Thanks to Podmatch AGAIN for connnecting me with an amazing guest, Devon Wieters, on One Leg Up With Alex Garrettt!
Devon is a college graduate, writer, and podcaster who just happens to have cerebral palsy. She is passionate about creating a better world for all! She is also fiercely advocating for the passage of the SSI Restoration Act, which would eliminate the Social Security/Medicaid “marriage penalty” and the SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act, which would raise the salary and asset limits for Social Security and Medicaid. These changes would allow people with disabilities to work and marry without losing vital disability benefits. Devon can bring awareness to the myriad of issues people with disabilities still face and what changes need to be made at both federal and state levels to help people with disabilities and their families and caregivers thrive! She is also advocating for a man named Crosley Green to be released from prison, who she believes was wrongfully convicted of murder in Florida in 1990. Devon is also a super fan of the TV show Survivor and loves analyzing the strategy of the game with the fan community. In fact. she learned her interview techniques from watching host Jeff Probst!
Pls. visit https://wheelwithit.com/!
My Podmatch affiliate link is here: https://www.joinpodmatch.com/onelegupalex
Devon is a college graduate, writer, and podcaster who just happens to have cerebral palsy. She is passionate about creating a better world for all! She is also fiercely advocating for the passage of the SSI Restoration Act, which would eliminate the Social Security/Medicaid “marriage penalty” and the SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act, which would raise the salary and asset limits for Social Security and Medicaid. These changes would allow people with disabilities to work and marry without losing vital disability benefits. Devon can bring awareness to the myriad of issues people with disabilities still face and what changes need to be made at both federal and state levels to help people with disabilities and their families and caregivers thrive! She is also advocating for a man named Crosley Green to be released from prison, who she believes was wrongfully convicted of murder in Florida in 1990. Devon is also a super fan of the TV show Survivor and loves analyzing the strategy of the game with the fan community. In fact. she learned her interview techniques from watching host Jeff Probst!
Pls. visit https://wheelwithit.com/!
My Podmatch affiliate link is here: https://www.joinpodmatch.com/onelegupalex
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
All right, Well back here on the one loog Up Network,
I'm Alex Scarrett and I've got a very special guest
featured from Podmatch. You know, our connection with pod Match
continued and our partnership pod Match continues, and they've connected
me with an awesome person I could tell already we've
just met today, but Devin Wheers, we've been talking about
this for finally getting this on the books and then recorded.
(00:22):
Thanks for joining the one log Up Network today, Devin.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Thank you for having me. I've been like looking forward
to this one for ever, so thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
Of course, and you are based in Virginia, if I
may say so, We're we're having an East coast connection here.
But talk to me about what you do. I know
you have the podcast we Ope me and you're very
much an advocate for those disabilities because you yourself have
I believe CP if I'm not mistaken, right, yes, and
(00:54):
thinking that and turn it into an advocacy project as well.
So where do you want to start?
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Like you said, I had the podcast deal with It
where I talked to basically anybody that has had like
a fascinating or inspiring life and obviously people with disabilities
are soken is fascinating people. We all conversations so as
you can probably tough on that, we talked with anybody
(01:20):
that's had a fascinating, inspiring life that we can learn from,
and it's been really fun. Some of the notable guests
I've had were in Moriarty for forty eight hours and
she was so amazing and nice, Oh my gosh. And
I've loved the show Survivor, so I had a Survivor
(01:40):
journalist that is covered Survivor and Jeff Pope's career extensively,
and she was also amazing. So I've had the privilege
of hosting those I also had the director and producer
of something called Patrese the movie, which we will talk
about much more later in the show, and they were
(02:05):
amazing and the advocacy work that they're doing is amazing.
So I've had the priviginal to host a lot of
those people, and it's been, like I still pinch myself,
it's been. It's been crazy.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
About when you started this whole podcast idea and what
inspired you to start it?
Speaker 2 (02:25):
So what inspired me to start it is two things.
I've always loved the show Survivor and basically I've wanted
to be in this industry since I was about entertainment
and production industry, because I was about eight years old.
(02:45):
Because I saw Jeff Copes said I thought he were
just the coolest dude ever, So I wanted to do
whatever he did. So so that's one reason. And two
I was listening to If you like the rd TV,
you must listen to this POT because they analyze, you know,
every new episode of survivor every new episode of Big Brother,
(03:06):
and they talk about the strategy and they're also hilarious.
Rob has a podcast, and I thought I could do that.
How hard could it be? And the answer is very
And so that's basically how I got started. It started
as a Survivor recap podcast, and to make a long
(03:29):
story short, it kind of morphed into this after a while.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
Well, I love that we say you're a podcaster and
a writer who just happens out of CP and that
means to me, you don't let it define you. And
I feel like that it is a message that we
have to get out there. More is that we cannot
let our disability define us, right.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
Right, So yeah, I feel like society tends to let
it define us. A little bit, but I try not
to let it define me Sundays a better than others.
And but you know, I'm trying to define me.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
So and now have you been able to get all
these great people on your show? It sounds like you've
been growing connections through this podcast.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Email. I had this service called Signal Hire. It is expensive,
but if you want to get the big guns, it's
worth it because it will show you anybody's email if
they have a LinkedIn, whether it's on the publicly, on
the LinkedIn or not. So all you do is go
(04:30):
to their LinkedIn page, you open up the little Signal
Higher app. Once you're on the LinkedIn page, it's a
web app, and then and then it'll display their emails.
And that's how I've been able to get most of
these people. Devin.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
Any real life experiences that you have had that inspired
you to not only write but do the podcast as well.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
Yeah, I think just like living with a disability and
seeing the improvement it that's needed in the not just
petting things, but you know, reforming things as a whole.
I think that's pretty much what inspired me to start,
(05:14):
uh this podcast as it is now.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
And when you're not interviewing guests. Do you do your
own monologues on different issues? You tackle a lot of
different things. I know you talk about criminal justice and
and yes, Medicaid are those highlights and and really things
you doubled down on on your podcast.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
I don't do a lot of SOOL episodes, but yes,
we've done a lot of issues on you know, Medicaid
Purchased the movie is one of those. And then we
we did Aaron Moriarty was a specific case that I'm
(05:53):
following of a guy named Crawsley Green, who I believe
was once we convicted of murder in Florida nineteen ninety
and so, and that episode with Aaron Moriarty was about
that case. So, you know, we've done episodes on it.
I don't do a lot of so episodes. I do some,
(06:16):
but like when there's a stretch like we we don't
have a guest for three or four weeks, like I'll
do one SO episode just to like let people know,
like I'm still here, but you know, we have plenty
of material recorded.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
Now I got to talk about how this podcast you
do make to does it make you feel less isolated?
I mean it sounds like you're all about town. But
does the podcast help you feel like you're part of
this community and a community?
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Yes, it does, and it makes me feel like, you know,
I'm hoping to change stuff and so you know, I
like doing it.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
Do you feel like your podcast helps inspire others as well?
I feel like that's another thing you're trying to do
here right.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
Yes, I hope it does. I mean, I don't know,
but I hope it does.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
I got to get into the Social Security because we're
talking about the right time, because medicaid is undergoing a
lot of what I find, it's under threat for a
lot of people, and I'm sure you're following it closely.
