Adventures in Accessibility

Transcript: rmad.ac/AIAe074Arman Nobari is an entrepreneur, cancer survivor, and the co-founder and CEO of accessible games company, Good Trouble. Over his fifteen-year career, Arman has helped accessible products come to life at Google, Udemy, Modern Animal and more. Now with his startup, Good Trouble, Arman is working to revolutionize accessibility in the games industry through a free site called Able to Play.Connect with Arman: AbleToPlay | Your Home for Accessible GamingGood TroubleConnect with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at RockyMountainADA.org or find us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or anywhere else you get your podcasts!

Transcript: rmad.ac/AIAe073Dr. Temple Grandin is an academic inventor and animal behavior scientist. She's a proponent of the humane treatment of livestock for slaughter and the author of more than 60 scientific papers on animal behavior. Dr. Grandin is a consultant to the livestock industry, where she offers advice on animal behavior.As an autistic person, Dr. Grandin did not talk until she was three and a half years old. Eventually, she became one of the first autistic people to document the insights she gained from her personal experiences with autism. Today she's a prominent author and speaker on both autism and animal behavior, and a professor of animal science at Colorado State University. She also has a successful career consulting on both livestock handling, equipment design, and animal welfare. Dr. Grandin has been featured on NPR and BBC and has appeared on national TV shows such as Larry King Live, 20/20, 60 Minutes, Fox and Friends, and she has a 2010 Ted Talk.Articles about Dr. Grandin have appeared in Time Magazine, New York Times, Discover Magazine, Forbes and USA Today. HBO made an Emmy Award-winning movie about her life, and she was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2016. When Dr. Grandin was young, she was considered weird and teased and bullied in high school. The only place she had friends were activities where there was a shared interest such as horses, electronics, or model rockets. Mr. Carlock, her science teacher, was an important mentor who encouraged her interest in science. When she had a new goal of becoming a scientist, she had a reason for studying. Today, half of the cattle in the United States are handled in facilities she has designed.Connect with Temple: Welcome to Temple Grandin's Official Autism WebsiteTemple Grandin's WebsiteTemple Grandin - Books and DVDsAmazon.com: Visual Thinking: The Hidden Gifts of People Who Think in Pictures, Patterns, and Abstractions: 9780593418369: Grandin PhD, Temple: BooksTemple Grandin | Watch the Movie on HBO | HBO.comConnect with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at RockyMountainADA.org or find us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or anywhere else you get your podcasts!

Transcript: rmad.ac/AIAe072Connect with Georgina:Georgina is a professor emerita of English at the University of California Berkeley, where she taught creative writing and disability studies. Her collection of personal essays, Sight Unseen, is a classic in the field of disability studies. Essays include an autobiographical account of Kleege's own blindness and a cultural critique of depictions of blindness in literature, film, and language. Many of these essays are required reading for students in disability studies, as well as visual culture, education, public health, psychology, philosophy, and ophthalmology.Blind Rage: Letters to Helen Keller transcends the boundaries between fiction and nonfiction to reimagine the life and legacy of the celebrated disability icon. Kleege's latest book More Than Meets the Eye: What Blindness Brings to Art is concerned with blindness and visual art, how blindness is represented in art, how blindness affects the lives of visual artists, and how museums can make visual art accessible to people who are blind or low vision. Georgina has lectured and served as a consultant to art institutions around the world. She now lives in New York City. All right. Georgina Kleege | EnglishSight Unseen: Kleege, Georgina: 9780300076806: Amazon.com: BooksBlind Rage: Letters to Helen Keller - Kindle edition by Kleege, Georgina. Reference Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.Amazon.com: More than Meets the Eye: What Blindness Brings to Art: 9780190604363: Kleege, Georgina: BooksConnect with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at RockyMountainADA.org or find us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or anywhere else you get your podcasts!

Transcript: rmad.ac/AIAe071Thomas is the executive director of the California Achieving a Better Life Experience Program, or CalABLE. Through his work with CalABLE, Thomas helps people with disabilities save and invest while protecting their access to benefits. Prior to joining CalABLE, he served in the California Department of Veterans Affairs and the office of the governor. Thomas is autistic and he is the proud father of two sons with autism and other developmental disabilitiesLearn more about CalABLE:ABLE todayHome - CalABLECalABLEColorado ABLE | Giving Those With Disabilities the Ability to SaveCalABLE (@wearecalable) • Instagram photos and videosConnect with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at RockyMountainADA.org or find us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or anywhere else you get your podcasts!

Transcript: rmad.ac/AIAe070Gaelynn won NPR's Tiny Desk Contest in 2016. Since then, she has captivated audience around the world with her haunting original songs and traditional fiddle tunes. Over the years, she has collaborated and performed with many notable artists such as Michael Stipe from REM, The Decemberists, Wilco, Lowe, and the industrial rock supergroup Pigface. In early 2022, Gaelynn composed and performed the music for Macbeth on Broadway, which starred Daniel Craig. The following year, she wrote a musical fable for the stage called Invisible Fences with the disabled author and playwright Kevin Kling.Music aside, Gaelynn Lea is a sought-after public speaker and disability advocate around the topics of disability culture, inclusion, and accessibility in the arts. In 2021, she co-founded the organization Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities with fellow artist-activist Lachi. In 2024, she was awarded both the Disability Futures Fellowship and the Whippoorwill Arts Fellowship for her music and disability advocacy. She is currently finishing up her debut book due out in 2026. Linger in the Sun will be a love letter to everybody, a warm, funny, and deeply felt memoir about disability, music, and the messy creativity of an artist's life.Connect with Gaelynn Lea:GAELYNN LEA – Musician & Public SpeakerCreative Living for Every Body with Gaelynn Lea | Substack"I Wait" by Gaelynn LeaJudith Heumann's Fight for Disability Rights (feat. Ali Stroker) - Drunk HistoryConnect with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at RockyMountainADA.org or find us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or anywhere else you get your podcasts!

Transcript: rmad.ac/AIAe069Sarah Todd Hammer is a three-time published author, speaker, and disability advocate. After becoming disabled when she was eight years old, she immersed herself in the disability advocacy space. She co-authored and published her first book about her disability journey at age 11, followed by two more books that follow along her life as a disabled teen at ages 14 and 17. Now at age 23, she's a graduate of Davidson College and a disability social media influencer, speaker, and consultant. With a following of over 300,000 collectively, she provides disability education in a fun, positive manner on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. She also speaks to schools and companies about her disability experience and the importance of accessibility.Connect with Sarah Todd:Sarah Todd HammerSarah Todd Hammer - YouTubeSarah Todd Hammer (@sarahtoddhammer) • Instagram photos and videosST Hammer (@sarahtoddhammer) | TikTokConnect with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at RockyMountainADA.org or find us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or anywhere else you get your podcasts!

Transcript: rmad.ac/AIAe068Emmett is a disability justice practitioner and student activist passionate about creating disabled, decolonial, and anti-oppressive communities. He's a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, majoring in political science and gender and women's studies, conducting research on how definitions of political personhood intersect with electoral access for disabled voters.They have previously served as an intern for the American Association of People with Disabilities; the United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions; and for the Department of Health Services for the state of Wisconsin. Lockwood helped organize the Disability Cultural Center Coalition at UW-Madison, which successfully established the UW-Madison Disability Cultural Center in 2023, the 13th such center in the United States.Connect with Emmett:Emmett Lockwood (@emmettlockwood.bsky.social) — BlueskyEmail: ewlockwood@wisc.edu Connect with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at RockyMountainADA.org or find us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or anywhere else you get your podcasts!

