ADALive!

For more information, bios, resources, and transcripts visit adalive.org/episodes/episode-141/. Dr. Robin Powell, an assistant professor of law at Stetson University and a leading expert on the rights of parents with disabilities, discussed her extensive background in social work, law, and academia. She highlighted the discrimination faced by parents with disabilities, noting that 42 states and D.C. can terminate parental rights based on disability. Powell emphasized the importance of legal representation and resources like the National Research Center for Parents with Disabilities and the Disabled Parenting Project. She also discussed the impact of the Dobbs decision on reproductive rights and the need for expanded disability rights to include family and parenting.

For more information, bios, resources, and transcripts visit adalive.org/episodes/episode-140/. We all love to travel to learn new things, enjoy fun experiences, and make lasting memories. For many of us with disabilities, travel is not easy. We know that leaving home and going somewhere else has its own set of challenges. It can be difficult to visit a theme park or go to a baseball game, even one near our home. Our guest for this episode is Cory Lee, a wheelchair user and self-described “travel addict” who will share with us how and why accessible travel is possible and also fun! He shares his journey, starting with a trip to Walt Disney World at age four and his first international trip to the Bahamas at 15. In 2024, he traveled for 152 nights, working with destinations to promote accessibility. Corey emphasized the importance of early planning, often starting 6-12 months in advance. He highlighted the challenges of air travel and the need for positive attitudes. His website, Curb Free with Corey Lee, features 630 travel guides from 52 countries. He also co-authored a children's book, "Let's Explore with Core Core," to inspire accessible travel.

For more information, bios, resources, and transcripts visit adalive.org/episodes/episode-139/. How many of us dreamed of running away to join the circus when we were kids? For many of us, the circus was bigger than life. In this episode of ADA Live! we are going to the “big top” to learn how a circus can be made accessible for everyone, including people with disabilities. Our guest for this episode is Lisa Lewis, the founder and CEO of Omnium Circus, an inclusive and accessible circus created by and for the whole community, including people with disabilities.

For more information, bios, resources, and transcripts visit adalive.org/episodes/episode-138/. Barry Whaley and Lisa Tucker discuss how to plan and host the ADA National Symposium, emphasizing the importance of accessibility for people with disabilities. As the Events Manager at the Great Plains ADA Center, Lisa outlines her role in choosing locations, contract management, assisting with the registration from start to finish, and ensuring ADA accommodations for all participants. Barry and Lisa discuss the challenges of making conference presentations accessible and why it is important to ask the right questions during the registration process. Lisa explains why technology like video remote captioning and sign language interpreters are required for accessibility. She also shares resources for accessible event planning and encourages self-advocacy for participants with disabilities.

For more information, bios, resources, and transcripts visit adalive.org/episodes/episode-137/ This ADA Live episode features Barry Whaley and Troy Balthazor discussing the 2025 ADA National Symposium, which will celebrate the 35th anniversary of the ADA. The symposium, hosted by the Great Plains ADA Center, will be held in Atlanta, Georgia, from June 15-18, 2025. The event aims to provide comprehensive training on the ADA, attracting up to 1,200 attendees in person and a significant virtual audience. The symposium includes sessions on various ADA-related topics, a certification track for ADA coordinators, and special events to honor the ADA's 35th anniversary and the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act.

For more information, bios, resources, and transcripts visit adalive.org/episodes/episode-136/ Barry Whaley and Sally Miracle discuss the rights of children with disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Sally, a special education consultant, explains these laws, emphasizing that the ADA is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities. Section 504 and IDEA also provide civil rights protections and mandate free, appropriate public education. Sally suggests for parents to document concerns, contact school officials, and seek help from Protection and Advocacy groups before filing complaints. She stresses the importance of open communication, understanding Individual Education Plans (IEPs), and teaching students to advocate for themselves. Sally also highlights the need for positive relationships between parents, caregivers, teachers, and school staff

For more information, bios, resources, and transcripts visit adalive.org/episodes/episode-135/ Our guest for this episode is Eric Lipp, founder and executive director of Open Doors Organization. The mission of the non-profit Open Doors Organization is to make goods and services accessible to people with disabilities in travel, tourism and transportation. Their goal is to teach businesses how to succeed in the disability market, while simultaneously empowering the disability community. Americans love to travel. Americans spend billions of dollars on leisure travel each year according to the U.S. Travel Association. This travel supports millions of jobs and trillions of dollars in economic impact when we include food services, lodging, transportation, recreation, amusement, and retail sales. Looking at the disability travel market, Open Doors Organization reported 25.6 million people with disabilities traveled for pleasure or business while spending over 50 billion dollars. In this program we will talk about two laws that affect people with disabilities when they travel. Title III of the ADA prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in places of public accommodation including, hotels, restaurants, airports, bus stations and more. The second law is the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA), which makes it illegal for airlines to discriminate against passengers because of their disability. However, people with disabilities sometimes file lawsuits or complaints because they believe their rights were violated or they had a poor travel experience.

