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.
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Upcoming Disability Matters Podcast Episode
Taryn Mackenzie Williams, the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy
October 29, 2024 / 2 pm – 3 pm ET
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), which 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.
Recent Disability Matters Podcast Episodes
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.
Encore Jill Houghton/Tony Coelho: State of Disability Employment
Tue, 15 Oct 2024 07:00:00 GMT
To kick-off National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), Joyce welcomes Jill Houghton, President and CEO of Disability:IN, and The Honorable Tony Coelho, author of the Americans with Disabilities Act to the show. Disability:IN is a global, non-profit, non-partisan business to business network empowering businesses to achieve disability equality and inclusion. The guests will highlight the progress we have made in disability employment and the historic collaboration between Bender Consulting Services, the first certified Disability-Owned Business Enterprise (DOBE), and Disability:IN.
Connie Feda: Proprietor Partners with Bender Leadership Academy
Tue, 08 Oct 2024 07:00:00 GMT
Joyce welcomes Connie Feda, Proprietor and Co-founder of Cookie Cookie Ice Cream in Kennedy Township, PA. Discussed on the show will be the partnership between Cookie Cookie Ice Cream and Bender Leadership Academy to enhance the lives of young adults with disabilities. Ms. Freda will share the unique hiring program for young people with disabilities to prepare them for the world of work and her support of the various programs of the Bender Leadership Academy.
Jill Houghton/Tony Coelho: State of Disability Employment
Tue, 01 Oct 2024 07:00:00 GMT
To kick-off National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), Joyce welcomes Jill Houghton, President and CEO of Disability:IN, and The Honorable Tony Coelho, author of the Americans with Disabilities Act to the show. Disability:IN is a global, non-profit, non-partisan business to business network empowering businesses to achieve disability equality and inclusion. The guests will highlight the progress we have made in disability employment and the historic collaboration between Bender Consulting Services, the first certified Disability-Owned Business Enterprise (DOBE), and Disability:IN.
Janni Lehrer-Stein/Ondréa Burton: Disability Rights Advocates
Tue, 24 Sep 2024 07:00:00 GMT
Joyce welcomes disability advocates Janni Lehrer-Stein and Ondréa Burton to the show. The topic discussed will be “The disability community realizing the power of the vote.”
Encore Nedra Dickson: International/National Business Leader-Advocate
Tue, 17 Sep 2024 07:00:00 GMT
Joyce welcomes Nedra Dickson, international/national business leader and disability advocate to the show. Ms. Dickson is Managing Director, Global Supplier Inclusion and Sustainability Programs across 20 countries at Accenture. Accenture is a leading global professional services company, providing a broad range of services in strategy and consulting, interactive, technology and operations, with digital capabilities across all these services. Ms. Dickson will discuss innovative employment methods for people with disabilities and her advocacy work to on behalf of all African Americans and unemployed.
Encore Karen Hanlon: Highmark Health’s Commitment to Diverse Workforce
Tue, 10 Sep 2024 07:00:00 GMT
Joyce is proud to have back Highmark Health’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Karen Hanlon. She will explain her commitment to hiring people with disabilities as a diverse part of their workforce.
Mark Johnson: Disability Rights Leader and Advocate
Tue, 03 Sep 2024 07:00:00 GMT
Joyce welcomes Mark Johnson back to the show. Mark is a life-long disability advocate and a founder of American Disabled for Accessible Public Transportation and American Disabled Attendant Program (ADAPT). Mark will share his commitment to advocacy for Americans with disabilities even in retirement. He will share his past work with the Shepherd Center and his current involvement with the Disability Rights Museum Group.
John Register: Motivational Speaker/Paralympic Silver Medalist
Tue, 27 Aug 2024 07:00:00 GMT
Joyce welcomes John Register, award-winning inspirational/motivational speaker, author, and two-time Paralympic Silver Medalist, back to the show. From Paris at the 2024 Paralympic Games, John will share his passion for public speaking to inspire people to overcome adversity and be successful despite obstacles that they face.
Encore Calgon Carbon’s Commitment to Bender Leadership Academy
Tue, 20 Aug 2024 07:00:00 GMT
Joyce welcomes Steve Nolder, Chief Human Resources Officer and Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Global Communications, and Kaylene Ritchie, Talent Management & Diversity Supervisor, at Calgon Carbon Corporation to the show. The guests will share how Calgon Carbon Corporation of Pittsburgh supports the efforts of the Bender Leadership Academy’s Mary Brougher Mental Health Initiative.
Other Ways to Listen
You can find archived episodes of Disability Matters with Joyce Bender going back to 2005 on our VoiceAmerica Channel.