Episodes

Encouraging Angels is a music ministry designed to raise awareness to the plight of disabled children and their families, and specifically to encourage the church to assimilate them into the local body of believers. Joining Joyce is Stan Szymanski, Christian Recording Artist and Chief Executive Officer of Encouraging Angels and dad of Hannah Rose Szymanski who is living with 2 rare diseases affecting only one in 2 billion children. It is out of his personal experience and need to reach out to ot...

Jim Dickson, Vice President of Government Affairs for the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) (http://www.aapd.com), joins Joyce Bender on “Disability Matters”. Tune in as Joyce and Jim discuss his role within the AAPD. The AAPD promotes the economic and political empowerment of all 56 million adults and children living with disabilities in the U.S., and to be a national voice for change in implementing the goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Al Condeluci, Chief Executive Officer of United Cerebral Palsy of Pittsburgh (UCP) joins Joyce to discuss the mission of United Cerebral Palsy of Pittsburgh, which services individuals with severe disabilities, a segment of the population that is particularly vulnerable to neglect and community isolation. Through Community Living and Support Services (CLASS), UCP of Pittsburgh services more than 200 individuals daily with all types of disabilities, including acquired brain injury retardation, sp...

The President and CEO of Leadership Pittsburgh Inc., Aradhna Dhanda, joins Joyce to discuss the mission of this organization. Leadership Pittsburgh Inc (LPI), a premier resource for leadership development in southwestern Pennsylvania, seeks to strengthen regional leadership through programs, partnerships, and connections. Over its twenty-year history, LPI Inc. has produced over 1,300 informed and engaged leaders working diligently to help our region maximize its potential.

Blind since birth, Kathy Martinez, Executive Director of the World Institute on Disability, is an internationally recognized disability rights leader specializing in employment, asset building, independent living, international development, diversity and gender issues. Currently, Kathy oversees Proyecto Visión, WID’s National Technical Assistance Center to increase employment opportunities for Latinos with disabilities in the U.S. Tune in as Kathy talks with Joyce about the mission of the WID.

Dr. Joseph Lagana, Founder and CEO of the Homeless Children’s Education Fund, a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit organization joins Joyce Bender. Tune in as they discuss the mission of the Homeless Children’s Education Fund, which is to serve as a voice for the homeless children of Allegheny County in the Pittsburgh, PA area, and to ensure that they are afforded equal access to the same educational opportunities and experiences as their peers.

Karen Wolk Feinstein, President of the Jewish Healthcare Foundation (JHF) of Pittsburgh joins Joyce. Tune in as they discuss the mission of the Jewish Healthcare Foundation, a regional foundation funding a broad range of activities to advance the health of the residents of Western PA.

Joyce’s guests are Veronika Ivanova and Jenan Mahmoud Barghhouthi, two foreign exchange students with disabilities at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Health Rehabilitation Sciences Counseling Program. Tune in as they discuss their experiences as persons with disabilities and what they have learned here in the U

Tobias Forrest, a theater actor who uses a wheelchair due to a diving accident, will be the honored guest of Joyce Bender. After diving off of a waterfall into shallow water at the Grand Canyon, he broke his neck. Instantly, he was paralyzed and as he was drowning, knew that this was the end of his life. Fortunately, he was saved through the efforts of many strangers and has bounced back with a positive sense of humor. He has had parts in the TV shows “Malcolm in the Middle” and “Six Feet Under”...

Tom Tabor, Vice President and Chief Information Officer of the Information Services Group for Highmark, Inc. is Joyce’s guest. Tune in as they discuss the successful business partnership between Bender Consulting Services, Inc. and Highmark, Inc.

Rex A. Althoff, President of Federated Services Company - Technology and Chief Information Officer of FSC’s Business Information Services Division (BISD) is featured with Joyce Bender on “Disability Matters”. Discussed on the show is the successful business partnership between Bender Consulting Services, Inc. and Federated Investors, Inc.

Guest Michael Hmel, Senior Vice President of Information Technology and Chief Information Officer for FedEx Ground joins Joyce to talk about the successful business partnership between Bender Consulting Services, Inc. and FedEx Ground.

Joining Joyce is John Walsh, vice president of United States Federal Service Delivery and chief information officer for CSC's Federal Sector. Discussed on the show is the successful partnership between Bender Consulting Services, Inc. and Computer Sciences Corporation’s (CSC) Federal Sector.

The African-American Chamber of Commerce of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware, (AACC) is the leading private sector advocate for black-owned businesses in the Delaware Valley. The AACC is comprised of members that have an interest in the establishment and growth of black-owned businesses in the Delaware valley, with a goal of ensuring the overall improvement of economic conditions within the regional African-American community. Join Joyce as she talks with Doris Carson Williams, President o...

Rory A. Cooper, Ph.D, Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) Chair and professor of the Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology and Bioengineering and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh joins Joyce. Discussed on the show is the mission of the VA Center for wheelchairs and associated Rehabilitation Engineering, as well as, innovation in assistive technology.

Stephen Bennett, President and CEO of United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) will be featured with Joyce Bender on “Disability Matters”. On the show, Mr. Bennett discusses the mission, programs, and services of UCP.

Stanley A. Holbrook, President and CEO of Three Rivers Center for Independent Living (TRCIL), joins Joyce Bender on “Disability Matters”. During the show Mr. Holbrook discusses the mission of TRCIL.

Linda Dickerson, author of the children’s book “Lavi the Lion Finds His Pride” joins Joyce. Linda discusses her book which is an engaging tale of Lavi, an enterprising young lion, whose madcap adventures from Africa to Pittsburgh should entertain young readers, especially Pittsburghers. Lavi is looking for a family (a pride) and eventually finds it with the “cubs” at the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children.

Joan M. McGovern, Vice President within the Employee Relations unit and head of the Access Ability Resource Center for JPMorgan Chase, is featured with Joyce Bender on “Disability Matters”. Discussed on the show are the steps that JPMorgan Chase has taken to ensure its commitment to conducting business without barriers for its employees with disabilities.

Steven James Tingus, M.S.,C. Phil, Director of the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), joins Joyce Bender on “Disability Matters”. Tune in as they discuss the mission of the NIDRR. Steven manages all internal and external activities of the Institute, including the research, dissemination and public information programs.

Joyce welcomes Stephanie Walsh, Executive Director of the Center for Victims of Violent Crime in Pittsburgh, PA. Discussed on the show will be the mission and programs of this vital organization.

Murry S. Gerber, President and CEO of Equitable Resources, Inc. and Judy Painter, Executive Director of the Epilepsy Foundation of Western/Central PA are featured with Joyce Bender on “Disability Matters”. Join them as they talk about the Epilepsy Foundation of Western/Central PA Mardi Gras fundraising event, Tuesday, February 28, 2005 at the Westin Convention Center Hotel in Pittsburgh, PA.

Mark Nini, volunteer for the national Epilepsy Foundation and Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Houston affiliate, and Denise Pease, a member of the Board of Directors for the Epilepsy Foundation and the Epilepsy Foundation of New York City are featured with Joyce Bender.

Jody Winter is the first award winner of the Epilepsy Foundation’s 2005 Distinguished Journalism Merit Award. Although the Foundation's distinguished Journalism Awards are traditionally awarded solely to working journalists, and first-person reports by people with epilepsy are normally not considered, the judges this year have made an exception in granting a merit award to Jody Winter, a marketing professional who has epilepsy. Jody is also the founder of Girls Fun Adventures, LLC (girls-fun-adv...