Podcasts about disability inclusion

Nina and Alexandra celebrate some positive news from the Romanian and Polish elections over the weekend before updating listeners on US-brokered negotiations with Russia and Ukraine. They also discuss revelations of forgery in a shady business dealing involving Trump's son-in-law in Serbia and new efforts by the ruling party to undermine the opposition in Georgia. Alexandra then interviews Dilmurad Yusupov, an independent researcher and disability rights activist from Uzbekistan. They talk about what disability inclusion means, the state of disability rights in Uzbekistan compared to the rest of the region, and the challenges that civic groups like Dilmurad's face in promoting disability rights in the country.You can check out his organization, Sharoit Plus here: https://sharoitplus.uz/ And, Russian and Uzbek speakers can listen to Dilmurad's podcast, Inclusive Talk, here: Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/ds4DsaVESpotify: https://lnkd.in/d9mFtwUhYandex Music: https://lnkd.in/e8GV5XEqYouTube: https://lnkd.in/ewCXPiAzSupport Talk Eastern Europe: www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope

In this podcast episode, host Michelle Frechette interviews Ryan Bracey, co-organizer of WordPress Accessibility Day and director of web development at Second Melody, discusses the upcoming event with Michelle. Ryan, who has been involved with the event for four years, shares insights on the speaker application process, event format, and accessibility features. The event, a 24-hour global virtual conference, aims to feature diverse speakers and will include pre-recorded talks followed by live Q&A sessions. The host and Ryan emphasize the importance of accessibility in web development and encourage listeners to apply as speakers.Top Takeaways:Call for Speakers Now Open: WP Accessibility Day 2025 is currently accepting speaker submissions for its global, 24-hour virtual conference, scheduled for October 15th, 2025. The event focuses on accessibility within the WordPress ecosystem and is seeking approximately 75 proposals to fill 23 speaker slots plus one keynote. Submissions are open through May 26th. Organizers are especially encouraging talks from individuals with lived experiences of disability and welcome a wide range of accessibility-related topics.New Format: Pre-Recorded Talks with Live Q&A: This year, the event introduces a new structure featuring pre-recorded presentations followed by live Q&A sessions. This format offers greater flexibility for speakers while ensuring a more stable and inclusive experience for attendees. In appreciation of their time and expertise, speakers will receive a $300 honorarium.Commitment to Accessibility and Inclusion: Accessibility is at the core of WP Accessibility Day. The event will include live captioning and American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation to ensure it is accessible to a global audience. To support diversity and fairness, speaker applications are reviewed anonymously. The organizers are especially encouraging submissions from individuals in underrepresented regions and communities. Proposals promoting overlays or superficial fixes that do not adhere to true accessibility standards will not be considered.Mentioned in the Show:WordPress Accessibility DaySecond Melody

Sarah Guise speaks to Renee Heaton, Chair of the ACT disability reference group about the new Disability Inclusion Act in the ACT.

Dr. Kelly Tzoumis, professor emeritus at DePaul University and lecturer at Johns Hopkins, discusses virtual exchange programs that make global learning accessible to students with disabilities. These innovative approaches embed intercultural experiences directly into curriculum, overcoming barriers of cost and physical accessibility while building crucial competencies.• Virtual exchange goes beyond video calls—students are prepared to interact across cultures before meeting peers• Less than 10% of students can afford traditional study abroad, making virtual exchange a more inclusive alternative • Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide framework for global learning beyond just environmental topics• Students develop empathy when working across language barriers with international peers• Generational shifts in disability language reflect changing views of disability as identity• Research shows virtual exchanges improve student mental health through developing resilience• Students with disabilities demonstrate extraordinary capabilities when given appropriate accommodations• Disclosure remains a major challenge in higher education—less than half of disabled students formally identify• Creative accommodations should involve the learner as an active partner in finding solutions• As world polarization increases, virtual exchange becomes even more vital for intercultural understandingFind Dr. Tzoumis's book "Global Learning and the SDGs Through Virtual Exchange" through Springer Nature Press, with a follow-up focused on discipline-specific applications coming soon.Support the showFollow axschat on social media.Bluesky:Antonio https://bsky.app/profile/akwyz.com Debra https://bsky.app/profile/debraruh.bsky.social Neil https://bsky.app/profile/neilmilliken.bsky.social axschat https://bsky.app/profile/axschat.bsky.social LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/antoniovieirasantos/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/axschat/Vimeohttps://vimeo.com/akwyzhttps://twitter.com/axschathttps://twitter.com/AkwyZhttps://twitter.com/neilmillikenhttps://twitter.com/debraruh

The curtain rises on another powerful episode, spotlighting incredible stories and inspiring voices in the world of disability inclusion.

In this episode of IDD Health Matters, Dr. Craig Escudé sits down with Dr. Alice Bacherini, a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Perugia in Italy, to explore how psychological research is helping dismantle biases in healthcare for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Dr. Bacherini discusses her groundbreaking work developing tools to measure erroneous assumptions and self-efficacy among physicians when treating individuals with IDD. Together, they dive into how clinician attitudes impact health equity, the role of social dominance orientation in perpetuating stereotypes, and why direct interaction and inclusive communication are essential to better care outcomes. Tune in to hear why IDD-specific training—especially hands-on experiences—can shift perspectives and improve quality of care. Dr. Bacherini also shares where to find her published scale, the Beliefs About Adults with ID (BAAID), and her three key pieces of advice for creating a more inclusive healthcare system. Learn more at: replacingrisk.com Career opportunities with Friends for Life: friendsforliferc.com

In this episode of IDD Health Matters, Dr. Craig Escudé sits down with Dr. Alice Bacherini, a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Perugia in Italy, to explore how psychological research is helping dismantle biases in healthcare for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Dr. Bacherini discusses her groundbreaking work developing tools to measure erroneous assumptions and self-efficacy among physicians when treating individuals with IDD. Together, they dive into how clinician attitudes impact health equity, the role of social dominance orientation in perpetuating stereotypes, and why direct interaction and inclusive communication are essential to better care outcomes. Tune in to hear why IDD-specific training—especially hands-on experiences—can shift perspectives and improve quality of care. Dr. Bacherini also shares where to find her published scale, the Beliefs About Adults with ID (BAAID), and her three key pieces of advice for creating a more inclusive healthcare system. Learn more at: replacingrisk.com Career opportunities with Friends for Life: friendsforliferc.com

Struggling to make your business more inclusive? In this episode of Play Big Faster, accessibility expert Angela Fowler reveals how businesses can tap into the $2.1 trillion buying power of people with disabilities.  Angela shares her unique perspective as a blind business owner who focuses on opportunity rather than compliance. You'll learn: how designing for accessibility creates better experiences for everyone, simple cost-effective solutions to implement immediately, and why 25% of Americans have some form of disability—many invisible. Perfect for entrepreneurs seeking untapped market opportunities.  Angela's coaching approach transforms business mindsets instead of just fixing technical issues, building lasting accessibility practices that boost customer loyalty and reduce cart abandonment. Listen now to unlock profitable inclusion strategies that benefit all customers.

We're back with more incredible stories and inspiring voices in the world of disability inclusion.

CripChat Australia is produced and delivered by Australian Disability​, it aims to educate, entertain and inform the community how they can help us create a more accessible and inclusive society for people with disabilities, their friends, and family.Hosted by Jonathan Shar, David Daoud and Ibby DeeWe're for a Fair, Dignified and Equal Society for All People with Disabilities

Dr. Steve Grcevich sits down with Melissa Ortiz to discuss her history with disability & advocacy, physician assisted suicide, along with what she will be sharing at Disability and the Church Conference. Find the full Show-Notes here.

Millette Granville (she/her), Founder of SpeakMG Consulting, joins me to recap the latest 5 Things (good vibes in DEI) in just 15 minutes. This week, we're talking about land back in action, breaking barriers at the top, sisterhood over scrambled eggs, Delta's secret DEI ingredient, and what it really means to be “driving while understood.Here are this week's good vibes:Giving the Land BackShattering Stereotypes, Steering a NationScrambled Eggs & SisterhoodDelta's Secret SauceDriving While UnderstoodGood Vibes to Go: The Trans Rights Readathon happened recently: “We are calling on the reader community to read and uplift books written by and/or featuring trans, nonbinary, 2Spirit, and gender-nonconforming authors and characters.” Sign up to check out the resources here. Millette's GVTG: All of us have the power to impact change. Find YOUR place, within your power, to help make a change. “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” -Mahatma Gandhi Connect with Millette Granville.Read the Stories.Subscribe to the 5 Things newsletter.Watch the show on YouTube. Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

In this episode, host Justice Shorter welcomes Jalyn Radziminski (Founder of Count US IN) and Henry Claypool.The podcast discusses the potential impacts of proposed cuts to Medicare and Medicaid services on people with disabilities in the United States. Medicaid cuts of $880 billion could significantly impact eligibility, services, and access to community-based living for people with disabilities. This threatens hard-won gains in deinstitutionalization and community integration. Closure of Social Security Administration offices and staffing cuts will exacerbate delays and denials of disability benefits, especially for those in rural areas who rely on in-person access. Increased government surveillance and scrutiny of disability program data raises concerns about privacy, discrimination, and distrust in accessing essential healthcare services. The disability community has a long history of advocacy and legal battles to secure rights and access, from the Rehabilitation Act to the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Olmstead decision. This legacy must guide future efforts to protect Medicaid and Medicare. Disability advocates and organizers need increased funding and support to effectively push back against harmful policy changes and center the perspectives of marginalized communities within the disability movement.Our podcast theme music is by Andre Louis and Precious Perez. Thank you to Recording Artists And Music Professionals With Disabilities (RAMPD) for connecting these talented disabled musicians with the Disability & Philanthropy Forum.

Tune in to hear from Scott Ford, camp director of Michigan Blind Athletic Association's Sports camp! Give it a listen and be sure to visit https://buff.ly/sgpc3k2 for more information and camp registration!

Christ Davies is joined by Sophie Iverson. Sophie currently works as an Options Counselor at the Disability Hub MN and provides information and referrals to callers and families navigating the disability community and state agencies. With over 10 years of disability advocacy and lived experience, Sophie also founded Access 2 Advocacy LLC with a hope to share her passion for empowering others to feel confident advocating for disability policy important to them.

In this enlightening episode of One Vision, we chat with Joanne Dewar, a trailblazer for disability inclusion in FinTech. Jo shares her journey, starting from her pivotal work at Global Processing Services (GPS), to the inception of Project Nemo—a groundbreaking initiative empowering disability inclusion across the FinTech industry. Insights cover the essential role of assistive technologies, the journey to securing broad industry partnerships, and the real-world impact on bringing systemic change within the financial sector. This is an empowering conversation that will leave you feeling a bit more positive about our challenging world.

