Disability Matters

IDAR Sloan Dart joins Joyce to talk about her late father, Justin Dart Jr. This episode is dedicated to honoring the life and work of her father, the late, disability rights leader Justin Dart Jr.. The day after IDAR's appearance, we celebrate the 16th anniversary of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) legislation signed into law by President George H.W. Bush on July 26, 1990. Best known as the father of the ADA, Justin Dart Jr. is often referred to as the Martin Luther King of the disability civil rights movement; he thought of himself in much more humble terms - simply as a soldier of justice. Justin dedicated nearly 50 years of his life to advocacy for the civil rights of oppressed people in America and around the world.

Joining Joyce is Christine M. Griffin, Commissioner of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC ). Tune in as they discuss employment of people with disabilities within the Federal government.

To celebrate the ADA's 16th Anniversary, Andy Imparato, President and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), joins Joyce on "Disability Matters". Mr. Imparato discusses how far people with disabilities have come since the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law on July 26, 1990, by President George H.W. Bush.

John Lancaster, Executive Director of the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL), makes his third appearance with Joyce Bender on "Disability Matters". Tune in as Joyce and John discuss the impact that budget cuts in Washington, DC will have on programs and services effecting people with disabilities. Headquartered in Washington, DC, NCIL is a membership organization that advances the independent living philosophy and advocates for the human rights of, and services for, people with disabilities to further their full integration and participation in society.

Senator Carl Andrews, D-NY, joins Joyce to discuss his efforts to increase awareness within the state of New York to hire people with disabilities.

Joyce welcomes Steven G. Zylstra, President and CEO of the Pittsburgh Technology Council. Since 1983, the Pittsburgh Technology Council has been the principal point of connection for companies from four primary clusters of the technology industry that are represented by a critical mass of businesses in southwestern Pennsylvania including Information Technology, Biomedical, Advanced Manufacturing/Materials and Environmental Technology. The Council is the largest regional technology trade association in the U.S. with nearly 1,400 member companies.

Congressman Steny Hoyer, of Maryland's 5th congressional district and Democratic Whip in the U.S. House of Representatives joins Joyce. Congressman Hoyer is recognized by members on both sides of the aisle as an effective leader and committed consensus builder who knows how to get things done. He is also the recent recipient of the 2005 Tony Coelho Award.

Dr. Tapan Banerjee, Executive Director of the U.S. International Council on Disabilities (USICD) joins Joyce to discuss the mission of the USICD. USICD brings together many of the disability-oriented agencies, as well as associations, facilities and individual consumers in the country. Members include: government agencies, consumer associations, non-profit organizations, service providers, employers with exemplary employment policies, and individuals interested in furthering the full integration of people with disabilities into society.

Joining Joyce is Dr. Mary Hines, President of Carlow University. In addition to Dr. Hines' impressive academic leadership background, she has a very strong relationship to the community personally and professionally. Tune in as Joyce and Dr. Hines discuss the mission, vision and goals of Carlow University, a Catholic liberal arts university.

Joining Joyce are Senior Executives from companies that have received the Bush Administration's New Freedom Initiative Award. Tune in as they discuss the purpose of the award and each company's commitment to hiring people with disabilities. Guests include Ralph Baker, Vice President; Financial Management for Computer Science Corporation's (CSC) Federal Sector; and Deborah Dagit, Executive Director of the Diversity & Work Environment department of Merck and Co.