Disability Matters

Tune in as Joyce talks with Brandon M. Macsata, consultant for the One Percent Coalition. The One Percent Coalition is committed to the achievable goal of helping at least one percent (94,000) of severely disabled Americans find competitive employment. The One Percent Coalition is based on the belief that the Federal Government should create new incentives for the private sector to employ people with severe disabilities.

It takes a fellow CEO to know how to truly grasp the challenges that confront a CEO. With a point of view and judgment that only real life experience as a CEO can produce, The Roseman Institute provides coaching, mentoring and negotiating assistance to CEOs of growing enterprises. Jack Roseman, President and CEO of the Roseman Institute, is the author of "Outrageous Optimism: Wisdom for the Entrepreneurial Journey". Tune in as Jack and Joyce talk about his work, his passion, and his optimism.

Edwin Black is the award-winning, New York Times and international bestselling investigative author of 50 bestselling editions in 13 languages in 60 countries, as well as scores of newspaper and magazine articles in the leading publications of the United States, Europe and Israel. His work focuses on genocide and hate, corporate criminality and corruption, governmental misconduct, academic fraud, philanthropy abuse, and historical investigation. Tune in as Edwin joins Joyce to talk about his latest book, "Internal Combustion".

John A. Lancaster, Executive Director of the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) (http://www.ncil.org), makes his fourth appearance with Joyce Bender on "Disability Matters". Tune in as Joyce and John discuss the mission of the NCIL and the progress it has made in advancing the independence of people with disabilities in housing. Stay tuned for updates on the status of the independent living centers in Biloxi and New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina.

Tune in as Joyce talks with Debbie Scott of New Castle, Delaware Vo-Tech and Leanne Thomas, HR Service Delivery Manager at Computer Sciences Corporation about the student business leadership program in Delaware.

: Joyce welcomes Rebecca Hare, Project Coordinator for the National Consortium on Leadership and Disability for Youth housed at the Institute for Educational Leadership in Washington DC. NCLD-Youth is one of 15 Youth Led Resource, Information, and Training Centers funded by the Administration on Developmental Disabilities. Tune in as Rebecca discusses her work with this organization.

The Burton Blatt Institute, located at Syracuse University, will build the premier organization to advance civic, economic, and social participation of persons with disabilities in a global society by creating a collaborative environment - with entrepreneurial innovation and best business practices - to foster public-private dialogue, and create the capacity to transform policy, systems, and people through inclusive education, the workforce, and communities. BBI, takes its name from Burton Blatt (1927–85), a pioneer in humanizing services for people with mental retardation, a staunch advocate of deinstitutionalization, and a national leader in special education. Tune in as Chairman of the BBI, Peter Blanck, talks with Joyce about the organization's mission.

Joining Joyce on "Disability Matters" is Darren Macioce, Senior Vice President, Customer & Analytic Operations for Highmark, Inc. Tune in as they discuss Highmark's continued mission to provide freedom and independence to people with disabilities through competitive employment opportunities.

Joining Joyce is Marsha Blanco, President and CEO of Achieva (achieva.info). Tune in as they discuss the programs and services provided by Achieva to people with disabilities. Achieva is a non-profit organization, founded in 1951 as ARC Allegheny, and supports over 6,000 children and adults with disabilities in Pennsylvania through advocacy, community services, education, and family supports. Achieva is committed to excellence in lifelong services for people with disabilities and families.

Joining Joyce is Cinda Hughes, Legislative Associate with the National Congress of American Indians (http://www.ncai.org) in Washington, D.C. An enrolled member of the Kiowa Tribe, Ms. Hughes was Miss Wheelchair America 2004, which is a position of national public advocacy on behalf of people with disabilities. She was also a delegate in the 2000 Democratic National Convention. Tune in as Joyce and Cinda discuss disabilities in the Native American community.