TASH Amplified

This is the first in a series of podcasts in recognition of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). TASH's interim Executive Director, Serena Lowe talks with Alison Barkoff, the Director of Advocacy, Center for Public Representation. They have a wide-ranging discussion of employment policy and programs for people with disabilities, but Alison remains rooted throughout in her experience as a sibling to her brother with disabilities, Evan. Season 4, Episode 2 — 14 October 2020 About the presenters Alison Barkoff is the Director of Advocacy at the Center for Public Representation in Washington, D.C. She works on policy and litigation related to community integration and inclusion of people with disabilities, including Olmstead enforcement, Medicaid policy, employment, education and housing. She serves as a co-chair of the Long Term Services and Supports Task Force of the Consortium of Citizens with Disabilities and is the policy advisor to the Collaboration to Promote Self Determination. She leads the HCBS Advocacy Coalition and the Coalition to Advance Competitive Integrated Employment. Ms. Barkoff also served as an appointed member of the federal Advisory Committee for Competitive Integrated Employment of People with Disabilities. From 2010 to 2014, she served as Special Counsel for Olmstead Enforcement in the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice. In that position, she led the Division's efforts to enforce the right of individuals with disabilities to live, work and receive services in the community. During her time with the federal government, Ms. Barkoff also worked with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on finalizing rules governing Medicaid-funded community-based services and with the Department of Labor on implementation of new fair wage rules in Medicaid-funded disability service systems. She has previously worked at the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law and at a number of other public interest organizations on Olmstead enforcement, disability discrimination, Medicaid, employment, and special education cases. She has an adult brother with an intellectual disability and has been involved in disability advocacy most of her life. She speaks nationally and publishes articles on disability and civil rights issues. Serena Lowe is the founder and prime consultant at AnereS Strategies LLC and is currently serving as the Interim Executive Director of TASH. She has spent the past 23 years focused on public policies aimed at improving the wellbeing of low-income working families, individuals with disabilities, seniors, children, immigrants, refugees and populations with multiple barriers to the economic mainstream. For the past eight years, Serena has served as a Senior Policy Advisor focused on disability rights at the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), and more recently at the Administration for Community Living within the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Prior to ACL, Serena worked in a variety of roles in the field of federal government relations, working for the U.S. Department of Labor, a Fortune 100 global biopharmaceutical company, a top 20 national lobbying firm, and two former Members of Congress. She is a past Executive Director of the Collaboration to […] The post National Disability Employment Awareness Month: Alison Barkoff appeared first on Tash.org.

This is the first in a series of podcasts in recognition of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). TASH's interim Executive Director, Serena Lowe talks with Alison Barkoff, the Director of Advocacy, Center for Public Representation. They have a wide-ranging discussion of employment policy and programs for people with disabilities, but Alison remains rooted throughout in her experience as a sibling to her brother with disabilities, Evan. Season 4, Episode 2 — 14 October 2020 About the presenters Alison Barkoff is the Director of Advocacy at the Center for Public Representation in Washington, D.C. She works on policy and litigation related to community integration and inclusion of people with disabilities, including Olmstead enforcement, Medicaid policy, employment, education and housing. She serves as a co-chair of the Long Term Services and Supports Task Force of the Consortium of Citizens with Disabilities and is the policy advisor to the Collaboration to Promote Self Determination. She leads the HCBS Advocacy Coalition and the Coalition to Advance Competitive Integrated Employment. Ms. Barkoff also served as an appointed member of the federal Advisory Committee for Competitive Integrated Employment of People with Disabilities. From 2010 to 2014, she served as Special Counsel for Olmstead Enforcement in the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice. In that position, she led the Division's efforts to enforce the right of individuals with disabilities to live, work and receive services in the community. During her time with the federal government, Ms. Barkoff also worked with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on finalizing rules governing Medicaid-funded community-based services and with the Department of Labor on implementation of new fair wage rules in Medicaid-funded disability service systems. She has previously worked at the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law and at a number of other public interest organizations on Olmstead enforcement, disability discrimination, Medicaid, employment, and special education cases. She has an adult brother with an intellectual disability and has been involved in disability advocacy most of her life. She speaks nationally and publishes articles on disability and civil rights issues. Serena Lowe is the founder and prime consultant at AnereS Strategies LLC and is currently serving as the Interim Executive Director of TASH. She has spent the past 23 years focused on public policies aimed at improving the wellbeing of low-income working families, individuals with disabilities, seniors, children, immigrants, refugees and populations with multiple barriers to the economic mainstream. For the past eight years, Serena has served as a Senior Policy Advisor focused on disability rights at the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), and more recently at the Administration for Community Living within the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Prior to ACL, Serena worked in a variety of roles in the field of federal government relations, working for the U.S. Department of Labor, a Fortune 100 global biopharmaceutical company, a top 20 national lobbying firm, and two former Members of Congress. She is a past Executive Director of the Collaboration to […] The post National Disability Employment Awareness Month: Alison Barkoff appeared first on Tash.org.

Season 4, Episode 1 — 8 August 2019 About this episode We talk with Professors Jennifer Kurth and Andrea Ruppar, two of the six authors of the article, “Considerations in Placement Decisions for Students With Extensive Support Needs: An Analysis of LRE Statements” in the May 2019 issue of Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities (vol. 44, no. 1). They have collected a library of Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and examined them to see how schools and educators decide to remove students from the general classroom, when supplementary services are offered to keep them in the classroom, and when they are withheld. About the presenters Jennifer Kurth is an Associate Professor of Special Education at the University of Kansas. Her academic interests include methods implementing inclusive education, including methods of embedding critical instruction within the context and routines of general education as well as methods of providing appropriate supports and services for individual learners. Dr. Kurth's research also examines how teachers, students, and family's interactions support and constrain learning and socialization in general education classrooms. She also studies how teacher candidates develop their dispositions and skills in inclusive practices. Dr. Kurth's research interests in inclusive education also include examining outcomes of inclusion in terms of skill development and quality of life indicators for students with disabilities. Andrea Ruppar is a Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education at the University of Wisconsin — Madison. Dr. Ruppar's scholarship focuses on building the capacity of schools and teachers to provide meaningful, evidence-based, inclusive education for students with the most significant disabilities – including multiple disabilities, intellectual disability, and autism. She earned her Ph. D. from the University of Illinois in 2011 and completed a post-doctoral traineeship at the University of Florida. In her recent work, she has examined: 1) adolescents' access to literacy and communication; 2) the role of teachers in promoting access and involvement in the general curriculum within inclusive contexts; and 3) the development and evaluation of expertise among teachers of students with the most significant disabilities. A former K-12 special educator, Dr. Ruppar is particularly interested in the influence of the social context of teachers' workplaces on decision-making. She is the past recipient of the Council for Exceptional Children Student Research Award in the area of qualitative methodology, the American Educational Research Association Special Education SIG Student Research Award, and the Council for Exceptional Children Teacher Education Division Early Career Publication Award. Donald Taylor is responsible for membership and chapters at TASH and is the producer of Amplified. Transcript Complete transcript forthcoming This interview was originally recorded on 9 May 2019. This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity. Do you have an idea for an episode? We would like to hear from you! Fill out our suggestion form and let us know.   This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. You are free to copy, redistribute or adapt it for any purpose, commercial or non-commercial, provided you adhere […] The post When Students are Segregated: A Study of Least Restrictive Environment Statements appeared first on Tash.org.

