Welcome to Dissing My Ability, a podcast focused in removing shame and stigma associated with disability. Host, Ken Meeker is joined by Meryl K. Evans, CPACC. Meryl is an acclaimed professional speaker and trainer, accessibility marketing consultant, author of Brilliant Outlook Pocketbook and the co-author of Adapting to Web Standards: CSS and Ajax for Big Sites. She’s a TEDx Talk speaker and been quoted in the Wall Street Journal. She has been included as one of the 12 Top LinkedIn Voices for Accessibility Advocacy.

Be sure to check out Meryl’s TEDx Talk using the link below. Also check out her website and follow her on LinkedIn.

Meryl Evans TEDx Talk

Meryl Evans Website

The Dissing My Ability podcast is hosted by Ken Meeker, founder and owner of Vitality Career Coaching LLC, a boutique professional and career coaching company in Phoenix, Arizona. He is a writer, disability advocate, public speaker, and consultant educating businesses on the benefits of inclusive hiring. To learn more about Ken please visit www.vitalitycareercoaching.com or connect with him on LinkedIn @kenmeekeraz. 

Welcome to Dissing My Ability, a podcast focused in removing shame and stigma associated with disability. On this episode, Julie Oliver, Vice President of Programs with the Foundation for Blind Children (FBC), talks with host Ken Meeker about why “good enough” is the wrong approach and attitude, especially when providing services to the disability community. At FBC, Julie guides and oversees industry leading and innovating programs for blind/low vision people of all ages. Learn more about the organization and their services by visiting their website link below. 

Also make sure to check out the video link to two short YouTube videos. The first features a group of Trailblazers, a group of blind/low vision teens who hiked into the Grand Canyon and rafted the Colorado River for over a week. The second video features FBC alum (and former student of Ken’s) Kaiya Armstrong. Kaiya, who is blind, trained how to and then flew a plane across the United States, from Phoenix to Maryland.

Foundation for Blind Children

Blind Students Take on Grand Canyon

Blind Student Flies Across Country

The Dissing My Ability podcast is hosted by Ken Meeker, founder and owner of Vitality Career Coaching LLC, a boutique professional and career coaching company in Phoenix, Arizona. He is a writer, disability advocate, public speaker, and consultant educating businesses on the benefits of inclusive hiring. To learn more about Ken please visit www.vitalitycareercoaching.com or connect with him on LinkedIn @kenmeekeraz. 

Welcome to the Dissing My Ability Podcast, a podcast focused on de-stigmatizing and removing shame associated with disability. On this episode, creator and host Ken Meeker discusses the two major political parties in the United States platforms with regard to disability. The November 2024 election outcome will affect anyone who lives with or is affected by disability. Being able bodied today doesn’t guarantee anything. Anyone, at any time, can become disabled. Disability is indiscriminate. 

It is critically important to understand the contrast between the two major parties disability policies and ideology. Research sources are below and I encourage listeners to seek out the information for themselves. This podcast contains summaries and generalizations, and is not intended to be a full, comprehensive analysis of any policy.  

If you are interested in discussion on other policy issues, let me know by leaving a comment or shooting me a message. My email is [email protected]

The Dissing My Ability podcast is hosted by Ken Meeker, owner of Vitality Career Coaching LLC. He is a Certified Professional Coach, Certified ADA Coordinator, Inclusive Behaviors Inventory Certified, writer, advocate, and public speaker. To learn more, visit www.vitalitycareercoaching.com or connect with him on LinkedIn @kenmeekeraz. 

E7 S2 – W/Guest Dr. Sujata Ives 

Dr. Ives is a global consultant, leader, international speaker, and international best-selling

Author. In this episode, Dr. Ives talks about her recent book Activate Success and how she has embraced each of her identities and not allowed others to define her. She is a graduate of the 2023-2024 NCDA Leadership Academy, where she conducted a study through a needs analysis on leadership, inclusivity, and interculturalism.

