Episodes

Joyce welcomes Charlie LaVallee, CEO of Variety the Children’s Charity, back to the show. With a mission to empower children with disabilities to live life to the fullest, Variety the Children’s Charity provides life-changing mobility and communication equipment to ensure its most vulnerable kids are no longer left out, behind, or excluded. Mr. LaVallee will share the programs and services of this non-profit organization for children with disabilities and their families and explain the importanc...

Joyce welcomes Mary Mercer, Ministry Leader, Spiritual Leader, Writer and Speaker and Amy Smith, Worship Director of North Way Christian Community to the show. Guests will discuss their individual contributions to the church and programs at the church sharing the gospel during the holiday season to children and adults who attend the campuses of North Way Christian Community.

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 living with epilepsy happening at this renowned hospital.

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 other national agencies dedicated to serving the everyday needs of people who live with seizures and epilepsy. Ms. Dean will discuss their work in depth and share how the organization creates greater awareness of living with epilepsy.

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 with epilepsy and discuss the mission of The Coelho Center for Disability Law, Policy, and Innovation at the Loyola Law School to collaborate with the disability community to cultivate leadership and advocate innovative approaches to advance the lives of people with disabilit...

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 million Americans with disabilities in the election process. Its mission is to foster civic engagement and protect the voting rights of Americans with disabilities. REV UP stands for “Register! Educate! Vote! Use your Power!”

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 of the EAWCP and plans for the 2023 Mardi Gras annual gala and fundraiser for the non-profit organization.

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 organization for the federally mandated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) Systems and the Client Assistance Programs (CAP) for individuals with disabilities. Ms. Sallo will explain her history in disability advocacy and explain where she plans on taking the national organization under...

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 Mentoring Day (DMD) is a large-scale national effort coordinated by AAPD to promote career development for students and jobseekers with disabilities through career exploration and ongoing mentoring relationships. While DMD has been and continues to be officially launched the third...

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 industry and what gave her the confidence to do so. Additionally, Lachi will share her work with the Grammy’s and offer advice to people with disabilities on how to overcome being ashamed of a disability and instead embrace it and pursue their dreams.

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 has hired people with disabilities from Bender Consulting Services, Inc. for years. During the show, he will explain why he feels that it is important to hire people with disabilities and to have that commitment from the top down in an organization. Additionally, he will di...

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 highlight Bender’s disability inclusion assessment and strategic planning services available to corporations seeking to be inclusive of people with disabilities. Bender’s disability inclusion assessments and strategic planning explore processes and policies to identify barriers ...

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 reached President and CEO of Highmark Wholecare, and the personal reason she supports the commitment that Highmark Wholecare places on hiring p...

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 Resource Group to Disability Matters, along with Scott Hammerstrom, Manager of Programs and Partnerships, with the Bender Leadership Academy. As we approach October, Disability Employment Awareness Month, and the celebration of Disability Mentoring Day (DMD), on Wednesday, Octob...

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™ Program. The Careers2B™ Program was established in 2007 and serves as a national workforce development model to address the lack of professional work experience barrier to competitive employment for people with disabilities and improve employment outcomes for talented profession...

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 discuss the exciting new partnership between the CLO and Bender Leadership Academy to support young 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 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. M...

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 reasons to hire people with disabilities as a business investment right now. Changes in the business and government world today demonstrates the monetary gains and investment opportunities for corporations and their ESG.

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 his career in the U.S. House of Representatives and as an on-going advocate for the disability community. He shares his pride in the achievement of getting both passed and his continued passion for helping people with disabilities live productive lives.

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 President George H.W. Bush. Senator Harkin will also share his thoughts on the work that still needs done to advance the lives of Americans with disabilities.

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 his career in the U.S. House of Representatives and as an on-going advocate for the disability community. He shares his pride in the achievement of getting both passed and his continued passion for helping people with disabilities live productive lives.

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 position and the groundbreaking way he achieved it. He will also discuss what the ADA means to all people with disabilities, including individuals who are deaf.

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 President George H.W. Bush. Senator Harkin will also share his thoughts on the work that still needs done to advance the lives of Americans with disabilities.

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 political and economic power of people with disabilities. As a national cross-disability rights organization, AAPD advocates for full civil rights for the over 61 million Americans with disabilities by promoting equal opportunity, economic power, independent living, and politi...