Transcript: rmad.ac/AIAe067Delila is a high school senior from Dallas, Texas who was born with a rare genetic disorder called CHARGE syndrome, which can affect a person's eyes, hearing, heart, growth, and more. As a deafblind individual, Delila has limited vision in one eye and relies on a bone anchored hearing auditory implant to hear. She communicates with confidence signing her words to ensure the deaf community feels included.Delila authored a book titled In CHARGE of My Life, a book about her childhood growing up and discovering life through a deafblind lens. In her book, she talks about overcoming many trials and struggles such as shyness, feeling different, not fitting in and low self-esteem. She realizes that she can get help and she's not alone, and that it's okay to have those types of feelings through life's ups and downs. Delila proves herself time and time again with her determination and willpower.Her life experience has helped her mature and become a remarkable person with a huge, caring heart. Delila sees a bright future for herself and wants to encourage other students that are feeling lost or frustrated to be confident and shineConnect with Delila:Delila Vasquez (@delila.incharge) • Instagram photos and videosIn CHARGE of My Life: Vasquez, Delila, Sapir, Crystal: 9781630665623: Amazon.com: BooksConnect with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at RockyMountainADA.org or find us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or anywhere else you get your podcasts!

Transcript: rmad.ac/AIAe066Nicole Cyrille is an actor, voice-over artist, and disability advocate focused on fostering inclusion and authentic representation in entertainment. With a diverse background on stage and screen, Nicole brings powerful performances to life across genres. As a voice-over artist, she lends her voice to characters and narrations with versatility and emotional depth. She also performs Audio Description for shows like Grey's Anatomy and provides live Audio Description for high-profile events such as the Grammys and Tonys, making content more accessible to everyone.Beyond her craft, Nicole is a committed advocate for breaking down barriers for performers with disabilities. She champions authentic casting, accessible production spaces, and fair treatment for disabled artists. Recognized for her leadership, Nicole collaborates with industry professionals to promote inclusion and expand opportunities for disabled talent. Through her art and advocacy, Nicole is reshaping narratives around disability and proving that diverse representation enhances storytelling for all.Connect with Nicole:Nicole Cyrille (@nicole.cyrille) • Instagram photos and videosNicole Cyrille (@nicole.cyrille) • Threads, Say moreNicole Cyrille (@nicolecyrille.bsky.social) — BlueskyConnect with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at RockyMountainADA.org or find us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or anywhere else you get your podcasts!

Transcript: rmad.ac/AIAe0645Rebecca Rosenberg is an engineer, entrepreneur, speaker, and a person with albinism. Growing up she struggled to find assistive technologies that supported her needs as a person with moderate vision impairment. In 2019, Rebecca founded ReBokeh to develop assistive technologies specifically for the albinism and moderate low vision communities.After receiving her bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering from Bucknell University, Rebecca began coursework at the Johns Hopkins Center for Bioengineering Innovation and Design (CBID) where she received her Master's degree of the same title. Following her masters, she was awarded an Abell Foundation Fellowship to assist in developing and teaching the Biodesign curriculum to first year masters students. She also served as the project lead for VectorCam, a global health initiative aimed at using artificial intelligence to combat malaria in sub-Saharan Africa.Rebecca now devotes her full time to ReBokeh: having deployed the technology to a growing base of users in over 70 countries worldwide and speaking to various groups on the unique challenges of the moderate low vision community.Connect with Rebecca:Website: Home | ReBokehReBokeh Vision Technologies, Inc. | LinkedInReBokeh • Vision Assist Technology

Transcript: rmad.ac/AIAe064Katherine Beattie is a Los Angeles born television writer/producer and action sports enthusiast. While she has spent most of her professional career writing police procedurals, she considers herself a comedian at heart. But regardless of what she's writing, Katherine is a champion for authentic and nuanced portrayals of Disabled People and other historically excluded communities on screen, and for their inclusion behind the scenes.As one of the pioneers of wheelchair motocross (WCMX), Katherine was the first woman in the world to land a backflip on a wheelchair. She competes on the Adaptive Surfing Professionals World Tour, and is a member of USA Surfing's parasurfing national team. She will represent Team USA at her 4th ISA World Parasurfing Championships this November in Huntington Beach.Connect with Katherine:Katherine Beattie (@ktbeattie) • Instagram photos and videosConnect with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at RockyMountainADA.org or find us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or anywhere else you get your podcasts!

Transcript: rmad.ac/AIAe063Kelly Twichel is an occupational therapist and CEO of the award-winning accessibility startup Access Trax. At 12 years old, Kelly made the commitment to pursue a career in healthcare; her mom had suffered a massive stroke and she wanted to help others like those who helped her mom. Her journey to entrepreneurship began in 2016 at grad school.As an occupational therapy student at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, Kelly was inspired by local SoCal adaptive surfers to co-invent portable mats that empower people with physical disabilities to easily traverse outdoor terrain like sand at the beach. In 2018, Kelly launched Access Trax which has since served families, nonprofits and governments across 18 countries. Kelly enjoys volunteering at adaptive sport events and encouraging the next generation of social impact entrepreneurs.Connect with Kelly:Access Trax - Access for Life (accesstraxsd.com)Access Trax (@accesstrax) • Instagram photos and videosAccess Trax | LinkedInEmail: kelly@accesstraxsd.comConnect with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at RockyMountainADA.org or find us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or anywhere else you get your podcasts!

Transcript: rmad.ac/AIAe062Foster's journey took a dramatic turn at 17 during the summer between his junior and senior years of high school. An active and athletic young man, he was riding his motorcycle through the woods of upstate New York when a severe accident left him in a two-week coma. He recalls a near-death out-of-body experience when his heart stopped for six seconds. Despite his quadriplegia, Foster's determination to live fully never wavered. Seven months after the accident, he left the hospital with a clear goal, "I wanted to get outdoors again. I wanted to get unstuck."Though unable to walk, he went on to bungee jump out of a hot air balloon, scuba dive, surf, chair ski, sail, and follow the Grateful Dead, invent a frisbee for quadriplegics, attend engineering school and drive across the country in his adaptive van. As an inventor and innovator, Foster's adventures were just beginning in ways he never imagined. His mission became sharing this spirit with others in the disability community. In 1985, he co-founded Shared Adventures with a sit ski program in Rochester, New York. For over 30 years, Foster has been running the program in Santa Cruz, inspiring countless others to embrace life after challenge.Connect with Foster:Shared AdventuresAccess Santa Cruz County (scaccessguide.com)Shared Adventures | Santa Cruz CA | FacebookShared Adventures - YouTubeShared Adventures (@sharedadventuressc) • Instagram photos and videosPhone: (831)-459-7201Connect with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at RockyMountainADA.org or find us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or anywhere else you get your podcasts!

