Disability Matters with Joyce Bender focuses on the employment and empowerment of people with disabilities. Episodes feature prominent disability leaders such as Congressman Tony Coelho, Governor Dick Thornburgh, Andy Imparato and senior executives from the private sector.

Listen right here, subscribe on your favorite podcast app, or tune in on VoiceAmerica Channel every Tuesday from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. EST. The toll free caller/listener number is 1-866-472-5788. Tell your friends!

Disability Matters is one of the first international talk radio shows/podcasts with real-time captioning. Click here for real-time captioning during the show!

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Upcoming Disability Matters Podcast Episode

Mercer, Libengood, Beggs: North Way Christian Communities’ Goals

December 17, 2024 / 2 pm – 3 pm ET

Joyce welcomes Prayer Pastor Mary Mercer, Executive Pastor of Ministry, Shannon Libengood, and Digital Director, Amanda Beggs, from North Way Christian Community Church in Wexford, PA to the show. The guests will highlight the programs that this community of faith offers this holiday season and year-round.

Recent Disability Matters Podcast Episodes

Encore Judith Heumann, Disability Rights Leader Discusses Memoir

Tue, 24 Dec 2024 08:00:00 GMT

As a special gift to listeners this holiday season here is a rebroadcast from December 15, 2020. Joyce welcomed the late Judith Heumann, internationally recognized leader in the disability rights independent living movement, to the show. Ms. Heumann worked with a wide range of activist organizations (including the Berkeley Center for Independent Living and the American Association of People with Disabilities), NGOs, and governments since the 1970s and contributed greatly to the development of human rights legislation and policy benefiting disabled people. In the show, she discussed her memoir, “Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist,” which was published in February 2020.



Mercer, Libengood, Beggs: North Way Christian Communities’ Goals

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 08:00:00 GMT

Joyce welcomes Prayer Pastor Mary Mercer, Executive Pastor of Ministry, Shannon Libengood, and Digital Director, Amanda Beggs, from North Way Christian Community Church in Wexford, PA to the show. The guests will highlight the programs that this community of faith offers this holiday season and year-round.



Cathy Battle: Keeping Families in Need Supplied with Diapers

Tue, 10 Dec 2024 08:00:00 GMT

Joyce welcomes fellow 2024 Pittsburgh Athena Award nominee, Cathy Battle, to the show. Ms. Battle is the Executive Director of the Western Pennsylvania Diaper Bank, which serves communities in Western Pennsylvania. Ms. Battle will share what it means to her to be the recipient of the 2024 Pittsburgh Athena Award, the unique story of how the diaper bank became a reality, and how it impacts the lives of families in need in our community.



Marcie Roth: December 3, 2024 - WID Promotes Disability Issues

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 08:00:00 GMT

Joyce welcomes Marcie Roth, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the World Institute on Disability (WID). Each year December 3rd is recognized to promote an understanding of disability issues and to generate support for the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. WID helps assure that products and services are more accessible. It also promotes equity policies, provides consulting services, offers training and tools. WID also supports emergency, disaster, and climate efforts. Ms. Roth will be discussing their mission and International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD).



Nikki Lancaster Alphonse: Northrop Grumman’s Diverse Workforce

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 08:00:00 GMT

Joyce welcomes Nikki Lancaster Alphonse, Sr. Director Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Northrop Grumman Corporation. Ms. Alphonse will discuss her work with Northrop Grumman and the company’s commitment to a diverse workforce including people with disabilities.



Kerry McQuone: Epilepsy Advocate and Business Professional

Tue, 19 Nov 2024 08:00:00 GMT

Joyce welcomes Kerry McQuone, Board Member of the Epilepsy Association of Western/Central PA (EAWCP) and Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at GrayMatter, an industrial technology and consulting company with offices throughout the United States. Ms. McQuone will discuss her work at GrayMatter and her work with EAWCP.



Dr. James Valeriano: Expert on Neurology and Epilepsy

Tue, 12 Nov 2024 08:00:00 GMT

As we continue to recognize November as National Epilepsy Awareness Month, Joyce welcomes Dr. James Valeriano, Director of the Comprehensive Epilepsy Program at Allegheny Health Network (AHN) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Dr. Valeriano is a sought-after speaker and expert on neurological issues and epilepsy. During the show he will discuss his career and the latest advances in the treatment of epilepsy.



Accomplishments of EAWCP/Plans for the 2025 Mardi Gras Gala

Tue, 05 Nov 2024 08:00:00 GMT

November is National Epilepsy Awareness Month, Joyce welcomes Peggy Beem-Jelley, President and CEO of 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 March 2025.



Taryn Mackenzie Williams: Shaping Disability Employment Policy

Tue, 29 Oct 2024 07:00:00 GMT

Joyce welcomes Taryn Mackenzie Williams, the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy, to the show. In this position, Ms. Mackenzie advises the Secretary of Labor on how the Department’s policies and programs impact the employment of people with disabilities and leads the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP). ODEP works with employers and all levels of government to promote evidence-based policy that improves employment opportunities and outcomes for people with disabilities. She will share her unique role with listeners.



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

Tue, 22 Oct 2024 07:00:00 GMT

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 streamline 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 will discuss enGen’s continued commitment to hire people with disabilities as part of a diverse workforce.



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You can find archived episodes of Disability Matters with Joyce Bender going back to 2005 on our VoiceAmerica Channel.

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