Podcasts about access living

What happens when you finally meet someone who understands how your body works? For Alycia Anderson and Karen Tamley, a LinkedIn introduction became the beginning of a powerful disability sisterhood. Both women were born with sacral agenesis, a rare congenital disability affecting the lower spine. They grew up using wheelchairs during a time when disabled children were routinely underestimated, accessibility was rare, and doctors placed devastating limitations on their futures. Then they met and immediately began comparing notes: “Wait, your body does that? Mine does too.” In Episode 151 of Pushing Forward with Alycia, Karen Tamley, President and CEO of Access Living, joins Alycia for an honest conversation about rare disability, peer support, leadership, aging, Disability Pride, and the urgent fight to protect disability rights. Finding Someone Who Understands Karen did not meet another person with sacral agenesis until her twenties. Before social media, finding others with the same disability was incredibly difficult. Meeting Alycia gave both women a rare opportunity to talk openly about their bodies, mobility, health, childhoods, and aging without having to explain every detail first. Karen describes that connection as a security blanket and safety net. Their friendship reflects the importance of peer support within the independent living movement. Disabled people hold knowledge that cannot always be found in medical offices or textbooks, and that lived experience can help others navigate healthcare, access, identity, and everyday life. Growing Up Before Accessibility Alycia and Karen remember life before the Americans with Disabilities Act. They recall inaccessible buses, oversized wheelchairs, buildings with stairs, restaurants without accessible bathrooms, and being carried into spaces. Karen shares that her mother carried her up four stairs every morning to reach a summer job in an inaccessible building. She also remembers putting flip flops on her hands so she could crawl across public restroom floors. Alycia had done the same thing. Their stories reveal how exclusion becomes normalized when disabled people are not protected by enforceable civil rights. Community Living Is a Disability Right Karen explains the importance of the 1999 Olmstead decision, which affirmed that unnecessary institutionalization and segregation can be discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The decision helped establish that disabled people have the right to receive services and live within their communities. Through Access Living and partner organizations, disabled people are supported as they transition from nursing facilities and institutions into their own homes. Karen warns that Medicaid reductions, weakened enforcement, and renewed conversations about institutionalization threaten decades of progress. Disabled people are asking for the right to live in their own homes, make decisions about their lives, and participate fully in their communities. Advocacy Belongs to Everyone Karen reminds listeners that advocacy is not limited to policy experts. People can make a difference by learning from trusted disability led organizations, sharing accurate information, contacting elected officials, submitting public comments, telling personal stories, amplifying disabled advocates, and connecting with a local Center for Independent Living. Her message is clear: Do not assume your voice will not be heard. Speak up anyway. Leadership Begins in the Deep End Karen credits her parents and mentors with encouraging her to take risks. Her mother often said they were going to throw Karen into the deep end of the pool and let her figure out how to swim. That mindset followed her throughout her career. Mentors including Judy Heumann, Ed Roberts, Wade Blank, and Marca Bristo recognized Karen's potential and placed her in leadership roles before she always felt ready. Karen later served as Commissioner of the Chicago Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities, was appointed to the U.S. Access Board, and became President and CEO of Access Living. Her journey demonstrates the power of leaders who believe in someone before that person fully believes in themselves. Disability Pride and Aging For Karen, Disability Pride means community, visibility, self worth, and being okay with who we are. It does not mean loving every part of disability every day. Pride can exist alongside pain, fear, frustration, internalized ableism, and uncertainty. Alycia and Karen also discuss the realities of aging with a rare disability, including concerns about mobility, transfers, travel, health, and future independence. Both women were given frightening medical predictions as children. Decades later, they are still here, leading, traveling, advocating, creating community, and celebrating every year they were told they might never have. Aging with disability can be uncertain. It is also a privilege. You Deserve to Be in the Space Karen's Pushing Forward moment is a challenge to step outside your comfort zone. Attend the event. Accept the opportunity. Enter the room, even when you do not know anyone. Leadership does not eliminate fear or imposter syndrome. You deserve to be there. You deserve to be in that space. Two Women, One Rare Disability, and a Movement to Protect