Season 4, Episode 1 — 8 August 2019 About this episode We talk with Professors Jennifer Kurth and Andrea Ruppar, two of the six authors of the article, “Considerations in Placement Decisions for Students With Extensive Support Needs: An Analysis of LRE Statements” in the May 2019 issue of Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities (vol. 44, no. 1). They have collected a library of Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and examined them to see how schools and educators decide to remove students from the general classroom, when supplementary services are offered to keep them in the classroom, and when they are withheld. About the presenters Jennifer Kurth is an Associate Professor of Special Education at the University of Kansas. Her academic interests include methods implementing inclusive education, including methods of embedding critical instruction within the context and routines of general education as well as methods of providing appropriate supports and services for individual learners. Dr. Kurth’s research also examines how teachers, students, and family’s interactions support and constrain learning and socialization in general education classrooms. She also studies how teacher candidates develop their dispositions and skills in inclusive practices. Dr. Kurth’s research interests in inclusive education also include examining outcomes of inclusion in terms of skill development and quality of life indicators for students with disabilities. Andrea Ruppar is a Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education at the University of Wisconsin — Madison. Dr. Ruppar’s scholarship focuses on building the capacity of schools and teachers to provide meaningful, evidence-based, inclusive education for students with the most significant disabilities – including multiple disabilities, intellectual disability, and autism. She earned her Ph. D. from the University of Illinois in 2011 and completed a post-doctoral traineeship at the University of Florida. In her recent work, she has examined: 1) adolescents’ access to literacy and communication; 2) the role of teachers in promoting access and involvement in the general curriculum within inclusive contexts; and 3) the development and evaluation of expertise among teachers of students with the most significant disabilities. A former K-12 special educator, Dr. Ruppar is particularly interested in the influence of the social context of teachers’ workplaces on decision-making. She is the past recipient of the Council for Exceptional Children Student Research Award in the area of qualitative methodology, the American Educational Research Association Special Education SIG Student Research Award, and the Council for Exceptional Children Teacher Education Division Early Career Publication Award. Donald Taylor is responsible for membership and chapters at TASH and is the producer of Amplified. Transcript Complete transcript forthcoming This interview was originally recorded on 9 May 2019. This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity. Do you have an idea for an episode? We would like to hear from you! Fill out our suggestion form and let us know.   This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. You are free to copy, redistribute or adapt it for any purpose, commercial or non-commercial, provided you adhere […] The post When Students are Segregated: A Study of Least Restrictive Environment Statements appeared first on Tash.org.

Season 3, Episode 1 — 8 October 2018 About this episode Carol Schall, Assistant Professor of Special Education and Disability Policy at Virginia Commonwealth University and the Director of Technical Assistance for the Virginia Commonwealth University Autism Center for Excellence, discusses her article, “Employees with Autism Spectrum Disorder Achieving Long-Term Employment Success: A Retrospective Review of Employment Retention and Intervention”. It is one of a collection of articles in the September 2018 special issue of Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities dedicated to “Critical Issues in the Employment of Persons with Severe Disabilities”. About the presenters Carol Schall is the Co-Director of the Virginia Commonwealth University Autism Center for Excellence, the Director of the Virginia Autism Resource Center, and the Principal Investigator in the development of the Community Based Functional Skills Assessment for Transition Aged Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders, a grant funded by Autism Speaks. She has over 30 years experience supporting adolescents and adults with ASD as a teacher, administrator, researcher, and consultant. Dr. Schall is also the co-developer and research coordinator for Project SEARCH Plus ASD Supports. Additionally, Dr. Schall has consulted nationally and internationally on issues related to adolescents and young adults with ASD. Donald Taylor is responsible for membership and chapters at TASH and is the producer of Amplified. Transcript Announcer: You're listening to TASH Amplified, a podcast that seeks to transform research and experience concerning inclusion and equity for people with disabilities into solutions people can use in their everyday lives. Today we are talking with Carol Schall, an Assistant Professor of Special Education and Disability Policy at Virginia Commonwealth University and the Director of Technical Assistance for the Virginia Commonwealth University Autism Center for Excellence. We discuss her article, “Employees with Autism Spectrum Disorder Achieving Long-Term Employment Success: A Retrospective Review of Employment Retention and Intervention”. It is one of a collection of articles in the September 2018 special issue of Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities dedicated to “Critical Issues in the Employment of Persons with Severe Disabilities”. She is a co-author, along with Valerie Brooke, Alissa Molinelli Brooke, Paul Wehman, Jennifer McDonough, Katherine Thompson and Jan Smith. Professor Schall talks about her study, but throughout, addresses the the best practices, challenges and future direction of the broad issue of employment for people with disabilities. Musical introduction Complete transcript forthcoming Announcer: You've been listening to TASH Amplified. For more about the series, including show notes, links to articles discussed, a complete transcript and a schedule of episodes, visit tash.org/amplified. You can subscribe through iTunes or your favorite Android podcast app to have the series delivered automatically to your device so you never miss an episode. If you enjoyed today's episode, please share it with your friends and on your social networks. Today we discussed research from the current special issue of Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities, a special issue dedicated to “Critical Issues in the Employment of Persons with Severe Disabilities”. The current issues, as […] The post Employee Retention in Competitive Integrated Employment for People with Disabilities appeared first on Tash.org.

