January is Poverty Awareness Month, which is a month-long initiative to raise awareness about the growth of poverty in the United States. In addition to all the barriers of ableism, did you know that many people with disabilities have restrictions on how much they can earn?

In this episode we look at the disproportionate rate of poverty among people with disabilities. We examine the numbers from the National Disability Institute, and discuss the many factors that keep many people with disabilities below the poverty line.

Then we welcome Jody Ellis, Director of ABLE National Resource Center, to hear how ABLE Accounts can help.

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!

Show Notes

Visit National Disability Institute

Learn more about ABLE Accounts

Read more about our guest

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It's our 2023 Disability-Inspired Holiday Gift Guide!

It's giving season so we thought we'd compile a broad range of business and organizations that offer fun, useful, or just plain delicious items that also directly come from and/or support people with disabilities. From cookies to crazy socks to hoodies to kettle corn to funny dog bowls, there's so much in this gift guide, so give it a listen!

We'd also like to thank John from John's Crazy Socks, Joe from Poppin' Joe's Kettle Corn, and Steven from The Squeaky Wheel for joining us for interviews throughout the episode!

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!

Show Notes

From Crazy Socks to Kettle Corn, it's Our 2023 Holiday Gift Guide

Grace Place Art - graceplaceart.com/shop

Bitty & Beau's Coffee - bittyandbeauscoffee.com/shop

John's Crazy Socks - johnscrazysocks.com

Madam Clutterbuckets Neurodiverse Universe - madamclutterbuckets.com

Collettey's - colletteys.com/cookies

Poppin' Joe's Gourmet Kettle Corn - poppinjoes.org/products

Billy Footwear - billyfootwear.com

Little Red Hen - littleredhen.org

By Mara - bymara.com

The Squeaky Wheel - thesqueakywheel.org

InclusiveDinos - redbubble.com/people/inclusivedinos

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This episode is all about self-advocacy in the podcast space. We've all heard someone say that the last thing we all need is another podcast, but we respectfully disagree! We discuss why the self-advocacy of people with disabilities is vitally important, and why the podcast medium is perfect for sharing experiences, normalizing disability, combating stigmatizations, and advocating for a better, more inclusive society.

After a brief discussion and spotlighting of a few podcasts to add to your library, Tricia DePalatis sits down with Emily from the podcast Expert Tips from ADEC Self Advocates. Emily shares her experience starting a podcast, the connection it's helped foster within her local community, and why the podcast is so important to her.

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.

Show Notes

In addition to Expert Tips from ADEC Self Advocates, consider adding:

Disability Visibility

The Self Advocate

Neurodiversity Podcast

True Tales by Disability Advocates

Black Feathers

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We are so excited about this episode. Up first, you'll hear a conversation between Alli Strong-Martin and Carli Friedman, Director of Research at CQL (Council on Quality and Leadership). Carli talks about ableism; What it is? Why it's dangerous? And how to address changing it.

During the conversation, Carli discusses an assessment that she encourages everyone to take, including, and especially, people who work in the disability space.

So, in the second half of the episode, Andre Floyd and Tricia DePalatis did just that. They took the assessment and share their results. They discuss not feeling defensive, but using the tool as a means to encourage one another to be better.

Episode Transcript!

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.

Show Notes:

CQL Research 

Most Disability Professionals are Ableist (June 6, 2023) 

Aversive Ableism: Modern Prejudice Towards Disabled People by Carli Friedman, PhD 

c-q-l.org 

Project Implicit (created by Harvard) Implicit Association Test (IAT)  

https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/takeatest.html

Either create account or login as a guest, select language, then hit GO! Then, read the disclaimer page, click “I wish to proceed” and select the test you wish to take. The one mentioned in the episode is Disability IAT.

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We start this episode with a spoiler-free chat about one of our favorite ever contestants on the Great British Bake Off (#gbbo)! A well-introduced accommodation has had a major impact on the show already, and relates to the importance of full access and challenging the assumption of incapability can lead to amazing results in entertainment, and real life.

Then we move to a wonderful discussion between Sean Luechtefeld (ANCOR) and Leslie Wilson, Executive Vice President of Global Workplace Initiatives at Disability:IN. Sean and Leslie discuss how companies benefit when they diversify their workforce by hiring people with disabilities, how providers and advocates can help make the business case for inclusive hiring, and touch on some innovative programs that are improving outcomes regarding the hiring of people with disabilities.

