Disability Matters

Joyce welcomes Evan Frazier, senior vice president of Community Affairs for Highmark Inc. Discussed on the show will be Highmark's commitment to hiring people with disabilities, community diversity, and its stance on bullying of young people, including those with disabilities.

Joyce welcomes members of the band "In Remembrance". The band performed at the 2010 National Epilepsy Walk in Washington, D.C. as Nick Harris, the band's original drummer is living with epilepsy. Through music, the band seeks to remind its audience that fallen soldiers are our country's heroes and should never be forgotten. This is a message inspired by the death of Capt. Brian S. Letendre (the older brother of lead singer Nick Letendre), who lost his life in Operation Iraqi Freedom on May 3, 2006.

Joyce welcomes Audrey Russo, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Technology Council. Discussed on the show will be the mission of this organization, as well as the ways in which the group gets involved in the business community to foster and encourage the hiring of people with disabilities.

Joyce's honored guest is Kathy Martinez, United States Assistant Secretary for Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) in the Department of Labor. She will discuss the work that is being done within ODEP and the Obama Administration to ensure that the Americans with Disabilities Act is being enforced within the federal government in the area of employment since it became law on July 26, 1990.

Joyce welcomes The Honorable Tony Coelho, former congressman, and author of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). He will discuss the long journey he went through to gather support for the passage of this ground breaking piece of legislation. In addition, he will reflect on what it means to him to have the ADA in place, working for Americans with disabilities 20 years later.

Joyce welcomes former Governor of Pennsylvania and Attorney General of the United States, Dick Thornburgh and his wife Ginny Thornburgh to the show. The Thornburghs will share their impressions of the impact of the Americans with Disabilities Act as we celebrate the 20th Anniversary.

Joyce welcomes Andy Imparato, president and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD). He will discuss the mission of the organization, the impact that the Americans with Disabilities Act has had on the organization and how it has impacted the lives of people with disabilities since it became law, 20 years ago, this month.

Joyce's honored guest is Pat Shiu, Director of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs at the Department of Labor. She will discuss her duties since she was appointed by President Obama and her plans to help increase the employment of people with disabilities while at the OFCCP.

Joyce welcomes Kelly Buckland, executive director of the National Council of Independent Living (NCIL). Discussed on the show will be the NCIL Conference, July 19, 2010 through July 22, 2010 in Washington D.C.

Joyce welcomes Bill Baldwin and Christina Coulston, two high school students from Fox Chapel School District who recently participated in the Bender Leadership Academy. The class prepares high school students with disabilities for the world of work. Bill and Christina will both share what they learned in the class, and how they will apply it to their future career plans.