Season 3, Episode 1 — 8 October 2018 About this episode Carol Schall, Assistant Professor of Special Education and Disability Policy at Virginia Commonwealth University and the Director of Technical Assistance for the Virginia Commonwealth University Autism Center for Excellence, discusses her article, “Employees with Autism Spectrum Disorder Achieving Long-Term Employment Success: A Retrospective Review of Employment Retention and Intervention”. It is one of a collection of articles in the September 2018 special issue of Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities dedicated to “Critical Issues in the Employment of Persons with Severe Disabilities”. About the presenters Carol Schall is the Co-Director of the Virginia Commonwealth University Autism Center for Excellence, the Director of the Virginia Autism Resource Center, and the Principal Investigator in the development of the Community Based Functional Skills Assessment for Transition Aged Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders, a grant funded by Autism Speaks. She has over 30 years experience supporting adolescents and adults with ASD as a teacher, administrator, researcher, and consultant. Dr. Schall is also the co-developer and research coordinator for Project SEARCH Plus ASD Supports. Additionally, Dr. Schall has consulted nationally and internationally on issues related to adolescents and young adults with ASD. Donald Taylor is responsible for membership and chapters at TASH and is the producer of Amplified. Transcript Announcer: You’re listening to TASH Amplified, a podcast that seeks to transform research and experience concerning inclusion and equity for people with disabilities into solutions people can use in their everyday lives. Today we are talking with Carol Schall, an Assistant Professor of Special Education and Disability Policy at Virginia Commonwealth University and the Director of Technical Assistance for the Virginia Commonwealth University Autism Center for Excellence. We discuss her article, “Employees with Autism Spectrum Disorder Achieving Long-Term Employment Success: A Retrospective Review of Employment Retention and Intervention”. It is one of a collection of articles in the September 2018 special issue of Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities dedicated to “Critical Issues in the Employment of Persons with Severe Disabilities”. She is a co-author, along with Valerie Brooke, Alissa Molinelli Brooke, Paul Wehman, Jennifer McDonough, Katherine Thompson and Jan Smith. Professor Schall talks about her study, but throughout, addresses the the best practices, challenges and future direction of the broad issue of employment for people with disabilities. Musical introduction Complete transcript forthcoming Announcer: You’ve been listening to TASH Amplified. For more about the series, including show notes, links to articles discussed, a complete transcript and a schedule of episodes, visit tash.org/amplified. You can subscribe through iTunes or your favorite Android podcast app to have the series delivered automatically to your device so you never miss an episode. If you enjoyed today’s episode, please share it with your friends and on your social networks. Today we discussed research from the current special issue of Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities, a special issue dedicated to “Critical Issues in the Employment of Persons with Severe Disabilities”. The current issues, as […] The post Employee Retention in Competitive Integrated Employment for People with Disabilities appeared first on Tash.org.

Season 2, Episode 2 — 7 August 2017 About this episode In preparation for the return to school, the theme of the current issue of our membership magazine is “The Individualized Education Program as a living document”. We talk with Amy Toson, the guest editor of this issue, about what the IEP as a living document means and how to implement such a vision in your meeting or school. This issue is free to members and non-members alike for the month of August. To read the entire issue, visit tash.org/iep. About the presenters Amy L-M Toson, Ph.D. has been working both nationally and internationally for well over fifteen years in the area of inclusive community and school capacity building and systems change. She began her career as a community inclusion facilitator and K-12 inclusive education teacher. She then moved into the role of consultant and professor working with families, teachers and leaders across the globe facilitating effective inclusion for all learners, paying special attention to those who are traditionally marginalized and segregated, such as students with intensive support needs. Currently, Amy is an Assistant Professor and Special Education Ph.D. Program Chair within the College of Education and Leadership at Cardinal Stritch University. She researches and teaches doctoral courses on multi-dimensional capacity building, leading/building inclusive systems and communities, doctoral research symposium, and legal and political analysis. Amy received her Ph.D. from the University of South Florida within the Departments of Educational Leadership/Policy Studies and Special Education in 2013. She now resides in the suburbs of Dallas, Texas and is taking up action for building inclusive communities across the lifespan there. Donald Taylor is responsible for membership and chapters at TASH and is the producer of Amplified. Transcript Announcer: You're listening to TASH Amplified, a podcast that seeks to transform research and experience concerning inclusion and equity for people with disabilities into solutions people can use in their everyday lives. TASH just released the latest issue of our quarterly member magazine, Connections, the theme of which is “The Individualized Education Program as a living document”. Today we are talking with Amy Toson, the guest editor of the special edition, about what the IEP as a living document means and how to implement such a vision. Musical introduction Complete transcript forthcoming Announcer: You've been listening to TASH Amplified. For more about the series, including show notes, links to articles discussed, a complete transcript and a schedule of episodes, visit tash.org/amplified. You can subscribe through iTunes or your favorite Android podcast app to have the series delivered automatically to your device so you never miss an episode. If you enjoyed today's episode, please share it with your friends and on your social networks. Today we talked with Amy Toson, the guest editor of the latest issue of our membership magazine, Connections, on “the IEP as a living document”. We're sufficiently excited about this issue that we are making it available to members and non-members alike, free for the month of August. To read the […] The post The Individualized Education Program as a Living Document appeared first on Tash.org.

Season 2, Episode 2 — 7 August 2017 About this episode In preparation for the return to school, the theme of the current issue of our membership magazine is “The Individualized Education Program as a living document”. We talk with Amy Toson, the guest editor of this issue, about what the IEP as a living document means and how to implement such a vision in your meeting or school. This issue is free to members and non-members alike for the month of August. To read the entire issue, visit tash.org/iep. About the presenters Amy L-M Toson, Ph.D. has been working both nationally and internationally for well over fifteen years in the area of inclusive community and school capacity building and systems change. She began her career as a community inclusion facilitator and K-12 inclusive education teacher. She then moved into the role of consultant and professor working with families, teachers and leaders across the globe facilitating effective inclusion for all learners, paying special attention to those who are traditionally marginalized and segregated, such as students with intensive support needs. Currently, Amy is an Assistant Professor and Special Education Ph.D. Program Chair within the College of Education and Leadership at Cardinal Stritch University. She researches and teaches doctoral courses on multi-dimensional capacity building, leading/building inclusive systems and communities, doctoral research symposium, and legal and political analysis. Amy received her Ph.D. from the University of South Florida within the Departments of Educational Leadership/Policy Studies and Special Education in 2013. She now resides in the suburbs of Dallas, Texas and is taking up action for building inclusive communities across the lifespan there. Donald Taylor is responsible for membership and chapters at TASH and is the producer of Amplified. Transcript Announcer: You’re listening to TASH Amplified, a podcast that seeks to transform research and experience concerning inclusion and equity for people with disabilities into solutions people can use in their everyday lives. TASH just released the latest issue of our quarterly member magazine, Connections, the theme of which is “The Individualized Education Program as a living document”. Today we are talking with Amy Toson, the guest editor of the special edition, about what the IEP as a living document means and how to implement such a vision. Musical introduction Complete transcript forthcoming Announcer: You’ve been listening to TASH Amplified. For more about the series, including show notes, links to articles discussed, a complete transcript and a schedule of episodes, visit tash.org/amplified. You can subscribe through iTunes or your favorite Android podcast app to have the series delivered automatically to your device so you never miss an episode. If you enjoyed today’s episode, please share it with your friends and on your social networks. Today we talked with Amy Toson, the guest editor of the latest issue of our membership magazine, Connections, on “the IEP as a living document”. We’re sufficiently excited about this issue that we are making it available to members and non-members alike, free for the month of August. To read the […] The post The Individualized Education Program as a Living Document appeared first on Tash.org.