Terminally ill residents with a prognosis of six months to live could get physician prescribed drugs to end their lives if Governor Pritzker signs a bill that passed the Illinois legislature Oct. 31. Advocates say it gives people suffering and near death a choice, but some disability rights activists are concerned it could pressure disabled people to end their lives. In the Loop hears Amber Smock, vice president of advocacy for Access Living and Khadine Bennett, director of advocacy and intergovernmental affairs for the ACLU of Illinois. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

On July 26, 1990, then-President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA, into law. This was a turning point for the quality of life for disabled people in the country. But disability rights activism didn't start when the ADA was introduced into Congress. Reset talks about disability advocacy before and after the ADA. We also dig into recent efforts to weaken it and how the community continues to fight. Our panel: Charles Petrof, senior ADA attorney with Access Living; Mike Ervin, writer and disability rights activist; and T.J. Gordon, co-founder of Chicagoland Disabled People of Color Coalition. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Trump's policy bill includes various cuts to Medicaid, implementing stricter requirements that will affect if people with disabilities receive health care coverage. Reset learns more about how this legislation could affect local Chicagoans with disabilities with Access Living policy analyst Sebastian Nalls and disability right activist and Medicaid recipient David Gayes. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Sebastian Nalls, a healthcare policy analyst with Access Living in Chicago, joins Megan Lynch. His group shares concerns about Sen Linda Holmes's legislation that would allow end of life options in Illinois. He agrees that it is a, 'complex and emotional issue.'

Illinois could soon join 10 states in the nation which allow what advocates call “medical aid in dying.” A bill in Springfield would give terminally ill people with six months or less to live the option to end their lives by self-administering a drug provided by a physician. Illinois lawmakers are considering the future of this legislation during the spring session, so Reset spoke with the bill's co-sponsor Sen. Linda Holmes (D-Aurora) to learn more about it. Plus, hears from opponents like Access Living's Amber Smock and supporters like ACLU of Illinois' Khadine Bennett. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Disability and Palestine Teach-In: A Conversation with Sawsan Zakaria, Marina Salman and Allie Cannington. Monday, February 5, 3-4 pm  On-line zoom event.  ASL/CART provided. How does the ongoing attack on Palestine relate to disability communities and disability justice? For other access needs please contact us at pklinst@sfsu.edu Register here. (See below for biographies of the presenters) Events Coordinator Shaina Ghuraya talks about the upcoming online Palestine Teach-in on Feburary 5. and other ongoing work at the Paul Longmore Institute at S.F. State.   Cafe Crip: Neurodiverse and Neurotypical Cross-Cultural Communication Friday, Feb. 2, 2024 12:00, noon PST by zoom Go here for accessibility information and to register. Cafe Crip returns regularly.  See the Longmore Institute's twitter page for more events. —————————— Shaina Ghuraya Our guest, Shaina Ghuraya jokes that she's a triple threat – she's female, South Asian, and a wheelchair-user. She's written on two Netflix animated series and is a 2021 fellow of the Sundance Institute's Accessible Futures Initiative. She loves creating bold stories about scheming women disrupting the status quo (like herself), and is an activist who supports the teachings of Disability Justice. Her films surrounding topics of disability have screened at Slamdance, Superfest, and Hollyshorts. Originally from Elk Grove in Northern California, Shaina attended USC and majored in Film and TV Production where, after graduating, she was featured in Forbes. Learn more here: www.shainaghuraya.com Eddie Ytuarte produced and hosts. Sawsan Zakaria (she/her) is an actress/advocate who also works at the Autism Society as the Operations Lead. She assists with all operational and admin tasks to efficiently teach people with and without disabilities within the community to navigate state services to receive proper care to live independently. Sawsan has also made a name for herself in the commercial space, representing people with disabilities being featured in Disney, Sephora, and GoRV commercials. Sawsan is Palestinian and grew up in a Muslim household in Chicago, however currently lives in Los Angeles advocating for people with disabilities in the media. Marina Salman (she/her) is the SOAR (SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery) Case Manager in the Community Reintegration Department at Access Living. In 2018, Marina completed a master's degree in counseling psychology. Her current research and advocacy work includes addressing disability and ableism in the healthcare and justice system, as well as incorporating Independent Living philosophy in all aspects of life. Marina is of Middle Eastern descent, enjoys working out at the gym, and is an advent Chicago Bears fan. Allie Cannington (they/she) Allie Cannington (they/she) is a white, jewish, queer, disabled activist and organizer. For over 15 years, they have organized people with disabilities on local, state, and national levels for over ten years – centering on people with disabilities who live at the margins, including LGBTQIA, Black, Indigenous, people of color, low/no income, and youth with disabilities. Currently, Allie lives in Denver, Colorado and is an active member of Jewish Voice for Peace Denver/Boulder chapter. The post Disability & Palestine Teach In, Longmore Institue – Pushing Limits – January 26, 2024 appeared first on KPFA.