For more information, bios, resources, and transcripts visit https://adalive.org/episodes/episode-134/ As many as 40% of people with autism are non-speaking — which is more than 30 million worldwide. Yet only a small fraction of non-speakers have been taught how to type to communicate. We will talk with Elizabeth Bonker about her mission to enable non-speaking persons with disabilities to find their voices and how the ADA helped her share her own remarkable story. Elizabeth Bonker is the Executive Director of Communication 4 ALL, a nonprofit with the mission to ensure all non-speakers have access to communication and education. Elizabeth learned to type to communicate when she was five years old, and she entered mainstream public school in first grade. Elizabeth's decade of advocacy work includes a book, “I Am in Here”, and a music album. She has given dozens of published interviews and keynote addresses. Her story has been featured in three documentary films: SPELLERS, Understanding Autism, and In Our Own Hands. She is a 2022 graduate of the Rollins College Honors Program where she majored in social innovation with a minor in English. Her valedictorian commencement speech went viral with 4 billion media impressions, propelling her mission onto a global stage.

More information, transcripts, bios, and resources available at adalive.org/episodes/episode-132. State and local governments provide many services, programs, and activities through websites and mobile applications (apps). When these are not accessible, they create barriers for people with disabilities to access government services and programs, like tax information, building permits, or garbage collection payments. Inaccessibility can also keep people with disabilities from joining or fully participating in civic or other community events like town meetings or programs at their child's school. In April 2024, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) published a final rule updating its regulations for Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This final rule has specific requirements for ensuring that web content and mobile apps are accessible to people with disabilities. The compliance date for this rule depends on the population size of the public entity. In this episode, we will share information and resources to learn more about the rule's requirements. Our guest is Ruben Mota, ADA Coordinator at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

More information, transcripts, bios, and resources available at adalive.org/episodes/episode-132. One of the most important issues for people with disabilities is being able to get the health care they need in their communities. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH): People with disabilities often experience a wide and varying range of health conditions leading to poorer health and shorter lifespan. In addition, discrimination, inequality and exclusionary structural practices, programs and policies [that] inhibit access to timely and comprehensive health care, which further results in poorer health outcomes. (Source: nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-designates-people-disabilities-population-health-disparities) This episode features a project from the Center for Leadership in Disability (CLD), who is the Georgia Affiliate of the Southeast ADA Center. Their project will educate nurses and other health professionals on providing equitable and inclusive health care services for people with disabilities.

More information, transcripts, bios, and resources available at adalive.org/episodes/episode-131. Each July we celebrate the anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The United States has come a long way in fulfilling the promise of the ADA since President George H.W. Bush signed the ADA into law on July 26, 1990, and said “let the shameful wall of exclusion come tumbling down”. Today, our communities are more accessible and inclusive for people with disabilities. But there are still many barriers that people with disabilities face daily in communities, work, transportation, school, and civic participation. Some people think only new construction and alterations need to be accessible – that older facilities are “grandfathered in,” and do not have to comply with the ADA. But that's not true. Because the ADA is a civil rights law and not a building code, older facilities are often required to be accessible to ensure that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to participate. The ADA requires that state and local governments (ADA Title II entities) must ensure “program accessibility” and make reasonable modification to policy, practice, and procedure so all citizens can equally participate in the programs and services of their state and local government. Our guest for this episode is Stacey Peace. the State of Georgia ADA Coordinator.

