Disability Matters

With a special introduction by Joyce Bender: As a tribute to Robert (Bobby) Coward, Disability Rights Activist, who died on Monday, August 25, 2014, we are re-airing his appearance on Disability Matters from February 12, 2008. Robert E. Coward, Jr., was co-founder/director, DIRECT Action (Disabled Individuals for Real Empowerment and Community Training and chair/spokesperson, Capital Area ADAPT. Discussed was "What it means to be and Advocate."

Joyce welcomes Daniel Budzinski, president of Compassionate Touch International. Compassionate Touch International is a missions organization that brings the message of the Gospel to the world. Mr. Budzinski will discuss this mission in depth.

Joyce welcomes John Kemp, president and CEO of the Viscardi Center, a network of non-profit organizations. The Viscardi Center programs and services include Pre-K through High School education, school-to-work transition services, vocational training, career counseling and placement and workforce diversification assistance to children, adolescents, and adults with disabilities and businesses. Mr. Kemp will discuss the mission of this network in depth, and his more than 50 years of direct experience in the disability movement. Just a sample of the organizations he has been involved with include: Cerebral Palsy Associations, Very Special Arts, HalfthePlanet Foundation, Independent Sector, The Abilities Fund Inc., Disability Service Providers of America, Easter Seals, Goodwill Industries of America, U.S. Business Leadership Network, and the U.S. International Council on Disabilities.

Joyce welcomes Stephen Bennett who leads the international non-profit organization, United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) as President and CEO. He has a 30-year history of success in business development, strategic planning, financial management, marketing, event production, and local and national public policy. He will discuss the mission and his goals for UCP, as well as trends in the area of advancing employment and empowerment of people with disabilities.

Joyce welcomes Gerald Homme, chairman of the "Bender Lead On Team" and Ginny Miller, mother of the late, Sam Miller to the show. Based on Facebook, the Bender Lead On Team is a group of people who help Bender lead the charge to spread the news of employment and empowerment for people with disabilities. Working in high schools and on college campuses, members encourage young people with disabilities to set goals that align with competitive career opportunities. It also provides a forum for young people with disabilities to get support from their peers if they are being bullied, and provide encouragement to others who are being bullied. Gerald will discuss this group in depth, and his duties as chair. He will also share his personal experience having been bullied in high school, while living with his learning disability. Ginny Miller will reflect on her late son's life and share his struggle with being bullied. Ginny will also share what it means to her to have Bender's "Sam Miller Award" named after her son. The Sam Miller Award was established in 2012 by the Bender Consulting Services' "Bender Lead-On Team" to honor the memory of Sam, who was a dedicated member of the Bender Lead-On Team; Sam was himself a victim of bullying and died by suicide in 2011. Before his death, Sam supported other young people with disabilities and fought for justice for all people who faced bullying and other forms of discrimination.

Joyce welcomes Chai Feldblum, commissioner of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Ms. Feldblum will discuss the mission of the EEOC, federal hiring successes of people with disabilities and other initiatives such as Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act, requiring federal contractors to take affirmative action to include people with disabilities within their workforce.

Joyce welcomes The Honorable Tony Coelho, author of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). He will discuss the progress we have made since the ADA was passed, and the work that still needs to be done to enhance the lives of people with disabilities.

Joyce welcomes Jerry MacCleary, president of Bayer MaterialScience LLC (BMS) for the NAFTA region and senior representative for Bayer in Pittsburgh and the larger Allegheny County area communities. Mr. MacCleary will discuss Bayer's commitment to increasing the employment of people with disabilities and the corporation's efforts in the community to support Variety, The Children's Charity, "My Bike" Program.

Joyce welcomes to the show, David Morrissey, executive director of the United States International Council on Disabilities (USICD), Tony Coelho, former congressman and author of the ADA, Tom Ridge, former Pennsylvania Governor, Jill Houghton, executive director of the United States Business Leadership Network (USBLN), and Dick Thornburgh, former PA Governor and former U.S. Attorney General. Each guest will talk about the recent efforts to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Treaty (CRPD). The CRPD seeks to hold other countries accountable to the same standards of accessibility set forth by the Americans with Disabilities Act when it was passed on July 26, 1990.

Joyce welcomes Mark Perriello, president and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), the world's largest cross-disability membership organization. As we approach the anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, 1990, Mark will reflect on the progress we have made since the legislation became law and share his perspective on the work that needs to be done to further the rights of all people with disabilities.