In this enlightening episode of One Vision, we chat with Joanne Dewar, a trailblazer for disability inclusion in FinTech. Jo shares her journey, starting from her pivotal work at Global Processing Services (GPS), to the inception of Project Nemo—a groundbreaking initiative empowering disability inclusion across the FinTech industry. Insights cover the essential role of assistive technologies, the journey to securing broad industry partnerships, and the real-world impact on bringing systemic change within the financial sector. This is an empowering conversation that will leave you feeling a bit more positive about our challenging world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Felton Keith, CEO at InclusionScore and I recap the latest 5 Things (good vibes in DEI) in just 15 minutes. This week, we're talking about groundbreaking firsts at the Oscars,  the rise of women-led boardrooms, Peppa Pig, and more!Here are this week's good vibes:Oscar Gold for Emerald City ThreadsBanking on Women, Leading with ImpactPeppa Pig Gets Accessibility RightAll Paths to Parenthood Deserve SupportCrowning a New Era of InclusionGood Vibes to Go: Bernadette's GVTG: This Women's History Month, a shout out to Karen Catlin who will send you actionable tips to be a better ally at work—straight to your inbox. Subscribe now at BetterAllies.comJames's GVTG: Find the joyful moments every day, not just "work through it" but "joy through it", like the late John Lewis did. Read the Stories.Connect with James Felton KeithSubscribe to the 5 Things newsletter.Watch the show on YouTube. Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Best Buddies: Champions of Disability Inclusion with Anthony Kennedy Shriver In this episode of ‘Pushing Forward with Alycia,' Alycia welcomes Anthony Kennedy Shriver, the founder, chairman, and CEO of Best Buddies International, to honor Best Buddies Month and Spread the Word Day. They discuss the harmful use of the ‘R word,' the growth and impact of Best Buddies since its establishment in 1989, and Anthony's personal inspirations from his family, including his mother, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, and his aunt, Rosemary Kennedy. The conversation highlights the importance of employment, social connections, leadership, and inclusive living for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Anthony emphasizes the cultural shift towards inclusion, the powerful role of companies in creating inclusive environments, and Best Buddies' various initiatives, including employment programs, leadership training, and the exciting new launch of a dating app in collaboration with Bumble for people with special abilities. Themes That Shaped the Conversation  The True Spirit of America

CripChat Australia is produced and delivered by Australian Disability​, it aims to educate, entertain and inform the community how they can help us create a more accessible and inclusive society for people with disabilities, their friends, and family.Hosted by Jonathan Shar, David Daoud and Ibby Dee with special guest Catlin BianchWe're for a Fair, Dignified and Equal Society for All People with Disabilities

One of the many causes of February is Jewish Disability Inclusion and Awareness Month. We hear part of a conversation Blaise Bryant had with Melanie Hecker, who shares her story about barriers she faced as a jewish disabled person and how she overcame them. You can hear the full conversation on the Blaisin' Access Podcast, available on your favorite podcast platform.

February is Jewish Disability Inclusion and Awareness Month. Blaise talks with Melanie Hecker about the barriers she faced as a person with invisible disabilities and how she overcame them. What stood out to you from their chat? Share your thoughts on Facebook @blaisinshows. Make sure you rate, review, subscribe, and share the show! Here's the calendar with all the Jewish holidays! https://www.chabad.org/holidays/default_cdo/jewish/holidays. htm?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=BL-Holidays-Jewish-Holidays&utm_term=jewish%20holidays&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAwtu9BhC8ARIsAI9JHandjfgV9Oqwt96sLy8LTvLeuLSbLgBwQY6XV5bUzTIA_RKv7Oh_7t8aAksfEALw_wcB Support Blaisin' Access Podcast by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/blaisin-access-podcast Send us your feedback online: https://pinecast.com/feedback/blaisin-access-podcast/7a2cacd6-ba2f-437f-bd6b-068d4c4bb2c8Read transcript

Thank you to the folks at Sustain (https://sustainoss.org/) for providing the hosting account for CHAOSSCast! CHAOSScast – Episode 104 In this episode of CHAOSScast, join our host Harmony along with guests Winifred Young and Oluchi Nwankwo as they dive into their journeys and experiences in the open source community. They discuss their first encounters with open source, their contributions, and the impacts they've made within CHAOSS Africa. They also highlight the importance of effective onboarding, clear documentation, and the need for better marketing strategies in open source communities. Press download to hear more! [00:00:24] Winifred and Oluchi introduce themselves and tell us what they do. [00:01:55] Winifred recounts her initial confusion about open source and her eventual engagement through programs like Google Summer of Code. [00:02:53] Oluchi describes her introduction to open source during a coding bootcamp and meeting Ruth Ikegah, community lead at CHAOSS Africa. [00:04:52] Oluchi talks about her slow start and eventual active involvement in the CHAOSS Africa community through managing social media. [00:06:50] Winifred shares her struggles with joining the community due to her mobility issues and how she became more involved through attending community meetings. [00:09:28] Harmony highlights the importance of attending community meetings as a form of participation and praises newcomers' hangout for helping new members. [00:11:13] Oluchi reflects on her impactful experience managing CHAOSS Africa's conference communications in 2018. [00:13:07] Winifred discusses organizing an outreach event for the Disability-Inclusion team, emphasizing how open source has provided her with opportunities to lead and make a difference. [00:16:14] We end with a discussion on the areas for improvement in the community, like better documentation and increased visibility of projects through effective marketing. Value Adds (Picks) of the week: [00:19:50] Oluchi's pick is to make that switch and see yourself flourish. [00:20:23] Winifred's pick is to learn how your brain works and don't be shy to ask for help. [00:21:06] Harmony's pick is to just take the risk. Panelist: Harmony Elendu Guests: Oluchi Nwankwo Winifred Young Links: CHAOSS (https://chaoss.community/) CHAOSS Project X (https://twitter.com/chaossproj) CHAOSScast Podcast (https://podcast.chaoss.community/) podcast@chaoss.community (mailto:podcast@chaoss.community) Harmony Elendu X (https://x.com/ogaharmony) Harmony Elendu LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/harmonyelendu/) Oluchi Nwankwo X (https://x.com/oly_beke) Oluchi Nwankwo LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/oluchi-nwankwo/) Winifred Young X (https://x.com/ywes_) Winifred Young LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/winifred-young-00244a24b/) CHAOSS Project Africa X (https://x.com/chaoss_africa) CHAOSS-Africa GitHub (https://github.com/chaoss/chaoss-africa) Disability Outreach- Bridging Disability And Technology- CHAOSS Blog Post by Victoria Ottah and Winifred Young (https://chaoss.community/disability-outreach-bridging-disability-and-technology/) Special Guests: Oluchi Nwankwo and Winifred Young.

What does it mean to lead in weakness rather than strength? In this episode, Loren Richmond Jr. talks with Rev. Dr. Andrew Draper, co-author of Disabling Leadership: A Practical Theology for the Broken Body of Christ. Together, they explore how the church can redefine leadership away from power, charisma, and productivity toward humility, inclusion, and community-driven authority. Andrew shares insights from his work in disability theology, church leadership, and reconciliation, discussing how leadership must embrace human limitation and interdependence rather than seeking control or dominance. They also dive into the challenges of deconstruction and critical theory, why Christian nationalism and secular humanism are both flawed responses to uncertainty, and how churches can better align their practices with their values of inclusion. Rev. Dr. Andrew T. Draper is the Executive Director of Winebrenner Theological Seminary in Findlay, OH. He is also teaching pastor at Urban Light Community Church in Muncie, IN. He has authored numerous books and articles on race, disability, and the church. Dr. Draper holds a PhD in theological ethics from the University of Aberdeen and an MDiv from Winebrenner Theological Seminary.   Relevant Links: www.AndrewTDraper.com www.UrbanLightMuncie.com www.facebook.com/AndrewThomasDraper    Presenting Sponsor: Phillips Seminary Join conversations that expose you to new ideas, deepen your commitment and give insights to how we can minister in a changing world.  Supporting Sponsors: Restore Clergy If you are clergy in need of tailored, professional support to help you manage the demands of ministry, Restore Clergy is for you! Kokoro  Join in for heartfelt journeys that challenges the way we see ourselves, each other, and the world we share.   Future Christian Team: Loren Richmond Jr. – Host & Executive Producer Martha Tatarnic – Co-Host Paul Romig–Leavitt – Associate Producer Dennis Sanders – Producer Alexander Lang - Production Assistant  

Katrin Langensiepen, the only visibly disabled woman in the European Parliament, joins us to share her compelling journey toward disability inclusion in European politics. Discover how Katrin is pushing boundaries within the institution, advocating for rights and accessibility despite the hurdles. Her efforts to champion the European Disability Card illustrate her dedication to creating a more inclusive society, emphasizing the card's significance in improving access and recognition across member states.Uncover the economic potential of disability inclusion as we explore arguments for supporting independent living for people with disabilities. By making necessary adjustments, there's a promise of economic gains through increased tax returns and diminished reliance on government services. However, without robust methodologies in research, driving change remains a challenge. The episode also highlights the importance of solidarity within the disability community and the power of intersectionality, drawing parallels with other rights movements.Media narratives play a critical role in shaping perceptions of marginalized groups. We'll examine how systemic barriers and negative portrayals hinder education and visibility for people with disabilities. While social media offers a platform for connection, it's crucial for political parties and NGOs to step up and facilitate positive change. Through advocacy and media influence, we aim to raise awareness, challenge misconceptions, and drive forward the agenda for disability rights and representation. Join us as we discuss the ongoing struggle and the importance of continued dialogue and activism.Support the showFollow axschat on social media.Bluesky:Antonio https://bsky.app/profile/akwyz.com Debra https://bsky.app/profile/debraruh.bsky.social Neil https://bsky.app/profile/neilmilliken.bsky.social axschat https://bsky.app/profile/axschat.bsky.social LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/antoniovieirasantos/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/axschat/Vimeohttps://vimeo.com/akwyzhttps://twitter.com/axschathttps://twitter.com/AkwyZhttps://twitter.com/neilmillikenhttps://twitter.com/debraruh

Every church should be open to everyone who wants to attend. So, we need to be more purposeful about making sure we're not unintentionally denying access without realizing it.Barbara Stanley oversees Wonderful Works Ministry, which equips churches to serve families affected by disability. They have a large and growing set of resources to help churches of all types.Karl Vaters talks with Barb about a variety of subjects, including:Why disability inclusion mattersHow to come alongside families who are affected by disabilityHow every church can take some simple first steps toward disability inclusionHow to deal with some of the changing language around disability Links:Wonderful Works MinistryPodcast: Wonderful Works TalksThere is no bonus material for this episode.