More information, transcripts, bios, and resources available at adalive.org/episodes/episode-130.The Southeast ADA Center and the ADA National Network get a lot of questions about workplace accommodations. This includes questions about when and how employees can stay at work or return to work after a disabling illness or injury. The U.S. Department of Labor reports that millions of workers experience an injury that puts them at risk of leaving the workforce. While some injuries are work related, many happen off-the-job. These injuries impact not only workers, but family members, employers, and the economy. Many workers can return to work when the get timely and effective help. The RETAIN project, an initiative of the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), seeks to aide injured workers in the recovery process and return to economic self-sufficiency. Our guest for this episode is Kimberly Wickert with RETAIN Kentucky. Kimberly will be talking about the ways the RETAIN demonstration projects help employees and employers, along with other partners, work together so that employees facing illness or injury remain in the workforce.

More information, transcripts, bios, and resources available at adalive.org/episodes/episode-129. Each month, the 10 ADA Centers receive hundreds of calls and emails asking for disability-related information and guidance on their legal rights and responsibilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Many people ask about their employment rights or about an employer's duty to an employee with a disability. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or the EEOC is responsible for enforcement of various employment rights laws. The EEOC handles complaints of employment discrimination that are based on issues such as a person's disability, age, gender, race, or religion. In this episode, we will focus on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and employment discrimination against people with disabilities.

More information, transcripts, bios, and resources available at adalive.org/episodes/episode-128. It's April and in recognition of Autism Acceptance Month, we will talk about the rights autistic people have under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Many people who are autistic or are neurodivergent have difficulty with social situations and personal interactions. We will also offer strategies for coping with workplace and community barriers. Our guest for this episode is Stacey Hoaglund, the President of the Board of Directors for the Autism Society of Florida.

More information, transcripts, bios, and resources available at adalive.org/episodes/episode-127. March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, when we raise awareness and promote acceptance of people with developmental disabilities. In thinking about the barriers faced by people with developmental disabilities and their families, it can be hard to find up-to-date information on the quality services and programs you need to live independently in the community. One important resource for this information is the state Developmental Disabilities Councils, often called “DD Councils.” Our guest for this episode of ADA Live! is Johnny Callebs, the Executive Director of the Kentucky Commonwealth Council on Developmental Disabilities.

More information, transcripts, bios, and resources available at adalive.org/episodes/episode-126/. Synergies Work is the largest non-profit in the United States that enables entrepreneurs with disabilities to build sustainable micro-enterprises. They provide end-to-end business solutions and bridge the opportunity gaps between the disability and the business communities. Synergies Work believes that empowering entrepreneurs with disabilities can create a more inclusive society and a better world for all. Synergies Work is a personal mission of its founder, Aarti Sahgal. Her vision stems from her life experiences as a parent of a young adult with Down syndrome, who constantly challenges the bias of low expectations that excludes people with disabilities from living their true potential. In this episode of ADA Live! Aarti talks about the organization she founded, Synergies Work, and her personal mission to create inclusive communities and workforce strategies for people with disabilities.

More information, transcripts, bios, and resources available at adalive.org/episodes/episode-125/. According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), a significant number of individuals with disabilities spend their day receiving public services in sheltered workshops and facility-based day programs. In a report titled, Beyond Segregated and Exploited, the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) estimates that over 400,000 people are sent to sheltered workshops where they earn less than the federal minimum wage. This environment results in stigmatization and a lack of economic independence. These settings segregate individuals from the community and provide little or no opportunity to interact with people without disabilities, other than paid staff. The Department of Justice implements the “integration mandate” of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which requires public entities to “administer services, programs, and activities in the most integrated setting appropriate to the needs of qualified individuals with disabilities.”  The ADA's “integration mandate” makes clear that public entities must provide reasonable modifications to policies, practices, and procedures to avoid discrimination. On October 31, 2023, the DOJ issued guidance that the “integration mandate” applies to sheltered workshops and day centers, putting them in violation of the ADA and the Olmstead decision. In this episode we will discuss the most recent guidance on the ADA's “integration mandate” and the Olmstead decision and its application to employment and day services for people with disabilities. Our guest is Julie Kegley, Staff Attorney & Program Director - Georgia Advocacy Office (GAO).

More information, resources, and transcript visit: adalive.org/episodes/episode-124/ Each year the United Nations recognizes December 3 as International Day of Persons with Disabilities. This year's theme is “United in action to rescue and achieve the sustainable development goals for with and by people with disabilities.” Social Media Tags: #IDPD #DisabilityDay We are honored to have as our guest today Gertrude or “Getty” Oforiwa Fefoame. Getty is Chair of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which sets out the fundamental human rights of people with disabilities all over the world. Getty also works as the Global Advocacy Manager for Social Inclusion for Sightsavers, a global nonprofit organization that works in more than 30 countries to prevent blindness and fight for the rights of people with disabilities. In this episode we discuss the work and mission of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and highlight some of the important issues facing people with disabilities around the world.