Laura Saltzman, the senior policy analyst with Access Living of Metro Chicago, joins Lisa Dent to discuss why individuals who use wheelchairs and other mobility aids say it's difficult to use the city's sidewalks when large amounts of snow hit the area, and why there’s a need for a city sidewalk snow removal program. Follow […]

Kevin Chan Bradley is the Vice President, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Community for HUB International. Joining the organization in 2021, oversees the company's overarching DEI strategy and provides coaching and consultation to ensure the execution of the strategy on all levels or the organization. Mr. Bradley is a seasoned Diversity & Inclusion practitioner with over 30 years in Human Resources. He has been a recruiter, business partner, EEO/AA Compliance leader and D&I leader. Bradley has worked in various industries including manufacturing, aerospace, fast food, and financial services. He is often asked to speak at events on the topic of diversity as a business driver and has received recognition for his work in advocating for diverse communities. He currently serves as Board Chair for Access Living, a nationally renowned disability advocacy organization. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Parents' Alliance Employment Project an organization that finds gainful employment for individuals with disabilities and serves on the Board of Directors for the Chicago Philharmonic. He has been asked to serve on the Chicago advisory committee for St. Jude Children's Hospital and is on the DEI Advisory Committee for his fraternity, Tau Kappa Epsilon. Key Takeaways Allyship must be an action, don't be a bystander — speak up Assess your environment and adjust your response accordingly Meet people where they are Diversity is about counting heads and diversity is about making heads count When discussing DEI at companies speak to their heads, hearts and wallets Guest's Media Recommendations: “The Medici Effect: Breakthrough Insights at the Intersection of Ideas, Concepts, and Cultures” by Frans Johansson (book) __ Find Guest's work: Access Living: https://www.accessliving.org/newsroom/teammember/kevin-bradley/ __ For more of Michael's work, visit our website www.incognitotheplay.com or follow us on Instagram @incognitotheplay __ Thanks to Ned Doheny for providing our podcast music! You can find him and his music on Spotify. Editing and co-production of this podcast by Emma Yarger. Email info@incognitotheplay.com with questions or comments about the show!

Access Living’s Senior Attorney, Charles Petrof joined Jon Hansen on Let’s Get Legal to discuss their lawsuit against the Chicago White Sox. The claim being made is that the White Sox are not offering the same season ticket opportunities for guests who need the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) seating.

July is Disability Pride Month — a time to celebrate those with a range of physical and mental abilities. But one of the key issues the disabled community still faces is accessibility in the workplace. Reset discusses what's being done to help with a panel of Chicago disability advocates: Daisy Feidt, vice president of Access Living; Jamie Sandberg, assistant director of Duman Opportunity Center at Jewish Child and Family Services of Chicago; and Emily Blum, executive director of Disability Lead.