This episode explores the vital role of accessibility in fintech, highlighting efforts made by industry leaders to create inclusive financial solutions for individuals with disabilities. Through personal stories and expert insights, the discussion underscores the importance of understanding unique user needs and fosters a call to action for the industry to innovate and collaborate towards meaningful change.• Kathryn Townsend discusses her dual role in promoting accessibility • Emphasis on the importance of language in shaping perceptions of disability • Addressing the specific needs of deaf consumers in financial services • Project Nemo's focus on amplifying the voices of individuals with learning disabilities • Insights from Mark and Emily on navigating finance with learning disabilities • The Fintech Fringe Innovation Challenge aims to foster innovative solutions • Urgent call for the fintech community to prioritize disability inclusionSupport the showFollow axschat on social media.Bluesky:Antonio https://bsky.app/profile/akwyz.com Debra https://bsky.app/profile/debraruh.bsky.social Neil https://bsky.app/profile/neilmilliken.bsky.social axschat https://bsky.app/profile/axschat.bsky.social LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/antoniovieirasantos/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/axschat/Vimeohttps://vimeo.com/akwyzhttps://twitter.com/axschathttps://twitter.com/AkwyZhttps://twitter.com/neilmillikenhttps://twitter.com/debraruh

This episode I want you to meet Acen Kevin from Northern Uganda. Acen is unstoppable and remarkable in many ways. She grew up an orphan in Uganda and experienced many hardships and challenges working to seek an education. She discovered the power of community and persevered with the help and support of others. She secured a degree in Accounting and Finance and works in that field part time.   In 2021, Acen founded Itinga Charity Education Foundation, (ICEF) to sponsor and help children with disabilities and other disadvantaged children to get some of the breaks she received when seeking an education. She will tell us some of the stories of students who began with little or no hope and whose families also had no faith that their children could ever be successful. However, with the help of ICEF many children already have experienced life-changing attitudes and are getting the education they deserve. Wait until you hear the story about the blind magistrate who received assistance from ICEF and who now is well respected and has not lost a case.   It is always so rewarding to be able to talk with someone like Acen Kevin who just doesn't talk a good line, but who also proves daily that she lives and walks the walk she wishes for others to do.       About the Guest:   Acen Kevin is the Founder and Executive Director of Itinga Charity Education Foundation (ICEF), a non-profit NGO based in Uganda. With a strong commitment to advancing the education of disadvantaged children and youth in Northern Uganda, Acen has established ICEF to provide scholarships, grants, and essential educational resources to schools and children in need.   A dedicated disability inclusion advocate, Acen's work with ICEF focuses on empowering blind children through education. By championing inclusive education, Her non profit NGO is working in Partnership with Imara-Uganda Education Fund UK  to fund the  construction of an inclusive secondary school in Northern Uganda that is already providing  inclusive education to both abled and disabled students, fostering a supportive and accessible learning environment for all.   In addition to her impactful work in the non-profit sector, Acen Kevin is also a finance and accounting professional, holding a degree in Accounting and Finance from Metropolitan International University (MIU). Her diverse skill set includes proficiency in computerized accounting tools such as QuickBooks and Excel, as well as experience in financial reporting, budgeting, and internal controls.   Outside of her role at ICEF, Acen is a talented filmmaker and actress in Uganda, using her creative talents to raise awareness and advocate for social change. She is a line producer of  CLUBFOOT movie that is creating awareness  and  remedies to clubfoot. Disability through clubfoot can  only be avoided at early childhood. Acen also  featured on  the Wave movie and  TV series Senkyu boss among others.   Acen Kevin is a selfless philanthropist who continues to make a positive impact in her community and beyond.   Ways to connect with Nick:   REACH OUT TO ITINGA CHARITY EDUCATION FOUNDATION (ICEF) ON THE WEBSITE  https://icef-itinga.org   LINKEDIN  https://www.linkedin.com/in/acen-kevin-daniela-336386281?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=android_app   FACEBOOK  https://www.facebook.com/Itinga.org   WHATSAPP   +256 705 100 34 For inquiries or collaboration opportunities, please contact Acen Kevin  (Daniela) at: Telephone: +256 772 003 460. Email: kevin.abtmail@gmail.com, kevin@icef-itinga.org     About the Host:   Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog.   Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards.   https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/   accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/   https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/       Thanks for listening!   Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!   Subscribe to the podcast   If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can subscribe in your favorite podcast app. You can also support our podcast through our tip jar https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/unstoppable-mindset .   Leave us an Apple Podcasts review   Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.       Transcription Notes:   Michael Hingson ** 00:00 Access Cast and accessiBe Initiative presents Unstoppable Mindset. The podcast where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. Hi, I'm Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe and the author of the number one New York Times bestselling book, Thunder dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust. Thanks for joining me on my podcast as we explore our own blinding fears of inclusion unacceptance and our resistance to change. We will discover the idea that no matter the situation, or the people we encounter, our own fears, and prejudices often are our strongest barriers to moving forward. The unstoppable mindset podcast is sponsored by accessiBe, that's a c c e s s i capital B e. Visit www.accessibe.com to learn how you can make your website accessible for persons with disabilities. And to help make the internet fully inclusive by the year 2025. Glad you dropped by we're happy to meet you and to have you here with us.   Michael Hingson ** 01:21 Hi and welcome to unstoppable mindset. We're glad you're back with us again, and today we get to meet with Acen Kevin Danila. And it's actually Acen Kevin, and Danila is her middle name. She is the founder of ICEF, a charity in northern Uganda that helps children, disadvantaged children specifically. And I'm fascinated to hear about that and to learn more about what the charity does and and so on. But we're going to start by welcoming Acen to the podcast and learn a little bit about her. So Acen, I want to welcome you to unstoppable mindset. Thank you for taking the time.   Acen Kevin ** 02:05 Thank you so much, Michael. Thank you so much. And thanks for giving me the opportunity being the unstoppable mindset podcast. It's a great pleasure.   Michael Hingson ** 02:20 Well, why don't we start by you telling us a little bit about you growing up and kind of the early Acen, if you will. Okay?   Acen Kevin ** 02:31 My story growing up has not been easy in terms of education. I struggled so much through education being unopened, I really did not have anybody to support me through education, but like the sales goes that people are stronger when you're together. So I had really so many people who supported me through education. I was sponsored by five different individuals, people, including an organization in Mara Uganda education. So you can imagine that it has really been a struggle, and that is one of the reason why I decided to give back to the community to see that children who were in the situation that I was, or even was, children that are traveling through education, they can get education. So life has not been really so easy as far as education is concerned. For me,   Michael Hingson ** 03:47 one of the things that you do with the foundation, and we'll get to the foundation, but you do a lot of work with children with disabilities. Did you or do you have a disability?   Acen Kevin ** 03:57 No, no, I don't have any disability at all. Okay, yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 04:04 but that's just one of the areas that you decided that you wanted to work with. So did you? You went to you went to school, and you said education was hard, I assume, because just the normal pressures of being an orphan and and just having to do all the things that you had to do growing up, right? Yes, so   Acen Kevin ** 04:24 I really decided to support disability inclusions, support inclusive education, to sponsor children and youth who are blind and those with low vision, not because I have any disability, but because in my community, I see two sides. I see those ones who are empowered, and those one who I educated, and they have the skills they do better. Lacher than the somebody who is blind and is not empowered. Normally, they turn into begging on streets, and they say, they say to start to look at them like a burden in the society. So I, through my charity, and it is what we are doing now, we want to empower them so that they can reach their full potentials, they can be able to earn a living through the skills they get through education. And I am inspired by the blind people who are educated and they are empowered. One of them is the majesty grade one judge who is also from my community is a lawyer. Sorry, it is that is the inspiration I am inspired by people like you. So I want really many people with the disability to get because chance education, yeah, thank you.   Michael Hingson ** 06:05 So did you? Did you go to college? Yes,   Acen Kevin ** 06:10 yes, I have a degree in accounting and finance. Well,   Michael Hingson ** 06:14 that's a little bit different from starting a charity or a foundation, it would seem, but you you got your degree in finance and accounting. Did you do anything directly with that? Did you have any earlier jobs in accounting and finance, or did you decide immediately that you wanted to start the foundation,   Acen Kevin ** 06:37 um, with my career in a degree in accounting and finance. I do practice that as well. Even in the NGO, it really helped me to do good accounting taxation. So I still use the same skill to run the strategy, and I practice that before. Yes, accounting and finance. So it has really helped, helped me, yes. So   Michael Hingson ** 07:07 tell us a little bit about if you would the foundation, the name of it, and where the name came from, and how you started it. Yes.   Acen Kevin ** 07:18 Eating a charity. Education Foundation is a non profit organization that advanced education of disadvantaged children in northern Uganda through provision of scholarships, materials, school supplies and facilities for education. The word eating is the local law language, which means you lift me. So it symbolizes lifting up children out of poverty through education. So eating means you lift me.   Michael Hingson ** 07:53 Atinga means you lift me. Okay, I understand that, which is a very clever name and very accurate.   Acen Kevin ** 08:04 We focus mainly on disability inclusion and empowering the blind and youth to reach their full potentials.   Michael Hingson ** 08:11 When did you start the foundation?   Acen Kevin ** 08:15 The foundations, uh, started in 2021   Michael Hingson ** 08:19 so it's fairly new. So it's been, sorry I say it's fairly new. It's been around three years. Yes,   Acen Kevin ** 08:26 yes, for three years, yes, but we're already making great impact.   Michael Hingson ** 08:32 Well, tell me a little bit about that. Tell me if you could about maybe some of the the people you've helped some of their stories, a little bit, if you would,   Acen Kevin ** 08:43 the children that we are supporting,   Michael Hingson ** 08:45 yeah, a little bit about them, kind of what successes you have.   Acen Kevin ** 08:51 Okay, so, as I said earlier on, that the organization sponsor children through Award Scholarship for education. So the children that we are having and our scholarship programs are children that are really needy, and they are coming from very poor background, so we provide them with full scholarship, and they we educate them right from primary level, secondary level, up to university, then terza institution and vocational depending on the capability of the child. But those children, they are these families that stand out. They they all have different, different stories. Like, for example, we have two families that has many children. They have many children with who are blind. There's one family that have seven children, and of the seven. Children. Four were born completely blind. So in 2019 we started sponsoring one of them. Then this year, we got a sponsor who offered to sponsor a child and is sponsoring one. So so far in that family, we are helping two children, and they it is hard. Life is hard for them, as they are facing farmers and having to take care of the poor, totally blind children and then the rest the seven children all in the family. We also have similar family. There's a family we are supporting now, one girl who is studying in the new school that we have the inclusive schools, and Mary Goretti is the akulo. Akulo comes from a family of nine. There are nine children, but out of the nine, four were born blind, and she she did not really get a chance to study in an inclusive school during our primary. So one of our brother, the elder brother, who is also blind, dropped out of school already, and even her, she had already dropped out of school when our organization was told about her, so we had to pick her, and now she's studying well and learning braille, and she's already in senior one this year. We have met different children with different who are from very poor background. We have one boy that we have been sponsoring. He's already now in senior two. We started sponsoring him right from primary five. He comes from a child headed family. The first time I went to that family was in 2020, 2021, when we started the charity, I shed tears because we could see the grave of the Mother, the Father. And there are these three young boys. They have to take care of themselves. They have to farm to eat. So it's really, it's really very difficult for them, and it makes my I feel happy now to see that the boy we talk is doing well and he studies so he can bless the family in future so many of those children who have the potentials. So in our charity, we are not always sponsoring, the children who are blind, others with low vision. We sponsor all categories of children. However, we have inclusion. So we include everybody. We have those ones who are learn that we are sponsoring. We have those one with without any physical challenge that we are also sponsoring.   Michael Hingson ** 13:05 Now, when you say you're sponsoring, you you actually have to contribute to or pay for their education. There isn't public funding available for that. Or how does the process work? When   Acen Kevin ** 13:16 we say we are sponsoring, normally, we we don't really have, like, funding grade available. So we keep on donations that come the general donation. And then we also have sponsor child program where we have an individual people, ah, saying that I want to sponsor a child, and we have them sponsoring each children and our charity. So what is the audience not available? We keep on fund raising. We keep on looking for donation for that. And beside the scholarship program, we also provide materials for education, materials like the Braille machines, the Braille papers to inclusive schools for the blind, and we also provide textbooks to other schools that are not inclusive school. So we provide all those materials which are needed for education,   Michael Hingson ** 14:20 and that's because the traditional schools really don't have the resources to get those materials themselves.   Acen Kevin ** 14:26 Yes, yes.   Michael Hingson ** 14:30 So itinga does that. It provides those materials and gives the support to essentially make for more of an equal education for children with disabilities and others who need your support.   Acen Kevin ** 14:48 Yes, yes, we we do that. We do that. We make sure. Because, like, say, for one example, in Laos, up region. Where our office is located, you find that there's only one two schools which are giving inclusive education to the blind, and those schools you may go there, they have only two brains that are being shared by teachers and children. So we try to support such schools. Then still in Uganda, you will be surprised if you come here that we still have children that study under the tree, that write down on the on the floor. They write down without men, without books. So we also give school supplies when everybody children facili also give like this, provide this, provide computer so that is under materials for education.   Michael Hingson ** 15:54 So I don't know whether this is an easy question to answer. So what does it cost to sponsor a child, maybe for a year in school?   Acen Kevin ** 16:05 What it cost to sponsor a child for a year in school? Um, now it depends, but normally when the we are to Award Scholarship, we normally start from primary school. So that's you. You really say it's a hard question, because it varies. First of all, it depends on the school where the child is going, because every school has different fee structures. And then it also depends on the on the level, level of education of that child, if the child is in secondary school, like in Saint Mary's already right now, those who are sponsoring the child there, I it cost, ah, around that is six, 606 188,000 to sponsor a Child per town, so in a year, it's about two two millions Uganda shilling. And that can be how much in   Acen Kevin ** 17:08 ah, that can be around 600 pounds sports a child in a secondary school. So the lower level pays also lower the higher levels pays. So space.   Michael Hingson ** 17:23 Do you get a lot of resistance from the schools when you talk about, say, bringing a child with a disability into the school? Do they do they welcome? Or is there more resistance because they feel that that kind of a child is not going to be able to get the same level of education or be able to learn as well, or is it pretty welcoming?   Acen Kevin ** 17:49 It's not welcoming, not also the welcoming to children with disability, that is the path, and that is why I'm calling this other school, that inclusive school. So they are few schools that do that. So if you take a child when I was still volunteering with the Mara Uganda education plan as an administrator, before even a teenage charity, we had this one girl that had multiple disability and we took her to a school that was an inclusive so the girl was really performing poorly. Sometimes would even get 05 out of 100 because if she's seated outside under the tree, no one would bother if the bell rings, the rest are running to class. No one will care. But for the inclusive school, they have a system where a student, student, like a student, can help the fellow students. Somebody knows that, okay, he cannot see so I can help him if he's moving in a new environment. You cannot maybe climb here. It is not very accessible. Someone can help you push your wheelchair. So it is really hard. It's not really welcoming. If they allow you to study there, then sometime a child go there just to pass and they get a lot of, I don't know, people that discriminate, like, what are you studying for? You can't be anything you know people can discourage and you find that says children are not really happy, but when they are in a inclusive school, they are happy, and they really fit to the environment. They feel important, and they are able to study in that friendly environment and become very, very powerful people in the society.   Michael Hingson ** 19:55 Okay, I understand what, what made you. Decide to focus so much attention on disadvantaged children or children with disabilities, that had to be a a pretty challenging decision to make, knowing what you would have to face to make it, make it real. So what   Acen Kevin ** 20:17 made me to do that, or what made us to say that the charity should focus in disability inclusions and empowering, especially children who are who are blind and low vision, is because in my society, in my my my community, as I said earlier on, you would see the different in those one who managed to get education and those one who did not. It really hit me hard always when I moved in my town on the street of Kampala and I find somebody who is blind is begging on the street. No, somebody who is having a disability is begging. No. And for them, I feel like the person with disability should even be empowered more than somebody without disability, because if I don't have the disability, I can be able to at least do other things, and you know, but I you really need education, like the blind need education, because right now they are, they Are those assistive technology that help help them to do other things that they it would be hard to do so if you're not educated, it can really be very hard. So I believe that every child has deserved the right to really have education, irrespective of whether your ability, everybody should have education.   Michael Hingson ** 22:10 What kind of successes have you experienced so far, you said that you've sponsored children of all ages. So have you had any who were old enough that they've now finished school and gotten jobs or anything like that? Or do you have any examples of children who you have been able to sponsor, who've been able to show that they can learn like anyone else and become more accepted in their in their schools.   