More information, transcripts, and resources available at: https://section504at50.org/episodes/paul-grossman/ For over 30 years, Paul Grossman served as the Chief Regional Attorney for the US Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR) in San Francisco. In Washington, D.C. and San Francisco, Paul has worked on every type of education discrimination matter under Title VI, Title IX, Section 504, and the ADA, including securing equal access and academic accommodations for students with disabilities in higher education. For nearly 20 years, Paul also had lead responsibility for internal disability law training for OCR and continues to provide training services for OCR. In this episode, Paul talks about Disability law and its development, the Disability Rights Movement and the 504 occupation of the San Francisco Federal Building at the United Nations Plaza, and closes with future challenges in the disability rights field.

More information, resources, and transcript visit: https://adalive.org/episodes/episode-123/ According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, occurs when we are exposed to a traumatic event. About half of U.S. adults will experience a traumatic event in our lifetimes. Although some people will experience PTSD, most who go through a traumatic event will not develop PTSD. On this episode of ADA Live! we discuss how people with disabilities can be affected by traumatic events or experiences, including post-traumatic stress disorder. The symptoms of PTSD vary from person to person and the effects can be delayed. People who have PTSD may meet the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) definition of a disability by having an impairment or condition that impacts one or more major life activities. Our guest for this episode is Dr. Farris Tuma, a Health Scientist Administrator with the National Institute of Mental Health or NIMH, in Bethesda, Maryland. He is the NIMH point of contact for research on violence and trauma. His formal training is in public health as a research scientist, and he holds a master's degree in health policy and management. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is the largest scientific organization in the world dedicated to mental health research. Through basic and clinical research, NIMH aims to prevent and cure mental illnesses, improving the lives of millions of individuals and families affected by mental health challenges. ** Note: Because these traumatic events or experiences and PTSD can be difficult to talk about, the information we discuss in this episode may be disturbing for some listeners. **

En celebración del Mes de la Herencia Hispana, del 15 de septiembre al 15 de octubre, reconocemos las contribuciones y la rica influencia de los hispanoamericanos a la historia, la cultura y los logros de los Estados Unidos. La comunidad hispana de personas con discapacidades tiene un papel importante que desempeñar en esta celebración. El Centro del Sureste de la ADA y los otros nueve centros informan a las personas sobre sus derechos y responsabilidades en virtud de la Ley de Estadounidenses con Discapacidades (ADA, por sus siglas en inglés) y otras leyes sobre los derechos de las personas con discapacidades. Hace unos tres años, la Red Nacional de la ADA creó un Comité de Alcance Multicultural para proporcionar información y orientación a los grupos desatendidos. En este episodio, discutimos cómo la Red Nacional de la ADA y su Comité de Alcance Multicultural educan a la comunidad hispana de discapacitados sobre sus derechos bajo la ADA. También explicaremos el propósito del comité y los proyectos y programas que han desarrollado para apoyar la independencia, la participación comunitaria y el empleo de las personas hispanas con discapacidades. Nuestro invitado es Oscar González, del Centro de Traducción de Conocimientos de la Red Nacional de la ADA de la Universidad de Illinois-Chicago. Oscar es el Coordinador del Programa de Extensión del Idioma Español para la Red Nacional de la ADA. Angelica Deaton, coordinadora de la oficina y asistente de investigación en el Centro ADA del Sureste, es nuestra anfitriona y moderadora de este episodio. Este episodio que celebra el Mes de la Herencia Hispana estará disponible en inglés y español. Puede acceder a todos los programas de ADA Live! episodios con audio archivado, transcripciones accesibles y recursos en nuestro sitio web en ADAlive.org.

More information, transcripts, and resources available at: https://section504at50.org/episodes/katherine-macfarlane/ Professor Macfarlane is a leading expert on civil procedure, civil rights litigation, and disability law. She has also served as the Special Counsel to the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights, working on the overhaul of regulations implementing Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, focusing on the regulations' higher education provisions. Professor Macfarlane will also talk about her experiences as a child with a disability and how they shaped her life and work as a disability rights advocate, student, lawyer, author, professor, and policymaker.