Episode transcript⁠!

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.

Show Notes:

Check out Disability:IN - https://disabilityin.org/

Watch the new season of Great British Bake Off

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It's National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)!

First up, your host André Floyd is joined by Alli Strong-Martin, ANCOR's Communications Coordinator, for a quick review of NDEAM. They unravel its history, many changes, purposes, initiatives, and wins, but also share data on how far we have to go.

Then, André welcomes Maya Cox, Associate Manager at Public Consulting Group LLC in the Aging and Disabilities Center of Excellence. Maya is a Certified Employment Support Professional, a LifeCourse Ambassador, currently serves as the Board President for APSE, and has more than 14 years of experience in disability services, with a focus on improving employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities. Maya and André look at the employment of people with disabilities and all of the ways it intersects with Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) work. From accommodations that can be useful for a wide range of people, to cultural benefits, they touch on it all!

Then Donna Martin, ANCOR's Senior Director of State Partnerships & Innovation, chats with Jeannine Pavlak, President and CEO of New England Business Associates (neba). Donna and Jeannine talk about challenges that drove the development of NEON, the National Expansion of Employment Opportunities Network, a Department of Labor initiative to collaborate with national provider organizations to develop strategic plans to improve disability employment.

Episode transcript!

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.

Show Notes:

Check out NEON: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/odep/initiatives/neon

Check out Public Consulting Group: https://www.publicconsultinggroup.com/

Check out APSE: https://apse.org/

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In this episode of ANCOR Links you’re going to hear all about advocacy!

Our first segment is a conversation between ANCOR’s Sean Luechtefeld and Lydia Dawson, our Senior Director of Government Relations. They discuss the importance of public policy in securing key rights for people with disabilities, and preview our upcoming Policy Summit & Hill Day.

Then Noah Block and Josh Rael, Executive Director at Alliance (Colorado), chat all about direct advocacy. Josh, who has been an advocate on the state and/or federal level for over 20 years, discuss the importance of advocacy, how it’s changed, and ways interested people can begin their advocacy journeys, at-home, in-person, or both.

We wrap up with an informative conversation with Alexia Kemerling, the REV UP Coalitions Coordinator at AAPD, who talks about voting rights for people with disabilities. She shares frustrating data on how many votes from people with disabilities are missing, as well as details about the barriers confronting voters with disabilities, how those barriers are being addressed – and how you can help!

Episode transcript: https://www.ancor.org/ancor-links-season-1-episode-2/

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.

Show Notes:

If you have questions about guardianship and voting, the Protection & Advocacy organization in your state can help you.

Find yours here: https://www.ndrn.org/about/ndrn-member-agencies/

Learn more about REV UP: https://www.aapd.com/about-rev-up/

State guides for disabled voters: https://www.aapd.com/voter-info/

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Welcome to Episode 1 of ANCOR Links!

In our inaugural episode, you’ll hear from our CEO, Barbara Merrill, and COO, Gabrielle Sedor, as they share why we’re excited about this podcast, and what to expect in this and future episodes.

Then we welcome Joe Macbeth, President & CEO of the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals, for a chat with Elise Aguilar, ANCOR’s Director of Federal Relations. Joe and Elise discuss the importance of having a Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) for DSPs—and how you can lend your advocacy to legislation making its way through Congress.

In our final conversation of the episode, we are delighted to share the important perspective of Monique St. Clair, ANCOR’s 2023 National Direct Support Professional of the Year. In a conversation with Noah Block, ANCOR’s Advocacy Manager, Monique tells us why she became a DSP, the challenges and triumphs of the job, and how best to support DSPs now and in the future.

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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Welcome to ANCOR Links, a podcast produced by ANCOR, a nonprofit organization whose 2,000+ members work all across the country to make inclusion a reality for people of all abilities.

There are intersections and connections everywhere, and through the Links podcast, ANCOR aims to connect the dots between a range of conversations.

Join us as we examine topics related to disability and disability services in a more holistic way. Be sure to subscribe to get new episodes, every other Wednesday, as soon as they're released!

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