Episodes
Jan. 17, 2023
Alisa Smith/Scott Hammerstrom: Digital Accessibility Training
Joyce welcomes Alisa Smith, Accessibility Evangelist, at AudioEye and Scott Hammerstrom, Manager of Programs and Partnerships with Bender Leadership Academy. The guests will discuss AudioEye’s partnership with Bender Leadersh...
Jan. 10, 2023
Temple Grandin: Life's Passion to Help People with Disabilities
Joyce welcomes Temple Grandin, Professor at Colorado State University (CSU) within the Department of Animal Science to the show. Dr. Grandin is the most celebrated adult who is autistic in the world. She is an American academ...
Jan. 3, 2023
Highmark Continues Commitment to Hire People with Disabilities
Joyce is excited to start 2023 with the returning champion of competitive employment for Americans with disabilities, David Holmberg, President, and CEO of Highmark Health and Chairman of the Board, Highmark, Inc. Mr. Holmber...
Dec. 27, 2022
Year-end Reflections on Disability Advocacy
Joyce welcomes back to the show, Maria Town, President & CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD); Holly O’Donnell, President & CEO of the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law; and Peri Jude Radecic,...
Dec. 20, 2022
Pastors Stevens, D’Angelo, Paskey: North Way Christian Community
Joyce welcomes Pastors Scott Stevens, David D’Angelo, and Ryan Paskey of North Way Christian Community Church in Wexford, PA to the show. These members of the clergy for this congregation of faith will discuss their new roles...
Dec. 13, 2022
Charlie LaVallee: Mission of Variety the Children’s Charity
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...
Dec. 6, 2022
Mary Mercer-Amy Smith: Ministry at North Way Christian Community
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 ...
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...