Season 2, Episode 1 — 22 June 2017 About this episode Today's episode is particularly urgent. The Senate released its bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act and cut Medicaid this morning. Listen to it right away then get busy. TASH talks with Gonzalo Martínez de Vedia, a Policy Manager with The Indivisible Project, about what this bill means and how you can talk to your Senator — Republican or Democrat — to effectively convey the importance for people with disabilities of it not passing. About the presenters Gonzalo Martínez de Vedia is a contributor to The Indivisible Guide and Policy Manager with The Indivisible Project in Washington, D.C., where he helps demystify Congress for 6,000 Indivisible groups across every congressional district in the country. Previously, he advocated for the rights of workers, immigrants and survivors of human trafficking through several NGOs including the Worker Justice Center of New York, the Freedom Network, and Humanity United. Gonzalo was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He holds a BA cum laude from Cornell University. Donald Taylor is responsible for membership and chapters at TASH and is the producer of Amplified. Transcript Announcer: You're listening to TASH Amplified, a podcast that seeks to transform research and experience concerning inclusion and equity for people with disabilities into solutions people can use in their everyday lives. Today we are talking with Gonzalo Martínez de Vedia, who is a Policy Manager with The Indivisible Project. Indivisible started as a 23-page guide on how to influence your congresspeople, written by former congressional staffers with first-hand experience of what works and what doesn't work. The guide had been downloaded over 2 million times and Indivisible now comprises nearly 6,000 local groups. Their primary focus in recent weeks has been on preventing Congress from repealing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and cutting $800 billion from Medicaid — which they could do as early as next week. We talk with Gonzalo about what TASH members can do to protect these essential rights of people with disabilities. Musical introduction Complete transcript forthcoming Donald Taylor: The American Health Care Act is really close to having the votes to pass in the Senate. So I think the idea is to look at specific [influenceable] Senators. Which Senators, and in which states, are the most important Congresspeople for citizens to try to influence? Gonzalo Martínez de Vedia: Yeah, so there's two answers to that. You know, the first answer, of course, is we encourage people to call whoever their individual two senators happen to be in whatever state they are. And there is work to do in all in all states. But as a national campaign, of course, we have to hone in on certain targets, especially now that we're getting into the final stretch. You know, the House has already voted. We are now in the Senate and in we are in the final stretch of the Senate negotiations. And what the Republican caucus and leadership is trying to […] The post How to Talk to Your Senator About Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act appeared first on Tash.org.

Season 2, Episode 1 — 22 June 2017 About this episode Today’s episode is particularly urgent. The Senate released its bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act and cut Medicaid this morning. Listen to it right away then get busy. TASH talks with Gonzalo Martínez de Vedia, a Policy Manager with The Indivisible Project, about what this bill means and how you can talk to your Senator — Republican or Democrat — to effectively convey the importance for people with disabilities of it not passing. About the presenters Gonzalo Martínez de Vedia is a contributor to The Indivisible Guide and Policy Manager with The Indivisible Project in Washington, D.C., where he helps demystify Congress for 6,000 Indivisible groups across every congressional district in the country. Previously, he advocated for the rights of workers, immigrants and survivors of human trafficking through several NGOs including the Worker Justice Center of New York, the Freedom Network, and Humanity United. Gonzalo was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He holds a BA cum laude from Cornell University. Donald Taylor is responsible for membership and chapters at TASH and is the producer of Amplified. Transcript Announcer: You’re listening to TASH Amplified, a podcast that seeks to transform research and experience concerning inclusion and equity for people with disabilities into solutions people can use in their everyday lives. Today we are talking with Gonzalo Martínez de Vedia, who is a Policy Manager with The Indivisible Project. Indivisible started as a 23-page guide on how to influence your congresspeople, written by former congressional staffers with first-hand experience of what works and what doesn’t work. The guide had been downloaded over 2 million times and Indivisible now comprises nearly 6,000 local groups. Their primary focus in recent weeks has been on preventing Congress from repealing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and cutting $800 billion from Medicaid — which they could do as early as next week. We talk with Gonzalo about what TASH members can do to protect these essential rights of people with disabilities. Musical introduction Complete transcript forthcoming Donald Taylor: The American Health Care Act is really close to having the votes to pass in the Senate. So I think the idea is to look at specific [influenceable] Senators. Which Senators, and in which states, are the most important Congresspeople for citizens to try to influence? Gonzalo Martínez de Vedia: Yeah, so there’s two answers to that. You know, the first answer, of course, is we encourage people to call whoever their individual two senators happen to be in whatever state they are. And there is work to do in all in all states. But as a national campaign, of course, we have to hone in on certain targets, especially now that we’re getting into the final stretch. You know, the House has already voted. We are now in the Senate and in we are in the final stretch of the Senate negotiations. And what the Republican caucus and leadership is trying to […] The post How to Talk to Your Senator About Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act appeared first on Tash.org.

Season 1, Episode 16 — 27 November 2016 About this episode Natalie Holdren discusses sessions she will be presenting at the Annual Conference addressing cultural and linguistic competency for school staff working with parents of diverse backgrounds on their students' Individualized Education Programs, how to make your TASH chapter more inclusive and tools to help people recognize their own cultural biases. This is a preview of the “Inclusion Means Diversity and Cultural Competency” symposium at the 2016 TASH Annual Conference. About the presenters Natalie Holdren is a fifth-year doctoral student at the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She also serves as Education Specialist Credential Supervisor and Instructor for the UCSB Teacher Education Program. She has served as an educational consultant for several school districts on projects related to special education, inclusion and intervention. She has also worked for United Cerebral Palsy of Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties for over 15 years in several capacities including Children's Programs Coordinator, Grant Writer and Project Manager for UCP's Accessible Housing Program. Most recently, Natalie was selected to participate in Georgetown University's Leadership Academy for Cultural and Linguistic Competence in Networks Supporting Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Natalie is the Co-President of the California TASH chapter. In addition to her academic and professional life, Natalie is a Polynesian dancer with over 30 years of dance experience. She currently runs a dance group that performs for non-profits organizations in the Santa Barbara area. Donald Taylor is the Membership Manager at TASH and the producer of Amplified. Transcript Complete transcript forthcoming This interview was originally recorded on 15 November 2016. The audio of this interview and the transcript have been lightly edited for clarity. Do you have an idea for an episode? We would like to hear from you! Fill out our suggestion form and let us know.     This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. You are free to copy, redistribute or adapt it for any purpose, commercial or non-commercial, provided you adhere to the terms, including that you attribute the original source. The post TASH Annual Conference Preview: Inclusion Means Diversity and Cultural Competency appeared first on Tash.org.