Acen Kevin ** 22:43 Yes, we have those children that already making us feel happy for what we are doing, because we really see how the charity is making an impact, is bringing changes to the life of children eating our charity, Education Foundation, is working in partnership with the Mara Uganda education plan. So a Mara Uganda education plan has been in Uganda, uh, working in Uganda for the last 10 years, since 211 and when we started the partnership in 2021, they entrusted the children that were already their scholarship to our charity. So those ones that were entrusted to us, they already we have those one that already completed their studies. We have been those ones who are already right now. They are teachers, they are midwife. We have been the one who already completed their diploma in clinical medicine, TiVo engineering we are having those one who have completed already like then we have the students after already doing their degree in education like they want to become teachers. So ready. The charity is changing life. And you see that the children who are from a very poor school in the village, because when we take you to sponsor education, we bring you to a school that provide quality education. So there's life change. Children that we took from primary, they already in secondary school, and they're performing extremely well. And with the children with disability for the last three years that we have worked, we have seen changes in them, like there's one girl joy. Joy is completely blind. When she first joined, she was not very confident, but now she's the one who represent all the blind children and low vision and our charity. She has been representing even other NGO outside. She has traveled outside the country to advocate people, people who are who are blind. So it's really very impressive to see our children, even when they are still standing. You see already the life change. You see a child that came when did not even know English at all, even the interview for scholarship we might have done in the local language, but now they speak English, so there's really a life change. And then with children with disability, one big thing that I also see even their families, their families that already they are they were not having support. They were not having love for such children. Some had already been locked then in the house like the people don't know that there's a child with disability in that family, but the moment we get that child and start sponsoring it, change the attitude of parents toward them. They start to say, okay, because they see how now the child is doing well, is being taken care of, so they also start now to support the love increase have seen. So the mindsets of parents are also changing to see them there. And normally we have programs that parents with children with disability meet together. So you find that they start to they start to see, okay, you are seeing you. Somebody who is blind is already a teacher in the school, is a social worker, is a lawyer. So it also gave them, because if somebody has been in the parents who has been deep in rural village, first of all, you started when some, some people even ask us, now, you want to sponsor this one? Don't you think, why don't you take my child? This one, who can see, hm, I've ever been asked that one, I think two parents did that. There's one who said, You take this one and they leave this one, but after they see how these children are catching up, you know? So it's motivating not only to the to the parents and also even the children. The children get to their mind, get to change. They get to know that they are value in the community. Yes, they can become anything they want, if they study, if they are empowered, so they really strive. But I'm so happy to see how this is making a big impact.   Michael Hingson ** 28:06 Well, I can, I can hear it in your voice. I mean, you're, you're clearly very happy and very proud of of the work that you're doing, and absolutely and you're obviously changing attitudes, which is important because we all face that, we face these attitudes, that we're less than other people, and it's so hard to get people to understand that, in fact, we're just as capable as anyone else.   Acen Kevin ** 28:35 Yes, yes, that much I've experienced it. That's very true. Very, very true.   Michael Hingson ** 28:46 So tell me a little bit more about the whole idea of inclusive secondary school project in northern Uganda, and what that is, and how you're involved with that.   Acen Kevin ** 29:02 Oh, yes, the inclusive secondary school in my in the there, there used to be no secondary school which is inclusive. There was no inclusive secondary school in the region, in the whole of Lao sub region in northern Uganda, where our office is created, there were no inclusive secondary school. There were only two inclusive primary school, and in those schools, children were dropping out of school every year, because when you complete your primary then you have nowhere to go. Reason being, the few inclusive schools that we have in Uganda, whole school for the blind, the inclusive school that provide the school that provide inclusive education to the blind, they are far, very, very far from us. And. You don't expect a parents who who is traveling and does not even have a smartphone to coordinate, to even get just admission to go to such school, live a long transport to go to a school which is verified another district in another sub region. Maybe take a child Kampala so shall parents would just giving give it up. And you find that every year these children are dropping out of school, ah, they start going back in the village. And we couldn't imagine it, because for me it's terrible if I imagine somebody who is lying and has no support, no love, no education, no skills to earn a living, I think life can really be very tough for them. So in last year, 2023, eating a charity, Education Foundation and a Mara Uganda education plan took action. We had to say, No, the charity, our charity, is very, very small, but for the love we have for the children, for the heart we have for charity who are like, what can we do? Should we get already exhibit school and we provide them with Braille equipment to support the student? What can we do? Will we manage to build but we started it with faith last year, and so far, we have finished page one of the construction project, which are eight classroom, eight classrooms, administrative offices and the reception. So right now, as I talk, I'm so happy to announce that the school pioneers already with senior one class, and the construction is still going on, but already senior one class is already starting. So next year we shall be having senior this one in senior two, while we had with senior one, then it will continue in senior four, the pioneers will be the first to see the final unit exams. So the school is called Saint Mary's Goretti Secondary School meta. It provide inclusive education to the blind, to those students with low vision. We have a student with celebral palsy. We having students who are learning we are having so it is providing inclusive education to both able and student with disability. And it is amazing. I don't know if you have seen my recent post on LinkedIn, we made a video clip showing how the students are studying together the inclusive classroom. It's amazing. They are studying together in one classroom, and everything is moving fine because they have special needs teachers around, and even those who are not specially teachers, they are learning now to to handle the students. So I'm really so so happy about this school and the initiative already the school, the school is providing not only education, even jobs, teachers who had completed school, they especially teachers, they were able to get jobs in the school The community around now that the construction is also ongoing, and we believe that this is a legacy. We believe that this school will continue for for many years, will be there for many years, to provide inclusive education to the children. I'm happy that the community has embraced it. The community is so happy about the school, Saint Mary's Gore to second with school. I'm being invited in local FM radio stations in northern Uganda many times to talk about the school, so that those those parents who have children with the disability who are not yet aware that already there's an inclusive second school they can to create awareness about the school. I'm happy that even those one who are working with government, they're already advocating they will be having some. Port. And just last town, Uganda Bible Society, they donated to the school the Braille the Braille Bible. We having other po that are donating to us, like the Braille machines. So school has started, and we are really so, so happy about that, and I would like to thank also our partner, Uganda education plan for allowing to support though we call upon everyone who would like to support us so that we can finish we complete the facilities of the school support may not only did the construction, but also equipment. We need those assistive devices. First of all, we have a few brails, and next year, we are expecting other lots of students. So it's impressive, and I'm so joyous every time I just two days ago, a parent who has a child with cerebral palsy, was giving me, telling me how she really struggled to look for schools. She even wanted to leave her job so that she can at least create something, a room to train the so that they see how to train those one their children with disability, because she looked for school, inclusive school, everywhere, she was even trying to call Education Board to ask, Where can I find the inclusive school? So in Uganda, the challenge we are having the secondary school which are inclusive are very, very few. It is more of primary when the child is still young. Yes, you can manage with your child with cerebral palsy, you can manage, but when the child now reach all ordinary level and advanced level, it is hard to find such a school. So this school is really a dream come true for me, for my community. Yes, have   Michael Hingson ** 37:10 any of the students, the older students in the school, gone on to get jobs? Sorry, have you had any any of the students who have been in in the inclusion environment or who have attended classes, have they graduated and gone on and gotten jobs yet? Or have you had that level of success?   Acen Kevin ** 37:35 Okay, yes, yes, I've had the level of success before. That is one of the motivation for like, for example, this where we have constructed this inclusive school, Saint Mary's, goreti. It's actually at next to the primaries to today, inclusive primary school, all net adults that has been providing inclusive education to to the blind for many years. So many students, many people who studied from net adults and go to opportunity, especially those one who are being sponsored by NGO or hard parents that could afford to take them far to study in an inclusive school, maybe in like in Kampala in iganga, they made it. They made it. And one of the all beings of that school, the old boy of Netta girls primary school made it. He studied law, yeah, he studied law from bucharebe, and he's, he's completely blind, but he was appointed as a grade one chief magistrate, so it's the court judge. Wow, very good. And he has never lost the case. In fact, when he was appointed, even up to now, he has inspired so many people, so many journalists interviewed him, and he can do, he is doing his work, which is really a great inspiration to all the those one who are applying and to all of us who are supporting disability inclusions and inclusive education. Uh huh. So we have. I've seen so many. I've seen those one who managed to become teachers. I've seen the those ones who are social workers, very many, and I'm the another example. If you Michael, I've seen your biography. Yes. So thank you. You all inspire us. Well   Michael Hingson ** 39:55 have so you talked about the the young man who became. A magistrate. How about girls? Have any girls gone on to get jobs yet?   Acen Kevin ** 40:06 Correct? Any   Michael Hingson ** 40:07 girls or women gone on to get jobs after going to the schools? Yes,   Acen Kevin ** 40:13 yes. I've seen many girls who become like they are doing managerial questions with NGOs, they are working. That's why I'm saying others are social workers. I've seen others who are teachers, and they are completely they're completely blind, and those one who are advocating, they're working with the organization for for disability to advocate for the rest get education,   Michael Hingson ** 40:46 but you do work with children other than children who are blind. It's not just blind children you work with. Yes, uh huh. Okay. Well, tell me, what has all of this taught you? I mean, this was a major I call it an adventure, but it was a major step to start this foundation and to do the work that you're doing. What have you learned from it?   Acen Kevin ** 41:12 What I've learned from it? Think I've learned that. I've learnt that everybody, like every child, can really do something like what I've learnt is I've seen, if I've seen how education can empower somebody to become great, because I've seen the children becoming sure having talent like recently, we have been we are performing in Paralympic blind football. So you can see the talent that children with disability have. Some of them are debaters or the two poems I've seen them watch. I've seen them play keyboard, play keyboard, become musicians. So it's really inspiring. I've learned a lot. I've learned that what I've learned working with children with disability, doing the work that we are doing with the charity. So I've learned that if we together, if we empowered and embraced accessibility, disability inclusions and inclusive education, we will create equitable society. And I've also learned that children or people with disability can do anything as long as they are empowered. So we would like to empower them to reach their full potential,   Michael Hingson ** 43:13 certainly a pretty important lesson to learn, and I'm glad you have and that you're able to pass that on to to other people? What would you give? What kind of advice would you give to young people who are looking to starting to think about making a difference in their own community? What kind of advice would you want to give them, and when they don't know where to start and so on.   Acen Kevin ** 43:45 Yes, I would advise them to first collaborate with like minded people, like minded people, and then they should also know charity, it really has a lot to do with the heart. So they should try to discover, is it really what they want? Because if you have a mind for business, and then you come with the charity, it may not work well for you. So do you have the heart to give back to the community, so I would advise that they should volunteer with maybe other angel PRI and learnt what happens with the charitable organization. How then if they can also do charity work? So there you keep learning. I, for one, I did not just wake up and start a with eating a charity. I also volunteer with the organization, and in my heart, I really wanted to. I. Really wanted to give back to the community. I wanted to at least sponsor one or two children, and I was praying that God, if you can give me a good job with good salary so that I can do that. But it so happened that I got the favor and the way out to operate, to to have the charity funded, which now it's now making me to more than I could imagine. I wouldn't have been able to sponsor many children that we are we are sponsoring now through the charity without just alone as an individual. So it really has got something to do with the heart. What is your heart? You have the you really, is it what you want to do? Because if you have a business mind, don't try it. So yes, those are the advice I can give to those who want to start the charity. It   Michael Hingson ** 45:59 is good to explore, which is something that you did. You volunteered. You, you thought about it before you really jumped in and started your own foundation. But you also clearly do work in business, because you have an accounting and finance degree. So do you actually have a full time accounting and finance job as well as doing the foundation,   Acen Kevin ** 46:24 no, both are part time accounting and finance doing part time. Then also in the organization, it is I get time to so that I can get time to work, and also my skills in accounting and finance. It has helped me to to run the charity, because we are able to comply to have the annual audited report done, to not have issues with taxations because of the skills. Uh, huh,   Michael Hingson ** 47:00 yes. Well, you, you have, you have been traveling on a pretty interesting and exciting journey. Can you maybe give me some stories, a personal story for you about what you've done and and about this journey that you're on and and how it's changed your life.   Acen Kevin ** 47:21 So my my personal journey, and how my, the life has changed. Um, it's about education, really. I think my mind is stuck to education, because, as I said, as I said it earlier on, I struggle so much through education, having being sponsored by many people because I was coming to my father died when I was young, And I could not manage really go through with education. I have personally dropped out of school at one time, so I understand how it feels for somebody to drop out of school. I've been out of school, so that's really my personal journey, and right now, having achieved what I wanted to achieve, like to have my degree, it's really great. It has changed my life, and I want every, every one that we support, that are struggling, the children, to also experience this life change. And I'm happy for those who already experiencing the life change.   Michael Hingson ** 48:55 Yes, which is great. What are your plans going forward? What do you see is coming next?   Acen Kevin ** 49:04 My plan going forward, I would really want to continue advocating on disability inclusions for accessibility, to make sure that everyone is treated equal, irrespective or regardless of your abilities. So I I see myself, or I see eating a child education foundation, together with the marriage Uganda Education Fund and other partners that will come on board. We see ourselves pushing higher and higher i i come from a community where very many people are illiterate. They want to see that many people have education. They are, they are. Able to, you know, to earn a living by themselves, to support others. So yes, and we also hope to complete the construction of Saint Mary's Goretti, so that we have also this, the inclusive school going that can help the children from all level to a level, senior one to senior six. Well,   Michael Hingson ** 50:31 let me ask you this, if I might um, what? What would you like? What would you like the people who are listening to our podcast today. What would you like them to learn? And what kind of message do you want them to take away from this?   Acen Kevin ** 50:48 Yes, to those who are watching us, to those who are listening to the podcast right now. I I would like them to to know that every child, irregardless of their ability, they have the potential to learn. When they are empowered, they can learn so I call upon all of them. I call upon everybody who is listening to to us right now that they should contact eating a church Education Foundation, or a marriage a Mara Uganda education plan. How there's our website on the bio below, you can support us by through donation, we call upon other organization to partner with us, because together, we can achieve together we can create a critical society. Together we can support disability inclusions. Let's support disability inclusion. Let's support the children. So yes, that is what I would like them to do to help us and the child. We also have a child program.   Michael Hingson ** 52:15 Well, if people want to reach out, how do they do that? When   Acen Kevin ** 52:20 people want to reach out to us, they can reach out on our website, www.icef-itinga.org It is down in in our bio. Then you can also reach out to us through LinkedIn. You can find us on Facebook. You can find us on Tiktok. You just have to type on Instagram. Also you just type eating charity, Education Foundation. Then you can reach out to us. You will be able to find our office address there. You will be able to find our telephone contacts, yes, feel free to visit us. Feel free to support. I call upon your support for our charity mission together, let us support disability inclusions so   Michael Hingson ** 53:15 people can email you. I know it's in your biography they can reach you. At, Kevin, k, e, v, I N, at, I C, E, F, dash, I T, I N, G, A, dot, O, R, G, and so I hope people will reach out to you, and   Acen Kevin ** 53:37 I look forward to that right   Michael Hingson ** 53:39 now. I hope that they will support and I hope that they will also take the message back to their communities, because clearly you are setting a very positive example that people should follow. And I and I'm glad that we did have the opportunity to finally get together and do this today. Um, it's been a while in coming. You're 10 hours ahead of us, so that makes it kind of fun to be able to schedule a time. But we did make it work, didn't we?   Acen Kevin ** 54:10 Yes, yes, we did. Thank you so much for the opportunity, for giving me this great opportunity to speak to the whole world about what we are doing at English and Education Foundation to tell them that, yes, we are supporting children who are blind, the dose with low vision, yes, and we are having the construction of an inclusive school going on. Lira,   Michael Hingson ** 54:39 well, I appreciate you saying that and that you took the time to come on and and be with us today, and I want to thank all of you for listening and watching us on YouTube or wherever you're seeing our podcast or hearing our podcast, mostly hearing, I'd love to hear from you if you have ideas for guests and attend you as well, if you know anyone. Else who ought to be a guest on unstoppable mindset. Please let us know I am easily reachable at Michael M, I C, H, A, E, L, H i at accessibe, A, C, C, E, S, S, I, B, e.com, you can also go to our podcast page, which is w, w, w, dot Michael hingson.com/podcast, and Michael Hinkson is m, I C, H, A, E, L, H, I N, G, S O n.com/podcast, so we appreciate your listening and whoever you are, wherever you may be, please give us a five star rating on the podcast. What we do here is try to show people who are unstoppable and and we want everyone to realize that they can be more unstoppable than they think they can. And I think that Acen, Kevin is definitely showing that, and I hope that you'll all take that very much to heart. So give us a five star rating. We appreciate it. And again Acen, one last time, I'd like to thank you for being here with us and taking your time this afternoon.   Acen Kevin ** 56:03 You're welcome. Thank you so much. It's a pleasure. It's been a pleasure being the podcast.   **Michael Hingson ** 56:13   You have been listening to the Unstoppable Mindset podcast. Thanks for dropping by. I hope that you'll join us again next week, and in future weeks for upcoming episodes. To subscribe to our podcast and to learn about upcoming episodes, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com slash podcast. Michael Hingson is spelled m i c h a e l h i n g s o n. While you're on the site., please use the form there to recommend people who we ought to interview in upcoming editions of the show. And also, we ask you and urge you to invite your friends to join us in the future. If you know of any one or any organization needing a speaker for an event, please email me at speaker at Michael hingson.com. I appreciate it very much. To learn more about the concept of blinded by fear, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com forward slash blinded by fear and while you're there, feel free to pick up a copy of my free eBook entitled blinded by fear. The unstoppable mindset podcast is provided by access cast an initiative of accessiBe and is sponsored by accessiBe. Please visit www.accessibe.com . AccessiBe is spelled a c c e s s i b e. There you can learn all about how you can make your website inclusive for all persons with disabilities and how you can help make the internet fully inclusive by 2025. Thanks again for Listening. Please come back and visit us again next week.

