Episodes

Joyce welcomes Michael Murray, chief operating officer, for the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) to the show. The AAPD is the nation's largest cross-disability organization. It promotes equal opportunity, economic power, independent living, and political participation for people with disabilities. Members of AAPD include people with disabilities and their family members, friends, and supporters. Mr. Murray will discuss his plans for the organization since becoming chief op...

Joyce welcomes back Daniel Budzinski, president of Charity Device. Charity Device is a nonprofit organization that is committed to feeding the hungry, relieving the impoverished, and providing clean water. The non-profit organization does this by encouraging the public to donate their devices (i.e. computer, iPod and tablets). When donating, you get a tax receipt, and the knowledge that you’re helping with these worthwhile causes. Mr. Budzinski is discussing how the organization uses donated dev...

Joyce welcomes disability rights leader, Jennifer Mathis, Esq., deputy legal director and director of programs for the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law. Ms. Mathis has worked primarily on the Medicaid rights of adults and children, discrimination claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and issues related to judicial nominations. She has recently returned to the Bazelon Center from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, where she worked on the regulations for the Am...

Joyce welcomes Kate Wadsworth, public relations and aftercare manager, for Light of Life Rescue Mission, in Pittsburgh, PA. Founded in 1952, the Mission was known as Harbor of Hope Rescue Mission where it served as a refuge for transient men. Today, Light of Life Rescue Mission, has 3 main services that they provide. The Women and Children’s Program embraces single mothers and their children whose lives have been ravaged by homelessness, addiction and abusive relationships; whether paralyzed by ...

During this season of giving, Joyce welcomes Jeff Fields, corporate relations officer for World Vision. World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tracking the causes of poverty and injustice. Mr. Fields will discuss the programs of the organization, and how important it is for people to give and get involved, not only during the holidays, but year-round as well.

During this season of giving especially to children, Joyce welcomes back Charlie LaVallee, CEO of Variety, the Children’s Charity of Pittsburgh. Variety’s mission is to provide children with disabilities in Southwestern Pennsylvania with unique programs, experiences, and adaptive equipment so they may live life to the fullest. Mr. LaVallee will discuss the organization’s success with the fundraising campaigns of the “My Bike” program, and the “My Voice” program. The “My Bike” program provides ad...

Joyce welcomes Emily Ladau who is a passionate disability rights activist, communications consultant, and writer. She uses her skills as a communications consultant, to harness the powers of communication and social media as tools for people to become informed and engaged about disability and other social justice issues. Emily will be discussing her internationally known blog, Words I Wheel By, which is a platform to address discrimination and to encourage people to understand the experience of ...

Joyce welcomes Steve Dentel, American Heart Association 'AHA' national consultant, quality improvement and Shannon Lesnock, American Heart Association, senior Heart Ball director, Greater Pittsburgh Region to the show.

As we celebrate National Epilepsy Awareness Month, Joyce welcomes Phil Gattone, president and CEO of the national Epilepsy Foundation to the show. He will discuss the mission of the organization, and the programs and services it offers, all to bring greater awareness of epilepsy and its effect on those living with the condition and their families.

Joyce welcomes Al Condeluci, chief executive officer of Community Living and Support Services (CLASS) in Pittsburgh. Mr. Condeluci is also an accomplished author, speaker, and advocate for people with disabilities. Formerly United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) of Pittsburgh, CLASS is the third largest disability specific not-for-profit agency in Southwestern, Pennsylvania. Mr. Condeluci will discuss the programs and services that CLASS offers people with disabilities, which include, but are not limited t...

Joyce welcomes Brien J. Smith, the immediate past chair of the national Epilepsy Foundation to the show. Dr. Smith will discuss his accomplishments while chair of this organization.

In recognition of November as National Epilepsy Awareness month, Joyce welcomes Peggy Beem-Jelley, CEO of the Epilepsy Foundation of Western-Central PA.

Joyce welcomes Marian Vessels, director of the Mid-Atlantic ADA Center, Robin Jones, project director of the Lake Erie ADA Center, and Oce Harrison, director of the New England ADA Center. All three guests will reflect on the 25th anniversary of the ADA and what it means to people with disabilities and expound on the reason the centers were incorporated and why. The mission is to provide information on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to individuals and organizations in the respective l...

