awareness and assistance to those with epilepsy in Michigan under her leadership.

Joyce welcomes Madonna Long, Managing Editor of Chloe Magazine Online. Ms. Long will discuss the mission of this full scale women's magazine for women who are disabled published with the intent to showcase the positive impact that that women with disabilities are having in the workforce and in the community.

Joyce welcomes Steven B. Shivak, executive director of the American Diabetes Association of Western Pennsylvania. Among the topics discussed on the show will be the fact that diabetes is considered a disability and as such, is covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Also discussed will be the rise in cases of diabetes among children and youth and what can be done to change this alarming trend.