For more information, bios, transcripts, and resources visit adalive.org/episodes/episode-121/ September is Suicide Awareness and Prevention Month, and September 10th is World Suicide Prevention Day. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC: “Suicide rates increased about 36% from 2000 to 2021. Suicide resulted in 48,183 deaths in 2021, which is about one death every 11 minutes. The number of people who think about or attempt suicide is even higher. In 2021 about 12.3 million American adults seriously thought about suicide, 3.5 million planned a suicide and 1.7 million attempted suicide. “ (Source: cdc.gov/suicide/facts/index.html) Our guests for this ADA Live! episode are Rachelle Burns, Chair of the EscaRosa Suicide Prevention Coalition in Santa Rosa County, Florida, and Lauren Anzaldo, a member of the EscaRosa Suicide Prevention Coalition Veterans Support Team. They will share about suicide prevention and awareness and how we can help those in need of support, including at-risk populations such as military veterans and youth. Join us for this honest discussion on a difficult topic.

For more information, bios, transcripts, and resources visit adalive.org/episodes/episode-120/ Did you know that the federal government is America's largest employer? According to information published in May 2023 by the General Services Administration: “More than 4 million Americans—including more than 2.1 million Federal civilian employees—work for our Federal Government, both at home and overseas.” (Source: Strengthening and Empowering the Federal Workforce.) In this episode of ADA Live! we discuss the Schedule A hiring Authority, a program the federal government has in place to recruit and hire employees with disabilities. This program allows federal agencies to hire qualified employees with disabilities without requiring them to go through a long hiring process. Schedule A hiring applies to all federal jobs. This episode includes information and resources for workers with disabilities, Federal employers, and employment service providers.  Our guests for this episode, Laura Taylor, Affirmative Employment Program Specialist, and Sandy Williams, Supervisory Human Resources Specialist, are with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia. Laura and Sandy will explain how the Schedule A program helps qualified workers with disabilities find jobs with the federal government.

For more information, bios, transcripts, and resources visit adalive.org/episodes/episode-119/ On a warm summer day in July 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into law. The ADA informs the public, businesses, and other organizations about their responsibilities and rights under the ADA. A national network of 10 regional ADA Centers, including the Southeast ADA Center, was created by Congress in 1991. The Southeast ADA Center serves eight states in the U.S. Southeast region. The ADA National Network is funded by a grant from the federal government's primary disability research organization, the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR). Join our celebration of the 33rd anniversary of the ADA with our guest, Shelley Reeves, the ADA National Network Program Coordinator and Section 21 Program Coordinator for NIDILRR. On this episode we will learn more about NIDILLR's mission, projects and programs that help each regional ADA Center in the ADA National Network serve and support diverse communities of people with disabilities and other ADA stakeholders throughout the United States.

For more information, bios, transcripts, and resources visit adalive.org/episodes/episode-118/ Aphasia is a communication disability that affects our ability to understand written and spoken language. Aphasia can happen suddenly, often following a stroke or head injury or it may also develop slowly, as the result of a brain tumor or a progressive neurological disease. Aphasia does not affect a person's ability to think or reason. Aphasia may co-occur with speech disorders, such as dysarthria or apraxia of speech, which also result from brain damage. (Source: nidcd.nih.gov/health/aphasia) About 1 million people in the United States live with aphasia, and nearly 180,000 Americans acquire aphasia each year. Aphasia is more common than Parkinson's Disease, cerebral palsy, or muscular dystrophy. (Source: aphasia.org/aphasia-faqs). On this episode of ADA Live! we discuss how aphasia impacts the lives of a family who learned how to recover and cope with its effects. Our guest is Carol Dow Richards, Founding Director of Aphasia Recovery Connection, a nonprofit organization located in Leland, North Carolina. Carol's son David acquired aphasia after a sudden stroke in 1995 at age ten. Carol will discuss how she and David continue to manage the effects of aphasia, why they started their organization, and how they are helping others move forward in their recovery. We will also talk about how the rights of people with aphasia and similar communication disorders are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

