Disability Matters

Mar 04 2025 983 ep. 54 mins 1.3k

Disability Matters Podcast artwork

Competitive employment and empowerment for people with disabilities is the emphasis of this show. Broadcast live and captioned in real-time for individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing, we discuss how people with disabilities can secure career opportunities, and how employers, organizations and individuals can support employment and empowerment of people with disabilities.

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Alexander Geht – Designer, Innovator, and Founder of Testa-Seat

Mar 04 2025 53 mins

Joyce welcomes industrial designer and entrepreneur, Alexander Geht, to the show. He will explain why he has dedicated his career to pioneering adaptive seating solutions for children with disabilities. He is dedicated to developing innovative, accessible, and transformative solutions through digital manufacturing.

Hannah Smith: Author/Advocate for Food Allergy Communities

Feb 25 2025 54 mins

Due to a program change, appearing on Disability Matters today is Hannah Smith, a passionate children's book author and dedicated advocate for the celiac and food allergy communities. Through her inspiring journey and heartfelt stories, Ms. Smith empowers children to embrace their unique identities and teaches the importance of inclusion and compassion. She will share her own dia

Debra Germany: Helping Current/Former Incarcerated Adults and At-Risk Youth Reach Full Potential

Feb 18 2025 56 mins

Joyce welcomes Debra Germany the Executive Director of Divine Intervention Ministries (DMI). DMI provides currently and formerly incarcerated adults and at-risk youth with coordinated resources that will connect them to supportive services and job training opportunities focusing on restoring and realizing their maximum potential spiritually, physically, and economically. Ms. German

Barãta A. Bey: Driving Mission of African American Chamber of Commerce of Western Pennsylvania

Feb 11 2025 45 mins

Tomorrow on Disability Matters, Joyce welcomes Barãta A. Bey, President, African American Chamber of Commerce of Western Pennsylvania to the show. He will share its mission and explain the ways that the organization helps African American businesses prosper in the region. Barãta A Bey is a seasoned Community Development Officer with over 12 years of experience in DEI, community e

Evan Frazier, President and CEO of The Advanced Leadership Institute (TALI)

Feb 04 2025 58 mins

Joyce welcomes Evan Frazier, President and CEO of The Advanced Leadership Institute (TALI), back to the show. The Advanced Leadership Institute is an organization aimed at cultivating Black executive leadership to strengthen companies, institutions, and communities. TALI is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion across all its work. Mr. Frazier will share his and the organiz

Larry Kleinman: Highmark Health Hires People with Disabilities

Jan 28 2025 52 mins

Larry Kleinman: Highmark Health Hires People with Disabilities Joyce welcomes Larry Kleinman, Executive Vice-President, and Chief Human Resources Officer for Highmark Health, to the show. Mr. Kleinman will share the organization’s commitment to continue partnering with Bender Consulting Services, Inc. to hire people with disabilities as a valuable part of their diverse workforce.

Karen Hanlon: Highmark Health’s Commitment to Diverse Workforce

Jan 21 2025 55 mins

Joyce welcomes Karen Hanlon, Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer of Highmark Health. Ms. Hanlon will share her background and her role in the organization. She will also share her insights on how AI will influence healthcare and what impact the shortage in healthcare labor may have in the future. Karen Hanlon Bio: A key leader, strategist and visio

Deborah Rice-Johnson: Helping Highmark Stay Committed to Hiring People with Disabilities

Jan 14 2025 55 mins

Joyce welcomes Deborah Rice-Johnson, CEO of Diversified Businesses and Chief Growth Officer for Highmark Inc., to Disability Matters. As Joyce focuses January on the key figures within Highmark that drive its commitment to hire people with disabilities, Ms. Rice-Johnson will highlight her duties organization-wide that assist the commitment to hiring people with disabilities. Bio of

David Holmberg: Highmark Grows Standard to Hire Disabled in 2025

Jan 07 2025 54 mins

Joyce is excited to start 2025 with the returning champion of competitive employment for Americans with disabilities, David Holmberg, President, and CEO of Highmark Health and Chairman of the Board, Highmark, Inc. Mr. Holmberg launched an initiative in 2020 to hire 30 people with disabilities from Bender Consulting Services to honor the 30th anniversary of the signing of the ADA,

Town/Schuller/Radecic: Disability Rights Year in Review

Dec 31 2024 54 mins

Joyce welcomes Maria Town, President and CEO, of American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD); Megan Schuller, Legal Director at the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law; and Peri Jude Radecic, CEO of Disability Rights Pennsylvania to the show. They will discuss the accomplishments each organization has made in the last year and their goals for 2025.