Disability Matters

Disability Matters

Competitive employment and empowerment for people with disabilities is the emphasis of this show. Broadcast live and captioned in real-time for individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing, we discuss how people with disabilities can secure career opportunities, and how employers, organizations and individuals can support employment and empowerment of people with disabilities.

Episodes

March 24, 2026 55 mins

Joyce welcomes Philip M. Gattone, the current President and CEO of the National Bleeding Disorder Foundation (NBDF) to the show.
NBDF's core mission areas are research, education, and advocacy to improve the lives of people with inherited blood and bleeding disorders.
 
Mr. Gattone will expound on the mission of the organization and share more about his lifelong career leading various other impactful nonprofit organizations.

Joyce ...

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Joyce welcomes Laura Carlson, Executive Director of Development for Allegheny Health Network's Division of Brain & Spine Health, to the show. Among the topics discussed will be the latest advancements in the role of philanthropy in this area of specialized healthcare.

Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights

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Joyce welcomes back to the show, Joy Matoney, Vice President, Diversified Businesses & Growth Planning and Enablement at Highmark, Inc. She will discuss her career at Highmark, Inc. and her commitment to the Bender partnership to hire people with disabilities. 

Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights

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Joyce welcomes Dr. Bridget Green, Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Foundations & Leadership in the School of Education and the Executive Director of the Institute for Disability Empowerment and Advocacy at Duquesne University.
 
Dr. Green will discuss her past association with Bender Consulting Services, Inc. and how that experience shaped her career upon graduation from Duquesne University, leading led to her c...

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Joyce is honored to have back as her guest Christine Griffin, a strong disability rights advocate and current Bender Consulting Services' Senior Search Specialist Consultant.
 
During the show, she will discuss her long career which, includes her past work as Commissioner of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and Deputy Director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
 
She will also discuss her protection ...

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As Black History Month continues, Joyce welcomes back to the show, Shaunda McDill, Managing Director of the Pittsburgh Public Theater. 
 
Among the topics discussed will be her passion for public theater productions, the arts, and Pittsburgh Public Theater's commitment to making productions accessible for individuals with disabilities.

Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights

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Joyce back to the show, Sam Estes, an executive leader, published author, and philanthropist. Mr. Estes will discuss his long-standing career in the defense world and his passion for helping youth with disabilities. 

Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights

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To kick off February and Black History Month, Joyce welcomes Barãta Bey, President, African American Chamber of Commerce of Western, PA to the show.
 
President Bey will share the mission of the organization and its latest accomplishments to enhance business gro...

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Joyce welcomes Mark Sevco, President of Allegheny Health Network (AHN) to the show. Mr. Sevco will share how he plans to continue to help AHN succeed in a competitive industry.
 
He will also share what it means to him to be selected as the 2026 King of the Mardi Gras sponsored by the Epilepsy Association of Western/Central PA.

Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights

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Joyce welcomes Larry Kleinman, Executive Vice-President and Chief Human Resources Officer for Highmark Health, back to the show. Mr. Kleinman will share the organization's commitment to continue partnering with Bender Consulting Services, Inc., to hire people with disabilities as an integral part of its workforce. 

Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights

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Highmark month continues with Karen Hanlon, President and Chief Operating Officer. Ms. Hanlon will share her background and her role in the organization. She will also share her insights into current health care trends. 

Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights

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Joyce is starting 2026 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. Holmberg launched an initiative in 2020 to hire 30 people with disabilities from Bender Consulting Services to honor the 30th anniversary of the signing of the ADA, called the Highmark 30/30.  He and all of Highmark have cont...

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Disability Matters Joyce welcomes Maria Town, President and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), Jennifer Mathis, Deputy Director of the Baze...

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Joyce welcomes Lisa Scales, President and CEO of the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank to the show. Ms. Scales will share the mission of this organization and impart upon the listeners the heightened importance of donating to the food bank during the holiday season as well as year-round.

Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights

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Joyce welcomes Aaron Keller, Owner, VoiceAmerica Media and Producer/Engineer for Disability Matters with Joyce Bender at VoiceAmerica. Along with discussing his career, Aaron will share his reflections on having the pleasure of working with Joyce to bring her show to her loyal listeners for the past 20 years.

Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights

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Joyce welcomes Dr. Calvin Troup, the current President of Geneva College. Among the topics discussed will be the direction he has taken the college under his leadership.

Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights

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Joyce welcomes Charlie LaVallee, former CEO of Variety the Children's Charity back to the show. Mr. LaValle will discuss his long career with this vital organization. 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 wi...

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In recognition of November as National Epilepsy Awareness Month, Joyce welcomes Colleen Fulkerson, Senior Manager, Special Events and Andrea Zonneveld, Director of Community Education & Outreach from Epilepsy Association of Western and Central PA (EAWCP) to the show.
 
Joining them will be Logan Huwalt, a Baldwin-Whitehall high school junior living with epilepsy. He is a valued advocate for people living with epilepsy and works har...

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Joyce welcomes Nanette (Nan) DeTurk, executive level leader with financial, strategic, and operational expertise in health care, insurance, and consumer product/service industries, to the show.
 
As the retired Executive Vice President, CFO & Strategy, Highmark Health, she will be discussing her extensive career in the healthcare industry. Additionally, Ms. DeTurk will discuss her commitment to finding talented people with disabili...

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ENCORE PRESENTATION of May 27, 2025, Joyce welcomes Dr. Louis Olander, Ph.D., Director of Research and Veterans' Initiatives at Disability: IN. As a veteran and advocate, Dr. Olander will share his work with Disability:IN,...

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