Episodes

Peri Jude Radecic, CEO of Disability Rights Pennsylvania will host this episode of Disability Matters as she turns the table on Joyce Bender and interviews her in recognition of her 20th Anniversary as host of “Disability Matters with Joyce Bender.” Ms. Radecic marks this milestone with an inciteful interview on Ms. Bender’s long career and her passion for helping people with disabilities gain independence and freedom through employment and her commitment to disability rights for all people with...

Pastor Scott Stevens with North Way Christian Community in Wexford, PA is Joyce’s honored guest. Pastor Stevens will be discussing the programs and services that the church provides the public during the holidays and year-round and what we as a community can do to help the poor and disadvantaged in our community.

Joyce welcomes Lisa Gallipoli, Chief Operating Officer (COO), and Sarah Korba, who serves on the board of directors for Epilepsy Alliance America (EAA), to the show. Epilepsy Alliance America is a growing national organization representing like-minded local, regional, statewide, and even other national agencies dedicated to serving the everyday needs of people who live with seizures and epilepsy every day. The guests will discuss the mission of Epilepsy Alliance America and the latest research a...

Joyce welcomes Logan Huwalt, a Baldwin-Whitehall student living with epilepsy and the guest speaker at the 2023 Epilepsy Association of Western/Central PA (EAWCP) Mardi Gras Gala. He is an advocate for people living with epilepsy and works hard to raise funds for the EAWCP. He will talk about his experiences living with epilepsy and what it means to him to have EAWCP’s support for himself and for others living with epilepsy.

November is National Epilepsy Awareness Month, therefore, Joyce welcomes Peggy Beem-Jelley, President and CEO, and Colleen Fulkerson, Special Events Coordinator, with the Epilepsy Association of Western/Central PA (EAWCP) to the show. They will be discussing the latest accomplishments of the EAWCP, as well as the plans for the Mardi Gras Gala in February 2024.

Joyce welcomes Scott Hammerstrom, Manager of Programs and Partnerships with the Bender Leadership Academy, to the show. Joining Scott will be Jesse Donald Lester, a participant in the Bender Leadership Academy’s Student Leaders Program and Jocelyn Mahmoud who participated in our International Computer Driver’s License (ICDL) Certifications Program. Jesse and Jocelyn will both share their experiences in the programs and what it means to them to have been a part of the Bender Leadership Academy.

Joyce welcomes Alexander Geht, Gal Inbar, and Jeffery Cohen, members of the 412 Ability Tech Ecosystem to the show. This Pittsburgh organization is a vibrant, interconnected network of individuals and organizations, each contributing their unique skills, perspectives, and passion towards the shared goal of improving the lives of people with disabilities. As innovators, healthcare professionals, policymakers, educators, end-users, and advocates, we each have a vital role to play. When we collabor...

Joyce welcomes Mary E. Dolan, Executive Director of the FDR Memorial Legacy Committee to the show. She will be discussing the latest goals of the FDR Legacy Committee and what they have been able to accomplish this year so far.

Joyce welcomes to the show Gerald Homme, Manager of Talent Acquisition and Technology with Bender Consulting Services, Inc. In celebration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, Gerald will be discussing with Joyce the importance of employment for all people with disabilities and the current Bender Consulting Services employment initiatives. He will also be sharing how listeners can register for the upcoming November 15, 2023, Virtual Career Fair as inclusive employers or as job seek...

Joyce and callers reflect on the life and disability rights work of the late Judy Heumann.

Joyce welcomes Lachi, an award-winning internationally touring creative artist and personality, back to the show. Lachi is founder and President of the U.N. recognized Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities (RAMPD-RAMPD.org). RAMPD's mission is to amplify disability culture, promote equitable inclusion and advocate for accessibility in the music industry. RAMPD connects the music, entertainment, and event industries to a fast-growing global network of established music profe...

Joyce welcomes The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law’s Jill Bazelon, Member of the Board of Trustees, Holly O’Donnell, President & CEO and Eve Hill one of the nation’s leading disability rights attorneys, with Brown, Goldstein & Levy to the show. They will discuss plans for their 2023 Bazelon Center Awards Gala Thursday, October 12, 2023, in Washington, DC.

