In this episode, Brendan Aylward is joined by Dustin Giannelli, a deaf motivational speaker and advocate for inclusion and accessibility. They discuss the importance of having conversations about disability, creating an inclusive environment, and the imperativeness of accessibility for those with hearing impairments. Dustin shares his experiences in sports and how his hearing loss has impacted him both positively and negatively. They also talk about Dustin's transition to a career in public speaking, the challenges he has faced, and the need for self-promotion and advocacy. The conversation concludes with a discussion on making fitness more accessible and the importance of considering accessibility in gym design.

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Episode 30 Takeaways

• Having conversations about disability is crucial for creating an inclusive environment.
• Captions play a significant role in accessibility and should be considered in various settings.
• Innovation and accommodations in sports can provide opportunities for individuals with disabilities to participate and excel.
• Self-promotion and advocacy are important for success in any career.
• Improving accessibility in fitness facilities can make fitness more inclusive for everyone.

Episode 30 Chapters

00:00- Introduction and Podcast Setup

01:10- Introducing Dustin Giannelli

03:12- Advocating for Inclusion and Accessibility

06:23- Having Conversations about Disability

08:23- Universal Design and Accessibility

09:20- The Importance of Captions

10:14- Different Types of Captions

12:28- Creating an Inclusive Environment

14:36- Understanding Deafness and Disability

16:20- Choosing Lip Reading over Sign Language

18:11- Advantages and Disadvantages in Sports

20:31- Innovation and Accommodations in Sports

22:56- Transitioning to a Career in Speaking

25:31- Promoting and Advocating for Yourself

28:22- Building Relationships and Partnerships

30:29- Making Presentations Motivational and Actionable

32:53- Challenges and Failures in the Journey

35:48- Disability Simulations and Etiquette

39:14- Embracing the Term 'Disabled'

42:20- Highlights and Opportunities

44:42- Making Fitness More Accessible

46:02- Improving Accessibility in Gyms

47:29- Closing Remarks