Ever wondered how accessibility standards are shaping up in Europe? Tune in to hear from Susanna Laurin, the dynamic director of the Funka Foundation, as she uncovers the creative origins of the foundation's name and its pivotal role in empowering people with disabilities across Europe. With a wealth of experience in accessibility and her instrumental efforts in co-founding the IAAP, Susanna offers a deep dive into the foundation's transformative work, including groundbreaking research, consultancy, and the development of accessible e-learning platforms. Gain insights into her influential role in updating the European Accessibility Act and pioneering initiatives in mobile accessibility and accessible gaming.Explore the contrasting dynamics of accessibility legislation across the Atlantic, as we discuss the varying approaches between the U.S. and Europe. Delve into the importance of strategic planning and collaboration with disabled persons organizations, and discover the value of user-centered testing in accessibility projects. From highlighting often-overlooked groups like people who stutter to discussing the potential of AI to revolutionize accessibility, this episode is filled with thought-provoking insights. Join us for an inspiring conversation that envisions a future where personalized assistive technologies thrive while respecting user privacy.Support the showFollow axschat on social media.Bluesky:Antonio https://bsky.app/profile/akwyz.com Debra https://bsky.app/profile/debraruh.bsky.social Neil https://bsky.app/profile/neilmilliken.bsky.social axschat https://bsky.app/profile/axschat.bsky.social LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/antoniovieirasantos/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/axschat/Vimeohttps://vimeo.com/akwyzhttps://twitter.com/axschathttps://twitter.com/AkwyZhttps://twitter.com/neilmillikenhttps://twitter.com/debraruh