Season 1, Episode 16 — 27 November 2016 About this episode Natalie Holdren discusses sessions she will be presenting at the Annual Conference addressing cultural and linguistic competency for school staff working with parents of diverse backgrounds on their students’ Individualized Education Programs, how to make your TASH chapter more inclusive and tools to help people recognize their own cultural biases. This is a preview of the “Inclusion Means Diversity and Cultural Competency” symposium at the 2016 TASH Annual Conference. About the presenters Natalie Holdren is a fifth-year doctoral student at the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She also serves as Education Specialist Credential Supervisor and Instructor for the UCSB Teacher Education Program. She has served as an educational consultant for several school districts on projects related to special education, inclusion and intervention. She has also worked for United Cerebral Palsy of Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties for over 15 years in several capacities including Children’s Programs Coordinator, Grant Writer and Project Manager for UCP’s Accessible Housing Program. Most recently, Natalie was selected to participate in Georgetown University’s Leadership Academy for Cultural and Linguistic Competence in Networks Supporting Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Natalie is the Co-President of the California TASH chapter. In addition to her academic and professional life, Natalie is a Polynesian dancer with over 30 years of dance experience. She currently runs a dance group that performs for non-profits organizations in the Santa Barbara area. Donald Taylor is the Membership Manager at TASH and the producer of Amplified. Transcript Complete transcript forthcoming This interview was originally recorded on 15 November 2016. The audio of this interview and the transcript have been lightly edited for clarity. Do you have an idea for an episode? We would like to hear from you! Fill out our suggestion form and let us know.     This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. You are free to copy, redistribute or adapt it for any purpose, commercial or non-commercial, provided you adhere to the terms, including that you attribute the original source. The post TASH Annual Conference Preview: Inclusion Means Diversity and Cultural Competency appeared first on Tash.org.

Season 1, Episode 15 — 26 November 2016 About this episode Mona Fuerstenau of Bethesda Lutheran Communities and Anthony Armitage of One-Classroom discuss a breadth of ways for faith communities to become agents for greater inclusion for people with disabilities, including advocating for inclusion in parochial schools, how faith communities can be networks of natural supports, and how places of worship can leverage their networks to help people with disabilities in areas such as employment. This is a preview of the “Faith and Inclusion: Embracing Inclusion for People with Disabilities in School and Community” Wednesday Workshop at the 2016 TASH Annual Conference. About the presenters Mona Fuerstenau worked as Speech Language Pathologist for 13 years in multiple settings; early intervention, schools and with veterans. Her passion as a disability advocate stems from the inequities witnessed in all of these arenas. She is passionate about communities of belonging and is working primarily in faith communities at this point. Her current role with Bethesda Lutheran Communities is Director of Ministry Partnerships. She is a parent of two young adults who are very diverse learners. A fan of Asset Based Community Development, she regularly encourages thinking “outside the DD bubble”. Her vision includes communities who become places of sanctuary, belonging, meaningful participation and mutual support with families experiencing disability. Anthony Armitage and his wife LeeAnn Armitage are the founders of One Classroom, parents of two children and members of Mary Queen of Peace Parish in Webster Groves, Missouri. Their youngest child Christopher was born with Down Syndrome. After extensive research to determine the optimal educational pathway for their son LeeAnn and Anthony were inspired by inclusive education and the many Catholic schools around the country implementing inclusive programs. The opportunity of inclusive education, a strong belief in Catholic education, and the desire to educate their children together in one school created a passion to help all families of children with special needs and to serve Christ's church by helping the St. Louis archdiocese schools offer a new option for educating children with special needs. One Classroom is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating inclusive educational opportunities for children with special needs. We believe every child deserves a Catholic education in their local parish school in full community with their peers. One Classroom creates awareness, promotes and supports inclusive education by providing funding, training, expert resources, sharing of best practices and connecting parents. Donald Taylor is the Membership Manager at TASH and the producer of Amplified. Transcript Complete transcript forthcoming You can receive updates from TASH on this podcast and our other activities by following us on Facebook or on twitter at @TASHtweet. This has been a sample of the colleagues and conversations available through TASH. It is only because of the excellent work that our members do that we can bring you this information. For more resources such as this and to become a member, visit tash.org/join. We'll hear from another outstanding advocate again in two weeks. Musical coda This interview was originally […] The post TASH Annual Conference Wednesday Workshop Preview: Faith and Inclusion appeared first on Tash.org.

Season 1, Episode 15 — 26 November 2016 About this episode Mona Fuerstenau of Bethesda Lutheran Communities and Anthony Armitage of One-Classroom discuss a breadth of ways for faith communities to become agents for greater inclusion for people with disabilities, including advocating for inclusion in parochial schools, how faith communities can be networks of natural supports, and how places of worship can leverage their networks to help people with disabilities in areas such as employment. This is a preview of the “Faith and Inclusion: Embracing Inclusion for People with Disabilities in School and Community” Wednesday Workshop at the 2016 TASH Annual Conference. About the presenters Mona Fuerstenau worked as Speech Language Pathologist for 13 years in multiple settings; early intervention, schools and with veterans. Her passion as a disability advocate stems from the inequities witnessed in all of these arenas. She is passionate about communities of belonging and is working primarily in faith communities at this point. Her current role with Bethesda Lutheran Communities is Director of Ministry Partnerships. She is a parent of two young adults who are very diverse learners. A fan of Asset Based Community Development, she regularly encourages thinking “outside the DD bubble”. Her vision includes communities who become places of sanctuary, belonging, meaningful participation and mutual support with families experiencing disability. Anthony Armitage and his wife LeeAnn Armitage are the founders of One Classroom, parents of two children and members of Mary Queen of Peace Parish in Webster Groves, Missouri. Their youngest child Christopher was born with Down Syndrome. After extensive research to determine the optimal educational pathway for their son LeeAnn and Anthony were inspired by inclusive education and the many Catholic schools around the country implementing inclusive programs. The opportunity of inclusive education, a strong belief in Catholic education, and the desire to educate their children together in one school created a passion to help all families of children with special needs and to serve Christ’s church by helping the St. Louis archdiocese schools offer a new option for educating children with special needs. One Classroom is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating inclusive educational opportunities for children with special needs. We believe every child deserves a Catholic education in their local parish school in full community with their peers. One Classroom creates awareness, promotes and supports inclusive education by providing funding, training, expert resources, sharing of best practices and connecting parents. Donald Taylor is the Membership Manager at TASH and the producer of Amplified. Transcript Complete transcript forthcoming You can receive updates from TASH on this podcast and our other activities by following us on Facebook or on twitter at @TASHtweet. This has been a sample of the colleagues and conversations available through TASH. It is only because of the excellent work that our members do that we can bring you this information. For more resources such as this and to become a member, visit tash.org/join. We’ll hear from another outstanding advocate again in two weeks. Musical coda This interview was originally […] The post TASH Annual Conference Wednesday Workshop Preview: Faith and Inclusion appeared first on Tash.org.