So how do you hope weal with it can bring
that awareness about Well, we're.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
Not talking about I don't talk about whether we need
to cut people or I just talk about the federal
regulations that make it almost impossible for people that need
to help to get the help. So, for example, right now,
you can only have if you're a single person, you
can only have two thousand dollars and assets, and two
(07:52):
thousand dollars if you're a couple. And those regulations have
not been updated since nineteen eighty nine and social Security,
which is tied to Medicaid in Medicare because you have
to get Social Security to qualify for those things. Also
as holding out penalty, which means, with the exception of
(08:15):
like a handful of states that I found a work around,
you can't live with your partner without even if you're
not legally married, without their income being counted against you.
So basically, if you get married or have a full
time job, then unless it's like an exorbitant SALI, which
(08:36):
most of them aren't when you start out, then you
will be making too much money to qualify for the services,
but not enough to pay for it out of pocket.
So that's where we're at right now.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
And you're find because as someone who has been disabled
community in my whole life and been part of the
Ascarti School, which is obviously a school for computal disabilities,
I find that the American dream isn't always is there,
and we need voices like yours to say, hey, make
it more open for those visabilities.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
Right, yeah, yeah, I mean I think we do need
to cut like there are a lot of people that
are abusing medicaid, but and we need to cut the
waste down a medicaid. But that's not where we stop.
After we cut the waste, we need to make it
(09:25):
easier for the people that actually need it to work
and be productive and get their services. That's the same.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
You know, why don't more people have your approach of
all right, yes, we have to cut where we need
to cut, but they all forget about the cutting and
don't think about what happens to make it more accessible.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
Right, yeah, So, and I don't like to force powit
has on anything. So you could cut this out if
it's But if you read JD. Vance's book Kilbury Energy.
I know most of you have seen the movie, but
please read the book because he talks about the welfare
(10:07):
and how these very issues and how and the audiobook
does not read the last four pages because it was
added when the second edition came out after the movie.
So please, if you have a chance, read the last
four pages at the very least, because throughout the book
(10:28):
he reads to it. But in the last four pages,
especially in the afterward, he talks about these very issues
and how we need to reform these services to help
people be productive and keep their services at the same time.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
So how do we help people from melting down over
every news story. I feel like there's a meltdown every
news story in the same community. I feel like you're saying, no,
let's have a level even keel about things, right.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
Yeah, So people have no idea how medicaid actually work
unless they work with the day to day like for
a job like a social worker or something, or they're
on it, like, they have no idea how to actually worry.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
H where to graduate school? I'm curiouscause you're a college
graduate writer.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
Tell us about that, chrispher Newport Go captains. It was.
It was very It was a very good experience. I
love my professors, so that's very awesome.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
So you say you look forward to this podcast, So
what kind of message you want to bring onto the
show and help people have one leg up in life.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
So first of all, they need to go to Real
with It dot com so I actually form to learn
about the legislation that's before congo's to reform these things.
And then I would just say that please look into
(11:55):
how government services actually work instead of freaking out over
every news story.
Speaker 1 (12:03):
No, I love that message because I do feel like
if you're gonna forgot about it, get involved, and you're
getting involved in the cause. Now you're by Virginia, So
have you ever gone to DC to advocate or done
anything like that?
Speaker 2 (12:17):
That's in the plans to go to DC. And what
I would say to you for yours as well is
there's a lot of room and a lot of states
for improvement at a state level with their medicaid waivers,
because how it works is each state can run their
Medicaid and Medicaid waivers, which is what helps you get
(12:40):
personal assistants that are paid to the state, equipment, stuff
like that as they see fit, as long as they
follow the federal guidelines. So thankfully, where I am in
Virginia is very far advanced and does not have much
room for improvement at all because literally they're almost like
the ideal waiver. I mean, there are feudal things, but
(13:02):
they're mostly the ideal what waiver. But with a lot
of these things, there's improvements at the state level. So
please talk to your state legislature before you go up
and advocate for federal.
Speaker 1 (13:17):
How accessible is your state? Like I find that New
York can be improved with accessibility. I mean it is accessible,
but there are many improvements. Is Virginia accessible for you
to wheel around and if you don't mind me.
Speaker 2 (13:28):
Asking, well, I've never been in Virginia anywhere but where
I live, so I mean, yeah, that's it's pretty accessible here.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
That's awesome.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
I don't know about any other parts.
Speaker 1 (13:47):
So you have felt like the need to go into
your local you know, congress legislatures and hey, make these
streets accessible for me in Virginia.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
No, I have not gone because where I live is
pretty accessible.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
But you know, I see you're on these all these
other platforms. What was it like getting on these different
platforms with your voice? It must have been kind of exciting, right,
I mean, yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
Like people can listen to it everywhere. I use Spotify
for podcasters as you probably do, and make cit easier
to upload.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
And yeah, So I want to like the social justice
because I wonder if you're you're covering that in the
disabled community as well as you know, maybe those who
are wrongfully convicted.
Speaker 2 (14:39):
I mean, any social cause I like. But you know,
I find that if you advocate for everything like it
overwhelms you. So just the case in Florida a little bit,
because we're at a point where we can't really do
much about that right now, and the medicaid before it
are the two main things.
Speaker 1 (15:01):
Yeah, No, medicaid is definitely now your journey. Obviously, Sorry
this podcast and all that, I have to ask, if
you don't mind me asking, did you have a lot
of you know, and I know you got your interviewing
technique FM drift proach, but talk about the speech therapy
that you might have had growing up. Did that help
you get to where you are right now?
Speaker 2 (15:22):
So I went through speech therapy mostly through my school.
I got outside p G and OG, but the speech
was through school an enemy and all through middle school,
and yeah, it definitely helped. The middle school speech therapist
was very tough on me, but it definitely helped.
Speaker 1 (15:45):
So now you just mentioned you were in public school
growing up, Yes, how was that experience?
Speaker 2 (15:55):
It was good. I hated high school with the exception
of my senior year and a couple of teachers. There
was some getchy stuff happening at the high school. But
you know, I had an aid that was amazing, so
(16:15):
that made it better. I was never boyed or anything,
but there was you know, get stuff happening at the
high school. But I loved intermediate.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
Any stigmas that you like to so I like the
term smashing stigmas because I feel like people with disabilities
are sort of stereotype. We can only do this, that
and the other, and yet here we are smashing stigmas
on the daily. Any kind of smashing stigmas that you
like to smash on your podcast just by interviewing people too.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
Basically, what bigues do I would well, one that we
don't want romantic love like the rest of you. I mean,
of course we do. But and two that all people
(17:07):
that are like in wheelchairs, have a cognitive disability. Those
are the two main ones that I see dating.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
I know you mentioned you've been in the day life.
Has that always been fun? Challenging? What's that been like
for you?
Speaker 2 (17:28):
That's been that's been I haven't dated in years. That's
been challenging just because of like transportation and everything. And
like I said, I had my recent reagionship and by
recent I mean like a few years ago didn't end
very well. So it's been challenging.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
But you know, Devin, I love the term wiel with
it because I feel like it just shows you're not
letting anything stop you. Is that a message you try
and convey on your podcast? There's literally real that no
matter what you're going through.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
Yes, actually that that's that's very that's very good. I've
never thought about that, but yes, that's grey.