Transcript: bit.ly/AIAe061Dr. Kerry Magro , Ed.D. was nonspeaking till 2.5, diagnosed with autism at 4 and didn't speak in complete sentences until 7 years old. Today as an adult he is an award-winning autistic professional speaker, best-selling author and autism consultant to the HBO series Mrs. Fletcher and the latest season of Netflix's Emmy-Award Winning Series ‘Love on the Spectrum U.S.' He started professional speaking 13 years ago via the National Speakers Association after he fell in love with theater as a child to help with his social and communication skills. Today he has spoken at over 1300 events during that time include 2 TEDxTalks and a 'Talks at Google' presentation. In addition, Kerry is CEO & President of KFM Making A Difference, a nonprofit organization that hosts inclusion events and has provided 150 scholarships for autistic students for college and counting since 2011.He's provided 27 small business grants for small businesses that hire people with disabilities and has played Santa Claus for autistic and special needs children for the past decade to give them an opportunity to meet Santa in a sensory-friendly environment. In his spare time, he hosts a Facebook Page called Kerry's Autism Journey that now has 278,000 Facebook followers where he does on-camera interviews highlighting people impacted by a diagnosis to help break down barriers in our community. His videos he's produced have been watched over 35 million times.Kerry's best-selling books Defining Autism From The Heart, and Autism and Falling in Love, I Will Light It Up Blue and his latest, Autistics on Autism have reached Amazon Best-Seller Lists for Special Needs Parenting. His latest book ‘Supporting Your Autism Journey' was released on April 2, 2024 for World Autism Awareness Day!Connect with Kerry:KM – Landing page - Kerry MagroKM – Speaking Engagements - Kerry MagroKFM Making A DifferenceKerry Magro (@kerrymagro) | TikTokKerry's Autism Journey | FacebookKerry Magro - Public Speaker & Autism Advocate (@Kerrymagro) / XKerry Magro (@autisticprofessionalspeaker) • Instagram photos and videosKerry's Autism Journey - YouTubeKerry Magro - National Speaker Association | LinkedInAutistics on Autism: Stories You Need to Hear About What Helped Them While Growing Up and Pursuing Their Dreams: Magro, Kerry: 9798780803713: Amazon.com: BooksConnect with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at RockyMountainADA.org or find us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or anywhere else you get your podcasts!

Transcript: bit.ly/AIAe060Haley is an attorney, author, artist, and advocate who was diagnosed with autism at age three. She's passionate about disability inclusion and neurodiversity, using her unique blend of personal and professional experiences to promote accessibility for people with disabilities. Haley is a keynote speaker and educator, finding fulfillment and sharing her story to make a difference in other people's lives. She also served as an adjunct professor at Taylor University in the psychology department.As an author, Haley has written four books on various life stages and neurodiversity for professionals. Her work is featured in numerous media outlets and legal journals covering topics from personal experiences to media representation and politics. Haley believes in the importance of being heard and included, resonating with the disability community's motto, nothing about us with without us. She advocates for a future that is neurodiverse, accessible and inclusive of all people with disabilities.Connect with Haley:Haley Moss | ATTORNEY | ADVOCATE | THOUGHT LEADER | AUTHOR | SPEAKERHaley Moss | FacebookHaley Moss - YouTubeHaley Moss (@haley.moss) • Instagram photos and videosHaley Moss, Esq. - Haley Moss | LinkedInConnect with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at RockyMountainADA.org or find us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or anywhere else you get your podcasts!

Transcript: bit.ly/AIAe059Andrew Leland is the author of The Country of the Blind: A Memoir at the End of Sight, named a best book of the year by The New Yorker, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and others. His writing has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, The New Yorker, McSweeney's Quarterly, and The San Francisco Chronicle, among other outlets. From 2013 to 2019, he hosted and produced The Organist, an arts and culture podcast, for KCRW; he has also produced pieces for Radiolab and 99 Percent Invisible. Leland has been an editor at The Believer since 2003.Connect with Andrew:Andrew LelandThe Country of the Blind by Andrew Leland: 9781984881427 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: BooksThe Optacon Story - Part 1 of 2 (circa 1972) (youtube.com)Connect with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at RockyMountainADA.org or find us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or anywhere else you get your podcasts!

Transcript: bit.ly/AIAe058Erik Weihenmayer is one of the most celebrated and accomplished athletes in the world. In 2001, he became the only blind person in history to climb Mount Everest. When he stood on top of Carstensz pyramid in 2008, he completed his quest to climb all of the seven summits, the tallest peak on each of the seven continents. Erik is the author of the bestselling memoir, Touch the top of the world, which was made into a feature film as well as the Adversity Advantage, which shows readers how to turn everyday struggles into everyday greatness. His latest book, No Barriers, A Blind Man's Journey to kayak The Grand Canyon is more than an adventure story. It illuminates how we move forward in our lives towards growth and purpose, despite the barriers that get in our way. He is an internationally recognized speaker and brings his message of living a no-barriers life to audiences around the world.In September, 2014, Erik and blinded Navy veteran Lonnie Bedwell kayaked the entire 277 miles of the Grand Canyon on the Colorado River, considered one of the most formidable whitewater adventures in the world. Erik continually seeks out new adventures, focusing his efforts on empowering people traditionally swept to the sidelines of life. He founded an organization called No Barriers, which helps people with challenges tap into the human spirit, break through barriers, and contribute to the world.Connect with Erik:Erik Weihenmayer – Adventurer | Speaker | Author | TeacherNo Barriers | No Barriers - Resilience, Hope & Optimism For Youth And Adults (nobarriersusa.org)Erik Weihenmayer (@erikweihenmayer) • Instagram photos and videosConnect with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at RockyMountainADA.org or find us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or anywhere else you get your podcasts!

Transcript: bit.ly/AIAe057Sommer is a 29 year old mental health advocate in the Denver area and the owner of Discreet Journal. She was diagnosed with severe obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and speaks out about her challenges and opportunities with mental health.Connect with Sommer:Discreet Journal - Therapy Workbook, Mindfulness JournalDiscreet Journal | FacebookDiscreet Journal (@discreetjournal) • Instagram photos and videosDiscreet Journal (DiscreetJournal) - Profile | PinterestConnect with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at RockyMountainADA.org or find us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or anywhere else you get your podcasts!

Transcript: bit.ly/AIAe056After being diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy at the age of two, Cory Lee's thirst for adventure never ceased. He has traveled across all seven continents in his powered wheelchair while managing to run his travel blog CurbFreeWithCoryLee.com, where he shares his accessible — and sometimes not so accessible — travel adventures with others. Cory also does annual group trips, where his followers can join him in international destinations, and in 2022, he launched The Curb Free Foundation. This nonprofit provides wheelchair users with travel grants to go on their dream trip. As always, Cory's goal is to inspire other wheelchair users to roll out of their comfort zones and see all of the beauty our world has to offer.Connect with Cory:Curb Free with Cory Lee: A Wheelchair Travel BlogCory Lee | Wheelchair Travel Expert (@curbfreecorylee) • Instagram photos and videosThe Curb Free FoundationConnect with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at RockyMountainADA.org or find us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or anywhere else you get your podcasts!

