Disability Talks: Don't Dis My Ability

In part 2 of my interview with Doug Goist, we talk about the mission of National Industries  for the Blind and how the pandemic has shifted employer's mindset of disabled persons working from home.  As Doug and his team work with candidates and employers, he crushes the common stigmas that are not valid and shows how even eyeglasses are assistive technology.

Tune in and enjoy!

Website:  https://nsite.org/
LinkedIn:  https://www.l...

Doug Goist wasn't born blind, however during his high school days, while playing sports he started to see it fading away. Listen in as I sit down with Doug and talk about his journey through O& M training and how he uses his disability to create employment ability for thousands every year.  With his years of experience and work with the National Industries for the Blind and NSITE, Doug and his team are changing the views fo...

Tiffany always knew she was different but is always full of joy despite her physical challenges.  When she became a teenager, she discovered just how unique she truly was. Through testing, she, her brother, and mother discovered they all had Progeria, a rapid aging disability. At 43, Tiffany is relatively healthy and definitely happy! It was a joy and honor to sit and talk with this "unicorn" who has a 1:50 million life!  T...

Shelly sits down with Project Manager, Jenny Angell to discuss the two year long project that the Pa Museums and Historical Sites have undertaken to identify what changes they can make to create accessible excellence throughout the state. If your organization could use a fresh look, contact Jenny to obtain a packet.

 Pa Museums website: https://pamuseums.org/accessibility-excellence/

Want to be a guest on our show?  Connect with us ...

This week, Disability Talks sits down with the authors of Allies & Obstacles to discuss the importance of advocacy and collaboration for persons with disabilities. This  process should begin from an early age to ensure independent success and a wide variety of supports that are long term. Listen in to find out how to bridge gaps and build success.

Richard Scotch- richard.scotch@utdallas.edu
Allison Carey - ACCare@ship.edu
...

Co-founder of Billy Footwear, Billy Price, joins us for a special episode to celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month and independent entrepreneurship.  Join us to discover how Billy and his partner, Darin Donaldson, created this stylish and universal adaptive shoe design sold worldwide!

To find out more about our guest, visit these links:
Website: https://billyfootwear.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/billyfo...

There are 200 types of Dwarfism in the world, Sofiya, Nic and their spouses ironically all have different forms and share with us their challenges as new parents and their extensive body of work in and out of the theater.  Listen in to hear more for Dwarfism Awareness Month.

To find out more about our guest, visit these links:
Website: https://www.sofiyacheyenne.com/         https://www.nicnovicki.com/
Easter Seals Film Challenge: htt...

Are you a person with a disability, mobility challenges, use a stroller, or walker? Than listen in to find out this accessibility project is looking at accessibility across five countries to improve our lives in public spaces.  Dr. Orchard, Dr. Eskyte, and Professor Lawson are working on a pedestrian accessibility project across 5 countries and need your input.

To find out more about our guest, visit these links:
Website: https://in...

On this week's episode of DisaAbilityTalks, we sit down with Tokyo 2020 Para Powerlifter of Team USA, Jake Schrom!  He discusses his incredible journey to the 2020 Games, finding a proper work/life balance, and his future plans! Don't miss this exclusive insight from a Tokyo 2020 Paralympian. Only on DisAbility Talks.

To find out more about our guest, visit these links:
Website - https://www.teamusa.org/para-powerlifting/ath...

Robert J. Reinhart, PE, Vice President of Biller Reinhart Engineering Group and Sara Bentley, National Walk Manager for the Lupus Foundation, sit down with our host, Shelly Houser, on a new episode of DisAbility Talks!


Learn about Lupus and social stigmas associated with the disease with these amazing guests.

To find out more about our guests, visit these links:
Websites: https://www.lupus.org/
Twitter - @LupusOrg
Instagram - ...

Prepare to be inspired.

Jessica Cox, the first armless pilot, has flown onto our latest episode of DisAbility Talks! She breaks down her journey to the cockpit and her desire to become the first armless pilot. This is a story you won't want to miss. Take to the skies with our host, Shelly Houser, and Jessica Cox on this brand-new episode!

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To find out more about our guest, visit these links:
Websites: https:...

Great Britain Wheelchair Fencer Oliver Lam-Watson features on this episode, the second episode in our double-episode coverage of the 2020 Paralympics! In this episode, Oliver and our host, Shelly Houser, discuss stigmas against individuals with disabilities and Oliver's journey to the 2020 Tokyo Games.
 
 If you want to hear more about the 2020 Paralympic Games, check out our first episode from August 13th where we interviewed M...

For the first time in US history, the Paralympic Games will be broadcast during daytime and prime time hours on major network channels. In this episode, our host, Shelly Houser, sits down with Mary Hodge and Nina Kult from Team USA's Para Powerlifting team and Goalball Paralympian Zach Buhler to talk about the Tokyo 2020 games and their journeys to get there.  Since this recording, the team has qualified their team of nine.

But ...

Author, award-winning journalist, executive producer, and CEO, Liz Plank talks about becoming a journalist and writer despite her ADHD diagnosis. Liz, began her career working in a community center for persons with disabilities and saw how they were mistreated at home. That’s when she decided to make a bigger impact and write about the social ills of society. In her recent book, For the Love of Men, Liz interviewed one interviewee,...

After her accident in 2010, Chelsie Hill imagined a life of unlimited opportunities where women like her, with physical disabilities, could achieve their goals with great success.  For Chelsie, this meant to move to LA and become a dancer. At first she wasn't seeing other wheelchair dancers and decided to re-imagine the world of dance. Since then, Chelsie and her team of other Boundless Babes, have become a national sensation t...

Having a disability is never the end of the world, in fact for Bryan and Bradford Manning, it was just the beginning. Being diagnosed with Stargardt’s disease at a young age built resilience and gave them the skills for problem-solving sooner than their peers. In this week’s episode, the Manning brothers talk about a one in a million-shopping trip that sparked the idea of consumer’s shopping blind and how Sir Richard Branson got in...

Every year the city of Philadelphia, PA raises the ADAPT Pride flag over city hall and celebrates all persons with disabilities. This year Vicki Landers and her team will host a 10 day virtual celebration for all to join.  The will be speakers, singers, and other artists showing and sharing their pride for a world-wide audience.

Disability Pride PA promotes more visibility and cultivates the pride felt within our community as we ad...

Collette DiVitto  graduated from Clemson University with dreams of becoming a successful baker. With a degree in life skills and a passion for cookies, Collette set out to interview after interview, only to be told she was "not a good fit".  Having Downs Syndrome, Collette knew what that really meant. So with the help of her mother and sister they created Collettey's Cookies! Listen in to hear how this young entrepreneu...

Ten years ago, Industrial designer, McCauley Warner wrote a thesis on creating prosthetic leg covers that were fashionable, protective and full of choice. Her professor argued that she would never accomplish it and clinicians pushed back stating, insurance companies would never allow it. McCauley partnered with Ryan Palibroda after college and today,  they own a successful company creating customized prosthetic covers to amputees a...