Follow Sarah on Linkedin and Instagram!Follow us on Instagram and on LinkedIn!Created by SOUR, this podcast is part of the studio's "Future of X,Y,Z" research, where the collaborative discussion outcomes serve as the base for the futuristic concepts built in line with the studio's mission of solving urban, social and environmental problems through intelligent designs.Make sure to visit our website and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Google Podcasts so you never miss an episode. If you found value in this show, we would appreciate it if you could head over to iTunes to rate and leave a review – or you can simply tell your friends about the show!Don't forget to join us next week for another episode. Thank you for listening!

Carrie Chow takes center stage as our first guest of 2025, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience in accessibility. Her journey, rich with stories from her telecommunications and marketing background, reveals a personal passion that aligns with her professional advocacy for disability inclusion. We explore her involvement in events like the Cybatlon in Zurich and her role at Atoz, where she merges her expertise in precision medical solutions with digital accessibility initiatives. Carrie exemplifies the intrinsic motivation needed to drive digital and physical assistive technologies forward, proving that dedication can lead to impactful change.We then navigate the intricate web of corporate disability inclusion, highlighting the indispensable contributions of individuals with disabilities. Our conversation sheds light on how advancements like 3D printing and AI transform healthcare, making it more personalized and accessible. We emphasize the power of cross-sector collaboration, recognizing the potential for sectors like elder care and technology to unite to create cohesive solutions. This synergy could propel corporations and influential events such as CES to new heights in accessibility, making an indelible mark on the future of inclusion.As we reflect on the progress made so far, there's a palpable sense of gratitude and optimism. We celebrate the achievements and milestones reached in recent years, acknowledging the pivotal role of 2023 in shaping accessibility frameworks globally. With a nod to the long-term benefits of accessibility innovations, we raise a toast to the promising developments on the horizon. Special thanks go to Carrie for sharing her insights, and to our listeners for supporting our journey towards a more inclusive world. Cheers to continuing this important work and embracing the exciting opportunities that lie ahead.Support the showFollow axschat on social mediaTwitter:https://twitter.com/axschathttps://twitter.com/AkwyZhttps://twitter.com/neilmillikenhttps://twitter.com/debraruhLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/antoniovieirasantos/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/axschat/Vimeohttps://vimeo.com/akwyz

In this week's episode I sat down with Marissa Bode. Marissa is an artist and actor who made history in her feature-film debut as Nessarose in the film Wicked, being the first actor that is also a wheelchair user to play the part. We discuss her audition process, what Nessa means to her, the importance of seeing disabled characters authentically portrayed on screen and stage and much, much more. And yes, there will be spoilers. Follow Marissa: Instagram: @marissa_edob TikTok: @marissa_edob YouTube: Marissa Bohdee   Follow Me: Instagram: @jill_ilana , @alwayslookingup.podcast TikTok: @jillian_ilana Website: https://www.jillianilana.com Email: alwayslookingup227@gmail.com Read With Me: Goodreads The StoryGraph This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin

In this episode, Laura discusses navigating life changes with Kumari Williams.  Kumari shares her journey as an executive leader, and how she has navigated both personal and professional challenges and changes throughout her career.  She emphasizes the importance of emotional intelligence, resilience, and the need for support systems while navigating life transitions.  Kamari reflects on her experiences in leadership, the significance of consistent self-checks, and the value of extending grace to oneself and others during difficult times.  Overall, Kumari encourages listeners to embrace their humanity and seek help when needed.  She vulnerably shares how she is navigating grief, embracing strengthening her areas of growth, and how she has giving herself more space to lean on her personal relationships for support.   About Kumari At the time of our recording, Kumari L. Williams held the position of Vice President of VIBE™ (Value, Inclusion, Belonging & Equity) at Workday. She was recently promoted to the position of Chief Diversity Officer at Workday. With a passion for fostering inclusive, supportive, and equitable work environments, she serves as a visionary thought leader in the talent domain. Kumari spearheads strategic initiatives, including the Employee Belonging Council, Giving & Doing, and Disability Inclusion programs. Her vision revolves around fostering an environment in which each person feels esteemed, respected, and equipped to unleash their fullest potential. With more than two decades of experience and a comprehensive track record in developing and executing effective strategies, Kumari brings her invaluable knowledge and insights to her position. Prior to joining Workday in 2021, Kumari worked in various senior leadership positions at HARMAN International and ADP. These roles included serving as the Senior Director of Global Talent Management & Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), Senior Director of Talent Acquisition & Employer Branding, and Director of Client Operations. Kumari and her devoted husband, originally from Metro Detroit, currently reside in Georgia. They actively engage in their church and community activities alongside their two sons, fostering a strong sense of belonging and purpose. Connect with Kumari on LinkedIn here.    Resources: Now enrolling for our spring 2025 leadership development programs starting in January 2025.  Learn more at https://blackwomanleading.com/programs-overview/ Event: Join us for the Black Woman Leading LIVE! Conference +Retreat, May 27-30, 2025 in Virginia Beach! Learn more at bwlretreat.com   Credits: Learn more about our consulting work with organizations at https://knightsconsultinggroup.com/ Email Laura: laura@knightsconsultinggroup.com Connect with Laura on LinkedIn Follow BWL on LinkedIn Instagram: @blackwomanleading Facebook: @blackwomanleading Podcast Music & Production: Marshall Knights  Graphics: Téa Campbell Listen and follow the podcast on all major platforms: Apple Podcasts Spotify Stitcher iHeartRadio Audible Podbay

Join Nina, Mira, and Stephen as they discuss disability inclusion in LRGs. Specifically, what are games doing to provide inclusion for players and how can games do more? Nina and Mira will give specific examples from their experiences across different games. They'll also discuss how the stigma towards disabilities has shaped both gameplay as well as viewer perception.

ChaptersRon:00:00 Introduction to Disability Inclusion and Accessibility02:57 The Journey to Championing Disability Inclusion06:05 Personal Stories and Their Impact on Inclusion09:00 Creating an Inclusive Workplace Culture11:56 Best Practices for Organizations of All Sizes14:49 Data-Driven Decisions in Talent Acquisition17:51 The Future of Recruiting and AI's RoleKevin17:55 Introduction to Candidate Experience Research20:42 The Importance of Candidate Experience23:51 Understanding Resentment in Candidate Experience26:54 Enhancing the Interview Process29:42 Impact of the Pandemic on Candidate Experience32:39 Looking Ahead: Trends for 2025

There are SO many insightful conversations and incredible stories we've shared on this show, and this one was yet another example of one where we went in thinking one thing, and came out thinking another.  Because we'll be talking with an incredible advocate about ableism and disabilities - a label that, if we aren't already impacted by it, is a label that - statistically speaking - we may all one day live long enough to be impacted by. We all want to be paying attention.   And maybe, just maybe, if you learn through this episode that the way you thought about ability and disability is different than what you previously assumed, maybe, just maybe, you'll also be open to learning more about race and racism, age and ageism, sex and sexism, anti LGBTQIA+ sentiment, and more.  All of these systems of oppression are linked. And we're so glad that we were able to be in community with someone that we personally know is such a powerful woman in this space for this discussion. What to listen for:  Tiffany's personal journey, and the importance of disability inclusion Some significant stats and perspective - including that 61 million Americans, or one in four adults, have disabilities, making it the largest minority group The "me, we, us" framework to address personal unlearning and systemic change Practical shifts from ableist language – such as "suffering from" to "living with" disabilities The importance of supporting disabled individuals' livelihoods, including the need for inclusive hiring practices, the impact of accessibility on product design, and advocating for a culture that values vulnerability and support About our guest: Tiffany Yu is the CEO & Founder of Diversability, an award-winning social enterprise to elevate disability pride, the Founder of the Awesome Foundation Disability Chapter, and the author of The Anti-Ableist Manifesto: Smashing Stereotypes, Forging Change, and Building a Disability-Inclusive World. Her TED Talk, How to Help Employees with Disabilities Thrive, has over one million views.   She serves on the NIH National Advisory Board on Medical Rehabilitation Research and was a Co-Chair of the World Economic Forum Sustainable Development Impact Summit. At the age of 9, Tiffany became disabled as a result of a car accident that also took the life of her father.  

In this episode of the NVIDIA AI Podcast, Sara Minkara, U.S. Special Advisor on International Disability Rights, and Timothy Shriver, Chairman of Special Olympics, discuss AI's potential to enhance special education and disability inclusion. They emphasize the importance of including disability communities in AI development, as well as the cultural and social benefits of building an inclusive future.