July is Disability Pride Month — a time to celebrate those with a range of physical and mental abilities. But one of the key issues the disabled community still faces is accessibility in the workplace. Reset discusses what's being done to help with a panel of Chicago disability advocates: Daisy Feidt, vice president of Access Living; Jamie Sandberg, assistant director of Duman Opportunity Center at Jewish Child and Family Services of Chicago; and Emily Blum, executive director of Disability Lead.

There are a lot of long-standing disparities in healthcare, from unequal allocation of resources to a lack of diverse representation of providers. Reset spoke to Neelam Dhadankar, a healthcare policy analyst at Access Living, and Myles Brady Davis, the communications director at Equality Illinois, about how mandated cultural competency courses for medical professionals could solve some of these inequities.

Right before the pandemic interrupted production our season about "Your Future", we had the chance to interview disability advocate Ryan McGraw about the services and supports offerered at Access Living in Chicago. Access Living provides advocacy, independent living skills, transition support, peer support, information and referrals for people with disabilities. As Access Living's Health/Home and Community Based Services Community Organizer, Ryan facilitates two groups: Taskforce for Attendant Services, and Independent Voices. He moved to Chicago from Michigan in 2008 and received his master's degree in disability and development from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Since then, he's held several positions in the disability advocacy field. Ryan is passionate about home- and community-based services because everyone should have the right to live in the community with the services they need. Ryan also teaches accessible yoga, and loves to run, bike, and travel in his free time. You can learn more about Access Living at accessliving.org and connect with Ryan there or on LinkedIn. This episode was produced by D'Vonte, Jonas, Joel, Genaro, and Emon. Enjoy! http://www.PowerYourStoryPodcast.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/poweryourstorypodcast Instagram: @PowerYourStoryPodcast YouTube: After School Matters - Power Your Story Podcast *** Power Your Story is produced by students in the Podcast Tech & Production programs of After School Matters in Chicago. We represent diverse voices, telling our real life stories through the power of podcasting technology. Each season features a new group of student producers under the mentorship of producer, Andrea Klunder of The Creative Impostor Studios, creating personal journals, interviews, and discussions about the topics that matter most to us. Our theme music is by DJ Sparkz. 

Craig Dellimore talks with Access Living President and CEO Karen Tamley about the nonprofit agency's work advocating for and serving people with disabilities. They discuss the organization's mission, the challenges facing the disabled on a daily basis and also about the $8-million donation the organization unexpectedly received.

On this episode of “Gathering Ground,” Mary was thrilled to talk to Rahnee Patrick, Director of the Division of Rehabilitation Services for the Illinois Department of Human Services, and artist Sandie Yi. They discussed Rahnee's experience at Access Living and the Department of Human Services and Sandie's experience as an artist and disability culture worker.

EPISODE:Jon Webber from ACCESS LIVING GROUP, a Design and Consultancy firm, working with SDA builders in VIC, SA, & TAS. Jon sits down with Minh and Rob to talk about their business and their presence in the Victorian and Tasmanian markets and the building process with their key building partners in these key areas. They discuss a few of the things that set them apart from other groups in the marketplace, and a few tips for investors.We are also focused on working very closely in collaboration with Jon and his team in Melbourne and Hobart, and are excited to be working with them as they look to expand more of the SDA rollout in new cities and regions.LEAVE US A GOOGLE REVIEW!--GOALS:It is our goal to see Participants with high-needs disabilities being appropriately housed in accommodation that is right for them. Purpose built homes promote opportunities for social and economic participation, enhance self-determination, & create conditions for Participants to lead vibrant, safe, & independent lives.www.robustdesign.com.auwww.highphysicalsupport.com.auwww.improvedliveability.com.auwww.fullyaccessible.com.auwww.participants.com.auCONTACT:Please feel free to call us on 1300254397 to talk to one of our friendly staff, otherwise, just pop on over to our website to find out more info on www.ndispropertyaustralia.com.auFOLLOW US ON:LinkedIn InstagramFacebookTwitterDISCLAIMER:Information contained in this podcast is general in nature only. It does not take into account the objectives, financial situation or needs of any particular person. You need to consider your financial situation and needs before making any decisions based on this information and should seek independent and professional advice for your personal circumstances.For any podcast related queries or suggestions, please contact our podcast manager via eryn@participants.com.auwww.sdahousingpodcast.com.au