Season 1, Episode 14 — 10 November 2016 About this episode We talk with Alice Wong and Andrew Pulrang about their numerous projects, most importantly #CripTheVote and the Disability Visibility Project. We discuss the election, the affordances of online collaboration and activism, intersectionality and disability, and the importance of culture, not just politics. Be sure to check out their #WhatsNext post-election #CripTheVote twitter chat on 10 November 2016, starting at 7:00 PM Eastern. Visit the Disability Visibility Project page for the event or the twitter feed for the hashtag to find out more. About the presenters Alice Wong is a sociologist, research consultant, and disability activist based in San Francisco, California. Her areas of interest are accessible healthcare for people with disabilities, Medicaid policies and programs, advocacy-based storytelling, and social media. Currently, she is the Founder and Project Coordinator for the Disability Visibility Project (DVP), a community partnership with StoryCorps and an online community dedicated to recording, amplifying, and sharing disability stories and culture. Partnering with Andrew Pulrang and Gregg Beratan, Alice is a co-partner of an online campaign called #CripTheVote encouraging conversations about disability issues during the 2016 Presidential election. You can find her on Twitter at @SFdirewolf. Andrew Pulrang started working at the North Country Center for Independence, a Center for Independent Living in Plattsburgh, New York while in college, rising to serve as the Executive Director from 1998 until 2012. Seeking to explore disability issues in a different way, Andrew started Disability Thinking. You can find him on twitter at @AndrewPulrang. Donald Taylor is the Membership Manager at TASH and the producer of Amplified. Transcript Announcer: You're listening to TASH Amplified a podcast that seeks to transform research and experience concerning inclusion and equity for people with disabilities into solutions people can use in their everyday lives. Today we are talking with Alice Wong and Andrew Pulrang about their numerous projects, most importantly #CripTheVote and the Disability Visibility Project. We discuss the election, the affordances of online collaboration and activism, intersectionality and disability, and the importance of culture, not just politics. Concerned about the implications of the election outcome for people with disabilities? Wondering where we go from here? #CripTheVote will be hosting an election discussion as one of their regular twitter chats on Thursday, November 10th 2016, starting at 7:00 PM Eastern. For more on how to participate, search for #CripTheVote on twitter or go to facebook.com/CripTheVote/. Complete transcript forthcoming Announcer: You've been listening to TASH Amplified. For more about the series, including show notes, links to articles discussed, a complete transcript and a schedule of episodes, visit tash.org/amplified. You can subscribe through iTunes or your favorite Android podcast app to have the series delivered automatically to your device so you never miss an episode. If you enjoyed today's episode, please share it with your friends and on your social networks. Today we talked with Alice Wong and Andrew Pulrang about #CripTheVote and the Disability Visibility Project. You can find Alice Wong on twitter at @SFdirewolf. […] The post #CripTheVote and Online Disability Activism appeared first on Tash.org.

Season 1, Episode 14 — 10 November 2016 About this episode We talk with Alice Wong and Andrew Pulrang about their numerous projects, most importantly #CripTheVote and the Disability Visibility Project. We discuss the election, the affordances of online collaboration and activism, intersectionality and disability, and the importance of culture, not just politics. Be sure to check out their #WhatsNext post-election #CripTheVote twitter chat on 10 November 2016, starting at 7:00 PM Eastern. Visit the Disability Visibility Project page for the event or the twitter feed for the hashtag to find out more. About the presenters Alice Wong is a sociologist, research consultant, and disability activist based in San Francisco, California. Her areas of interest are accessible healthcare for people with disabilities, Medicaid policies and programs, advocacy-based storytelling, and social media. Currently, she is the Founder and Project Coordinator for the Disability Visibility Project (DVP), a community partnership with StoryCorps and an online community dedicated to recording, amplifying, and sharing disability stories and culture. Partnering with Andrew Pulrang and Gregg Beratan, Alice is a co-partner of an online campaign called #CripTheVote encouraging conversations about disability issues during the 2016 Presidential election. You can find her on Twitter at @SFdirewolf. Andrew Pulrang started working at the North Country Center for Independence, a Center for Independent Living in Plattsburgh, New York while in college, rising to serve as the Executive Director from 1998 until 2012. Seeking to explore disability issues in a different way, Andrew started Disability Thinking. You can find him on twitter at @AndrewPulrang. Donald Taylor is the Membership Manager at TASH and the producer of Amplified. Transcript Announcer: You’re listening to TASH Amplified a podcast that seeks to transform research and experience concerning inclusion and equity for people with disabilities into solutions people can use in their everyday lives. Today we are talking with Alice Wong and Andrew Pulrang about their numerous projects, most importantly #CripTheVote and the Disability Visibility Project. We discuss the election, the affordances of online collaboration and activism, intersectionality and disability, and the importance of culture, not just politics. Concerned about the implications of the election outcome for people with disabilities? Wondering where we go from here? #CripTheVote will be hosting an election discussion as one of their regular twitter chats on Thursday, November 10th 2016, starting at 7:00 PM Eastern. For more on how to participate, search for #CripTheVote on twitter or go to facebook.com/CripTheVote/. Complete transcript forthcoming Announcer: You’ve been listening to TASH Amplified. For more about the series, including show notes, links to articles discussed, a complete transcript and a schedule of episodes, visit tash.org/amplified. You can subscribe through iTunes or your favorite Android podcast app to have the series delivered automatically to your device so you never miss an episode. If you enjoyed today’s episode, please share it with your friends and on your social networks. Today we talked with Alice Wong and Andrew Pulrang about #CripTheVote and the Disability Visibility Project. You can find Alice Wong on twitter at @SFdirewolf. […] The post #CripTheVote and Online Disability Activism appeared first on Tash.org.