What drives a leader to champion disability inclusion and transform corporate culture? Meet Mike Liebman, Bloomberg's ERG lead for the United States, as he shares his compelling journey through personal health challenges and his relentless efforts to broaden Bloomberg's disability ERG, BeAble. From dissociative disorders to PTSD and a degenerative spinal condition, Mike's experiences have fueled a passion to expand ERG discussions to encompass mental health, neurodiversity, and chronic medical conditions. Tune in to hear how Mike navigates the intricate landscape of representing diverse communities within ERGs, ensuring balanced attention to various disabilities, and fostering inclusive dialogue that keeps members actively engaged.Discover the strides Bloomberg is making under Mike's leadership towards a more inclusive tech environment. We spotlight Bloomberg's pioneering initiatives like the disability in tech conference, created in collaboration with Lime Connect, which highlights the critical contributions of individuals with disabilities, especially in AI advancements. Additionally, get a glimpse into the empowering Grace Topper event, which serves as a vibrant recruitment platform connecting talented women with corporations keen on diversifying their workforce. With these forward-thinking initiatives, we share our excitement for the potential lasting impact on diversity and inclusion in tech and beyond.Support the showFollow axschat on social mediaTwitter:https://twitter.com/axschathttps://twitter.com/AkwyZhttps://twitter.com/neilmillikenhttps://twitter.com/debraruhLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/antoniovieirasantos/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/axschat/Vimeohttps://vimeo.com/akwyz

Kimberly Hoffman was diagnosed with ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome over 30 years ago and then with fibromyalgia 12 years ago. She works full time at Cummins Inc. in the New and Recon Parts Department as an Inside Sales Administrator and with the Disability Inclusion employee resource group. She is a writer and editor for the Disability Inclusion newsletter, advocating, educating and allying with others on the subject of disability inclusion. Kimberly is also a children's author of nine books with topics such as overcoming obstacles, dealing with big emotions, self-worth and diversity. She is a spinner of amazing tales that influence young minds to think deeply, reframing their impossibilities to reach their possibilities. She creates unique and innovative programming to engage any size of audience, from preschool to seniors, motivating, encouraging, and challenging them to think outside the box on a variety of topics.Kimberly resides in her hometown of Columbus, Indiana where she is also the vice president of the Friends of the Library board. She loves being creative through writing, dancing, acting, and making jewelry. She is married to Paul Hoffman, an author and publisher. Together, they have six children, one grandchild and many grand-fur and -feather babies.Be sure to find Kimberly on Facebook – Kimberly S. Hoffman – Author, Instagram @kimberlyhoffman_author or at her website – kimberlyhoffmanblog.wordpress.com. She can also be reached at khoffmanauthor@gmail.com.

On this episode of Dimensions of Diversity, host Lloyd Freeman welcomes back Courtney Munnings, Mansfield Rule & Knowledge Sharing Manager, Diversity Lab, to discuss the critical need for disability inclusion in the legal profession. Courtney first appeared on Dimensions of Diversity in 2022 for an episode entitled, Neurodiversity: Being Autistic and Encountering the Workplace, which is linked below.On today's episode, Courtney shares more information on Diversity Lab's Disability Inclusion Commitments, including the inspiration behind the initiative. Munnings outlines the commitments, such as creating employee resource groups, conducting annual surveys, removing physical and digital barriers, and enhancing hiring and mentorship opportunities for employees with disabilities. The discussion emphasizes the importance of ensuring inclusion for all dimensions of diversity and creating accessible work environments where all individuals can thrive.Dimensions of Diversity is a podcast created by Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, highlighting diversity in the workplace. Hosted by Lloyd Freeman, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, the podcast features meaningful conversations with industry and community leaders working to advance D&I.Link to Neurodiversity: Being Autistic and Encountering the Workplace: https://www.bipc.com/dimensions-of-diversity-neurodiversity-being-autistic-and-encountering-the-workplace  

In this episode, Deepak Sadagopan, Angela Marith, and Sarah Quinto from Providence dive into the intersection of disability inclusion and value-based care. They discuss the challenges, opportunities, and innovative approaches to supporting the disability community within healthcare systems.

Join Dr. Craig Escudé on IDD Health Matters as he welcomes Dr. Kelly Nye-Lengerman, a seasoned social worker and the Director at the University of New Hampshire's Institute on Disability. In this episode, Dr. Nye-Lengerman delves into her work at the institute, focusing on increasing inclusion and belonging across the lifespan and experiences of disability. With a rich background in both direct support and academic leadership, she offers a unique perspective on the intersection of intellectual disability and mental health, emphasizing the importance of community-based support systems and professional education to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities. Dr. Nye-Lengerman shares the challenges and strategies involved in enhancing health equity through her involvement with the START National Training Institute, which aims to advance practices that support individuals and families in the most inclusive and equitable ways possible. This conference, enriched by contributions from people with lived experiences and community partners, showcases the significant progress being made in the field. The conversation also touches on the common misinterpretations of behavioral symptoms as mental health issues, highlighting the necessity of recognizing underlying medical conditions which can be treated to prevent unnecessary suffering. The episode concludes with a powerful discussion on the role of direct support professionals and the critical need for proper training and recognition of this workforce to achieve real inclusion and participation for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Dr. Nye-Lengerman's passionate advocacy for equitable health care and her belief in the transformative power of inclusive higher education shine through, offering valuable insights and inspiring listeners to consider the deep impact of educational and support systems in enhancing the lives of people with disabilities.

Warning:  This content addresses mental health issues, including research and narratives on suicide. Please take care while engaging with it and only proceed if you feel safe doing so. If you, or someone you love, is having thoughts of suicide, please contact 988. Help is available. Interviewer Lisa Meeks   Interviewees John Ruddell Jennifer Ruddell Roja (friend of Jack Ruddell) Dr. Christine Moutier  Dr. Jessi Gold   Narrator Dr. Joseph Murray    Description In this deeply moving episode, host Lisa Meeks introduces a special series dedicated to exploring the mental health crisis among medical trainees, with a focus on the tragic story of Dr. Jack Ruddell. Joined by Jack's parents, John and Jennifer Ruddell, and his close friend Roja, we delve into Jack's life, his struggles with depression and anxiety, and the immense pressures faced by medical students. Dr. Joseph Murray, a psychiatrist at Weill Cornell Medical College, provides expert insights into the high rates of burnout, depression, and suicide in the medical field. We also hear from Dr. Christine Moutier, Chief Medical Officer of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and Dr. Jessie Gold, a respected psychiatrist and author, who discuss the unique challenges and cultural issues within medical training that contribute to mental health struggles. This episode aims to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues, encourage medical learners to seek help, and advocate for systemic changes in medical education to foster a more supportive and compassionate environment. Description of Series  DWDI Special Series: Suicidality in Medical Training dives into the critical conversations around mental health, well-being, support systems, and the intense pressures faced during medical training. Through the power of storytelling, the series intertwines these broader themes with the deeply personal story of Dr. Jack Ruddell, a promising medical student who died by suicide. Jack's journey—his strengths, struggles, and the complexities leading to his untimely death—forms the emotional core of this five-part series, giving voice to the loved ones often excluded from these conversations. Alongside Jack's story, the series incorporates expert insights and data from the literature, offering a human perspective on burnout, depression, and suicide among medical trainees. With a commitment to improving mental health awareness and reducing the stigma around seeking help, the series presents a novel approach by centering personal narratives alongside expert analysis. It also explores actionable strategies for improving medical training environments and highlights the importance of institutional responses after a loss by suicide. Our mission is to reduce shame, encourage help-seeking among medical students struggling with depression, and ensure that every medical school is aware of the postvention resources offered by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). Experts for the Series  Christine Moutier, MD – Chief Medical Officer, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Jessi Gold, MD – Chief Wellness Officer, University of Tennessee System; Author of How Do You Feel? David Muller, MD – Director, Institute for Equity and Justice in Health Sciences Education; Dean Emeritus, Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai; Author of the NEJM essay, Kathryn Srijan Sen, MD, PhD – Director, Eisenberg Family Depression Center; PI of the Intern Health Study Justin Bullock, MD, MPH – Fellow, University of Washington; Author of the NEJM article, Suicide, Rewriting My Story Stuart Slavin, MD, MEd – Vice President for Well-Being, ACGME Episode Release Schedule: September 17: Episode 102 – Honoring Dr. Jack Ruddell: A Story of Joy, Compassion, and Mental Health in Medical Training. September 17: Episode 103 – Suicide and Suicidality in Medical Training: Understanding the Crisis and its Causes.  September 24: Episode 104 – Silent Struggles: Mental Health and Medical Education. September 26: Episode 105 – Repairing the System: How Do We Create Safe Environments? September 30: Episode 106 – Responding to Loss: Postvention and Support After a Suicide. Transcript Keywords: Suicide, Death, Mental health, Jack Ruddell, Medical training, Depression, Suicidality, Burnout, Anxiety, Medical trainees, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Tourette's, Disabilities, Medical education, Medical school, Discrimination, Academic pressure, Clinical practice, Imposter syndrome, Perfectionism, Shame, Mental disability, Learning challenges, Accommodations, High-stakes testing, Inclusivity, Stigma   Resources:  24/7 Suicide & Crisis Hotline, call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. How are you? By Jessi Gold  National Office for Suicide Prevention: Language and suicide The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention   References    Johnson KM, Slavin SJ, Takahashi TA. Excellent vs Excessive: Helping Trainees Balance Performance and Perfectionism. J Grad Med Educ. 2023 Aug;15(4):424-427. doi: 10.4300/JGME-D-23-00003.1. PMID: 37637342; PMCID: PMC10449346.   Bynum WE 4th, W Teunissen P, Varpio L. In the "Shadow of Shame": A Phenomenological Exploration of the Nature of Shame Experiences in Medical Students. Acad Med. 2021 Nov 1;96(11S):S23-S30. doi: 10.1097/ACM.0000000000004261. PMID: 34348391.   Jain, Neera R. PhD, MS1; Stergiopoulos, Erene MD, MA2; Addams, Amy3; Moreland, Christopher J. MD, MPH4; Meeks, Lisa M. PhD, MA5. “We Need a Seismic Shift”: Disabled Student Perspectives on Disability Inclusion in U.S. Medical Education. Academic Medicine ():10.1097/ACM.0000000000005842, August 8, 2024. | DOI: 10.1097/ACM.0000000000005842   Meeks LM, Jain NR.  Accessibility, Inclusion, and Action in Medical Education: Lived Experiences of Learners and Physicians with Disabilities. Washington, DC: Association of American Medical Colleges; 2018. Retrieved on September 14, 2024 from: https://store.aamc.org/accessibility-inclusion-and-action-in-medical-education-lived-experiences-of-learners-and-physicians-with-disabilities.html.   Meeks, L. M., Pereira‐Lima, K., Plegue, M., Jain, N. R., Stergiopoulos, E., Stauffer, C., ... & Moreland, C. J. (2023). Disability, program access, empathy and burnout in US medical students: A national study. Medical education, 57(6), 523-534.   Recommended Readings:   Almutairi, H., Alsubaiei, A., Abduljawad, S., Alshatti, A., Fekih-Romdhane, F., Husni, M., & Jahrami, H. (2022). Prevalence of burnout in medical students: A systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 68(6), 1157-1170.   Enns MW & Cox B. (2002) The Nature and Assessment of Perfectionism: A Critical Analysis. In: Flett GL, Hewitt PL, eds. Perfectionism: Theory, Research, and Treatment. American Psychological Association, 33-62.   Goldman, M. L., Shah, R. N., & Bernstein, C. A. (2015). Depression and suicide among physician trainees: recommendations for a national response. JAMA psychiatry, 72(5), 411-412.   Johnson, K. M., Slavin, S. J., & Takahashi, T. A. (2023). Excellent vs excessive: helping trainees balance performance and perfectionism. Journal of Graduate Medical Education, 15(4), 424-427.   Meeks, L. M., Conrad, S. S., Nouri, Z., Moreland, C. J., Hu, X., & Dill, M. J. (2022). Patient And Coworker Mistreatment Of Physicians With Disabilities: Study examines mistreatment of physicians with disabilities. Health Affairs, 41(10), 1396-1402.   Mirza, A. A., Baig, M., Beyari, G. M., Halawani, M. A., & Mirza, A. A. (2021). Depression and anxiety among medical students: a brief overview. Advances in Medical Education and Practice, 393-398.   Pereira-Lima, K., Meeks, L. M., Ross, K. E., Marcelin, J. R., Smeltz, L., Frank, E., & Sen, S. (2023). Barriers to disclosure of disability and request for accommodations among first-year resident physicians in the US. JAMA Network Open, 6(5), e239981-e239981.    Meeks LM, Ramsey J, Lyons M, Spencer AL, Lee WW. Wellness and work: mixed messages in residency training. J Gen Intern Med. 2019;34(7):1352-1355. PMID: 30924087   Meeks LM, Stergiopoulos E, Petersen KH. Institutional Accountability for Students With Disabilities: A Call for Liaison Committee on Medical Education Action. Acad Med. 2021 Oct. PMID: 34670236    

