Disability Matters

Joyce's honored guest is Geoff Pope, cornerback, NFL's Philadelphia Eagles. Geoff will discuss his off the field charity work with the National Epilepsy Foundation and his personal reason for getting involved to inspire those with epilepsy to persevere and live independent lives.

Joyce welcomes chair-elect of the National Epilepsy Foundation, Brien Smith, M.D., Director of the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. Dr. Smith will discuss his current service on the Epilepsy Foundation Board of Directors, and is the current treasurer of the National Board of Directors, as well as chair-elect of the National Professional Advisory Board.

Joyce welcomes Amy Hawthorne and Dr. Raymond Comenzo, Medical Director of the Blood Bank, Stem Cell Processing Laboratory; The Neely Cell Therapy and Collection Center at Tufts Medical Center, and an attending physician in the Division of Hematology-Oncology, and Departments of Medicine and Pathology. Dr. Comenzo has a large active clinical practice devoted exclusively to patients with plasma cell disorders such as multiple myeloma and systemic light-chain amyloidosis (AL), and also sees many patients with other forms of amyloidosis often because their diagnosis is unclear. They will discuss their personal experience with amyloidosis and its effects not only on the people diagnosed, but their family as well. Also discussed will be the mission of the Amyloidosis Foundation.

Joyce welcomes COL Robert F. Norton, USA-Ret., deputy director Government Relations, for Military Officers Association of America (MOAA). He will discuss the mission of MOAA, which is the nation's largest and most influential association of military officers. It is an independent, nonprofit, politically nonpartisan organization. MOAA's highest priority is providing first-class service to its members. They are the leading voice on compensation and benefit matters for all members of the military community.

Joyce welcomes Jonathan Young, the newly appointed chairman of the board of the National Council on Disability (NCD), and vice chair of the Committee on Disability Power & Pride. Jonathan will discuss his new role at NCD and his goals during his term.

Joyce welcomes Andy Imparato, president and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), and Tracie Saab, with the Job Accommodations Network (JAN), and project manager for the Campaign for Disability Employment funded by the Office of Disability Employment Policy, U.S. Department of Labor. Discussed on the show will be the mission of this campaign, which is to establish collaborative partnerships among disability and business organizations to promote positive employment opportunities for people with disabilities. AAPD is also a member of the campaign and is working to get out this year's campaign message, that at work, it's what you do that matters.

Joyce welcomes Arlene Gorelick, president of the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan since 1989, to the show. Ms. Gorelick will discuss the current mission and goals of this affiliate, as well as the accomplishments this organization has made to bring awareness and assistance to those with epilepsy in Michigan under her leadership.

Joyce welcomes Madonna Long, Managing Editor of Chloe Magazine Online. Ms. Long will discuss the mission of this full scale women's magazine for women who are disabled published with the intent to showcase the positive impact that that women with disabilities are having in the workforce and in the community.

Joyce welcomes Steven B. Shivak, executive director of the American Diabetes Association of Western Pennsylvania. Among the topics discussed on the show will be the fact that diabetes is considered a disability and as such, is covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Also discussed will be the rise in cases of diabetes among children and youth and what can be done to change this alarming trend.

Joyce's honored guest is United States Department of Labor Deputy Secretary Seth Harris. He will discuss the Obama Administration's commitment to increasing the employment of people with disabilities within the private sector, and federal government.