Transcript: bit.ly/AIAe055Tom Wheaton grew up in the suburbs of Minneapolis. He decided to enlist in the U.S. Navy for many reasons, the most notable being that his grandfathers and dad served during World War II and the Vietnam War, respectively.Wheaton began serving in the U.S. Navy in 1986 and is a plank owner (original crew member) of the USS Fort McHenry. In 1988, while on active duty in Perth, Australia, he sustained a spinal cord injury. After his initial treatment at the Royal Perth Rehabilitation Hospital, he was transferred to the Milwaukee VA Spinal Cord Injury Center.In 1989, Wheaton became a member of the North Central Chapter of PVA in Sioux Falls, SD. In 1993, he became a member of the new Minnesota Chapter of PVA, where Wheaton was the chapter's first director of sports and recreation, and also served as chapter treasurer. After moving to Golden, CO, Wheaton served on a regional basis as sports director, treasurer, hospital liaison, and executive director of the Mountain States Chapter of PVA. He also served as first vice president of the United Veterans Committee of Colorado.For the last 24 years, Wheaton has served on PVA's Executive Committee in various capacities, including as the organization's senior vice president and parliamentarian. Serving alongside many dedicated leaders on the Executive Committee has had a profound effect on his life. Wheaton says, “Journeying together to determine how we can best assist in enhancing the lives of our nation's heroes has been extremely rewarding.”Wheaton was re-elected national treasurer of PVA in May 2022 during the organization's 76th Annual Convention, to begin a new, one-year term on July 1, 2022. He wants people to know that “this is a significant time for us to continue to push forward and prove just how unstoppable we are.”In addition to his responsibilities at PVA, Wheaton has served on various national veterans and disability advisory committees, including the National Spinal Cord Injury Association. Whenever he has spare time, Wheaton enjoys doing puzzles because they are a metaphor for facing life's challenges and overcoming them. Within his community, he is an elder of Hillside Community Church and co-leads its children's ministries with his wife, Angela. The Wheatons have been married for 21 years and are proud parents of two school-age children.Connect with Tom: Paralyzed Veterans of America twheaton@pva.orgConnect with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at RockyMountainADA.org or find us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or anywhere else you get your podcasts!

Transcript: bit.ly/AIAe054-1VOLORES' debut album, AGES, explores universal themes of life, love, and death through dark indie rock, stylish post-punk motifs, and disarmingly frank lyricism. The Colorado-based couple – Flogging Molly bassist Nathen Maxwell and his singer-songwriter wife Shelby – lightheartedly dub their singular sound “mountain goth.”Organic, haunting, and relentlessly authentic, VOLORES' broad appeal lies in its raw channeling of the mortal condition, including mental health struggles, that they've not only experienced, but experienced together. Simple, yet effortlessly beautiful, AGES celebrates the shared musical passions that brought the Maxwells together – from Leonard Cohen and Elliot Smith to The Cure and Interpol – through unfiltered expressions that cast deeply personal shadows in plain sight, coated only in intuitive melody and elegant songcraft.VOLORES (voloresband.com)

Transcript: bit.ly/AIAe053-01Today's guest is our very own Chris Murphy. Chris grew up having a disability but not understanding that it was a disability. He wasn't allowed to participate in sports as a child, but was able to pursue music, taking up the trombone at age 12. Chris majored in trombone performance at California State University Fullerton and earned a Bachelors of Music in 2002. He lived as a freelance musician in Southern California, having the opportunity to perform in multiple genres of music, including being a musician at Disneyland between 2007-2012. It was during this period that Chris began riding a bike as a commuter and began finding enjoyment in exercise. He inadvertently learned about Paracycling while researching symptoms of overuse he began having on his unaffected arm. At this time, Chris began to understand that the medical condition he had all his life was a disability. Chris pursued Paracycling, which brought him to Colorado to train at the Olympic and Paralympic Training Center, eventually participating in 2 Paralympic Games, earning 9 world-level medals including 2 gold medals, breaking a word record two times, and winning around 30 national championships in a 10-year period. Chris has worked at the RMADAC as an information specialist since 2017 and is now full-time, taking on a new role as a knowledge translation specialist.Contact Chris: chris.muphy@unco.eduChris Murphy (@gofastmurph) • InstagramConnect with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at RockyMountainADA.org or find us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or anywhere else you get your podcasts!

Transcript: bit.ly/AIAe052Today's guest is Charles Webb, founder of the Stoke for Life Foundation. The main goal of the Stoke for Life Foundation is to bring awareness to the rehabilitative benefits of adaptive water sports through clinics and education. Charles Webb is a T 7-8 incomplete paraplegic, Charles is the first paraplegic to compete in an open water paddle race (2013 Battle of the Paddle). Charles is also the two time Western Surfing Association Adaptive Surfing Champion winning back to back titles in 2015 and 2016. He placed 2nd overall in the Surfing America 2016 U.S. National Adaptive Surfing Championship in his division. Charles Webb is an experienced inspirational speaker on many levels, from motivational corporate presentations to inspirational speeches at the collegiate, high school, or elementary level, Charles has shared the stoke whenever possible. Charles has also written numerous published articles in various magazines telling the stories of everyday people that continue to overcome and achieve despite high level disabilities or ailments. Through adaptive competition, motivational speaking, and inspirational writing Charles has found avenues to bring awareness to the adaptive watersports movement.Connect with Charles:Stoke for Life | SPREADING THE ALOHA SPIRIT THROUGH ADAPTIVE WATERSPORTSUS Open Adaptive Surfing | Elite World Class Adaptive SurfingAdaptive Surfing Professionals World Championship Tour Stoke for Life (@stokeforlife) • Instagram photos and videosAASP (@adaptivesurfingprofessionals) • Instagram photos and videosConnect with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at RockyMountainADA.org or find us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or anywhere else you get your podcasts!

Transcript: bit.ly/AIAe051Hoskie Benally Jr., is a Member of the Navajo Nation and is Legally Blind. He is currently employed with the Native American Disability Law Center as the Community and Government Liaison engaged in Disability Systems Advocacy with the Navajo Nation and other Native American Tribes. Benally is also involved with the National Congress of American Indians, Disability Sub-Committee. Prior to joining the Law Center, Benally was the CEO of a Residential Treatment Center for Native American Youth that successfully integrated Navajo culture into western-based mental health treatment. Benally is the current President of the Navajo Nation Advisory Council on Disabilities, a former Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, and a former Member of the New Mexico Developmental Disability Planning Council. Grounded in Navajo tradition and fluent in Navajo, Benally is an experienced cultural instructor. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology from Brigham Young University. For more than three decades, Joseph Ray has advocated for disability services in tribal communities, with a focus on independent living, elder care, and vocational rehabilitation services. Based in Pueblo of Laguna, New Mexico, he is the Board Chair of the National Congress of American Indians Disability Subcommittee, one of the oldest advocacy organizations for native populations in the country. Joseph is also on the Board of Directors of Uniting Nursing Homes in Tribal Excellence (UNITE), and a member of the Pueblo People with Disabilities group. He has a special interest in strengthening support services for individuals with spinal cord injuries, particularly tribal youth, and is active in adaptative sports and long-term care programs. Connect with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at RockyMountainADA.org or find us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or anywhere else you get your podcasts!

Transcript: bit.ly/AIAe050As the only hearing child born to Deaf parents (a CODA), Mark Jones was signing before he was speaking. In his 25th year working and now leading the Accessibility & Services for Guests with Disabilities team at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Mark uses his passion, skills, and background to create and support memorable experiences for Guests with disabilities visiting the from around the world. Mark holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications from the University of Tennessee and is nationally certified as a professional Sign Language interpreter. In addition to his role, Mark also serves as the co-lead of the Enabled Florida Business Employee Resource Group which includes the Walt Disney World Resort and other Disney divisions based in Florida.DisneyWorld.comdisability.services@disneyparks.comConnect with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at RockyMountainADA.org or find us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or anywhere else you get your podcasts!