Speaker 1 (18:10):
No, I could I could tell that that's that's part
of your drive. Now when I talked when I think
of advocates, I think of someone that's out there on
the front lines. Have you ever I would say a
tender protest? But have you ever been on the front
lines of any kind of you know, advocacy.
Speaker 2 (18:26):
Work, Uh, front lines? I would say, Well, the closest
I've gotten front lines is that case in Florida. But honestly, like,
I've never gotten to a protest or anything like that.
Speaker 1 (18:38):
But well, and I asked that because do you feel
like this kind of medium of podcasts is better to
get the word out than literally storming, you know, anywhere?
Speaker 2 (18:46):
Yes, definitely, it's much less confrontational. So I don't really
like confrontation until we absolutely have to do that.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
And do you feel like your podcast is in existence
because you want to educate people? I feel like, well,
you're just wanted the state breakdown of Medicaid. Not many
people may know about that. It's a state's thing, not
really a federal thing. That they have to go to
their state.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
Birds. Yeah, most people didn't know it was a state thing.
Until I got on Medicaid. I didn't know what a
state thing. But it's mostly a state thing. So yes,
education is a huge part of what we do now.
Speaker 1 (19:30):
When you say again on a lot of people disabilities,
kids with disabilities are on it from a very young age.
When did you start it and when did you get
awareness of you know, what medicaid was.
Speaker 2 (19:40):
Was well, I started at sixteme on the Medicaid waiver.
My parents were very hesitant to ask for any kind
of help from the government, but then we saw the
price of the new power wheelchair trying to get I mean,
I had one, but we needed another one because they
(20:01):
don't last forever. And they saw the price and they
were like, okay, yeah, we need help. So then we
got on the Medicaid. And then when I.
Speaker 4 (20:15):
Really realized what was going on is after I got
out of the college, I started applying for jobs, knowing
that the SURI limit in Virginia the SALI limit very
sweetly by state, but the asset.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
Limit is vital and the SALLY limit in Virginia is
like thirty six thousand dollars, like give or take of
like a few hundred dollars, and so I was like, okay, perfect,
Like that's just starting salari right. And I was looking
(20:49):
at jobs and it was like forty two and I
was like, okay, I can't do that one. That's too
much funey. And then I got to the next one
it was like forty four and I was like, that's
too much money.
Speaker 1 (21:01):
I feel like if people are gonna get aid, they
should also be able to pursue their career, get that job.
Speaker 2 (21:07):
That's yeah.
Speaker 1 (21:09):
So is that one of your missions is to change
that the the conditions, if you will, of these different things.
Speaker 2 (21:15):
Yes, my mission, My main mission is to change the
federal regulations because I know I just said start with state,
but Virginia is good on a state level, so I
have to go straight to federal, which I do not
like because federal government is crazy. And so my mission
(21:45):
is to get the SSI Restoration and or SSI Saving
spinozi Uh Elimination Act passed. And yeah, that's pretty much
my that's pretty much my main mission at this point.
Speaker 1 (22:07):
I want to switch the ADA because I feel like
we're on the same wavelength here that people tend to
weaponize the ADA, and I feel like, am I right
on that?
Speaker 2 (22:22):
Yeah? People are ignorant as to what the ADA doesn't do.
Speaker 1 (22:27):
And as a research re you kind of duved into
that research as well. Of the ADA. Yes, a little bit.
Speaker 2 (22:36):
It needs to be updated in certain respects. The bathroom
stalls to be considered. ADA need to be rider because
the power chairs are now riders, so those and then
people need to realize that the ADA is different from
the medicaid that people used to get services that they
(22:58):
need to survive.
Speaker 1 (22:59):
So do you feel like sping of survived? Do you
feel like you watched the show because you feel like
a survivor yourself through everything or is it just a show?
Speaker 2 (23:13):
You like it's just a show? I like, I mean,
I just I just fell in love with UH, with
with UH, with Jeff. And two for those of you
wondering I had about the well some of the same
thoughts about the survivor of fifty cast as you are do. So,
(23:37):
I mean, I don't think everything's perfect, but you know,
I still love the show and I still love Jeff
and he's one of my dream podcast guests to interview.
Speaker 1 (23:48):
Well, I was gonna say it sounds like he's a
big fish you want to get on the show.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
Yes, he is the big fish to me, Well.
Speaker 1 (23:58):
We maybe, well, maybe we'll tack Jack and make it
happen for you. Who knows, right, who knows? Would you
yourself an influencer in the disability space and the adaptive
space or are you working to get there?
Speaker 2 (24:10):
Oh gosh, we don't have very many listeners yet, so
I would. I wouldn't think I'm an influencer, but I
would love to be.
Speaker 1 (24:18):
And because I do feel like this community, adaptive community,
Same Community is a niche podcast that a lot of
people can can benefit from, and I feel like you're
trying to get into that space even more here.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
Yes, I hope people can benefit from it, and I
hope they aren't too bored or are bummed out by
listening to it. I hope it's fun.
Speaker 1 (24:51):
And you said you know you want to do this
when you were seven? Is that right?
Speaker 2 (24:54):
Eight? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (24:56):
Me too. Around that age, I was like, I want
to do this for a living, and here we are
living it out.
Speaker 2 (25:03):
Yeah, it's crazy.
Speaker 1 (25:04):
So was traveling? Do you get to travel a lot, Devin?
Speaker 3 (25:08):
Or not?
Speaker 1 (25:08):
Really?
Speaker 2 (25:12):
Not really, because you know it's hard with the but
hopefully I'll get a chance to, like, you know, travel
some more too.
Speaker 1 (25:21):
So No, it is fun. I just want to know
if you ever had any airplane experience they want to
talk about or something like that.
Speaker 2 (25:27):
Oh, I've had airplane. I've been on it, like we
traveled before.
Speaker 1 (25:31):
But only reason I asked this is I feel like
that show, your show will be perfect to talk about
those experiences, ay, to make few people less alone in
their experiences and be to raise even more well just
awareness like hey Delta, hey so and so do better.
Speaker 2 (25:46):
Yeah. So, luckily I've never had any nightmare chair experiences
because we mostly fly Southwest and the cool thing about
Southwest is there their headquarters are in the same place
the company. I get my power wheelchair from their headquarters,
(26:09):
so they're trained in how to handle the chairs.
Speaker 1 (26:13):
So well, I got to ask you. This is Virginia,
Like you have a disabled community of disabled community in Virginia.
I mean, are you closed? Do you have friends that
are disabled in Virginia or Yeah?
Speaker 2 (26:30):
I have one friend, her name is Amani that's disabled
and so like, I don't go to like an act
group or something, but I do have friends that are
you know.
Speaker 1 (26:42):
I only ask if the New Yorkers may not understand that,
you know, there are populations not only in New York
that have people in there's millings. That's why I'm just curious.
Let me ask you this, Aside from the Jeff Probes
of the world, do you hope to have other adaptive
advocates on and people disabilities on to tell their stories?
Speaker 2 (27:02):
Yeah, I mean anybody who's welcome. I mean, we've had
a parent Olympian. She was awesome. Anybody's welcome.
Speaker 1 (27:13):
So and I think that because you're fairly new, you'll
find that the show is going to open doors. Just
the title alone, wheel with that's going to help you
open doors. And I know you got a different name,
So what made you change the name?