Joyce welcomes Dr. Carr Bettis, chairman of the board and executive chairman of AudioEye, Inc. Also on the show will be Todd A. Bankofier, a member of AudioEye’s advisory board. Incorporated in Tucson, Arizona in 2005, the company focuses on achieving Web access equality and usability for all people, through technological expertise and innovation. Both men will discuss their roles in the organization and explain how their company can help business comply with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Ac...

Joyce welcomes Jerry MacCleary, president of Covestro LLC (formerly Bayer MaterialScience LLC) for North America. He also leads the Polyurethanes business for the North American region, a responsibility he has held since 2004. Mr. MacCleary will discuss his continued commitment at Covestro LLC to hire people with disabilities as part of their diverse workforce.

Joyce welcomes Jill Houghton, executive director of the US Business Leadership Network (USBLN). The mission of the BLN is to help business drive performance by leveraging disability inclusion in the workplace, supply chain, and marketplace. Ms. Houghton will discuss the success of the 2015 US Business Leadership Network's 18th Annual National Conference entitled, From Compliance to Competitive Advantage: The Legacy of the ADA and the Next 25 Years held in Austin, Texas September 28 through Octob...

Joyce welcomes Peri Jude Radecic, chief executive officer of the Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania. During the show, Ms. Radecic will discuss the mission of the organization in depth, which is to advance, protect, and advocate for the human, civil, and legal rights of Pennsylvanians with disabilities.

Joyce welcomes Ben Matlin contributing editor at Institutional Investor and Financial Advisor magazines and author of MIRACLE BOY GROWS UP: HOW THE DISABILITY RIGHTS REVOLUTION SAVED MY SANITY (Skyhorse, 2012). During the show he will discuss his disability rights advocacy. His essays have been featured on NPR's Morning Edition and in THE NEW YORK TIMES, NEWSWEEK, SELF magazine, USA TODAY, the LOS ANGELES TIMES, the CHICAGO TRIBUNE, and Washington Post.com.

Joyce welcomes Beth Cobert, acting, director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to the show. She will discuss the OPM’s role in assisting agencies with the implementation of their plans to increase federal employment of individuals with disabilities, in support of President Barack Obama’s executive order.

Joyce welcomes Diane Coleman, the president of Not Dead Yet, a national disability rights group which she founded in 1996 to give voice to disability rights opposition to legalization of assisted suicide and euthanasia. She will discuss the mission of this organization in depth, as well as her testimony that she has given four times before Subcommittees of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate. She is a well-known writer and speaker on assisted suicide and euthanasia topics.

Joyce welcomes Stuart James, executive director of the Center for Independent Living (CIL) in Berkeley, California. Mr. James will discuss the mission of the CIL, which provides services, support, and advocacy to enhance the rights and abilities of people with disabilities to actively participate in their communities and to live self-determined lives. The CIL emerged from the independent living movement of the 1960’s as a powerful social catalyst on the University of California at Berkeley campu...

Joyce welcomes Andrea J. Carelli, senior vice president, public relations and special events for PNC Bank to the show. She will discuss PNC’s programs and services and its commitment to employing people with disabilities as well as its efforts to give back to the community it serves.

Joyce welcomes Mark A. Riccobono, president of the National Federation of the Blind and executive director of The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Jernigan Institute, the first institute of its kind developed and operated by an organization of blind people, leads the quest to understand the real problems of blindness and to develop innovative education, technologies, products, and services that help the world's blind to achieve independence. Mr. Riccobono will discuss the programs and serv...

Joyce welcomes Shirl Regan, president and CEO of the Women’s Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh to the show. Ms. Regan will discuss in detail the mission of the organization, which provides high quality, confidential and free programs offered in an environment where cultural competency, justice, autonomy, restoration and safety are priorities. Current programs include: 24-Hour Emergency Shelter, 24-Hour Hotline, Children’s Program, Empowerment Center (Support Groups), Legal Advocacy, Medic...