Are you now, or have you ever been disabled? That's not a trick question. Artist, art therapist, and disability activist Bri Beck asserts that disability exists along a complex spectrum –– visible, hidden, physical, developmental, temporary, persistent, evident at birth, resulting from trauma –– rather than a simple binary. And yet… Even with close proximity to it, so much uneasiness surrounds disability and those for whom it is a fact of life. So, what's up with our everyday ableism, especially in therapeutic spaces? "There's always a very strange weirdness, and I find, at least in my experience, that it's like, people are trying to show you, 'I'm cool with this. I'm gonna make sure you know I'm fine!'" says Bri, who lives with pseudoachondroplasia, a form of dwarfism.  Bri navigates a world where well-meaning folks can quickly cross the line. "As somebody that's apparently, outwardly, disabled, I have people touch me all the time, strangers that just don't know me, and that's so much, like, boundary-crossing." Bri's experiences don't end with touching. They often include a blatant disregard for her agency. Out-maneuvering such ableism is exhausting, says Bri, and puts me in mind of the tiresome intent of "good white people." Both broadcast their opposition to -isms through actions or language so beyond what is necessary that their efforts* become caricatures of authentic human interaction. *Insert face-palm here because we can all recall a situation (or many) in which we've overcompensated for our discomfort in exactly the same cringe-worthy manner. GUEST BIO Bri Beck is a disabled art therapist and disability arts and culture maker. Bri sees individuals in private practice and also works part-time with Access Living of Metro Chicago, where she facilitates the peer wellness program. For full show notes, resources, and links to connect with our guest, visit: https://www.headhearttherapy.com/podcast *** Conversations with a Wounded Healer is a proud member of @mhnrnetwork. Let's be friends! You can find me in the following places... Website: www.headhearttherapy.com/podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WoundedHealr/ https://www.facebook.com/HeadHeartTherapy/ Instagram: @headhearttherapy Twitter: @WoundedHealr @HeadHeart_Chi

July marks the thirty-second anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA, as it's better known—the landmark civil rights law that promised equal opportunity and economic security for Americans with disabilities. As we've talked about a lot on this show over the years, as important as it is to celebrate how far we've come in the decades since the ADA became part of the fabric of American life, every time we hit the month of July, it's even more important to acknowledge how far will still have to go to achieve the as-yet unfulfilled promises of the ADA.  And that's why this July, Off-Kilter is once again spending all month long having conversations with leaders from across the disability community. To continue that series of conversations, this week we're taking a deep dive into the criminalization of disability in America—and how we got to a place where people behind bars in prisons and jails are three to four times more likely to have a disability than the general population. And to unpack the intersection of criminal justice and disability justice, Rebecca sat down with a panel of incredible leaders from two organizations working at this nexus: Access Living, a longtime leader in the disability rights and justice space that works to build a world free from barriers and discrimination for all disabled people, and Activating Change, a new organization that recently spun off from the Vera Institute of Justice to center people with disabilities in reforming and reenvisioning the nation's criminal justice system.  This week's guests are: Candace Coleman, racial justice organizer at Access Living; Nancy Smith, executive director of Activating Change; Olga Trujillo, Director of Leadership Development, Visibility and Collective Healing at Activating Change; and Keith Jones, President and CEO of SoulTouchin' Experience and a consultant who works closely with Activating Change. Editor's note: The Century Foundation is thrilled to have Access Living and Activating Change as members of the Disability Economic Justice Collaborative, which you can learn more about at dejc.org.  For more: Here's a report Rebecca wrote a while back at the Center for American Progress offering an overview of the mass warehousing of disabled people behind bars, including most of the stats the panel mentions throughout this episode Check out Access Living's 2019 report on how to stem the flow of disabled people into U.S. jails through pretrial diversion and other tools: “A Cross-Disability Perspective on Reducing Jail Incarceration”; as well as their 2022 “Voices of Reentry” panel series Learn more about Activating Change—which recently spun off from the Vera Institute of Justice—and how to get involved with their work to center disabled people in the movement to end mass incarceration and criminalization  Check out Olga Trujillo's work on deconstructing the stigma of dissociative identity disorder And here's more from Keith Jones about his work, and why building stronger communities requires a commitment from heart and soul 