Dr. Ives is the 2023 recipient of the National Career Development Association’s Diversity Initiative Award and recipient of the title “Global Visionary,” given to her by Otro Mundo, Colombia, South America.

Her vast experience in workforce analytics and human flourishing reaches all regions of the world. As a military dependent, she has lived all over the world, danced with admirals and foreign dignitaries, giving her unique opportunities to help improve multi-million-dollar systems. She leverages global talent to include global leaders and hold candid conversations on interculturalism, peace-building, and belonging.

Dr. Ives is the Immediate Past-President of the Maryland Career Development Association, immediate Past-Chairman of the International Committee of the American Counseling Association, current Community Chair of the World Council on Global Intercultural Competency UNESCO; current Co-Chair of the Asia Pacific Career Development Association; and the current Treasurer of the Maryland Counseling Association. In addition, she is also on the Board of the NFL Alumni Fulcrum Performance Lab, and is a Senior Service Fellow at SHRM.

She holds a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology and is a Harvard trained Mediator. She believes an evolved mind is a coherent mind, which is needed to equip others with leadership competencies and enables individuals to think critically and act inclusively on the competitive global stage. She is in a limited private practice and can be reached at www.drsujataives.com

Activate Success: Tips, Tools, & Insights To Be A Leader In Your Niche

The Dissing My Ability podcast is hosted by Ken Meeker CPC ADAC. He is the owner of Vitality Career Coaching LLC, a boutique leadership and coaching company. To learn more about Ken please visit www.vitalitycareercoaching.com or connect with him on LinkedIn @kenmeekeraz. 

E6 S2 – W/ Liam Doyle

Welcome to the Dissing My Ability Podcast. On this episode we continue the conversation with disability advocate, ADA Certified Coordinator, and TedX speaker, Liam Doyle. Liam and podcast host, Ken Meeker, as they discuss why advocacy is so important, the value in choosing our own path, and why embracing challenge can lead to positive outcomes, leading Liam to where he is today. It's an inspiring and authentically honest conversation we hope you will enjoy. 

Watch Liams TedX talk.

To watch the video discussed in the interview, follow this link.

Connect with Liam on LinkedIn.

Dissing My Ability Podcast is hosted by Ken Meeker. Ken is the owner of Vitality Career Coaching LLC, a boutique leadership & career coaching company focused on customized workshops and training programs tailored to client’s unique needs. Ken is a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, & Accessibility consultant, speaker, & advocate who’s been a featured panelist for multiple national organizations on discussions of workplace inclusivity, disability inclusion, accessibility, and more. A graduate of the AFB Blind Leaders Development Program, fellow in the National Career Development Association’s Leadership Academy, and recipient of the 2023 AFB Llura Gund Leadership Award. Ken is a regular contributor to the Bold Blind Beauty lifestyle magazine, Beyond Sight, a member of NCDA, SHRM, and holds multiple professional credentials and designations.

E5 S2 – W/ Liam Doyle

Welcome to the Dissing My Ability Podcast. On this first of two part series, we welcome disability advocate, ADA Certified Coordinator, and TedX speaker, Liam Doyle. Join Liam and podcast host, Ken Meeker, as they discuss Liam’s journey with disability, the challenges he’s faced along the way, and how is positive reflection has led him to where he is today. It's an inspiring and authentically honest conversation we hope you will enjoy. He does public speaking and is currently open to opportunities as an ADA coordinator.

Watch Liams TedX talk.

To watch the video discussed in the interview, follow this link.

Connect with Liam on LinkedIn.

