Impact, The Conversation

"I was hollow..." That's how Ann describes the loneliness she felt when her brother moved away for a new job. In this episode, Ann and some of the rest of the Shervheim family share how they deal with loneliness, decades after parents Karen and Lee took the step of adopting two siblings with Down syndrome in a bid to ensure the three girls would have companionship as they grew into older adulthood.

Lonely? You're not alone. Loneliness has plenty of company these days, and it hits people with and without disabilities in alarming numbers. Just having a disability, particularly an intellectual and/or developmental disability, is a critical risk factor. In this episode, issue editors share the highlights from the Impact issue on loneliness. Consider the latest research, hear about promising programs tackling loneliness and social isolation, and learn what loneliness feels like from a variety of voices in the disability community.

Researcher and activist Simon Duffy talks with Janet Stewart, Impact managing editor, about self-direction efforts around the world. Duffy's current work around citizenship takes self-direction further, imagining new ways for communities to provide resources and natural supports for a wide variety of needs, including and beyond disability.

Impact issue editors Julie Bershadsky, Marian Frattarola-Saulino, and BJ Stasio discuss the state of self-directed services for people with intellectual, developmental, and other disabilities. Self-direction puts hiring, firing, and other decisions in the hands of people with disabilities themselves, in contrast to traditional, provider-directed services. Complexity in regulations and differences across states are among the challenges. Stasio offers his perspective as an advocate and as someone who self-directs his own support services.

Julie Sowash chats with Impact Managing Editor Janet Stewart about her work with employers to hire people with disabilities. Her company, Disability Solutions, has found jobs for more than 8,000 workers to date.

Issue editors talk about the end of subminimum wages for people with disabilities, and about what will take the place of sheltered workshops. A concerning lack of migration from these workshops to competitive, integrated employment means service providers must find new ways to connect people with disabilities to jobs that will keep them out of poverty.

A noted expert on substance use disorder within the disability community, Elspeth Slayter joins The Conversation to talk about best practices and emerging questions. Her Impact article discusses how treatment systems often fail to serve people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities despite evidence that they may experience more profound consequences. On the show, she shares her enthusiasm that the topic seems to be gaining traction in the addiction and disability fields.

Nathan Perry started drinking in his 30s to mask problems in his relationship with his parents. Eventually, he realized he didn't have control over his alcohol use and he started a long road to recovery. With a lot of support from his family, Nathan has now been sober for 8 years. In this very personal episode, Nathan, his brother, Brad, and his sister-in-law, ICI Director Amy Hewitt, talk about their journey. We also hear from Mark Olson, a former supervisor of Nathan's. The family and Nathan candidly share the false starts and early mistakes made when navigating the intersection of substance use disorder and disability, as well as the lessons learned and the successes celebrated. Their articles in the latest issue of Impact are available here and here.

• Nikki Villavicencio of Advocating Change Together in Minnesota, joins Impact managing editor Janet Stewart in the ICI studio for a discussion about disability justice and solidarity in advocating for disability rights. Nikki served as an issue editor for the Disability Rights, Disability Justice issue of Impact.
• Subscription link: https://ici.umn.edu/products/impact/subscribe 

Impact goes on the road to Chicago to talk with self-advocate, activist, and writer T.J. Gordon, who created a story map to highlight people with disabilities living in different neighborhoods of Chicago. T.J. introduces us to Jaime Cornejo, a fellow activist and a participant in Gordon's storytelling project.

• See T.J.'s article here
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