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!

When you think about surfing and catching waves, Brooklyn, New York is definitely not the first place that comes to mind. However, the community of Rockaway, Brooklyn is home to a very vibrant and well-connected surf community. Atongular Monique is a mentor at Laru Beya Collecting, a surfing-focused, non-profit organization based in the Rockaways in Brooklyn, New York. She is also an avid climber and outdoor enthusiast.Faith first met Atongular while climbing at the Women's Climbing Festival in Bishop, California, back in 2018. Today, Faith and Addie chat with Atongular about her entry into the world of surfing, climbing, and other outdoor spaces. They have an important discussion all about the work that Laru Beya Collective does, particularly their focus on supporting young women of color in their surfing journey. Laru Beya Collective also plays a huge part when it comes to supporting the Rockaway community in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.Atongular also recounts and shares her experience of often being the only Black woman in climbing spaces and other outdoor activities. This sparks an important discussion on why representation matters in sports and the world of outdoor activities. More specifically, representation in leadership roles in these spaces can often break down barriers for younger members of the BIPOC community. This is an important episode all about the importance of representation, leadership, and the different ways in which individuals can support outdoor communities in order to make them a more inviting and inclusive space.Resources MentionedLaru Beya https://www.larubeyacollective.com/Young Women Who Crush https://www.instagram.com/youngwomenwhocrush/Hurricane Sandy Facts https://prospect.org/infrastructure/hurricane-sandy-inequalities-resilience-new-york/NYC Water Safety Bill https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2021/S2207Short film about Brothers of Climbing https://www.rei.com/blog/climb/brothers-of-climbingBrown Girls Climb https://www.browngirlsclimb.com/Flash Foxy Women's Climbing Fest https://www.flashfoxy.com/climbing-festTry Hard Climb Crew https://tryhardcrew.com/This Land Doc - Play https://www.thislanddoc.com/playThe Venture Out Project https://www.ventureoutproject.com/

The creation of this first Center for Independent Living in the early 1970s started a national movement. It was the birth of a new way of seeing disability called the community model. Community model focuses on the individual with a disability as the solution and not the problem. As opposed to medical model, which focuses on the physical or mental problem that needs to be “fixed.” But many people don't know this philosophy. All too often, people with disabilities are still seen as the problem. Join Holly and Michael as they talk with Karen Tamley, CEO of Access Living. Karen discusses the services that Centers for Independent Living provide. She also talks about the philosophy of Independent Living.   For the resources and links mentioned in this episode, please visit us at disabilitygarrison.org.

A new petition calls for the city of Chicago to develop a sidewalk snow and ice removal service by next winter. Reset talks to advocates from Access Living and Better Streets Chicago about their push to protect vulnerable residents from slippery black ice.

Alex Nelson, Campaign Manager for “Plow the Sidewalks”, joins Bruce and Judy to talk about her campaign to get Chicago to treat sidewalks like they do streets. Better Streets Chicago is partnered with Access Living, a disability rights organization, to try and get the city to make snow and ice removal from sidewalks into a municipal service. In a city filled with pedestrians, they believe this public area should be taken care of as anything else publicly owned.

