Disability Matters

Joyce welcomes Evan Frazier, senior vice president of community affairs for Highmark, Inc. to the show. Mr. Frazier will discuss plans for the 31st National Paralyzed Veterans Wheelchair Games. Highmark is a corporate sponsor of the event which will take place August 1-6, 2011 in Pittsburgh PA. The event is the largest annual wheelchair sports competition in the world. It offers 17 different sports to veterans who use wheelchairs. The games promote rehabilitation, through rigorous competition in basketball, rugby, baseball, hand cycling, and other sports.

Joyce welcomes Debbie Scott, district school-to-work transition coordinator New Castle County Vo-Tech School District in Delaware and David Scott, graduate of the Bender Leadership Academy Program. Debbie will discuss her work with other teachers in the district to develop the Bender Leadership Academy in conjunction with Bender Consulting Services, Inc. and CSC in Delaware to prepare students with disabilities for the world of work, to teach them methods to address bullying and to become responsible citizens. Also discussed will be the impact that the class has had on the self esteem of students with disabilities. David Scott, recent graduate of the Bender Leadership Academy will discuss his success with the program and explain how the class helps students deal with bullying.

Joyce's honored guest is Chai Feldblum, Commissioner of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The EEOC released its final regulations to implement the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA) on March 24, 2011. The regulations are designed to simplify the definition of "disability" and make it easier for people with disabilities to establish that they are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Commissioner Feldman will discuss the work the Commission did over the past months to ensure that the regulations carry out the intent of the landmark ADA law.

Joyce welcomes Diane DuFour-Gaudio, who is affiliated with the Beaver Valley intermediate Unit, holding various positions over the past 30 years, from instructor to her current position as Transition Consultant for the Beaver County School Districts. Also on the show will be Nathan Bowden, a sophomore with the Hopewell School District in Pittsburgh, PA. Ms. DuFour-Gaudio and Mr. Bowden will discuss their work to prevent bullying among youth in our schools. In response to the bullying crisis occurring among youth, Ms. DuFour-Gaudio, is collaborating with Bender Consulting Services, and the Beaver County Schools to educate students on how to deal with bullying. She has collaborated with Bender to create a county-wide anti-bullying program to stop bullying. The program is known as the Bender Lead-On Anti-Bullying Teams and empowers youth to stand up against bullying. Nathan Bowden will discuss his independent Facebook page , Raise awareness of Bullycide, to empower youth to stand up against bullying.

Joyce welcomes Dr. Brien Smith, chair-elect of the national Epilepsy Foundation. Discussed on the show will be his goals for the organization during his two–year tenure as chair, which will begin in mid-May 2011.

Joyce welcomes Mike Schneck , president of the board of directors of Variety the Children's Charity. The organization's mission is to assist children with mental and physical disabilities and other health challenges, 21 years of age and under, in a ten county area of southwestern Pennsylvania by providing services such as wheelchairs and other devices to help them enrich their lives. Mr. Schneck will discuss his new appointment to the post and the direction he plans to take the charity during his tenure as president.

Joyce welcomes Brandon Macsata, Managing Partner of the Macsata–Kornegay Group, Inc.(TMKG) and advocate for people with disabilities. TMKG is a national political and fundraising consulting firm specializing in grassroots campaigns, media messaging and fundraising. In addition to this work, Brandon will discuss his advocacy work on behalf of people living with HIV/AIDS and his advocacy work on behalf of seniors in an assisted living facility in North Carolina.

Joyce's honored guest is Chai Feldblum, Commissioner of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The EEOC released its final regulations to implement the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA) on March 24, 2011. The regulations are designed to simplify the definition of "disability" and make it easier for people with disabilities to establish that they are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Commissioner Feldman will discuss the work the Commission did over the past months to ensure that the regulations carry out the intent of the landmark ADA law.

Michael Keenan, member of the board of directors, national Epilepsy Foundation will discuss the 2011 Boots & Suits Gala, to benefit the national Epilepsy Foundation on Tuesday March 29, 2011, his work with the national Epilepsy Foundation, and his personal commitment to empowerment of people with disabilities.

Joyce welcomes back live, Kevin Bales, world renowned author, expert on modern slavery, and co-founder of Free the Slaves, the U.S. organization of Anti-Slavery International (the world's oldest human rights organization). He will continue his discussion on how we can end human trafficking.