Episodes

Nov. 29, 2022

Pat Crumrine: Advancements in Treating Children with Epilepsy

Joyce is honored to welcome Dr. Pat Crumrine, Epileptologist at UPMC’s Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, PA to the show. Dr. Crumrine will discuss the latest research and advancements in the care and treatment of children li...
Nov. 22, 2022

Patricia Dean: Mission of Epilepsy Alliance America

Joyce welcomes Patricia Dean, Epilepsy Network Liaison for the Epilepsy Alliance America to the show. Epilepsy Alliance America is a growing national organization representing like-minded local, regional, statewide, and even ...
Nov. 15, 2022

Tony Coelho-Coelho Center for Disability Law, Policy & Innovation

As we continue to recognize November as National Epilepsy Awareness Month, Joyce welcomes back to the show, The Honorable Tony Coelho, author of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Mr. Coelho will share his story of living w...
Nov. 8, 2022

Homme/Hammerstrom/Radecic: Mission of the Rev Up Coalition PA

During Election Day 2022, Joyce welcomes Gerald Homme, Scott Hammerstrom, and Peri Jude Radecic to the show. Discussed on the show will be the Rev Up Coalition of PA, which is part of a national campaign to include the 60 mil...
Nov. 1, 2022

Beem-Jelley/Fulkerson: Services of EAWCP and 2023 Mardi Gras Gala

Joyce welcomes Peggy Beem-Jelley, President and CEO and Colleen Fulkerson, Special Events Coordinator of the Epilepsy Association of Western/Central, PA (EAWCP) to the show. The guests will discuss the programs and services o...
Oct. 25, 2022

Marlene Sallo/J.J. Rico: Mission of NDRN

Joyce welcomes Marlene Sallo, newly appointed Executive Director of the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) and it’s President of the Board of Directors, J.J Rico to the show. The NDRN is the nonprofit membership organi...
Oct. 18, 2022

National Disability Rights Leader, Jonathan Young

As we get ready to celebrate the 23rd year of Disability Mentoring Day (DMD), Joyce welcomes back National Disability Rights Leader and the originator of Disability Mentoring Day, Jonathan Young to the show. Disability Mentor...
Oct. 11, 2022

Lachi: Recording Artist, and Disability Rights Advocate

Joyce welcomes recording artist and disability rights advocate, Lachi to the show. Lachi will share her story about growing up as a person who is blind. She will share what inspired her to enter the music entertainment indust...
Oct. 4, 2022

John Walsh: Committed to Hiring People with Disabilities

As October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, Joyce is kicking off the month by welcoming a very successful business leader and real advocate for employing people with disabilities, John Walsh, to the show. He...
Sept. 27, 2022

Bender Consulting’s Disability Inclusion Assessment Product

Joyce welcomes Christine Griffin, Principal Consultant and Sr. Search Consultant, and Sherry Lapaglia, Director of Talent Programs and Product Innovation, for Bender Consulting Services, Inc. to the show. The guests will high...
Sept. 20, 2022

Ellen Duffield: Highmark Wholecare Hires People with Disabilities

Joyce welcomes Ellen Duffield, President and CEO of Highmark Wholecare, to the show. Highmark Wholecare is a health insurance provider caring for the whole person - physically, mentally, and financially. It is committed to co...
Sept. 13, 2022

DMD/Bender Leadership Academy/Bender Student Leaders Program

Joyce welcomes Laina Fusarelli, Advisor, Decision & Risk Analyst, Nova Chemicals, and Jenny Homme, a Lead Business Process Engineer at enGen, a technology subsidiary of Highmark Health and Chair of the Abilities Business Reso...
Sept. 6, 2022

Gary Dick/Gerald Homme: Mission of the Careers 2B Program

Joyce welcomes Gary Dick, Chief Information Officer (CIO) at enGen, and Gerald Homme, Manager of Talent Acquisition and Technology, at Bender Consulting Services, Inc. to the show. They will be discussing The Careers 2B™ Prog...
Aug. 30, 2022

Mark Fleischer: Partnership Between Bender Leadership Academy/CLO

Joyce welcomes Mark Fleischer, Executive Producer for the Civic Light Opera (CLO) of Pittsburgh to the show. Mark will share his passion for the theater and an update on what has been happening at the CLO. Mark will also disc...
Aug. 23, 2022

Mick Malec: enGen’s Commitment to Hire People with Disabilities

Joyce welcomes Mick Malec, CEO of enGen and Enterprise Technology and Operations Officer for Highmark Health, back to the show. enGen’s dynamic ecosystem of smart automation and technology supports streamlines complex operati...
Aug. 16, 2022

Hiring People with Disabilities the Necessary Business Investment

Leanne Thomas, Chief of Staff and Account Director at Bender Consulting Services, and Gerald Homme, Manager of Talent Acquisition and Technology, join Joyce Bender this week on Disability Matters to discuss the necessary reas...
Aug. 9, 2022

Encore Tony Coelho: 32nd Anniversary of the Signing of the ADA

Joyce welcomes The Honorable Tony Coelho, author of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), to the show. Tony discusses his experiences living with epilepsy and work to pass the ADA and the ADA Amendments Act throughout hi...
Aug. 2, 2022

Encore Senator Tom Harkin: 32nd Anniversary of the Signing of the ADA

As part of ADA Month, Joyce welcomes Senator Tom Harkin to the show. Senator Harkin will reflect on the significance of the 32nd anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), July 26, 1990, by Presi...
July 26, 2022

Tony Coelho: 32nd Anniversary of the Signing of the ADA

Joyce welcomes The Honorable Tony Coelho, author of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), to the show. Tony discusses his experiences living with epilepsy and work to pass the ADA and the ADA Amendments Act throughout hi...
July 19, 2022

I King Jordan: Meaning of ADA for Deaf Americans

Joyce welcomes I. King Jordan, past President of Gallaudet University to the show. President Jordan made history in 1988 when he became the first deaf President of Gallaudet University. He will discuss his long tenure in this...
July 12, 2022

Senator Tom Harkin: 32nd Anniversary of the Signing of the ADA

As part of ADA Month, Joyce welcomes Senator Tom Harkin to the show. Senator Harkin will reflect on the significance of the 32nd anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), July 26, 1990, by Presi...
July 5, 2022

Maria Town: 32nd Anniversary of the Signing of the ADA

As we kick off ADA Month, Joyce welcomes Maria Town, President, and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) to the show. The AAPD is a convener, connector, and catalyst for change, increasing the po...
June 28, 2022

Dr. Kathy Humphrey: Future Direction of Carlow University

Joyce welcomes Kathy W. Humphrey, PhD, Carlow University's President, to the show. Dr. Humphrey will share the future she has in mind for the university under her leadership.
June 21, 2022

Houghton, Lapaglia-Successes/Advantages of iDisability™

Joyce welcomes co-founder of iDisability™, Andrew (Andy) Houghton, along with Sherry Lapaglia, project manager and content developer. Launched at the 2016 Disability:IN conference, iDisability™ educates organizations and ensu...