Thursday the 23rd our friends of Planned Parenthood Illinois Action are hosting a fantastic virtual panel discussion, "My Disability, My Choice". This is part of a new PPIA Disability Advocacy & Organizing Program. We learned all about it in our discussion with Claire McNorton!

This episode features a conversation with Karen Tamley, President and CEO of Access Living. 

This episode is based on six accounts from physically/Intellectually Challenged people from Chicago or parts of Illinois who were formally incarcerated. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/obsidian-queen/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/obsidian-queen/support

This episode will be covering more content from Access Living on the disabled & lack of support in the entire process of the criminal system. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/obsidian-queen/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/obsidian-queen/support

This episode is another installment based on information from Access Living's website on systemic segregation & looking at a Cross ability approach as a model to start to fix a dysfunctional system. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/obsidian-queen/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/obsidian-queen/support

This episode is based on content from the organization Access Living & can be found on their website under the header Background: Access to Justice --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/obsidian-queen/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/obsidian-queen/support

Ashley Eisenmenger is considered the first NCAA triathlete with a disability that required some sport specific adaptation. As a blind triathlete, Ashley raced varsity women's triathlon her junior and senior year at North Central College. She continues to compete at the highest level at various triathlons, including the Chicago Tri which is in her back yard. Ashley was recently able to get certified as a USAT coach and is connected to Dare2Tri, a Move United member organization, where she helps out at some of their camps. Outside of sports, she works for a nonprofit in Chicago called Access Living where she consults and trains on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The disabled population is the LARGEST minority group in the world. But have you even heard about the Disability Civil Rights Movement or the diverse culture and identities created by people with disabilities? Probably not. We live in a world that still gives Hollywood the O.K. on “cripface” (most notably with Sia’s 2020 movie “Music”). A world where police brutality afflicts people with “underlying conditions” all too often. TikTok mods are told to penalize disabled people for looking “unappealing”. Major items, like work-from-home jobs, on the agenda of disability advocates are only realized when able-bodied people demand it. We're all ableists to some degree, and it’s high time to get educated. Join Hope and Daisy as they take an eye-opening trip through disability advocacy history, art, accessibility, identity, and activism in Chicago and the United States, with special guests Cassidy Medina (Co-President of UChicago’s Students for Disability Justice) and Candace Coleman (Community Development Organizer on Racial Justice for Access Living)._____________________________________This Episode’s Hosts: Hope Houston (Production Manager, https://www.instagram.com/hhnh810/) and Daisy Okoye (Content Creator, https://www.instagram.com/daisyokoye/ ). Join the KSFam! We saved you a seat at the table. Link up with us on all available social media platforms:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kindasortabrown/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/kindasortabrownFacebook: https://facebook.com/kindasortabrown/ For further inquiries, email us: kindasortabrown@gmail.com Audio transcriptions of KSB episodes are here! Access this episode’s transcription PDF here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1P_OfagO5sR9hsvCz_5mrE0YsPDPKf2vH/view Or, look through our Google Drive of transcriptions here: https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1XNBWRGMWaP5l2FzmHItG3ap-p0AOEkpM Lead Contributors: Lena Diasti (Executive Producer), Hope Houston (Production Manager), Jon Brooks (Social Media Coordinator), Dinah Clottey (Outreach Manager), Chase Leito (Audio Engineer), and Daisy Okoye (Content Creator). Supporting Contributors: Narvella Sefah (Front-End Team), Fernanda Ponce (Content Team), Nicole Maria Mateo (Audio Team).KSB was a TOP 10 FINALIST for NPR’s 2021 College Podcast Competition! Check out our entry “PWI-ing While Black” on SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-306628760/pwi-ing-while-black Kinda Sorta Brown is a University of Chicago Public Policy Podcast, as shown here: https://www.uc3p.org/kindasortabrown