Speaker 2 (27:25):
Well, it used to be called Real Talk, and uh,
when we were doing research, we found out that me
and my ex boyfriend who didn't end well but when
we were good, we were doing research and we found
(27:47):
out that they were like five hundred Real Talk podcasts.
So I was like, okay, we need to change the
name and make it stand out.
Speaker 1 (27:55):
So and your name alone is probably helped stand out also.
All right, well, weal with it. We're looking forward to
more episodes and as you developed a comeback and tell
me how things are going, how the advocacy works going
on the show. I feel like that's one of your
main goals to be an advocate.
Speaker 2 (28:13):
Yeah, it is.
Speaker 1 (28:16):
Have you been to get in touch with Crosley's team,
I mean defense team and all that.
Speaker 2 (28:21):
I mean, yes, I've I've emailed their PR about they
are representing him pro bono and to find out more
about the case, you can go to Wheel with It
dot com, slash Green and so. Yes, I have been
(28:44):
in contact with the PR department.
Speaker 1 (28:46):
And you know what, when you wrote social justice, I
was like, Okay, I wonder if she's the type that
wants everybody freed and all that, But You're I feel
like that's not the message. Here's Oh god, no.
Speaker 2 (28:59):
There are some people that really deserves to be in jail,
and I would like to keep them there, but there
are some people that don't.
Speaker 1 (29:06):
So do you feel like you're you're thinking is outside
the box of just disabled community? Like I always think, Yeah,
we can think within the community, but we gotta think
of America on the whole and protecting all of us,
not just disabled community. Right.
Speaker 2 (29:21):
Yeah, So, I mean it's not gonna last if it's
like only good for the disabled community, and it puts
like the able body community like in debt without enough
body to put food on their table, Like that's not statable.
Speaker 1 (29:40):
So bringing your message with the able body community though,
you know, does that make you feel good? I have
to imagine it does, right, it does.
Speaker 2 (29:48):
I mean it makes me feel good when people are like,
oh my gosh, I didn't even know that was the issue.
I'm like and thank you for informing me. And I'm like,
you welcome, So so's it's it's uh, that's probably the
most awarding thing is people were like, oh my gosh,
(30:10):
I wasn't even a word that that was the thing.
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (30:15):
You know you mentioned the fraud. And I do feel
like the medicaid fraud gives people really need this medicaid
a bad name or whatever. It jeopardizes everybody. So how
would you advise, say the local government, federal government to
weed out those who are committing fraud, but keep the
keep it for those who need it.
Speaker 2 (30:37):
So this has been talked about at a recent hearing
which I have to go and get and put on
my website at were with it dot com. Slash Reform
but I don't know if people are gonna want to
watch like the whole like two hours of it, but
I'll put it up there just But but what would.
Speaker 1 (30:58):
Your advice be, I mean, what would you hear inside?
What would you suggest?
Speaker 2 (31:07):
Like I said, I got sidechecked but this uh so
she was mentioned at the hearing something called front end ID,
which is where when you apply for a benefit you
have to Most of these devices now have like touch
or face ID, so when you apply for benefits, you
have to use touch ID to apply, and then when
(31:28):
you log into the accounts to either check something or
apply for more benefits, you would have to confirm yourself
with touch ID to ensure that it's not somebody else
trying to apply in your day. And of course that
they would have to be or a coovery system in case,
(31:50):
you know, people got a new computer and you know,
or lost the ability to do touch ID somehow. But
that would be one thing that we could do immediately prevents.
Speaker 1 (32:04):
Well, that's that's interesting. Now there's real ID. Also, by
the way, spring of ID. Is that going to help
or hurt the disabled community?
Speaker 2 (32:11):
Do you think? I don't think it's going to do
anything with like the medicaid.
Speaker 1 (32:15):
So do you think it's needed though, I don't even
know why real idea is needed, but I guess it
makes I.
Speaker 2 (32:23):
Mean, I don't know. I mean maybe maybe not. I
guess to see, but I don't think we are idea
is going to effect medicaid, Devin.
Speaker 1 (32:34):
When you crack open the mic for Wheel with It,
what fires you up?
Speaker 2 (32:37):
Like?
Speaker 1 (32:38):
What what really brings you to the microphone each and
every time?
Speaker 2 (32:42):
Getting to talk with people like you You've been awesome?
Uh and yeah, just so hearing these really like inspiring
stories and impactful stories and being like, I don't know
how you got out of bed every day, Like what
I complain about is miniscule compared to you, Uh, committed
(33:08):
what others are going through?
Speaker 1 (33:09):
No, absolutely, that is so true. Yeah, I roll play
around New York, so I definitely feel like I get
a bit of that Wheel with It vibe for sure.
And you know, it's interesting because in New York you
got to deal with all the accessibility and making sure
elevators are working on all that. Have you had people
from other states talk about their experiences yet?
Speaker 2 (33:33):
Yeah, I've had people from all kinds of states on
I haven't gotten into the weeds about how they're medicaidd
down there because I don't when we live down there,
so there's nothing I can do about it, But you
know your The only.
Speaker 1 (33:54):
Thing I want to talk about before we go is
this SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act, which is also UH
important for those who want to marry.
Speaker 2 (34:04):
Yes, I prefer the SSI Restoration Act, but I think
we need to pass both the SSI Restoration Act and
the SSI.
Speaker 1 (34:15):
Excuse me, I broke I sneeze there, Sorry about that.
Speaker 2 (34:21):
Sorry, and the SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act. The SSI
Restoration Act UH removes the marriage penalty, which means that
(34:41):
your spouse's income won't be counted against you, and it
exempts among other things, and it also exempts the things
like retirement accounts and being counted as income or assets
when you apply for a bit of it. And it
raises the asset limit for a single person to ten
(35:05):
thousand dollars and for couples to twenty thousand.
Speaker 1 (35:09):
So wow, all right, I gotta say in your in
your pitch, Also, which I loved is that you feel
like you've your life has afforded you a unique as
you right a unique opportunity to explore subjects with great
interest and passion. Tell us how this life you have
(35:30):
has opened doors for you?
Speaker 2 (35:33):
Well, I think, uh, I think not many people would
know or be talking about the Medicaid if it wasn't
for people with they're already you know, getting out there
and saying, hey, like we need to change this here.
(35:55):
And yeah, so I think I have a unique perspective
on things like Medicaid.
Speaker 1 (36:08):
Well, because you're living, and I think that's so important
to know, is that you're in this experience. Although I
love that you also want to work. That's pretty awesome too.
You know I once got told why don't just go
on disability? I don't have a game of violence, but
I definitely wanted to punch that guy out, just just
just off the record.
Speaker 2 (36:26):
Yeah, the whole just get on disaparity thing. I'm like,
it's not like a free handout. They have so many
restrictions that you have to go through.
Speaker 1 (36:41):
Do you want to encourage more people to join the
workforce if you have disability? Is that one of your
goals to.
Speaker 2 (36:46):
More people with disabarities? Yes?
Speaker 1 (36:50):
And how maybe you get the Department of Labor on
how would you want to achieve.
Speaker 2 (36:53):
That more like were my positions, like letting more people
work remotely. I know that it's not like a popular
thing with employers right now for understandable reasons, but you know,
sometimes that's the only thing that we can do. So
(37:18):
I think the biggest thing besides using the shway and
asset limits is at the federal level for the medicaid
is letting more people work remotely.