Transcript: bit.ly/AIAe049Julie (O'Neill) Dussliere currently serves as the Chief of Paralympics & Internally Managed Sports for the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee. In this position, Dussliere oversees the high-performance planning, strategy, support processes and sport development projects for all 28 Paralympic sports. In addition, she leads Paralympic international relations efforts and serves as a key member of the USOPC's leadership team. Dussliere also directs the day-to-day operations for the 10 Olympic and Paralympic sports managed by the USOPC.Connect with Julie:USOPC.orgTeamUSA.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julieoneilldussliere/Connect with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at RockyMountainADA.org or find us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or anywhere else you get your podcasts!

Transcript: https://bit.ly/AIAe048 JOHNNY AGAR, 29 years old from Rockford, MI, gained international attention when he walked a mile in his church's annual 5k. That sounds like an odd reason for fame, except for the reality of Johnny's severe cerebral palsy. Even with a lifetime of physical therapy, before the 5k the longest distance he'd ever been able to walk was twenty-three steps! Since that incredible feat, Johnny and his father, Jeff, have partnered in hundreds of races, including the infamous Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii, which was chronicled by NBC. Johnny has been featured on The Today Show, Inside Edition, People, USA Today, NBC Nightly News, Huffington Post, and ESPN's Sportscenter. His tenacity and indelible spirit have caught the attention of Olympic swimming great Michael Phelps and the sports apparel company Under Armour—so much so that UA placed him in two of their commercials, one with Phelps and one with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.Now Johnny gives motivational speeches to inspire others to overcome their challenges and chase their dreams. Among his other roles, Johnny serves as Athletic Ambassador for the Cerebral Palsy Foundation. He's proud to have earned a dual major BA in Sports Management and Business Administration from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan.JEFF AGAR, more commonly referred to as “Johnny's Dad”, was never an endurance athlete and only 12 or so years ago had never completed a 5K race. His main goal is helping Johnny achieve his dreams. Jeff is married to Becki and together they have three children: Johnny, Annie & Gracy.BECKI AGAR fundraises and advocates for organizations that have been instrumental in helping special needs children be as independent as possible on their journeys through life. But she will tell you, her proudest accomplishment is being the mother to her three beautiful children, Johnny, Annie, and Gracy.Read the book:The Impossible Mile: The Power in Living Life One Step at a TimeCheck out Johnny's Pass: Johnny's Pass (johnnyspass.com)Connect with the Agars:JOHNNY: WEBSITE: TeamAgar.comTWITTER: @agar_johnINSTAGRAM: @officialjohn_agarFACEBOOK: Johnny AgarJEFF: WEBSITE: TeamAgar.comTWITTER: @JeffAgarINSTAGRAM: @agarjeffFACEBOOK: Jeff AgarBECKI:WEBSITE: TeamAgar.comTWITTER: @agarbeckiINSTAGRAM: @beckiagarFACEBOOK: Becki AgarConnect with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at RockyMountainADA.org or find us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or anywhere else you get your podcasts!

Transcript: https://bit.ly/AIAe047 Dr. Lionel Wolberger, is the Chief Compliance and Operating Officer of UserWay, the market leader in web accessibility technology. With a prominent role in The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), he passionately advocates for the disability community. He contributes to W3C's Accessible Platforms Architectures Working Group, developing current and future digital accessibility standards. Additionally, he is a Privacy by Design ambassador, Cisco Security Ninja, and a seasoned presenter both on stage and TV. Wolberger's expertise extends to global standards such as Verifiable Credentials and DID, with patents to his name. Holding a PhD in ethnomusicology, he combines his diverse background to present on accessibility, Agile development, AI/ML systems, and blockchain. As a partner at TLV Startup Hub, Lionel advises and connects founders with investors and corporate partnerships. His management and deployment of multi-million dollar systems for Fortune 100 companies have benefitted tens of millions worldwide. Dr. Wolberger earned his BS from Cornell University and his PhD from Wesleyan University.Connect with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at RockyMountainADA.org or find us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or anywhere else you get your podcasts!

Transcript: bit.ly/3M6wtSyAli Thompson is a national speaker presenting continuing education training on numerous specialized investigation techniques and First Responder Interactions with People with Disabilities. Thompson served over 25 years in the field of Law Enforcement as a dispatcher, patrol officer, and a detective, focusing on crimes against at-risk individuals. In 2013, Thompson became a Criminal Investigator with the State of Colorado and later worked at the Attorney General's Office where she investigated allegations of abuse and neglect of at-risk persons. In 2020, she started Pulse Line Collaborative Training and trains first responders on Interacting with People with Disabilities.Thompson is also the proud mother of two children with significant disabilities. She is a coach with Colorado Special Olympics, and, in 2019, Colorado Governor Jared Polis appointed Thompson to the Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council where she also serves on the Legislative and Public Policy Committee.Connect with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at RockyMountainADA.org or find us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or anywhere else you get your podcasts!

Transcript: bit.ly/41WQelGJudge Anita Schutte was appointed to the Denver District Court in June of 2022 and currently presides over a domestic relations docket. Prior to her appointment, she represented the Colorado Department of Human Services at the Colorado Attorney General's Office, served as a municipal court judge, as a public defender, and represented children with disabilities.Judge Schutte has a severe hearing loss and recently co-founded the Colorado Disability Bar Association alongside Judge Johnson. She received her law degree in 2003 from Whittier Law School and her bachelor's from the University of Colorado at Denver in 2000. She is a first-generation college student.Judge Sueanna P. Johnson was appointed to the Colorado Court of Appeals in December 2019. Before her appointment, she was employed with the Colorado Attorney General's Office first as an Assistant Attorney General, then as a Senior Assistant Attorney General in the Business and Licensing Section. While at the Colorado Attorney General's Office, she also worked in the State Services Section and served on the internal Ethics and Fellowship Committees.She obtained her Juris Doctor from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2003 and earned her bachelor's in political science from Colorado College in 1997.As a person with albinism and a visual impairment, she is also a member of the National Organization of Albinism and Hypopigmentation. Judge Johnson was born in Seoul, South Korea and adopted when she was three years old.Connect with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at RockyMountainADA.org or find us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or anywhere else you get your podcasts!

Transcript: bit.ly/3zzC0uTNate Simon is a 20-year-old young entrepreneur, and Holly is his mom. Nate is a gold medalist for the Special Olympics, a model, and has a role in an up-and-coming movie. With hundreds of thousands of followers, Nate, or @MakeNateTheGreat, is known as the King of TikTok. Nate is also the CEO of a clothing company called 21 Pineapples. Through 21 Pineapples, Nate and Holly's mission is to spread love and change the way others see disabilities one funky shirt at a time.Follow Nate:TikTok.com/@MakeNateTheGreatFacebook.com/NateTheGreatAndLindsey21Pineapples.comInstagram.com/21PineapplesShirtCoConnect with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at RockyMountainADA.org or find us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or anywhere else you get your podcasts!

