Disability Matters

Joyce welcomes Kathryn Spitz Cohn, executive director of Film Pittsburgh. This non-profit organization, presents independent films from around the world, deepening audiences' understanding of culture, tolerance, and common humanity. The organization believes film is a powerful visual medium that thrives in the digital era by transcending cultural boundaries and inspiring change. A broad range of programming is designed to reach people of all races, religions, ages and abilities, with emphasis is placed on collaboration with other organizations. Ms. Cohn will discuss the mission of this organization further.

Joyce welcomes Jill Houghton, executive director of the US Business Leadership Network (USBLN). The USBLN embraces the full inclusion of people with disabilities in the labor force and marketplace; assists in career preparation for, and employment of, people with disabilities; improves customer experiences for people with disabilities; and promotes the certification and growth of disability-owned business enterprises. Ms. Houghton will discuss the USBLN Disability Supplier Diversity Program (DSDP). The DSDP offers businesses owned by individual(s) with a disability, including service disabled veterans, an exciting opportunity to increase their access to potential contracting opportunities with major corporations, government agencies, and one another. Through the DSDP, businesses can obtain Disability-Owned Business Enterprise Certification and get connected to a nationwide network of corporate and government procurement professionals, disability advocates, and others.

Joyce welcomes Shane Claiborne, a prominent speaker, activist, and best-selling author. Shane worked with Mother Teresa in Calcutta and founded The Simple Way in Philadelphia. He heads up Red Letter Christians, a movement of people committed to living as if Jesus meant the things he said. Shane is a champion for grace, which has led him to jail advocating for the homeless and to places like Iraq and Afghanistan to stand against war. And now grace fuels his passion to end the death penalty. Mr. Claiborne will discuss his book, Executing Grace: How the Death Penalty Killed Jesus and Why It's Killing Us.

Joyce welcomes legendary Pittsburgh morning radio host, keynote speaker, and storyteller, Jack Bogut to the show. Jack Bogut has been featured on both ABC’s Good Morning America and in USA Today as one of the top five radio personalities in the nation. He eventually became number two in the country. He will discuss his entry into broadcasting, and his charity work with both Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh while at NewsRadio 1020 KDKA for over a decade and his charity work with “Make-A-Wish” Foundation during his career. Mr. Bogut will highlight how he has been able to use his story-telling skills and the microphone to help members of underserved communities tell their story and be heard.

Michael Morris, founder and executive director of National Disability Institute, is a former legal counsel to the US Senate Subcommittee on Disability Policy and is a key architect of the ABLE Act. He serves as a subject matter expert on financial inclusion and poverty reduction concerning people with disabilities to the FDIC, IRS, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, National Council on Disability and multiple state ABLE programs.

Joyce welcomes Carlos Carter, newly elected Executive Director, of the Homeless Children's Education Fund (HCEF) to the show. The HCEF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1999 in Allegheny County to advance the education of children and youth experiencing homelessness, guiding them to be productive, empowered citizens. Over the years, HCEF's role in the community has developed and expanded to meet these needs. As a national model for addressing the educational needs of unstably-housed children and youth, HCEF leads a collaborative effort among regional partners by providing educational programs and services in Allegheny County and advocating for policy and system improvement. Mr. Carter will discuss his plans for the organization under his leadership.

Joyce welcomes Daniel Kleinmann, special project coordinator for Traditional Paths to Independent Living (TRPIL) in Washington, PA. TRPIL is a Center for Independent Living that brings together individuals who face common barriers – equal access, assistive technology, education, employment, housing, and transportation – in order to solve these problems. Mr. Kleinmann will discuss this organization's mission in depth during the show.

Joyce welcomes Joan Stein, president and CEO of Stein Consulting, LLC. Joan's company focuses on ADA compliance, event planning and operations and fund development. The company provides consulting services to employers, can assist with compliance with newly implemented OFCCP regulations, and supports companies faced with ADA litigation. Ms. Stein will discuss the company mission.

Joyce welcomes Dr. Gerald Buckley, National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) President and Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Vice President and Dean. Dr. Buckley will discuss the commitment of both universities to serving the deaf community.

Joyce welcomes Molly McCully Brown, an author and indispensable new voice for disability rights. Ms. McCully Brown will discuss her new collection of poems, The Virginia State Colony Epileptics and Feebleminded. The title is named after an actual place of the same name, a government-run residential hospital in Amherst, County, VA that opened in 1910. The facility was recognized as a center of the eugenics movement, where patients, who were at the time viewed as defective, underwent sterilization without consent through the mid -1950's.