Speaker 1 (37:30):
So well, we can go and I want to have
you on for another conversation because we can go and
talk for hours about all of this, because I feel
like we're talking about here about forwarding people opportunities and
really the government affording us opportunities also, So I want
to pick this up on another conversation and get more
(37:50):
of your perspective as your podcast continues to grow.
Speaker 2 (37:53):
Also, yes, and you're welcome to be on my podcast.
I will send you the scheduling link.
Speaker 1 (38:00):
Would love that, all right, Devin. Awesome, first conversation of
many and we will be talking with you soon on
the one that up network.
Speaker 2 (38:08):
Okay, thank you for having it.
Speaker 1 (38:10):
I love all right, talk to you soon, Devin. Thank
you
All right, Well back here on the one loog Up Network,
I'm Alex Scarrett and I've got a very special guest
featured from Podmatch. You know, our connection with pod Match
continued and our partnership pod Match continues, and they've connected
me with an awesome person I could tell already we've
just met today, but Devin Wheers, we've been talking about
this for finally getting this on the books and then recorded.
(00:22):
Thanks for joining the one log Up Network today, Devin.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Thank you for having me. I've been like looking forward
to this one for ever, so thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
Of course, and you are based in Virginia, if I
may say so, We're we're having an East coast connection here.
But talk to me about what you do. I know
you have the podcast we Ope me and you're very
much an advocate for those disabilities because you yourself have
I believe CP if I'm not mistaken, right, yes, and
(00:54):
thinking that and turn it into an advocacy project as well.
So where do you want to start?
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Like you said, I had the podcast deal with It
where I talked to basically anybody that has had like
a fascinating or inspiring life and obviously people with disabilities
are soken is fascinating people. We all conversations so as
you can probably tough on that, we talked with anybody
(01:20):
that's had a fascinating, inspiring life that we can learn from,
and it's been really fun. Some of the notable guests
I've had were in Moriarty for forty eight hours and
she was so amazing and nice, Oh my gosh. And
I've loved the show Survivor, so I had a Survivor
(01:40):
journalist that is covered Survivor and Jeff Pope's career extensively,
and she was also amazing. So I've had the privilege
of hosting those I also had the director and producer
of something called Patrese the movie, which we will talk
about much more later in the show, and they were
(02:05):
amazing and the advocacy work that they're doing is amazing.
So I've had the priviginal to host a lot of
those people, and it's been, like I still pinch myself,
it's been. It's been crazy.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
About when you started this whole podcast idea and what
inspired you to start it?
Speaker 2 (02:25):
So what inspired me to start it is two things.
I've always loved the show Survivor and basically I've wanted
to be in this industry since I was about entertainment
and production industry, because I was about eight years old.
(02:45):
Because I saw Jeff Copes said I thought he were
just the coolest dude ever, So I wanted to do
whatever he did. So so that's one reason. And two
I was listening to If you like the rd TV,
you must listen to this POT because they analyze, you know,
every new episode of survivor every new episode of Big Brother,
(03:06):
and they talk about the strategy and they're also hilarious.
Rob has a podcast, and I thought I could do that.
How hard could it be? And the answer is very
And so that's basically how I got started. It started
as a Survivor recap podcast, and to make a long
(03:29):
story short, it kind of morphed into this after a while.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
Well, I love that we say you're a podcaster and
a writer who just happens out of CP and that
means to me, you don't let it define you. And
I feel like that it is a message that we
have to get out there. More is that we cannot
let our disability define us, right.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
Right, So yeah, I feel like society tends to let
it define us. A little bit, but I try not
to let it define me Sundays a better than others.
And but you know, I'm trying to define me.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
So and now have you been able to get all
these great people on your show? It sounds like you've
been growing connections through this podcast.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Email. I had this service called Signal Hire. It is expensive,
but if you want to get the big guns, it's
worth it because it will show you anybody's email if
they have a LinkedIn, whether it's on the publicly, on
the LinkedIn or not. So all you do is go
(04:30):
to their LinkedIn page, you open up the little Signal
Higher app. Once you're on the LinkedIn page, it's a
web app, and then and then it'll display their emails.
And that's how I've been able to get most of
these people. Devin.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
Any real life experiences that you have had that inspired
you to not only write but do the podcast as well.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
Yeah, I think just like living with a disability and
seeing the improvement it that's needed in the not just
petting things, but you know, reforming things as a whole.
I think that's pretty much what inspired me to start,
(05:14):
uh this podcast as it is now.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
And when you're not interviewing guests. Do you do your
own monologues on different issues? You tackle a lot of
different things. I know you talk about criminal justice and
and yes, Medicaid are those highlights and and really things
you doubled down on on your podcast.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
I don't do a lot of SOOL episodes, but yes,
we've done a lot of issues on you know, Medicaid
Purchased the movie is one of those. And then we
we did Aaron Moriarty was a specific case that I'm
(05:53):
following of a guy named Crawsley Green, who I believe
was once we convicted of murder in Florida nineteen ninety
and so, and that episode with Aaron Moriarty was about
that case. So, you know, we've done episodes on it.
I don't do a lot of so episodes. I do some,
(06:16):
but like when there's a stretch like we we don't
have a guest for three or four weeks, like I'll
do one SO episode just to like let people know,
like I'm still here, but you know, we have plenty
of material recorded.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
Now I got to talk about how this podcast you
do make to does it make you feel less isolated?
I mean it sounds like you're all about town. But
does the podcast help you feel like you're part of
this community and a community?
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Yes, it does, and it makes me feel like, you know,
I'm hoping to change stuff and so you know, I
like doing it.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
Do you feel like your podcast helps inspire others as well?
I feel like that's another thing you're trying to do
here right.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
Yes, I hope it does. I mean, I don't know,
but I hope it does.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
I got to get into the Social Security because we're
talking about the right time, because medicaid is undergoing a
lot of what I find, it's under threat for a
lot of people, and I'm sure you're following it closely.
So how do you hope weal with it can bring
that awareness about Well, we're.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
Not talking about I don't talk about whether we need
to cut people or I just talk about the federal
regulations that make it almost impossible for people that need
to help to get the help. So, for example, right now,
you can only have if you're a single person, you
can only have two thousand dollars and assets, and two
(07:52):
thousand dollars if you're a couple. And those regulations have
not been updated since nineteen eighty nine and social Security,
which is tied to Medicaid in Medicare because you have
to get Social Security to qualify for those things. Also
as holding out penalty, which means, with the exception of
(08:15):
like a handful of states that I found a work around,
you can't live with your partner without even if you're
not legally married, without their income being counted against you.
So basically, if you get married or have a full
time job, then unless it's like an exorbitant SALI, which
(08:36):
most of them aren't when you start out, then you
will be making too much money to qualify for the services,
but not enough to pay for it out of pocket.
So that's where we're at right now.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
And you're find because as someone who has been disabled
community in my whole life and been part of the
Ascarti School, which is obviously a school for computal disabilities,
I find that the American dream isn't always is there,
and we need voices like yours to say, hey, make
it more open for those visabilities.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
Right, yeah, yeah, I mean I think we do need
to cut like there are a lot of people that
are abusing medicaid, but and we need to cut the
waste down a medicaid. But that's not where we stop.