In this episode we sit down with Justin Cooper, a prominent advocate for disabilities rights in the state of Illinois. In this discussion, we talk about the Community Emergency Services and Support Act (CESSA), a potential state bill that would offer an alternative emergency response system for mental or behavioral emergencies to disabled Illinoisans. We cover a broad range of topics including many of the myths surrounding this bill, the history of how it came to be, and how it may benefit Illinoisans. Justin also describes some of his other efforts to improve the rights of disability community. A little bit of background about Justin - Justin has worked together with Access Living since 2014, an organization whose mission statement includes "...igniting disability power and pride, providing critical services, and breaking down systemic barriers to create a stronger, more inclusive society." As part of his work with Access Living, Justin is the president of the Young Professionals Council (YPC). This group is comprised of multiple disciplines (including healthcare providers, lawyers, architects, and more) and whose goals includes utilizing professional networks to advocate and support the disability community. Justin is also heavily involved with Advance Your Leadership Power, a group whose focus is on combating racial inequalities. For more information on many of these topics please see the links below: CESSA: https://www.accessliving.org/defending-our-rights/racial-justice/community-emergency-services-and-support-act-cessa/ CESSA Virtual Lobbying Week: https://www.accessliving.org/get-involved/join-a-community-organizing-group/advance-your-leadership-power/cessa-virtual-lobbying-week/ YPC: https://www.accessliving.org/get-involved/young-professionals-council-ypc/ YPC Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/AccessLivingYoungProfessionalsCouncil YPC IG Page: @ypcalchicago Justin's IG Page: @mrcooper82

Walk, Listen, and Learn with Adam Ballard and me. In episode 9, we'll talk about housing justice and its importance to helping people live independently. We'll also explore the supports for accessible and integrated housing. Adam Ballard is the Housing and Transportation Policy Analyst for Access Living. Adam's work focuses on developing legislative policy priorities and messaging around housing, transportation, and related planning issues. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/ltgovstratton/message

Joyce welcomes Karen Tamley, president and CEO of Access Living to the show. Access Living serves the city of Chicago Its staff work alongside people with many disabilities including intellectual, psychiatric, physical and sensory disabilities. All programs and services revolve around one central belief - that people with disabilities have the right to live the lives they choose for themselves, in an accessible, integrated world. Ms. Tamley will discuss those programs and services and how the organization is addressing the needs of the disability community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nicole Kelly and Sarah Tuberty invite Candace Coleman, from Access Living, to discuss the intersection between race and disability. People are complex beings, and do not simply identify with one category. How does race impact disability? How does disability impact race? Do people who live in one community have to give up their identity when they enter another community? Find out more on this week's episode!

Nicole Kelly and Sarah Tuberty invite Adam Ballard, from Access Living, to discuss the founding Fathers and Mothers of the Disability movement in the US and the policies generated to help create poistive social change. What policies have been created? Why did they take so long to be inacted? And what powerful demonstrations were conducted that we are not learning about in grade school history books?

On this week’s Indivisible Chicago Podcast, Tom Moss talks with Amber Smock, Director of Advocacy at Access Living, about the ongoing civil rights fight for people with disabilities. Also, Brian Hess, executive director of the Sports Fans Coalition joins to talk about how the Sinclair Broadcast Group takeover of local media affects sports coverage. Subscribe on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts. Or listen at indivisiblechicago.com/podcast.

When you think of health inequities our visions are not automatically brought to a person in a wheelchair, but people with disabilities experience many barriers to care, are often living on public aid, and have - as you might imagine - general issues maneuvering - at times - an inaccessible world. Being one of the first ten centers for independent living established in the country, Access Living's model includes over half of the board and the staff as people with disabilities. Nothing about us, without us.

Joyce welcomes Marca Bristo, President and CEO of Access Living in Chicago, Illinois. Discussed on the show will be her duties as President and CEO of Access Living, Chicago and her reflections on President Obama signing the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities on July 24, 2009, at the White House.