Disability Matters

Joyce welcomes Eric Jacobson, executive director Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities and Marlyn Tillman, co-founder and executive director, Gwinnett Parent Coalition to Dismantle the School-to-Prison Pipeline (Gwinnett SToPP) to the show. In keeping with our commitment to cover how the COVID-19 pandemic is being addressed for those with developmental disabilities, Mr. Jacobson will discuss how this population is being assisted during this critical time. While Ms. Tillman will discuss Gwinnett STOPP and why it is a critical need during this pandemic.

Joyce welcomes Danielle Filip, vice president of operations, at Sign Language Interpreting Professionals (SLIP) to the show. Founded in 2003, SLIP provides reliable, consistent and professional communication and consultation services thereby connecting the deaf and hearing communities of Pittsburgh. During the show, Danielle will discuss the services provided by SLIP and ways that businesses and hospitals can assure members of the deaf community that clear communication is provided for them during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Joyce welcomes Nedra Dickson, international/national business leader and disability advocate to the show. Ms. Dickson is managing director, Global Supplier Inclusion and Sustainability Programs across 18 countries at Accenture. Accenture is a leading global professional services company, providing a broad range of services in strategy and consulting, interactive, technology and operations, with digital capabilities across all of these services. They combine unmatched experience and specialized capabilities across more than 40 industries – powered by the world's largest network of Advanced Technology and Intelligent Operations centers. With 509,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries. Ms. Dickson will offer advice on what businesses can do to prepare for and survive the COVID-19 pandemic.

Joyce welcomes Jennifer Mathis, deputy legal director and director of Policy and Legal Advocacy for the Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law to the show. Ms. Mathis will share advice and suggestions for those dealing with mental health issues, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and employers dealing with increased anxiety due to isolation working from home.

Joyce welcomes Maria Town, the president and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and Kelly Buckland, executive director of the National Council of Independent Living (NCIL) to the show. Her guests will discuss the issues facing people with disabilities now amid the current outbreak of COVID-19 and will answer questions from callers. The AAPD promotes equal opportunity, economic power, independent living, and political participation for people with disabilities, while NCIL is the longest-running national cross-disability, grassroots organization run by and for people with disabilities. NCIL represents thousands of organizations and individuals including: individuals with disabilities, Centers for Independent Living (CILs), Statewide Independent Living Councils (SILCs), and other organizations that advocate for the human and civil rights of people with disabilities throughout the United States.

Joyce welcomes Megan Grabski, consultant and project manager, and Heather Sedlacko, director, of programs for seniors and people with disabilities at United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania to the show. In addition to sharing their prospective roles at United Way, they will discuss the Pittsburgh, PA-based Disability Inclusion Consortium. Led by Giant Eagle, FedEx Ground and the United Way of Southwestern PA, the consortium is made up of 30+ Western PA employers who are making it a business imperative to hire more people with disabilities. These employers have discovered successful ways to leverage an untapped talent pool to satisfy their hiring needs and realize business benefits. This year marking the 30th Anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Ms. Grabski and Ms. Sedlacko will share what they think still needs to be done to see the unemployment rate drop for people with disabilities.

Joyce welcomes Gerald Homme, recruitment specialist for Bender Consulting Services, Inc. to the show. Gerald will discuss the various talent program recruiting services offered through Bender Consulting and how to apply for a job through the company. He will explain what differentiates Bender from an employment agency. Among other topics discussed, Gerald will share tips to prepare for interviews, what he looks for in a candidate, and the importance of providing references to us and getting references to respond quickly to outreach. Gerald will share why it is important for candidates to indicate outside career efforts they are pursuing. This includes sharing about other interviews they have had or are planning, additional job offers, planned vacations, or changes in career desires.

Joyce welcomes Craig Radford, director of Connect Direct, which is a business unit of Communication Services for the Deaf (CSD). CSD is a social impact organization dedicated to creating and providing technologies and services that benefit the deaf and hard of hearing community. Mr. Radford recently launched Connect Direct, and has worked with large organizations with like-minded accessibility goals such as the American Red Cross, Comcast and Google, to provide direct services in sign language for equitable communication access and creating employment opportunities within the deaf community. During the show, he will explain this new venture in detail.

This year marks the 30th Anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act ADA. Originally signed into law by President George H.W. Bush on July 26, 1990. To commemorate this momentous anniversary, Joyce welcomes back Gary Dick, Chief Information Officer of Highmark Health Solutions to the show. Mr. Dick will discuss the value that the Careers2B program has brought to Highmark Health Solutions workforce since its inception in 2007. The Careers2B initiative is a program designed to increase the professional level experience and marketability of early career professionals with disabilities with hands-on workplace experience over a 12-month period. Mr. Dick will share how the Careers2B program has benefited the lives of workers with disabilities and reflected the spirit of the ADA.

Joyce welcomes Paula Vieillet, author, speaker, founder and CEO of My Employment Options, Inc. The organization specializes in Work at Home and onsite job placement for those on SSDI or SSI disability and is an authorized Social Security Ticket to Work employment network. Ms. Vieillet will further explain the mission of My Employment Options, as well as her passion for over 25 years of helping people with physical, mental, and emotional challenges find suitable jobs as a Certified Vocational Evaluator (CVE).