After we cut the waste, we need to make it
(09:25):
easier for the people that actually need it to work
and be productive and get their services. That's the same.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
You know, why don't more people have your approach of
all right, yes, we have to cut where we need
to cut, but they all forget about the cutting and
don't think about what happens to make it more accessible.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
Right, yeah, So, and I don't like to force powit
has on anything. So you could cut this out if
it's But if you read JD. Vance's book Kilbury Energy.
I know most of you have seen the movie, but
please read the book because he talks about the welfare
(10:07):
and how these very issues and how and the audiobook
does not read the last four pages because it was
added when the second edition came out after the movie.
So please, if you have a chance, read the last
four pages at the very least, because throughout the book
(10:28):
he reads to it. But in the last four pages,
especially in the afterward, he talks about these very issues
and how we need to reform these services to help
people be productive and keep their services at the same time.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
So how do we help people from melting down over
every news story. I feel like there's a meltdown every
news story in the same community. I feel like you're saying, no,
let's have a level even keel about things, right.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
Yeah, So people have no idea how medicaid actually work
unless they work with the day to day like for
a job like a social worker or something, or they're
on it, like, they have no idea how to actually worry.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
H where to graduate school? I'm curiouscause you're a college
graduate writer.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
Tell us about that, chrispher Newport Go captains. It was.
It was very It was a very good experience. I
love my professors, so that's very awesome.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
So you say you look forward to this podcast, So
what kind of message you want to bring onto the
show and help people have one leg up in life.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
So first of all, they need to go to Real
with It dot com so I actually form to learn
about the legislation that's before congo's to reform these things.
And then I would just say that please look into
(11:55):
how government services actually work instead of freaking out over
every news story.
Speaker 1 (12:03):
No, I love that message because I do feel like
if you're gonna forgot about it, get involved, and you're
getting involved in the cause. Now you're by Virginia, So
have you ever gone to DC to advocate or done
anything like that?
Speaker 2 (12:17):
That's in the plans to go to DC. And what
I would say to you for yours as well is
there's a lot of room and a lot of states
for improvement at a state level with their medicaid waivers,
because how it works is each state can run their
Medicaid and Medicaid waivers, which is what helps you get
(12:40):
personal assistants that are paid to the state, equipment, stuff
like that as they see fit, as long as they
follow the federal guidelines. So thankfully, where I am in
Virginia is very far advanced and does not have much
room for improvement at all because literally they're almost like
the ideal waiver. I mean, there are feudal things, but
(13:02):
they're mostly the ideal what waiver. But with a lot
of these things, there's improvements at the state level. So
please talk to your state legislature before you go up
and advocate for federal.
Speaker 1 (13:17):
How accessible is your state? Like I find that New
York can be improved with accessibility. I mean it is accessible,
but there are many improvements. Is Virginia accessible for you
to wheel around and if you don't mind me.
Speaker 2 (13:28):
Asking, well, I've never been in Virginia anywhere but where
I live, so I mean, yeah, that's it's pretty accessible here.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
That's awesome.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
I don't know about any other parts.
Speaker 1 (13:47):
So you have felt like the need to go into
your local you know, congress legislatures and hey, make these
streets accessible for me in Virginia.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
No, I have not gone because where I live is
pretty accessible.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
But you know, I see you're on these all these
other platforms. What was it like getting on these different
platforms with your voice? It must have been kind of exciting, right,
I mean, yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
Like people can listen to it everywhere. I use Spotify
for podcasters as you probably do, and make cit easier
to upload.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
And yeah, So I want to like the social justice
because I wonder if you're you're covering that in the
disabled community as well as you know, maybe those who
are wrongfully convicted.
Speaker 2 (14:39):
I mean, any social cause I like. But you know,
I find that if you advocate for everything like it
overwhelms you. So just the case in Florida a little bit,
because we're at a point where we can't really do
much about that right now, and the medicaid before it
are the two main things.
Speaker 1 (15:01):
Yeah, No, medicaid is definitely now your journey. Obviously, Sorry
this podcast and all that, I have to ask, if
you don't mind me asking, did you have a lot
of you know, and I know you got your interviewing
technique FM drift proach, but talk about the speech therapy
that you might have had growing up. Did that help
you get to where you are right now?
Speaker 2 (15:22):
So I went through speech therapy mostly through my school.
I got outside p G and OG, but the speech
was through school an enemy and all through middle school,
and yeah, it definitely helped. The middle school speech therapist
was very tough on me, but it definitely helped.
Speaker 1 (15:45):
So now you just mentioned you were in public school
growing up, Yes, how was that experience?
Speaker 2 (15:55):
It was good. I hated high school with the exception
of my senior year and a couple of teachers. There
was some getchy stuff happening at the high school. But
you know, I had an aid that was amazing, so
(16:15):
that made it better. I was never boyed or anything,
but there was you know, get stuff happening at the
high school. But I loved intermediate.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
Any stigmas that you like to so I like the
term smashing stigmas because I feel like people with disabilities
are sort of stereotype. We can only do this, that
and the other, and yet here we are smashing stigmas
on the daily. Any kind of smashing stigmas that you
like to smash on your podcast just by interviewing people too.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
Basically, what bigues do I would well, one that we
don't want romantic love like the rest of you. I mean,
of course we do. But and two that all people
(17:07):
that are like in wheelchairs, have a cognitive disability. Those
are the two main ones that I see dating.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
I know you mentioned you've been in the day life.
Has that always been fun? Challenging? What's that been like
for you?
Speaker 2 (17:28):
That's been that's been I haven't dated in years. That's
been challenging just because of like transportation and everything. And
like I said, I had my recent reagionship and by
recent I mean like a few years ago didn't end
very well. So it's been challenging.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
But you know, Devin, I love the term wiel with
it because I feel like it just shows you're not
letting anything stop you. Is that a message you try
and convey on your podcast? There's literally real that no
matter what you're going through.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
Yes, actually that that's that's very that's very good. I've
never thought about that, but yes, that's grey.
Speaker 1 (18:10):
No, I could I could tell that that's that's part
of your drive. Now when I talked when I think
of advocates, I think of someone that's out there on
the front lines. Have you ever I would say a
tender protest? But have you ever been on the front
lines of any kind of you know, advocacy.
Speaker 2 (18:26):
Work, Uh, front lines? I would say, Well, the closest
I've gotten front lines is that case in Florida. But honestly, like,
I've never gotten to a protest or anything like that.
Speaker 1 (18:38):
But well, and I asked that because do you feel
like this kind of medium of podcasts is better to
get the word out than literally storming, you know, anywhere?
Speaker 2 (18:46):
Yes, definitely, it's much less confrontational. So I don't really
like confrontation until we absolutely have to do that.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
And do you feel like your podcast is in existence
because you want to educate people? I feel like, well,
you're just wanted the state breakdown of Medicaid. Not many
people may know about that. It's a state's thing, not
really a federal thing. That they have to go to
their state.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
Birds. Yeah, most people didn't know it was a state thing.
Until I got on Medicaid. I didn't know what a
state thing. But it's mostly a state thing. So yes,
education is a huge part of what we do now.
