ANCOR Links

Advocacy, like anything else, evolves, and we have to evolve along with it. That's why ANCOR and United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) partnered to develop the Case for Inclusion report. Now, the Case for Inclusion, which used to be an annual report, is a two-pronged report—the Data Snapshot and Policy Blueprint.

To discuss the switch, the latest Data Snapshot, and tips for using the reports in Federal and State advocacy, Diane Wilush, CEO of UCP, joined André for a thorough overview!=================Resources

Case for Inclusion 2026 Data Snapshot

ANCOR Advocacy Toolkit

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This podcast is produced by ANCOR, the leading voice in Washington, DC, for providers of services for people with disabilities. Views expressed during the podcast do not necessarily reflect the position of ANCOR.

To learn more, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ancor.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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Intro and outro music provided by YouTube Audio Library Intro Music ⓒ V for Victory - Audionautix Outro Music ⓒ Dirt Rhodes - Kevin MacLeod

In this episode, André welcomes coworkers turned cohosts, Lauren Middleberg & Alli Strong-Martin for a revised version of Show & Tell!

The task was to each bring a show to spotlight and discuss that featured disability in some way. ***There are light storyline spoilers*** for Atypical, Special, and The Pitt. And a full spoiler for who won gold in the Women's Monobob event at the Winter Olympics, sorry for ruining that for you!

During the course of the discussion we highlight relatability, contrast representation and inclusion, and get some excellent show recommendations! Join us!

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This podcast is produced by ANCOR, the leading voice in Washington, DC, for providers of services for people with disabilities. Views expressed during the podcast do not necessarily reflect the position of ANCOR.

To learn more, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ancor.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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Intro and outro music provided by YouTube Audio Library Intro Music ⓒ V for Victory - Audionautix Outro Music ⓒ Dirt Rhodes - Kevin MacLeod

The ANCOR Foundation launched the Leadership Academy on May 1, 2017 to nurture emerging leaders who are building their careers in services and supports for people with disabilities. Over the course of two years, the Foundation provides training and mentoring opportunities to support mid-career professionals in cultivating their areas of expertise and thought-leadership to build influence and reputation in the national I/DD community as the next generation of leaders.

In this episode you'll hear from three graduates of the program, Rachel Fuller (Skills, Inc.), Liz Armentrout (Systems Unlimited), and Jordan Eddings (LikeSkills, Inc.). They'll discuss what drew them to the opportunity, their experiences, learnings and challenges during the program, the camaraderie built with others in their class, and so much more.

Listen to how the council aims to help us collectively raise our voices in the worldwide human rights movement in support of people with I/DD!

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This podcast is produced by ANCOR, the leading voice in Washington, DC, for providers of services for people with disabilities. Views expressed during the podcast do not necessarily reflect the position of ANCOR.

To learn more, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ancor.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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Intro and outro music provided by YouTube Audio Library Intro Music ⓒ V for Victory - Audionautix Outro Music ⓒ Dirt Rhodes - Kevin MacLeod

Ever wonder how disability services work in other cultures, societies and/or countries? The ANCOR Global Council was created to explore just that, and to create opportunities for members to learn from intellectual and developmental disability (I/DD) service delivery systems beyond the 50 states.In this episode, ANCOR CEO, Barbara Merrill, and G.N. Janes, CEO of Valley Community Services, share their experiences as longtime members of the council. They share experiences they've had at home and abroad, collaborations, initiatives and partnerships that developed through the council, and so much more.

Listen to how the council aims to help us collectively raise our voices in the worldwide human rights movement in support of people with I/DD!

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This podcast is produced by ANCOR, the leading voice in Washington, DC, for providers of services for people with disabilities. Views expressed during the podcast do not necessarily reflect the position of ANCOR.

To learn more, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ancor.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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Intro and outro music provided by YouTube Audio Library Intro Music ⓒ V for Victory - Audionautix Outro Music ⓒ Dirt Rhodes - Kevin MacLeod

Welcome to Season 3 of ANCOR Links!

There's a lot of talk about Medicaid these days, so we decided to resurrect the premise of a quirky show, and bust some Medicaid myths!