Joyce welcomes Colleen Mascia, Category Strategy Manager in Pfizer’s Global Procurement Group managing the engagement of creative advertising agencies, with a specific focus on Public Relations, and Christine Aurigemma, Senior Manager of Diversity Sourcing in Pfizer’s HR organization championing Inclusion and Disability and Neurodiversity Advocacy. The guests will be discussing the Disability: IN Mentor/Mentee relationship and partnering for equity for people with disabilities in the workforce.

Joyce welcomes to the show, Rebecca Willford, the new CEO of Disability Rights Advocates. Rebecca is a seasoned, nationally recognized disability community leader and attorney with extensive experience litigating class action lawsuits on behalf of people with disabilities. She has achieved multiple precedents on matters of first impression, advancing the rights of people with disabilities throughout the country. During the show, she will discuss her advocacy on behalf of people with disabilities...

Joyce welcomes John Walsh, a highly successful business leader and real advocate for employing people with disabilities, back to the show. He has hired people with disabilities from Bender Consulting Services, Inc. for years. During the show, he will explain the importance of leadership in the employment of people with disabilities.

Joyce welcomes Dr. Bruce Meyer, Executive Vice President and Western PA Market President for Highmark Health to the show. Dr. Meyer is an experienced senior healthcare and education executive who is passionate about building high-reliability healthcare organizations through integrating coverage and care to deliver a more personalized, simpler, and proactive engaged health experience for individuals and clinicians. A proven initiator and strategic thinker with strong emotional intelligence with a...

Joyce is honored to have back as her guest Christine Griffin, a strong disability rights advocate and current Bender Consulting Services’ Senior Search Specialist Consultant on the show. During the show, she will be discussing her long career which includes her past work as Commissioner of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and Deputy Director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management during the Obama Administration. She will also discuss her protection and advocacy work, a...

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 connecting its members with the right resources to meet health needs. Ms. Duffield will share with the listeners her story of how she became President and CEO of Highmark Wholecare, and the personal reason she supports the commitment that Highmark Wholecare places on hiring pe...

During Disability Pride Month, Joyce welcomes Gerald Homme to the show. The two discuss disability employment equity, the importance of unity, and disability pride. They also discuss the various products and services that Bender Consulting Services offers people with disabilities and how these services lend themselves to helping people with disabilities have a greater sense of pride in their disability.

Joyce welcomes Mick Malec, CEO, enGen and Enterprise Technology and Operations Officer, Highmark Health, back to the show. enGen’s dynamic ecosystem of smart automation and technology supports streamlines complex operations for health plans and their provider partners. Founded in 2014 as HM Health Solutions (HMHS), enGen is a wholly owned subsidiary of Highmark Health. enGen has more than 3,500 employees and works with health care plans serving more than 10 million members nationwide. Mr. Malec ...

Joyce is pleased to welcome Theo Braddy, the new Executive Director of the National Council of Independent Living (NCIL) in Washington, DC. Mr. Braddy will discuss the direction he plans to take the organization under his capable leadership.

As we celebrate America’s birthday, Joyce takes time to celebrate the life and accomplishments of Judy Heumann a major American disability rights leader and activist. Originally aired: December 15, 2020, Joyce welcomes Judith Heumann, internationally recognized leader in the disability rights independent living movement, to the show. Judy worked with a wide range of activist organizations (including the Berkeley Center for Independent Living and the American Association of People with Disabiliti...

Joyce welcomes Brian K. Bond, Executive Director of PFLAG National, to the show. PFLAG is the nation's largest organization dedicated to supporting, educating, and advocating for LGBTQ+ people and those who love them. Mr. Bond will share his career-long commitment to the civil rights of the LGBTQ+ community and share the mission of PFLAG National.

Joyce is honored to have as her guests, Steve Locke, Executive Director of the Michigan Statewide Independent Living Council (MISILC), and Jan Lampman, Committee Chair, on the show. The guests will discuss the mission of MISILC, an organization of people with disabilities advocating for inclusion, equity, and accessibility in all communities.