Transcript: http://bit.ly/3ZM5qkSChristy Kinsey (maiden name Wise) was born in Reno, Nevada and grew up with a twin sister and younger brother, spending all their time skiing and playing sports. For college, Christy attended the United States Air Force Academy where she ski raced and played club softball. In 2009, she commissioned as an officer in the United States Air Force and in 2011, she received her pilot wings to fly the HC-130. She spent the next couple years stationed in Valdosta Georgia, and deployed to Afghanistan and Italy.On April 11, 2015, Christy was visiting her friends for the weekend in Destin, Florida and she was on her paddleboard in a protected cove behind her friends' house when she was struck by a hit-and-run boat driver. Although Christy's life was miraculously saved, she lost her right leg above the knee in the incident.Christy was determined not to let this change her life so she fought to stay in the Air Force and continue flying. She became the sixth Air Force pilot (and first female) to return to flying after an amputation. Along the way, she won 11 medals in the DOD Warrior Games and competed in two international Invictus Games. Humbled by all the support she received since the first night in the hospital, Christy and her twin sister Jessica started a non-profit, One Leg Up On Life, that provides prosthetic limbs to patients in Haiti.Christy's courage and determination to continue her Air Force career while also using her experience to help others exemplifies tremendous resiliency and strength of character.Learn more about the One Leg Up On Life Foundation:http://www.oneleguponlife.org/Connect with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at https://rockymountainada.org/ or find us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify or anywhere else you get your podcasts!

Transcript: bit.ly/3J6QMxxThis episode was recorded on February 15, 2023. Less than three weeks later, on March 4, 2023, we received with great sadness the news that Judy Heumann passed away.As you will hear in this episode, Judy was fiercely and continually devoted to strengthening the disability rights movement and calling in others to do the same. She fought the good fight for disabled people throughout her entire life. She was instrumental in advancing and defending disability rights at the national and international levels—truly a powerhouse for our community. To say her contributions are lasting is an understatement.She will be deeply missed, and we are so honored to have gotten to spend some time with her. We send our deepest condolences to Judy's family, friends, and anyone who was affected by her work and feels her loss, which is many.Learn more about Judy:judithheumann.com

Transcript: https://www.rev.com/transcript-editor/shared/vkCP96L0X5pAjwFGzBMbQPTe9LSgAE_Nhnv5qeGLzfc6QYcKSPtGfAVmkrAG6HrLrSOZDocg3dqHeQO0cZApEw6Eo_k?loadFrom=SharedLinkWilfred Romero has been a resident of Colorado Springs since June 2001. He has 35 years of experience leading non-profit organizations that provide services to individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Wil holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Management in Human Resources.In Wil's previous position with Booz Allen Hamilton, he provided training and technical assistance to non-profit agencies' management teams as a Grantee Specialist. Wil's area of expertise is program Design and Management.Wil considers one his greatest achievements to be the opening of a Boys & Girls Club of Cheyenne in the low-income neighborhood where he grew up. The Boys & Girls Club of Cheyenne now serves over 3,000 youth members in Cheyenne, WY.Wil is now the Executive Director of The Arc Pikes Peak Region and is committed to leading the organization to new heights.Connect with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at https://rockymountainada.org/ or find us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify or anywhere else you get your podcasts!

Transcript: https://www.rev.com/transcript-editor/shared/Yk8ZzAqMj8RkwPWrnDeD2ibMVVMjS7t0vqVjpPxoDH4jXaLZ2Fb7JEVDBL1uBZ8FM7u-mRzlf79V3Oy6_8Rn_20k0hQ?loadFrom=SharedLinkBefore starting the Runway of Dreams Foundation in 2014, Mindy spent 20 years working in fashion as a designer for the INC collection and as a stylist for Saks Fifth Avenue. Mindy was inspired to start Runway of Dreams after her son Oliver, who has Muscular Dystrophy, dreamed of wearing jeans like everyone else. After using her design skills to adapt jeans that met his needs and increased his confidence, she went on to conduct extensive research as to the modifications required to mainstream clothing to meet the needs of the largest minority in our world- people with disabilities.In 2016, Mindy partnered with Tommy Hilfiger to make fashion history by creating the first mainstream adaptive clothing line in the market. Runway of Dreams was founded on the basis that clothing is a basic human need. The foundation develops, delivers, and supports initiatives providing a platform to broaden the reach of mainstream adaptive clothing and promote people with disabilities (PWDs) in the fashion industry. This year's Runway of Dreams fashion show was recognized as one of the top seven NYFW shows by Forbes, highlighting the latest designs from the Adaptive category featuring brands such as Kohl's, Target, JCPenney, Zappos.com and Tommy Hilfiger.Due to the overwhelming amount of requests Mindy received at Runway of Dreams from a multitude of brands and industries for connection to PWDs, in 2019, Mindy created GAMUT Management. GAMUT is a trailblazing consulting and talent management company that represents people with disabilities (PWDs), across the fashion, lifestyle, and entertainment industries.GAMUT exists to lead brands towards doing better, more inclusive business, helping to engage with, and develop new products for PWDs. GAMUT works with a diverse range of clients including Adidas, Victoria's Secret, Footlocker, Kohls & QVC.Mindy has been featured in Newsweek's “The Creative Class of 2019: Innovators,” and People magazine's “Heroes Among Us: Making the Fashion Industry More Inclusive”. She has also been featured in USA Today, Parents Magazine, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Vogue Business, WWD, NBC's Today, ABC's Good Morning America & The View, Access, CNBC, Forbes, Hollywood Reporter and Fox News Channel.An inspiring TED Talk speaker, Mindy has received numerous awards including Arc's Catalyst Award for “Marketing Influencer of the Year”, Citrin Cooperman's “Women at the Wheel Leadership Excellence Award”, the Association of Image Consultants “International Bravo Award” and Enable Inc.'s “Michael Graves Award for Creativity and Persistence”. Mindy has also been given the honor of ringing the bell at the New York Stock Exchange in recognition for her innovative work in the Adaptive space towards raising awareness and driving change for people with disabilities.Mindy studied Fashion Design with a dual program at the University of Vermont and Fashion Institute of Technology.TED Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/mindy_scheier_how_adaptive_clothing_empowers_people_with_disabilities?language=enABC The VIEW: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9KA-ftCtngConnect with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at https://rockymountainada.org/ or find us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify or anywhere else you get your podcasts!

Transcript: https://t.co/yMGsjRPUzgBeth Finke loves to read and to write. She moderates the Easterseals national blog, and she writes books, too. Her book Writing Out Loud delves into the work she does leading memoir-writing classes for older adults in Chicago. Her first published book, a memoir called Long Time, No See, talks about her adjustment to blindness at age 26. Her second book, Safe and Sound, is a children's book about seeing-eye dogs. Ever since it won an award for children's literature from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Beth has kept busy visiting schools to talk with kids about disability awareness, service dogs, and teamwork with her guide dog, Luna. In late 2021, Beth was busy writing textbooks for elementary school students. Those textbooks are part of a series of eight textbooks called “Understanding Disability” that was published by Cherry Lake Publishing Group. Each textbook is authored by a writer with a disability.Connect with Beth:https://bethfinke.com/Connect with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at https://rockymountainada.org/ or find us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify or anywhere else you get your podcasts!