Season 1, Episode 13 — 20 October 2016 About this episode Paula Wills and Michelle Phillips of Chicago's Family Resource Center on Disabilities discuss the services that are available through the Parent Training and Information Center to parents trying to navigate the education provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Prior to being the Executive Director at the Family Resource Center on Disabilities, Michelle Phillips was a skeptical parent seeking help securing her son's educational rights. She explains her journey from Angry Mom to Power Mom with the help of her Parent Training and Information Center. About the presenters Michelle Phillips (pictured above, second from the left) is the Executive Director of the Family Resource Center on Disabilities, the Parent Training and Information Center for the Chicago metropolitan area. She is the mother of an adult son with osteogenesis imperfecta and a recent grandmother to a grandchild, also with osteogenesis imperfecta. Prior to directing the Family Resource Center on Disabilities, she was a parent who learned to use the provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act from he local Parent Training and Information Center. Paula Wills (pictured above, right) is the Technology Outreach Coordinator for Family Resource Center on Disabilities Parent Information Center. Her interests include advocacy for parents of children with disabilities utilizing special education services, and technology and media management for non-profits. Transcript Announcer: You're listening to TASH Amplified, a podcast that seeks to transform research and experience concerning inclusion and equity for people with disabilities into solutions people can use in their everyday lives. Today we have two of our favorite regular contributors to our Annual Conference, Paula Wills and Michelle Phillips, both of whom work at the Family Resource Center on Disabilities, which is the Parent Training and Information Center for the Chicago metropolitan area. Paula is today's guest interviewer. She is the Technology Outreach Coordinator at Family Resource Center on Disabilities. She is also the Co-Vice President of the Illinois TASH Chapter and has been the photographer at our annual conference for two years running. Importantly for TASH Amplified, because Paula does her own interviews at BlogTalkRadio, she helped us get started when we were just trying to figure out this podcast thing. Paula is interviewing Michelle Phillips, her boss and the Executive Director at the Family Resource Center on Disabilities. Michelle will be a panelist at one of the general sessions at our 2016 Annual Conference to be held in St. Louis from Wednesday, November 30th-Friday, December 2nd. In today's interview they discuss the services available through the Parent Training and Information Centers and Michelle's own experience shepherding her son through the provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The upgrades continue here at TASH Amplifed. Starting this week we now have a regular musical introduction, an original composition and performance by Sunny Cefaratti, the Co-Director and Autistic Self Advocacy Mentor at the Musical Autist. Musical interlude Complete transcript forthcoming Announcer: (music playing in the background) You've been listening to TASH […] The post From Angry Mom to Power Mom: The Parent Training and Information Centers and Your Child's Individualized Education Program appeared first on Tash.org.

Season 1, Episode 13 — 20 October 2016 About this episode Paula Wills and Michelle Phillips of Chicago’s Family Resource Center on Disabilities discuss the services that are available through the Parent Training and Information Center to parents trying to navigate the education provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Prior to being the Executive Director at the Family Resource Center on Disabilities, Michelle Phillips was a skeptical parent seeking help securing her son’s educational rights. She explains her journey from Angry Mom to Power Mom with the help of her Parent Training and Information Center. About the presenters Michelle Phillips (pictured above, second from the left) is the Executive Director of the Family Resource Center on Disabilities, the Parent Training and Information Center for the Chicago metropolitan area. She is the mother of an adult son with osteogenesis imperfecta and a recent grandmother to a grandchild, also with osteogenesis imperfecta. Prior to directing the Family Resource Center on Disabilities, she was a parent who learned to use the provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act from he local Parent Training and Information Center. Paula Wills (pictured above, right) is the Technology Outreach Coordinator for Family Resource Center on Disabilities Parent Information Center. Her interests include advocacy for parents of children with disabilities utilizing special education services, and technology and media management for non-profits. Transcript Announcer: You’re listening to TASH Amplified, a podcast that seeks to transform research and experience concerning inclusion and equity for people with disabilities into solutions people can use in their everyday lives. Today we have two of our favorite regular contributors to our Annual Conference, Paula Wills and Michelle Phillips, both of whom work at the Family Resource Center on Disabilities, which is the Parent Training and Information Center for the Chicago metropolitan area. Paula is today’s guest interviewer. She is the Technology Outreach Coordinator at Family Resource Center on Disabilities. She is also the Co-Vice President of the Illinois TASH Chapter and has been the photographer at our annual conference for two years running. Importantly for TASH Amplified, because Paula does her own interviews at BlogTalkRadio, she helped us get started when we were just trying to figure out this podcast thing. Paula is interviewing Michelle Phillips, her boss and the Executive Director at the Family Resource Center on Disabilities. Michelle will be a panelist at one of the general sessions at our 2016 Annual Conference to be held in St. Louis from Wednesday, November 30th-Friday, December 2nd. In today’s interview they discuss the services available through the Parent Training and Information Centers and Michelle’s own experience shepherding her son through the provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The upgrades continue here at TASH Amplifed. Starting this week we now have a regular musical introduction, an original composition and performance by Sunny Cefaratti, the Co-Director and Autistic Self Advocacy Mentor at the Musical Autist. Musical interlude Complete transcript forthcoming Announcer: (music playing in the background) You’ve been listening to TASH […] The post From Angry Mom to Power Mom: The Parent Training and Information Centers and Your Child’s Individualized Education Program appeared first on Tash.org.