Donna Martin, VP of State Partnerships & Innovation, and Tom Rice, Director of Policy & Regulatory Affairs, sat down with Tricia DePalatis, Membership Coordinator, to discuss ten myths about the Medicaid program. Join us as we dive deep into one of the federal government's most misunderstood programs.

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This podcast is produced by ANCOR, the leading voice in Washington, DC, for providers of services for people with disabilities. Views expressed during the podcast do not necessarily reflect the position of ANCOR.

To learn more, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ancor.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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Intro and outro music provided by YouTube Audio Library Intro Music ⓒ V for Victory - Audionautix Outro Music ⓒ Dirt Rhodes - Kevin MacLeod

In this episode Alli Strong-Martin & Tricia DePalatis join host André Floyd for a fun discussion about disability representation on television through three shows that we're watching. We discuss a recent(ish) Nielsen report that shows how little disability representation is actually on screen, then get into three shows that run the gamut of good and/or bad representation.

We try to be spoiler-free (and give warnings when necessary) when discussing Sex Education, Down For Love, and House of the Dragon! Join us on our journey to discussing these three shows, and how differently they each represent disability on screen. Have a good recommendation? Don't hesitate to reach out!

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Show Notes

⁠Seen on screen: The importance of disability representation⁠ (Nielsen)

⁠Down for Love - My Take⁠ (William Sangster, Attitude)

⁠Meet the Cast of 'Down for Love' — Netflix's Reality Show About People With Down Syndrome⁠ (Je'Kayla Crawford, Distractify)

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This podcast is produced by ANCOR, the leading voice in Washington, DC, for providers of services for people with disabilities. To learn more, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ancor.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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In this episode we're celebrating Disability Pride Month! First, Alli and André provide some history on Disability Pride Month and discuss the importance of having dedicated spaces to honor historically marginalized identities.

Then, we welcome Olivia Fadul, a licensed counselor, disabled researcher, and doctoral student at the University of New Mexico. Olivia shares her personal journey of navigating her disability identity, highlighting the challenges and triumphs she has faced in finding and strengthening her disability pride.

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This podcast is produced by ANCOR, the leading voice in Washington, DC, for providers of services for people with disabilities. To learn more, visit ⁠⁠⁠ancor.org⁠⁠⁠.

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In this episode we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Olmstead Decision. First, with Lydia Dawson, ANCOR VP of Government Relations, we explain the decision and its importance.

Then we welcome Ira Burnim, a lawyer from The Bazelon Center who worked on the case in the leadup to the Supreme Court's 1999 decision. Ira details the decades of cases prior, coalitions built, strategies deployed, and the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that gave the fight new life.

This podcast is produced by ANCOR, the leading voice in Washington, DC, for providers of services for people with disabilities. To learn more, visit ⁠⁠ancor.org⁠⁠.

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We all know and can relate to the sensation of burnout. While the same concept exists in the field of human services, compassion fatigue is another serious possibility.

For this episode we setup a voicemail line for people involved in the day-to-day work of supporting people with disabilities to have them define compassion fatigue, and tell us how they aim to lessen it, and burnout.

Their comments are punctuated with expertise from Dr. Hassan Abdulhaqq, Chief Human Resources Officer at AABR, Inc. He helps us understand what works and what doesn't, and how to be 'best in class' at mitigating burnout and compassion fatigue.

This podcast is produced by ANCOR, the leading voice in Washington, DC, for providers of services for people with disabilities. To learn more, visit ⁠ancor.org⁠.

Episode transcript coming soon!

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You may be wondering just what on Earth does American Ninja Warrior have to do with disability and inclusion? Well, you came to the right podcast!

Gabrielle Sedor, ANCOR COO & Foundation Director, sat down with Nick (aka Ninja Nick) from AHRC, plus Lee & Diane, to discuss 'American Ninja Warrior', direct support professionals, person-centered supports, and more!

This podcast is produced by ANCOR, the leading voice in Washington, DC, for providers of services for people with disabilities. To learn more, visit ⁠ancor.org⁠.

Episode transcript coming soon!

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Intro and outro music provided by YouTube Audio Library