For more information, resources, transcripts visit http://disabilityrightstoday.org/episodes/episode-8/ On March 21, 2023, the United States Supreme Court in Perez v. Sturgis Public Schools unanimously decided that individuals who have entered into a settlement resolving their claims under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), can also pursue claims for money damages against school districts under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) without exhausting the administrative process under IDEA. This decision reverses a decision made by the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. Our guest is Ellen Saideman, a Rhode Island attorney who focuses much of her practice on the educational rights of students with disabilities and their families. In Perez v. Sturgis Public Schools, Ms. Saideman represented Mr. Miguel Luna Perez, a Deaf student, in his 6th Circuit Court of Appeals case against the Sturgis Public School system in Michigan. Our host for this podcast is Dr. Peter Blanck, Chairman of the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University. Ms. Saideman and Dr. Blanck discuss how the Court's decision in Perez v. Sturgis Public Schools will affect the rights of students with disabilities under the ADA and IDEA. They will also explain how a similar U.S. Supreme Court case in 2017, Fry v. Napoleon Community Schools, paved the way for the Perez v. Sturgis decision.

For more information, bios, transcripts, and resources visit adalive.org/episodes/episode-117/ In the United States, about 1 in every 8 people of all ages has some form of hearing loss. Behind arthritis and heart disease, hearing loss is the third most common disability. (Source: HealthyHearing.com) Hearing loss is most significant amongst seniors. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders reports that 1 in 3 seniors in the United States who are ages 65 to 74 have hearing loss, and nearly half of the seniors over age 75 have difficulty hearing. (Source: https://adata.org/factsheet/healthcare-and-face-coverings) In this episode, two Assistant United States attorneys talk about the rights of people with hearing loss, Deafness, or other communication needs in health care settings. We will highlight cases and settlement agreements the Department of Justice has handled that deal with these rights under the ADA. Our guests are: • Steve Gordon is the Civil Rights Enforcement Coordinator and Assistant United States Attorney for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. • Kara Sweet is the Assistant United States Attorney for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Tennessee.

For more information, bios, transcripts, and resources visit https://adalive.org/episodes/episode-116/ In recognition of National Parkinson's Month in April, learn about Parkinson's disease and your health, and your rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). According to the Parkinson Association of the Carolinas, Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a brain disorder affecting nearly 1 million people in the United States. This number is expected to rise to 1.2 million by 2030. Parkinson's Disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's Disease.

For more information, bios, resources, and transcripts visit: adalive.org/episodes/episode-115/ In recognition of National Kidney Month in March, learn about kidney disease and your health, kidney transplants, and kidney donors. Chronic kidney disease affects nearly 15% of the U.S. population.1 In 2022 a record 24,669 life-saving kidney transplants were performed.2 Kidney disease and other related health conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes can be disabilities that affect your rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Join us for this important episode about living well with kidney disease and the rights of kidney patients and kidney donors under the ADA and other laws. Our guest is Dr. Frita Fisher, a board-certified physician and nephrologist with Midtown Nephrology, P.C., in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Frita is also a member of the Georgia National Kidney Foundation Board of Directors. Our host for this episode is Dan Kessler. Dan is the Interim Executive Director of the Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL). For over 20 years, Dan was the Executive Director of Disability Rights and Resources, a Center for Independent Living (CIL) serving people with disabilities in Birmingham, Alabama. Disability Rights and Resources is the Southeast ADA Center Alabama State Affiliate. In 2021, Dan had a kidney transplant. He will talk about his own experiences living with kidney disease and his successful transplant.

For more information, bios, resources, and transcripts visit: adalive.org/episodes/episode-114/ The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) has a shared vision where all people with disabilities participate fully in their communities. The AUCD supports a national network of university-based interdisciplinary programs, including: University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD), Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND), Eunice Kennedy Shriver Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Centers (IDDRC), and Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics Training Programs (DBP). Tune in to learn about the important work of the AUCD and its network, and the far-reaching initiatives of the AUCD that promote independence, productivity, and community inclusion for the disability community. Our guest for this ADA Live! episode is John Tschida, Executive Director of the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD). Mr. Tschida was previously the Director of the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR). The ten regional ADA Centers across the United States are funded by a grant from NIDILLR to provide information, training, and technical assistance on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

More information, bios, resources, and transcripts available at: https://adalive.org/episodes/episode-113/ The American social reformer and clergyman Henry Ward Beecher once said, “We never know the love of a parent till we become parents ourselves.” Families come in many forms and in the United States, nearly 10% of children live with a parent with a disability. Join us for an engaging conversation on parenting with a disability and a new book on the topic, “A Celebration of Family: Stories of Parents with Disabilities,” with our four guests: Dave Matheis, Kentucky Coalition for the Rights of Parents with Disabilities Jason Jones, Disability Specialist, Human Development Institute, University of Kentucky Kimberly Tissot, President and Chief Executive Officer, ABLE-South Carolina Kara Ayers, PhD. Associate Professor, Associate Director, University of Cincinnati Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCCEDD), Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.