Transcript: https://t.co/ucf7MzLLnoNick Isenberg has had an impressive 54-year career as a radio, television, and print reporter in cities across America. He served as bureau chief for television stations in Cedar Rapids and Fort Myers, but the bulk of his reporting career has been spent in Colorado, lending his producing and reporting skills to dozens of news outlets in the state. Nick has also worked as a public information officer for the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, and public relations for Colorado Mountain College, and he currently produces independent documentaries.In case his resume wasn't already impressive enough, Nick currently hosts and produces a podcast called The Tactile Traveler that seeks to empower blind and low-vision people to explore the world, and helps sighted friends see the world in a new way. Nick is totally blind and considered Deaf-Blind. He has called being a Deaf-Blind reporter a whole new sport.Connect with Nick:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-tactile-traveler/id1474833991Connect with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at https://rockymountainada.org/ or find us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify or anywhere else you get your podcasts!

Transcript: https://bit.ly/AIAe037Today's guest is Beth Leleck. In 2008, Beth was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. She was determined to maintain her mobility while living with the disease. Colorado, where Beth lives, is home to 58 mountains taller than 14,000 feet in height, known to locals as 14ers. In 14 summers, Leleck conquered all of Colorado's 14ers and she raised more than $100,000 to fund multiple sclerosis research. Connect with Beth:https://mobile.twitter.com/bethleleckhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/bethleleckConnect with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at https://rockymountainada.org/ or find us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify or anywhere else you get your podcasts!

Transcript: https://bit.ly/AIAe036Chai Feldblum is a long-time civil rights advocate and scholar. As Legislative Counsel to the ACLU AIDS Project in the late 1980s, Chai played a leading role in drafting and negotiating the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. She later played the same role on the ADA Amendments Act of 2008. Chai also led the drafting and negotiating of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, a bill to prohibit discrimination in employment on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. As a law professor at Georgetown Law, Chai created a Federal Legislation Clinic where she and her students helped non-profit organizations advance their legislative social justice goals. The Clinic's clients included various disability organizations and Catholic Charities USA. Chai also founded and directed Workplace Flexibility 2010, an effort designed to bring employers and employees together on policy approaches to advance workplace flexibility.Chai served as a Commissioner of the Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) from 2010 to 2019 where she played a significant role in establishing the rights of LGBTQ employees under existing sex discrimination laws, enhancing the employment of people with disabilities, protecting the rights of pregnant workers, and leading a proactive effort to prevent harassment in the workplace. From 2019 to 2021, Chai was a Partner and Director of Workplace Culture Consulting at Morgan Lewis, where she helped employers create safe, respectful, diverse and inclusive workplaces. She continues to consult with Morgan Lewis on selected projects. In 2021, Chai became a free-lance civil rights advocate. She assists with legislative and regulatory work regarding civil rights, particularly for LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities and women. She also serves as Vice Chair of the AbilityOne Commission, a federal agency devoted to the employment of people with significant disabilities.Chai attended Barnard College and Harvard Law School and clerked for Judge Frank M. Coffin on the First Circuit Court of Appeals and for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Harry A. Blackmun.Connect with Chai:https://www.chaifeldblum.com/https://twitter.com/chaifeldblumhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/chai-feldblum-8882894/Connect with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at https://rockymountainada.org/ or find us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify or anywhere else you get your podcasts!

Transcript: https://bit.ly/AIAe035Today's guest is Andrés Gallegos. He is the Chairman of the National Council on Disability, appointed by President Bident. In addition, he is a shareholder at the law firm Robbins DiMonte (RD) and the Chair of their disability rights practice, where he concentrates on improving access to healthcare and wellness for persons with all types of disabilities, across the country. He is the immediate past Chairman of the Board of Directors of Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago, Chicago's Center for Independent Living, and is a two-term past-member of the Statewide Independent Living Council of Illinois, having been appointed by the governor. He is also a board member of ADA 25 Advancing Leadership Institute, a Chicago-based non-for profit whose mission is to increase civic engagement and diverse leadership in the Chicago region by developing and building a network of leaders with disabilities. Mr. Gallegos is the 2015 recipient of the Paul G. Hearne Leadership Award from the American Association of People with Disabilities. He has written numerous articles for national and state professional healthcare and legal organizations on matters relating to the application of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act. He is a highly-sought out lecturer on accessible healthcare and disability rights. He graduated with Honors from the University of Southern Mississippi, with a B.S. in Business Administration, and he attained a Juris Doctorate from the St. Louis University School of Law. He is a veteran of the United States Air Force, serving honorably for 14 years.Connect with Andrés: https://robbinsdimonte.com/our-attorneys/andres-j-gallegos/Connect with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at https://rockymountainada.org/ or find us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify or anywhere else you get your podcasts!

Transcript: https://bit.ly/AIAe034Today's guest is Keah Brown. Keah is a journalist, author, studying actress and screenwriter. She is the recipient of Ulta Beauty's Muse 100 award, Which is a celebration of 100 inspirational voices around beauty. She's also one of The Root's 100 most influential African Americans of 2018. Keah is the creator of the viral hashtag, #DisabledAndCute. Her work has appeared in Town & Country Magazine, Teen Vogue, Elle, Harper's Bazaar, Marie Claire UK, And The New York Times, among other publications. Her Debut essay collection, The Pretty One is out now. Her debut picture book, Sam's Super Seats will be out Fall 2022 via Kokila books.Connect with Keah:https://keahbrown.com/https://www.instagram.com/keah_maria/The Pretty One: https://www.amazon.com/Pretty-One-Culture-Disability-Reasons/dp/1982100540/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1652820362&sr=8-2Sam's Super Seats: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=keah+brown&crid=1Z1OLS3SDA4QY&sprefix=keah+br%2Caps%2C100&ref=nb_sb_ss_retrain-deeppltr_2_7Connect with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at https://rockymountainada.org/ or find us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify or anywhere else you get your podcasts!

Transcript: https://bit.ly/AIAe033Today's guest is Scott Ready. Scott has served the education industry for 20+ years and has worked for 35+ years in accessibility. Ready's first language is American Sign Language, and he has been part of the deaf community through his parents, who were former teachers at the Missouri School for the Deaf.Connect with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at https://rockymountainada.org/ or find us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify or anywhere else you get your podcasts!

Transcript: https://bit.ly/AIAe032Today's guest is Tiffany Yu. Tiffany is the CEO & Founder of Diversability, an award-winning social enterprise to elevate disability pride. She's also the Founder of the Awesome Foundation Disability Chapter, a monthly micro-grant that has awarded over $59,000 to 60 disability projects in 10 countries. Tiffany is an influential content creator with over 160,000 followers across platforms. She serves on the San Francisco Mayor's Disability Council and was a 2020 Co-Chair of the World Economic Forum Sustainable Development Impact Summit. At the age of 9, Tiffany became disabled as a result of a car accident that also took the life of her father. She started her career in investment banking at Goldman Sachs and has also worked at Bloomberg and Sean Diddy Combs' REVOLT Media & TV. She is a 3x TEDx speaker and spoke on 5 sessions at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos. She has been featured in Marie Claire, the Guardian, and Forbes.Connect with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at https://rockymountainada.org/ or find us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify or anywhere else you get your podcasts!