Speaker 1 (19:30):
When you say again on a lot of people disabilities,
kids with disabilities are on it from a very young age.
When did you start it and when did you get
awareness of you know, what medicaid was.
Speaker 2 (19:40):
Was well, I started at sixteme on the Medicaid waiver.
My parents were very hesitant to ask for any kind
of help from the government, but then we saw the
price of the new power wheelchair trying to get I mean,
I had one, but we needed another one because they
(20:01):
don't last forever. And they saw the price and they
were like, okay, yeah, we need help. So then we
got on the Medicaid. And then when I.
Speaker 4 (20:15):
Really realized what was going on is after I got
out of the college, I started applying for jobs, knowing
that the SURI limit in Virginia the SALI limit very
sweetly by state, but the asset.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
Limit is vital and the SALLY limit in Virginia is
like thirty six thousand dollars, like give or take of
like a few hundred dollars, and so I was like, okay, perfect,
Like that's just starting salari right. And I was looking
(20:49):
at jobs and it was like forty two and I
was like, okay, I can't do that one. That's too
much funey. And then I got to the next one
it was like forty four and I was like, that's
too much money.
Speaker 1 (21:01):
I feel like if people are gonna get aid, they
should also be able to pursue their career, get that job.
Speaker 2 (21:07):
That's yeah.
Speaker 1 (21:09):
So is that one of your missions is to change
that the the conditions, if you will, of these different things.
Speaker 2 (21:15):
Yes, my mission, My main mission is to change the
federal regulations because I know I just said start with state,
but Virginia is good on a state level, so I
have to go straight to federal, which I do not
like because federal government is crazy. And so my mission
(21:45):
is to get the SSI Restoration and or SSI Saving
spinozi Uh Elimination Act passed. And yeah, that's pretty much
my that's pretty much my main mission at this point.
Speaker 1 (22:07):
I want to switch the ADA because I feel like
we're on the same wavelength here that people tend to
weaponize the ADA, and I feel like, am I right
on that?
Speaker 2 (22:22):
Yeah? People are ignorant as to what the ADA doesn't do.
Speaker 1 (22:27):
And as a research re you kind of duved into
that research as well. Of the ADA. Yes, a little bit.
Speaker 2 (22:36):
It needs to be updated in certain respects. The bathroom
stalls to be considered. ADA need to be rider because
the power chairs are now riders, so those and then
people need to realize that the ADA is different from
the medicaid that people used to get services that they
(22:58):
need to survive.
Speaker 1 (22:59):
So do you feel like sping of survived? Do you
feel like you watched the show because you feel like
a survivor yourself through everything or is it just a show?
Speaker 2 (23:13):
You like it's just a show? I like, I mean,
I just I just fell in love with UH, with
with UH, with Jeff. And two for those of you
wondering I had about the well some of the same
thoughts about the survivor of fifty cast as you are do. So,
(23:37):
I mean, I don't think everything's perfect, but you know,
I still love the show and I still love Jeff
and he's one of my dream podcast guests to interview.
Speaker 1 (23:48):
Well, I was gonna say it sounds like he's a
big fish you want to get on the show.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
Yes, he is the big fish to me, Well.
Speaker 1 (23:58):
We maybe, well, maybe we'll tack Jack and make it
happen for you. Who knows, right, who knows? Would you
yourself an influencer in the disability space and the adaptive
space or are you working to get there?
Speaker 2 (24:10):
Oh gosh, we don't have very many listeners yet, so
I would. I wouldn't think I'm an influencer, but I
would love to be.
Speaker 1 (24:18):
And because I do feel like this community, adaptive community,
Same Community is a niche podcast that a lot of
people can can benefit from, and I feel like you're
trying to get into that space even more here.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
Yes, I hope people can benefit from it, and I
hope they aren't too bored or are bummed out by
listening to it. I hope it's fun.
Speaker 1 (24:51):
And you said you know you want to do this
when you were seven? Is that right?
Speaker 2 (24:54):
Eight? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (24:56):
Me too. Around that age, I was like, I want
to do this for a living, and here we are
living it out.
Speaker 2 (25:03):
Yeah, it's crazy.
Speaker 1 (25:04):
So was traveling? Do you get to travel a lot, Devin?
Speaker 3 (25:08):
Or not?
Speaker 1 (25:08):
Really?
Speaker 2 (25:12):
Not really, because you know it's hard with the but
hopefully I'll get a chance to, like, you know, travel
some more too.
Speaker 1 (25:21):
So No, it is fun. I just want to know
if you ever had any airplane experience they want to
talk about or something like that.
Speaker 2 (25:27):
Oh, I've had airplane. I've been on it, like we
traveled before.
Speaker 1 (25:31):
But only reason I asked this is I feel like
that show, your show will be perfect to talk about
those experiences, ay, to make few people less alone in
their experiences and be to raise even more well just
awareness like hey Delta, hey so and so do better.
Speaker 2 (25:46):
Yeah. So, luckily I've never had any nightmare chair experiences
because we mostly fly Southwest and the cool thing about
Southwest is there their headquarters are in the same place
the company. I get my power wheelchair from their headquarters,
(26:09):
so they're trained in how to handle the chairs.
Speaker 1 (26:13):
So well, I got to ask you. This is Virginia,
Like you have a disabled community of disabled community in Virginia.
I mean, are you closed? Do you have friends that
are disabled in Virginia or Yeah?
Speaker 2 (26:30):
I have one friend, her name is Amani that's disabled
and so like, I don't go to like an act
group or something, but I do have friends that are
you know.
Speaker 1 (26:42):
I only ask if the New Yorkers may not understand that,
you know, there are populations not only in New York
that have people in there's millings. That's why I'm just curious.
Let me ask you this, Aside from the Jeff Probes
of the world, do you hope to have other adaptive
advocates on and people disabilities on to tell their stories?
Speaker 2 (27:02):
Yeah, I mean anybody who's welcome. I mean, we've had
a parent Olympian. She was awesome. Anybody's welcome.
Speaker 1 (27:13):
So and I think that because you're fairly new, you'll
find that the show is going to open doors. Just
the title alone, wheel with that's going to help you
open doors. And I know you got a different name,
So what made you change the name?
Speaker 2 (27:25):
Well, it used to be called Real Talk, and uh,
when we were doing research, we found out that me
and my ex boyfriend who didn't end well but when
we were good, we were doing research and we found
(27:47):
out that they were like five hundred Real Talk podcasts.
So I was like, okay, we need to change the
name and make it stand out.
Speaker 1 (27:55):
So and your name alone is probably helped stand out also.
All right, well, weal with it. We're looking forward to
more episodes and as you developed a comeback and tell
me how things are going, how the advocacy works going
on the show. I feel like that's one of your
main goals to be an advocate.
Speaker 2 (28:13):
Yeah, it is.
Speaker 1 (28:16):
Have you been to get in touch with Crosley's team,
I mean defense team and all that.
Speaker 2 (28:21):
I mean, yes, I've I've emailed their PR about they
are representing him pro bono and to find out more
about the case, you can go to Wheel with It
dot com, slash Green and so. Yes, I have been
(28:44):
in contact with the PR department.
Speaker 1 (28:46):
And you know what, when you wrote social justice, I
was like, Okay, I wonder if she's the type that
wants everybody freed and all that, But You're I feel
like that's not the message. Here's Oh god, no.