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For more information, transcripts, and resources visit: https://adalive.org/episodes/episode-112/ Some autistic adults have difficulties in finding employment opportunities that match their interests, gifts, and talents. Many autistic adults are unemployed or underemployed. Autistic adults and youth also experience barriers to completing postsecondary education and training opportunities, accessing healthcare, and enjoying an equitable quality of life. In this informative discussion, discover resources and supports available for autistics looking for employment and employers looking to hire these valuable employees. Our guest for this episode is Bev Harp, an autistic and the Principal Investigator of the Innovative Supports for Autistic Workers (ISAW) Project at the University of Kentucky Human Development Institute, and Bev's assistant, Squawkers McCaw.

As Veterans return to civilian life, some want to return to jobs they held before entering the military. Some will begin the search for new jobs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 4.9 million Veterans, or 27 percent, have a service-connected disability. In recognition of Veterans Day on November 11th, and in honor of military Veterans, we dedicate this episode of ADA Live! to the employment of Veterans and the challenges some Veterans face in returning to civilian employment. Please join us for this informative discussion on the employment of Veterans with our three guests: Keith Hosey, Supervisory Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Louisville. Anne-Marie Nelson, National Vocational Rehabilitation Planning Specialist VHA Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Service Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Department of Veteran Affairs, Washington, DC. Joseph Carlomagno, National Community Employment Programs Specialist, VHA Vocational Rehabilitation, Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Department of Veteran Affairs, Washington, DC.

For more information, resources, and transcripts visit: https://adalive.org/episodes/episode-110/ Each October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). The 2022 NDEAM theme of “Disability: Part of the Equity Equation” recognizes the important role that people with disabilities play in a diverse inclusive workforce. As Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), Taryn M. Williams, remarked, “A strong workforce is the sum of many parts, and disability has always been a key part of the equation. People with disabilities make up a wonderfully multifaceted group. By recognizing the full complexion of our community, we can ensure our efforts to achieve disability inclusion are, in fact, truly inclusive.” To celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), our guest for this ADA Live! episode is Wally Tablit, Senior Director of Policy and Workplace Development at RespectAbility. Mr. Tablit will showcase insightful supportive, inclusive, and equitable employment policies and practices, and the vital contributions of workers with disabilities.

More information, bios, resources, and transcripts available at https://adalive.org/episodes/episode-109/ Under Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a reasonable accommodation is a modification or adjustment to a job, the work environment, or the way things are usually done during the hiring process. Job accommodations are changes to the ways workplace tasks are typically done that help people with disabilities be successful and have the same opportunities as people without disabilities. The ADA requires reasonable accommodations as they relate to three aspects of employment: 1) ensuring equal opportunity in the application process; 2) enabling a qualified individual with a disability to perform the essential functions of a job; and 3) making it possible for an employee with a disability to enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment. On the next episode of ADA Live! we welcome guest Sheryl Ellis, to discuss Title I from both the employee and employer perspective. Sheryl specializes in ADA compliance and workplace accommodations, assisting employees and employers in achieving the best possible outcomes for both parties. Sheryl is the author of “Making It Work: Managing Your Health Condition Through ADA Workplace Accommodations.”

For more information, resources, transcripts and bios visit https://adalive.org/episodes/episode-108/ Barbershops are an important place in black communities. Barbershops are a refuge from discrimination where black men can talk freely about their life and personal experiences. The Confess Project encourages dialogue between African American males about emotional health by training barbers and stylists to become mental health advocates. While Black adults generally experience the same rates of mental illness as other adults in the United States, the American Psychological Association (APA) finds that Black adults who live below the poverty line are more than twice as likely to report serious psychological distress compared to those who have greater financial security. The APA also finds that concerns such as illness, poverty, and racial discrimination put Black male youth at greater risk for suicide, depression, and other mental health disabilities. In this episode of ADA Live!, our guests Dontay Williams and Darnell Rice share about the Confess Project, a peer support network of more than 1400 barbers in 47 cities and 14 states across the U.S. who are inspiring boys, men of color and their families to be better emotionally and creating a culture of better mental health in Black communities.