Transcript: https://bit.ly/AIAe031Today's guests are Rick Allen and Lauren Monroe. Rick Allen is the legendary drummer for the world-famous rock band, Def Leppard. Rick joined Def Leppard at the age of 15, right before the band signed their record contract. He lost his left arm in a car accident in 1984, but that didn't stop him from being an incredible drummer with the help of a (semi-)electronic drum kit. Raven Drum Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded in 2001 by Rick, and his wife, Lauren Monroe, who is a musician, and healing arts educator. Raven Drum's mission is to serve, educate, and empower Veterans dealing with PTSD and TBI, people in crisis, and other at-risk populations. The Foundation engages drumming as a tool for healing, allowing participants to use rhythm, mindfulness, and energy-medicine techniques as an avenue for connection and healing. Connect with Rick:https://rickallen.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZRXBRaJ58TFT9YsqTlE1AA/feed Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theofficialrickallenTwitter: https://twitter.com/rickallenliveInstagram: @rickallenlivehttps://www.instagram.com/rickallenlive/ Connect with Lauren: https://laurenmonroe.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe6wZQN_bHOrn4n2g790eYg Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaurenMonroeMusic Twitter: https://twitter.com/Iamlaurenmonroe Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4AMLhBHvIyC1wwMvKpirXR Instagram: @laurenmonroelive https://www.instagram.com/laurenmonroelive/ Learn about Raven Drum Foundation:https://ravendrumfoundation.org/Connect with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at https://rockymountainada.org/ or find us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify or anywhere else you get your podcasts!

Transcript: https://bit.ly/AIAe030Today's guest is Christy Gardner. Christy is a 39 year old retired Army veteran from Oxford, Maine. She was injured overseas in 2006 and spent nearly 5 rehabbing before she was finally able to live on her own again and started participating in adaptive sports, thanks to her Service Dog Moxie. She's now an assistant captain of the US Women's Para Ice Hockey Team and was an alternate for Tokyo 2020 in shot put and discus. She also represented the USA at the Para Surfing World Championships in 2020. Gardner has been training service dogs and therapy dogs for the past nine years but wanted to grow that dream to help more Mainers in need. Mission Working Dogs was founded in July 2020 as a local non-profit to do just that. The organization serves to train service dogs and therapy dogs for the local community and has started construction on a new training center in Maine. Connect with Christy:Website: Connect with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at https://rockymountainada.org/ or find us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify or anywhere else you get your podcasts!

Transcript: https://bit.ly/AIAe029Today's guest is Jessica Cox. Jessica is recognized internationally as an inspirational keynote speaker. Born without arms, Jessica now flies airplanes, drives cars, and otherwise lives a normal life using her feet as others use their hands. She holds the title of the first person without arms to earn a black belt in ATA Martial Arts and the Guinness World Record for being the first armless person in aviation history to earn a pilot's certificate. Convinced that the way we think has a greater impact on our lives than our physical constraints, Jessica chose to pursue a degree in psychology at the University of Arizona. Since then she has traveled to 26 countries on six continents sharing her inspirational message.Connect with Jessica:Website: https://jessicacox.com/Connect with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at https://rockymountainada.org/ or find us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify or anywhere else you get your podcasts!

Transcript: https://bit.ly/AIAe028Today's guest is Dr. Anjali Forber-Pratt. She is a disability activist, a two-time Paralympian and the Director of the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) in the Administration for Community Living. As a researcher, her primary area of work relates to disability identity development. As a wheelchair-user for over 35 years, Dr. Forber-Pratt is nationally and internationally recognized as a disability leader and mentor. She was a White House Champion of Change in 2013 and the American Psychological Association awarded her the 2020 Citizen Psychologist Award for Advancing Disability as a Human Rights and Social Justice Issue Award.Connect with Dr. Forber-Pratt:Website: http://www.anjfp.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/anjalifpEmail: Anjali.Forber-Pratt@acl.hhs.govConnect with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at https://rockymountainada.org/ or find us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify or anywhere else you get your podcasts!

Transcript: https://bit.ly/AIAe027Today's guest is Michael Kutcher. From the moment of birth, Michael has overcome challenges and conquered obstacles that most people never even catch a glimpse of. Born as an unexpected twin, Michael met the first of many challenges at delivery. He was notably smaller than his twin at less than five pounds, was hardly responsive and struggled to take his first breath. By age three, Michael was battling significant developmental delays and was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy before he entered Kindergarten. Michael is a keynote speaker, speaking internationally about diversity and inclusion and helping audiences to change their perspective of the disability community. He's also a disability advocate and advisor. He is the creator of the Diffability brand and has recently finished his memoir to be released in the upcoming year.Connect with Michael:https://www.michaelkutcher.com/aboutConnect with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at https://rockymountainada.org/ or find us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify or anywhere else you get your podcasts!

Transcript: https://bit.ly/AIAe026Today's guest is award-winning diver and diving coach, Cliff Devries. As a young man, Cliff was a diving prodigy and was on track to make the Olympics. While he was in college, it was discovered that Cliff had a tumor on his spinal cord, and he underwent surgery to have it removed. Complications from the surgery left him paralyzed from the neck down. Cliff worked hard to regain as much mobility as possible, and then began his journey as a diving coach. Today, Cliff is a distinguished and beloved diving coach. Among his many achievements: He's won the Upper New York State Athletic Conference Diving Coach of the year six times. In 2018, the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America made him the first diving coach to win the Richard E. Steadman Award. Connect with Cliff:https://ritathletics.com/sports/mens-swimming-and-diving/roster/coaches/cliff-devries/1858Connect with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at https://rockymountainada.org/ or find us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify or anywhere else you get your podcasts!

Transcript: https://bit.ly/AIAe025Today's guest is Jim Speer, founder of Mobility Roadside Assistance, which is the first provider of roadside assistance covering both the United States and Canada that focuses specifically on the needs of drivers with mobility disabilities, not just the disabled vehicle.Mobility Roadside Assistance provides peace of mind through full-service roadside assistance, including accessible transportation pick-up for people with mobility disabilities, their families, vehicles, and equipment.Jim is a Navy veteran with over 40 years of experience in the automotive, trucking and insurance industry. He has been in sales all his life and lives with multiple disabilities himself. He is a proud father to four children and has been married to his wife for 48 years.Connect with Jim:https://www.mobilityroadsideassistance.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-speer-27a6201/Connect with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at https://rockymountainada.org/ or find us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify or anywhere else you get your podcasts!

Transcript: https://bit.ly/AIAe024Today's guest is Colorado State Representative, David Ortiz. He is Colorado's first lawmaker who uses a wheelchair, and the sponsor of a first-of-its-kind, state website accessibility Bill.In 2012, Ortiz survived a helicopter crash while serving as a pilot in the U.S. Army in Afghanistan. The accident left him paralyzed from the waist down. David's drive to serve others did not end with crash that left him injured, he has continued to advocate for his community, veterans, and more at the state Capitol and now, the Colorado House of Representatives.Connect with Representative Ortiz:https://www.davidortizcolorado.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-d-ortiz-hellonwheels/https://www.facebook.com/daviddortizCO/https://twitter.com/DavidDOrtizCOhttps://www.instagram.com/daviddortizco/Connect with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at https://rockymountainada.org/ or find us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify or anywhere else you get your podcasts!