Disability Matters

Joyce welcomes Joanne Sharer, owner and president and Danielle Filip, vice president of operations for Sign Language Interpreting Professionals (SLIP) to the show. SLIP is dedicated to providing sign language service to the deaf community in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and the North Central Pennsylvania region that is reliable, consistent, and professional. Joanne and Danielle will discuss the reasons that motivated them to start this business and the criteria that sets them apart from other sign language services in the industry.

Joyce welcomes three leaders within the disability rights movement to the show, Rhonda Neuhaus , policy analyst for government affairs at the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF), Dara Baldwin, with the National Disability Rights Network, and Rebecca Cokley, executive director of the National Council on Disability. Each will discuss highlights of the progress that has been made in disability rights for 2014.

Joyce welcomes Colleen Starkloff, co-founder of the Starkloff Disability Institute. The Starkloff Disability Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to helping 18+ percent of America's population – people with disabilities – participate fully and equally in all aspects of society. Founded in 2003, the Starkloff Disability Institute works on changing societal attitudes and perceptions about people with disabilities through activities that send a positive message about living with disability in order to create a world that welcomes disabled people. Ms. Starkloff will discuss the programs and services of this non-profit organization.

Joyce welcomes back Charlie LaVallee, CEO of Variety, the Children's Charity of Pittsburgh. Variety's mission is to provide children with disabilities in Southwestern Pennsylvania with unique programs, experiences, and adaptive equipment so they may live life to the fullest. Mr. LaVallee will discuss the organization's success with the "My Bike" program, and the start of the "My Voice" program. The "My Bike" program provides adaptive bikes to children with disabilities so they may have the freedom of a bike and the joy of riding alongside friends. The new "My Voice" program strives to provide electronic tablets to allow kids who cannot speak, a method to communicate with others.

Joyce welcomes three leaders within the disability rights movement to the show, Rhonda Neuhaus , policy analyst for government affairs at the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF), Dara Baldwin, with the National Disability Rights Network, and Rebecca Cokley, executive director of the National Council on Disability. Each will discuss highlights of the progress that has been made in disability rights for 2014.

Joyce welcomes Dr. Melissa Vayda, President and CEO of Volunteers of America of PA to the show. Dr. Vayda will share the mission of Volunteers of America of Pennsylvania, a faith-based human service nonprofit organization. With compassionate care that touches mind, body, heart and spirit, their highly effective programs help seniors, adults, youth and children reach for their full potential. Dr. Vayda will share the programs and services offered by the organization that help this population.

Joyce welcomes The Salvation Army's Treasures for Children Coordinator to the show. The Salvation Army's Treasures for Children program (Allegheny County, Pittsburgh, PA) strives to consistently provide hope and joy to families, especially children, in need at the most wonderful and blessed time of the year. Known in other regions of The Salvation Army as the Angel Tree Program, Treasures for Children provides a personal experience for the donors because they are able to choose a specific child in need, represented on a tag. The Salvation Army is able to identify families in need of assistance through its Worship and Service Centers and other community organizations.

For the first-half of the show Joyce welcomes back, Daniel Budzinski, president of Compassionate Touch International. Compassionate Touch International is a mission's organization that brings the message of the Gospel to the world. Mr. Budzinski will discuss this mission in depth. He will update listeners on the progress of his organization since his last visit on August 26, 2014. For the second-half of the show, Joyce welcomes back, author, Donna W. Hill to the show. Donna Hill is a writer, speaker, and avid knitter from Pennsylvania's Endless Mountains. A songwriter with three albums, Donna has published her first novel, The Heart of Applebutter Hill. It has received recommendations from professionals in the fields of education, rehabilitation and the arts as a tool to foster full inclusion of people with disabilities.

In continuing with Epilepsy Awareness as the topic for November, Joyce welcomes The Honorable Tony Coelho, author of the Americans with Disabilities Act and former congressman from California to the show. Mr. Coelho will discuss his journey living with epilepsy, and the progress that has been made nationally to end the stigma.

Joyce welcomes Don Clayback executive director of the National Coalition for Assistive and Rehab Technology (NCART). NCART is national association of complex rehab technology (CRT) providers and manufacturers focused on ensuring individuals with disabilities have adequate access to specialized wheelchairs, seating and positioning systems, and other adaptive equipment such as standing devices and gait trainers. He has responsibility for monitoring, analyzing, and influencing regulatory policies and legislation at both the federal and state level. He will discuss the importance of supporting passage of The Ensuring Access to Quality Complex Rehabilitation Technology Act that would create a separate benefit category under Medicare for CRT.