Speaker 2 (28:59):
There are some people that really deserves to be in jail,
and I would like to keep them there, but there
are some people that don't.
Speaker 1 (29:06):
So do you feel like you're you're thinking is outside
the box of just disabled community? Like I always think, Yeah,
we can think within the community, but we gotta think
of America on the whole and protecting all of us,
not just disabled community. Right.
Speaker 2 (29:21):
Yeah, So, I mean it's not gonna last if it's
like only good for the disabled community, and it puts
like the able body community like in debt without enough
body to put food on their table, Like that's not statable.
Speaker 1 (29:40):
So bringing your message with the able body community though,
you know, does that make you feel good? I have
to imagine it does, right, it does.
Speaker 2 (29:48):
I mean it makes me feel good when people are like,
oh my gosh, I didn't even know that was the issue.
I'm like and thank you for informing me. And I'm like,
you welcome, So so's it's it's uh, that's probably the
most awarding thing is people were like, oh my gosh,
(30:10):
I wasn't even a word that that was the thing.
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (30:15):
You know you mentioned the fraud. And I do feel
like the medicaid fraud gives people really need this medicaid
a bad name or whatever. It jeopardizes everybody. So how
would you advise, say the local government, federal government to
weed out those who are committing fraud, but keep the
keep it for those who need it.
Speaker 2 (30:37):
So this has been talked about at a recent hearing
which I have to go and get and put on
my website at were with it dot com. Slash Reform
but I don't know if people are gonna want to
watch like the whole like two hours of it, but
I'll put it up there just But but what would.
Speaker 1 (30:58):
Your advice be, I mean, what would you hear inside?
What would you suggest?
Speaker 2 (31:07):
Like I said, I got sidechecked but this uh so
she was mentioned at the hearing something called front end ID,
which is where when you apply for a benefit you
have to Most of these devices now have like touch
or face ID, so when you apply for benefits, you
have to use touch ID to apply, and then when
(31:28):
you log into the accounts to either check something or
apply for more benefits, you would have to confirm yourself
with touch ID to ensure that it's not somebody else
trying to apply in your day. And of course that
they would have to be or a coovery system in case,
(31:50):
you know, people got a new computer and you know,
or lost the ability to do touch ID somehow. But
that would be one thing that we could do immediately prevents.
Speaker 1 (32:04):
Well, that's that's interesting. Now there's real ID. Also, by
the way, spring of ID. Is that going to help
or hurt the disabled community?
Speaker 2 (32:11):
Do you think? I don't think it's going to do
anything with like the medicaid.
Speaker 1 (32:15):
So do you think it's needed though, I don't even
know why real idea is needed, but I guess it
makes I.
Speaker 2 (32:23):
Mean, I don't know. I mean maybe maybe not. I
guess to see, but I don't think we are idea
is going to effect medicaid, Devin.
Speaker 1 (32:34):
When you crack open the mic for Wheel with It,
what fires you up?
Speaker 2 (32:37):
Like?
Speaker 1 (32:38):
What what really brings you to the microphone each and
every time?
Speaker 2 (32:42):
Getting to talk with people like you You've been awesome?
Uh and yeah, just so hearing these really like inspiring
stories and impactful stories and being like, I don't know
how you got out of bed every day, Like what
I complain about is miniscule compared to you, Uh, committed
(33:08):
what others are going through?
Speaker 1 (33:09):
No, absolutely, that is so true. Yeah, I roll play
around New York, so I definitely feel like I get
a bit of that Wheel with It vibe for sure.
And you know, it's interesting because in New York you
got to deal with all the accessibility and making sure
elevators are working on all that. Have you had people
from other states talk about their experiences yet?
Speaker 2 (33:33):
Yeah, I've had people from all kinds of states on
I haven't gotten into the weeds about how they're medicaidd
down there because I don't when we live down there,
so there's nothing I can do about it, But you
know your The only.
Speaker 1 (33:54):
Thing I want to talk about before we go is
this SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act, which is also UH
important for those who want to marry.
Speaker 2 (34:04):
Yes, I prefer the SSI Restoration Act, but I think
we need to pass both the SSI Restoration Act and
the SSI.
Speaker 1 (34:15):
Excuse me, I broke I sneeze there, Sorry about that.
Speaker 2 (34:21):
Sorry, and the SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act. The SSI
Restoration Act UH removes the marriage penalty, which means that
(34:41):
your spouse's income won't be counted against you, and it
exempts among other things, and it also exempts the things
like retirement accounts and being counted as income or assets
when you apply for a bit of it. And it
raises the asset limit for a single person to ten
(35:05):
thousand dollars and for couples to twenty thousand.
Speaker 1 (35:09):
So wow, all right, I gotta say in your in
your pitch, Also, which I loved is that you feel
like you've your life has afforded you a unique as
you right a unique opportunity to explore subjects with great
interest and passion. Tell us how this life you have
(35:30):
has opened doors for you?
Speaker 2 (35:33):
Well, I think, uh, I think not many people would
know or be talking about the Medicaid if it wasn't
for people with they're already you know, getting out there
and saying, hey, like we need to change this here.
(35:55):
And yeah, so I think I have a unique perspective
on things like Medicaid.
Speaker 1 (36:08):
Well, because you're living, and I think that's so important
to know, is that you're in this experience. Although I
love that you also want to work. That's pretty awesome too.
You know I once got told why don't just go
on disability? I don't have a game of violence, but
I definitely wanted to punch that guy out, just just
just off the record.
Speaker 2 (36:26):
Yeah, the whole just get on disaparity thing. I'm like,
it's not like a free handout. They have so many
restrictions that you have to go through.
Speaker 1 (36:41):
Do you want to encourage more people to join the
workforce if you have disability? Is that one of your
goals to.
Speaker 2 (36:46):
More people with disabarities? Yes?
Speaker 1 (36:50):
And how maybe you get the Department of Labor on
how would you want to achieve.
Speaker 2 (36:53):
That more like were my positions, like letting more people
work remotely. I know that it's not like a popular
thing with employers right now for understandable reasons, but you know,
sometimes that's the only thing that we can do. So
(37:18):
I think the biggest thing besides using the shway and
asset limits is at the federal level for the medicaid
is letting more people work remotely.
Speaker 1 (37:30):
So well, we can go and I want to have
you on for another conversation because we can go and
talk for hours about all of this, because I feel
like we're talking about here about forwarding people opportunities and
really the government affording us opportunities also, So I want
to pick this up on another conversation and get more
(37:50):
of your perspective as your podcast continues to grow.
Speaker 2 (37:53):
Also, yes, and you're welcome to be on my podcast.
I will send you the scheduling link.
Speaker 1 (38:00):
Would love that, all right, Devin. Awesome, first conversation of
many and we will be talking with you soon on
the one that up network.
Speaker 2 (38:08):
Okay, thank you for having it.
Speaker 1 (38:10):
I love all right, talk to you soon, Devin. Thank
you
Popular Podcasts
NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal
Gregg Rosenthal and a rotating crew of elite NFL Media co-hosts, including Patrick Claybon, Colleen Wolfe, Steve Wyche, Nick Shook and Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic get you caught up daily on all the NFL news and analysis you need to be smarter and funnier than your friends.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com