Interviewer: Dr. Lisa Meeks Interviewees:  Dr. Sophia Kahn: Associate Professor and Director of Student Affairs at CU Anschutz School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Rick Mediavilla: Associate Dean of Student Affairs and Admissions at the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Derrick Bisnett: Oral Maxillofacial Radiologist and CU Anschutz alumnus. Description: In Episode 101, we explore the inspiring journey of Dr. Derek Bisnett, an oral and maxillofacial radiologist who graduated from the CU Anschutz School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Bisnett, who uses a wheelchair, shares his unique experiences navigating dental school and the healthcare profession as a person with a disability, offering valuable insights into the challenges and triumphs along the way. Joining us are Dr. Sophia Kahn, Associate Professor and Director of Student Affairs at CU Anschutz, and Rick Mediavilla, Dean of Student Affairs and Admissions at the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine. Together, they provide an inside look at the admissions process and discuss the school's commitment to inclusivity and accommodations for students with disabilities. We wrap up the episode by reflecting on the positive impact of Dr. Bisnett's journey on the CU Anschutz community and the dental profession at large. Dr. Kahn and Rick Medavia share their final thoughts on the importance of inclusivity and the lessons learned from working with Dr. Bisnett. Join us for this enlightening conversation that challenges assumptions, highlights resilience, and underscores the importance of inclusivity in dental education. Transcript available here: Transcript Bio's:  Dr. Mediavilla received his dental degree from the University of Colorado School of Dentistry and completed his General Practice Residency at the University of Colorado Hospital. Dr. Mediavilla is currently the Associate Dean for Admissions, Student and Alumni Affairs, in addition to being a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Restorative Dentistry. Dr. Mediavilla maintains membership in: the American Dental Association, the Colorado Dental Association, the American Dental Education Association, Omicron Kappa Upsilon, the Pierre Fauchard Academy, and is a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry.   Keywords: Wheelchair, Dental Education, DocsWithDisabilities, Accommodations, Disability Inclusion, Journal of Dental Education, Oral Maxillofacial Radiologist, Disability, Dental School, UC Anschutz Produced by: Dr. Lisa Meeks  Digital Media: Lisa Meeks  Listen to the full episode now and don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more insightful conversations! Follow Us: Twitter: @DocsWith Instagram: @DocsWithDisabilities Resources: A number of resources were provided for this series, they are all listed in the transcript. Articles:  https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jdd.13409 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/jdd.13443  

Allison is joined by Angela O'Brien for a vulnerable conversation about the importance of exposure and inclusion as it relates to the special needs community. Angela is a professional organizer, host of the Especially Organized podcast, and a special needs mom.   Allison and Angela discuss the reasons it's important for our young children to be exposed to people with special needs, the biases that still exist in today's communities and why we need to work towards a more inclusive society. Both Allison and Angela share their own personal stories of how individuals with special needs have impacted their families.  Angela opens up about the joys and challenges of parenting a child with intellectual disabilities, makes suggestions for how parents can approach and include families with special needs children, as well as offers guidance on how parents of special needs children can find support and community in their own lives. Learn more about Angela on her website or on Instagram The National Down Syndrome Society holds Buddy Walks across the country to celebrate Down Syndrome awareness. Find a Buddy Walk in your area Click here to watch or listen on YouTube Want to hear more from Allison? Provide your email address here to receive Allison's weekly email about the podcast and other fun topics.  Enjoying How Long ‘Til Bedtime? Please consider rating and reviewing the show. This helps Allison support more parents. Click here, scroll to the bottom, rate the podcast, and select “Write a Review.” And if you're a Spotify listener, you can now leave reviews on Spotify by clicking here. Also, if you subscribe to the show, you won't miss any episodes!  Connect with Allison: Instagram Facebook Website YouTube

Episode Overview In this episode of Pushing Forward with Alycia, host Alycia Anderson speaks with Lisa Cox, a globally published writer and a leading advocate for disability inclusion. Lisa shares her powerful journey from experiencing a life-changing brain hemorrhage to becoming a prominent voice in the media and advertising industry. Her insights on representation, body image, and the importance of disability inclusion in corporate spaces are both enlightening and inspiring. Lisa opens up about her early life, her unexpected transition into the world of disability, and the challenges she faced along the way. She discusses the initial struggles of coming to terms with her new reality and how she overcame societal stereotypes and personal doubts. Lisa transformed her experiences into a driving force for change, using her background in advertising to advocate for better representation of disabled individuals. Throughout the episode, Lisa emphasizes the critical need for disability inclusion in media and advertising. She explains how she helps brands and businesses create more inclusive content and practices, aiming to shift public perceptions and social attitudes. Lisa's story is a testament to the power of perseverance and the impact one individual can have on promoting diversity and inclusion. Key Moments Lisa's Personal Journey: From a life-changing brain hemorrhage to becoming a disability advocate. Body Image and Disability: How societal perceptions impact disabled individuals and the importance of representation. Inclusive Advertising: Lisa's work in helping brands include disability in their content and workplace practices. Media Diversity: The creation of the Disability Reporting Handbook to guide journalists and advertisers. Navigating Everyday Life: Lisa's experiences with online dating and societal reactions to her disability. Quote "I try to help professionals find solutions to include disability in their work, focusing on a co-design approach with the disability community." - Lisa Cox Timestamps 0:00 - Introduction and Guest Overview 0:29 - Alycia Anderson welcomes Lisa Cox 1:03 - Lisa's introduction and background 1:48 - Lisa Cox's Personal Journey 2:12 - Lisa's life before and after her brain hemorrhage 3:34 - The lack of disability representation in advertising 4:12 - Helping professionals find solutions for inclusion 4:42 - Transitioning into disability advocacy 5:19 - Body Image and Disability 6:41 - Societal perceptions of disability 8:11 - Lisa's work as an inclusive advertising consultant 9:19 - The reception of disability inclusion in business 10:53 - The role of social media in advocacy 12:20 - Navigating Everyday Life with a Disability 13:32 - The Realities of Online Dating 14:27 - Lisa's marriage and dating experiences 16:41 - The importance of media diversity and inclusion 17:56 - The Disability Reporting Handbook 18:44 - Final Thoughts and Encouragement from Lisa Connect with Us Follow Lisa Cox: Instagram: @lisacox.co | Website: Lisa Cox | TEDx Talk: Why Diversity is Good for Business Connect with Alycia: Instagram | LinkedIn | Book Alycia for Speaking | Book Alycia to Train Your Employees in Disabling Ableism | Alycia's DEI Micro Learning Video Series | Feedback

In this episode, we welcome Loren Gesinsky, Partner at Seyfarth Shaw LLP, to discuss the critical importance of disability inclusion in the workplace and society at large. Loren shares his personal journey from employment lawyer to passionate disability rights advocate, offering valuable insights into the evolution of disability inclusion practices. He also explores the challenges and opportunities in recognizing various types of disabilities, including invisible disabilities and mental health issues, and emphasizes the power of creating environments where people feel comfortable self-identifying. Discover the concept of universal design, the business case for disability inclusion, and the role of leadership in advancing these efforts.

Meet Stephanie. In this "How It's Built" episode, she's sharing the journey of how the Perkins School for the Blind transformed their fundraising, customer experience and brand.  From rebuilding their websites to reimagining direct mail, Stephanie unveils the strategies that have breathed new life into a 200-year-old institution

In this episode, Katy Talaikowska, CEO of the Valuable 500, discusses the state of disability representation in advertising and businesses, which remains significantly low despite 20 percent of the global population living with a disability. Highlighting her own journey from the advertising industry to her current role, Katy underscores the importance of authentic representation, innovation, and inclusive leadership in driving meaningful change. She talks about successful campaigns, such as Maltesers' groundbreaking ad during the Rio Paralympics, which not only upped sales by 7% but also set a new standard for inclusive advertising. The episode also delves into the initiatives by the Valuable 500, including the Generation Valuable program and the upcoming SYNC25 Accountability Summit in Tokyo, aimed at promoting inclusive leadership, representation, and reporting in global organisations. Katy emphasises the need for companies to start the conversation about disability inclusion, despite fears of getting it wrong, and stresses the importance of collaboration and collective action in achieving sustainability and progress.Episode Highlights:00:00 The State of Disability Representation in Advertising00:21 Introducing Katy Talaikowska and the Valuable 50000:48 The Journey to Disability Inclusion in Advertising02:36 Katy's Professional Background and the Maltesers Campaign06:57 The Birth of the Valuable 50009:21 SYNC25 and the Future of Disability Inclusion14:03 The Power of Purpose-Driven Brands21:17 The Evolution of Brand Storytelling26:07 The Power of Diverse Storytelling27:14 Apple's Emotional Ad: The Lost Voice29:41 The Role of Leadership in Inclusive Representation30:38 Generation Valuable: A Unique Mentoring Program32:49 Revamping the Leadership Team35:41 The Self ID Resource Guide42:35 The Importance of Authentic Purpose48:18 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome and Embracing Accountability51:58 The Journey of Innovation and Collective ProgressChatting with Katy is always a pleasure, and her insights are crucial for anyone committed to fostering genuine inclusion and driving systemic change. Her emphasis on actionable insights and collaborative movements offers a hopeful path toward a more equitable future.Enjoyed the podcast? Subscribe now, and together, let's empower our communities for a brighter, more inclusive future.Host: Peter BellGuest: Katy TalaikowskaWatch on YouTubeThis podcast was recorded and produced by Purpose Made, dedicated to powering societal change through knowledge sharing.Interested in becoming a sponsor or collaborating with us? Reach out via Purpose Made.The Inner Circle: Amazing news today! We're launching an inner circle community exclusive to listeners. Those who come in now will be able to join a free monthly zoom with me and the community where we'll go deeper in topics, get to know each other and talk about the realities and people behind the profiles we meet. Also you'll be able to win a purpose made t-shirt in there now. Just click the Drop Station link here, to check it out. Join our tribe and lets grow together https://plus.acast.com/s/purpose-made-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.