Dissing My Ability Podcast is hosted by Ken Meeker. Ken is the owner of Vitality Career Coaching LLC, a boutique leadership & career coaching company focused on customized workshops and training programs tailored to client’s unique needs. Ken is a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, & Accessibility consultant, speaker, & advocate who’s been  a featured panelist for multiple national organizations on discussions of workplace inclusivity, disability inclusion, accessibility, and more. A graduate of the AFB Blind Leaders Development Program, fellow in the National Career Development Association’s Leadership Academy, and recipient of the 2023 AFB Llura Gund Leadership Award. Ken is a regular contributor to the Bold Blind Beauty lifestyle magazine, Beyond Sight, a member of NCDA, SHRM, and holds multiple professional credentials and designations.

Welcome to the Dissing My Ability Podcast. Our guest on this episode played an important role in the life of podcast host, Ken Meeker. Orientation and Mobility (also known as O&M) plays an important part in accessing the world safely and independently for people who are blind/low vision. Tamara Amavilah met Ken in 2018 to provide white cane training, and left Ken with so much more. We hope you find this conversation inspiring and hopeful. Thank you for listening. 

Dissing My Ability Podcast is hosted by Ken Meeker. Ken is the owner of Vitality Career Coaching LLC, a boutique leadership & career coaching company focused on customized workshops and training programs tailored to client’s unique needs. Ken is a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, & Accessibility consultant, speaker, & advocate who’s been a featured panelist for multiple national organizations on discussions of workplace inclusivity, disability inclusion, accessibility, and more. Ken is a Certified ADA Coordinator, Certified Professional Coach, graduate of the AFB Blind Leaders Development Program, fellow in the National Career Development Association’s Leadership Academy, and recipient of the 2023 AFB Llura Gund Leadership Award. Ken is a regular contributor to the Bold Blind Beauty lifestyle magazine, Beyond Sight, a member of NCDA, SHRM, and holds multiple professional credentials and designations.

The Dissing My Ability Podcast welcomes back the first guest from Season Two, Sarah Harris, for part 2 of her extended conversation with podcast host, Ken Meeker. Join them as they talk about the challenges faced when trying to adjust to disability and access to services, being engaged with your community, and why it is important to get involved. 

To connect with this weeks guest, Sarah Harris, email her at [email protected]

The Dissing My Ability podcast is hosted by Ken Meeker CPC, the founder and owner of Vitality Career Coaching LLC. To learn more about Ken please visit www.vitalitycareercoaching.com or connect with him on LinkedIn @kenmeekeraz. 

E2 S2 – W/Guest Sarah Harris - Part 1

 Welcome to season two of Dissing My Ability! The first guest on this new season is the fabulous Sarah Harris. On this episode, join Sarah and host Ken Meeker as they discuss encountering disability as an adult and learning to carve out a space for yourself. 

The Dissing My Ability podcast is hosted by Ken Meeker CPC, the founder and owner of Vitality Career Coaching LLC. To learn more about Ken please visit www.vitalitycareercoaching.com or connect with him on LinkedIn @kenmeekeraz. 

Welcome to the Dissing My Ability Season 2 opener. In this episode, host Ken Meeker discusses the importance to language and how it relates to disability. Words matter. The language and words used to discuss disability convey attitudes about people living with disability. Tune in to this introductory episode for Season Two of the Dissing My Ability Podcast.

Are you someone who lives with disability and are interested in sharing your story? Please reach out to us - we want to hear from you.

Ken Meeker CPC is the owner of Vitality Career Coaching LLC, a boutique leadership, executive, and career coaching company. Ken develops customized workshops and training programs tailored to client’s unique needs. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Accessibility consulting are essential aspects of this work. He has been featured nationally as a panelist with multiple organizations for discussions on workplace inclusivity, disability inclusion, accessibility, and other topics. He is a graduate of the AFB Blind Leaders Development Program, a fellow in the National Career Development Association’s Leadership Academy, and recipient of the 2023 AFB Llura Gund Leadership Award. Additionally, Ken is a regular contributor to the Bold Blind Beauty lifestyle magazine, Beyond Sight. He is a member of NCDA, SHRM, and holds multiple professional credentials.