Season 1, Episode 12 — 8 July 2016 About this episode Sean Gray, vocalist for the D.C. punk band Birth (Defects), talks with us on how the ethic of punk music affects his disability advocacy and his project, “Is This Venue Accessible”, a crowd-source website to document the accessibility of places to hear music, first in the Northeast, but increasingly globally. About the presenters Sean Gray is the owner and founder of the website “Is This Venue Accessible?” which catalogs accessibility information of music venues across the globe. Along with running Accidental Guest Recordings and playing in the band Birth (Defects) [Bandcamp | Facebook], he has also written for press outlets such as: Pitchfork, Washington Citypaper, and NPR's Bandwidth.fm. Edwin Canizalez is the Director of Operations and Change Management at TASH. He grew up in Queens in the 1970s and 1980s and his experience of New York hardcore strongly influenced his values of equal access and self-determination. Transcript Announcer: You're listening to Amplified, a podcast that seeks to transform research and experience concerning inclusion and equity for people with disabilities into solutions people can use in their everyday lives. Programming note: we're introducing a few upgrades to Amplified this week. First, today's episode is an interview with Sean Gray, a local punk musician. Our operations director, Edwin Canizalez, is known around the office for his earlier days in the New York hardcore scene, so when we first proposed this episode, he insisted that he get to do it. He'll be our guest host today. Second, content warning: befitting punk, today's episode includes an explicit word or two, some reclaiming of ablest language and some loud noise. Third, given the topic, this will be our first episode to include a musical introduction. So, bring the noise, Sean. Musical interlude Edwin Canizalez: Hardcore punk is a music style that's been around since the 1980s, and is still around today. This genera is known for its social messaging: things like equity, school-to-prison pipeline, and autonomy. Today's guest is a veteran of the D.C. hardcore scene, an IT expert at the United Cerebral Palsy, and the originator of a really, really cool crowd-source website called “Is This Venue Accessible“. Sean Gray, welcome to Amplified. Sean Gray: Thank you, thank you very much. Edwin Canizalez: Sean, tells a little bit about yourself, beyond the things we have said. Sean Gray: Well, so, I uh, my day job — I do work for a disability advocacy nonprofit, United Cerebral Palsy National, which is literally about five minutes from here. I do that during the day and, you know, basically do music stuff when I get out of the office. And I've been involved in punk and hardcore and underground music — even more so — since I was probably about fifteen or sixteen, and I'm thirty-three now … Edwin Canizalez: Right on. Sean Gray: … so it's been over half my life. Edwin Canizalez: Now you have a record label too, right? Tell us about that. […] The post Self-Advocacy and the Culture of Punk Music appeared first on Tash.org.

Season 1, Episode 12 — 8 July 2016 About this episode Sean Gray, vocalist for the D.C. punk band Birth (Defects), talks with us on how the ethic of punk music affects his disability advocacy and his project, “Is This Venue Accessible”, a crowd-source website to document the accessibility of places to hear music, first in the Northeast, but increasingly globally. About the presenters Sean Gray is the owner and founder of the website “Is This Venue Accessible?” which catalogs accessibility information of music venues across the globe. Along with running Accidental Guest Recordings and playing in the band Birth (Defects) [Bandcamp | Facebook], he has also written for press outlets such as: Pitchfork, Washington Citypaper, and NPR’s Bandwidth.fm. Edwin Canizalez is the Director of Operations and Change Management at TASH. He grew up in Queens in the 1970s and 1980s and his experience of New York hardcore strongly influenced his values of equal access and self-determination. Transcript Announcer: You’re listening to Amplified, a podcast that seeks to transform research and experience concerning inclusion and equity for people with disabilities into solutions people can use in their everyday lives. Programming note: we’re introducing a few upgrades to Amplified this week. First, today’s episode is an interview with Sean Gray, a local punk musician. Our operations director, Edwin Canizalez, is known around the office for his earlier days in the New York hardcore scene, so when we first proposed this episode, he insisted that he get to do it. He’ll be our guest host today. Second, content warning: befitting punk, today’s episode includes an explicit word or two, some reclaiming of ablest language and some loud noise. Third, given the topic, this will be our first episode to include a musical introduction. So, bring the noise, Sean. Musical interlude Edwin Canizalez: Hardcore punk is a music style that’s been around since the 1980s, and is still around today. This genera is known for its social messaging: things like equity, school-to-prison pipeline, and autonomy. Today’s guest is a veteran of the D.C. hardcore scene, an IT expert at the United Cerebral Palsy, and the originator of a really, really cool crowd-source website called “Is This Venue Accessible“. Sean Gray, welcome to Amplified. Sean Gray: Thank you, thank you very much. Edwin Canizalez: Sean, tells a little bit about yourself, beyond the things we have said. Sean Gray: Well, so, I uh, my day job — I do work for a disability advocacy nonprofit, United Cerebral Palsy National, which is literally about five minutes from here. I do that during the day and, you know, basically do music stuff when I get out of the office. And I’ve been involved in punk and hardcore and underground music — even more so — since I was probably about fifteen or sixteen, and I’m thirty-three now … Edwin Canizalez: Right on. Sean Gray: … so it’s been over half my life. Edwin Canizalez: Now you have a record label too, right? Tell us about that. […] The post Self-Advocacy and the Culture of Punk Music appeared first on Tash.org.

Season 1, Episode 11 — 30 June 2016 About this episode Barb Trader retired this month after ten years as the Executive Director of TASH. She has spent a lifetime thinking about and working for the betterment of the lives of people with disabilities. Her time at TASH was the culmination of a 40-year career in disability rights. We talk with her about the accomplishments she’s seen and contributed to, what she’s learned in 40 years of service and the tasks that remain. About the presenters Barb Trader was the Executive Director of TASH from 2006 until her retirement this month. Barb was in direct service as a recreation therapist for 17 years in parks and recreation, public schools, and non-profit agencies. An activist by nature, she facilitated the inclusion of athletes with disabilities in the Georgia State Games and formed a wheelchair division for the Peachtree Road Race, the first major race in the country to include wheelchair users, serving as race director the first 10 years. The 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games were the first to be held in the United States as a part of the overall Olympic celebration, due in part to a grassroots effort led by Barb and local ADAPT leaders that gathered 40,000 signatures in less than 10 days. She was a founding board member for the Paralympic Organizing Committee and an integral part of the bid process and served as the vice president for youth and community programs. She has authored and launched several national programs, including Paralympic Day in the Schools and Express Diversity!, both aimed at helping school-aged youth understand that disability is a natural life experience. Prior to TASH, she worked in program development and director roles for the national headquarters’ offices of VSA arts and Easter Seals. Donald Taylor is the Membership Manager at TASH and the producer of Amplified.   Transcript Announcer: You’re listening to TASH Amplified, a podcast that seeks to transform research and experience concerning inclusion and equity for people with disabilities into solutions people can use in their everyday lives. Today we’re talking with Barb Trader, who retired on June 14th after ten years and two days as Executive Director of TASH. Her time at TASH was the culmination of a 40-year career in disability rights. We talk with her about the accomplishments she’s seen and contributed to in her time, what she’s learned in 40 years of service and the tasks that remain. Donald Taylor: Barb Trader, where were you born and what was your childhood like? Barb Trader: Oh my goodness! I was born in Burlington Wisconsin in 1954. Donald Taylor: You don’t have to tell us that part. Barb Trader: Okay. I was born in Burlington Wisconsin, which is in the southeastern corner of the state, or just North of that or about thirty miles outside of Milwaukee and I grew up and was raised on a farm. My childhood was really spent outside. Wisconsin gets cold in the winter, but me and […] The post Barb Trader Reflects on a Lifetime of Accomplishment in Disability Rights appeared first on Tash.org.