Podcasts about United Cerebral Palsy

Send us a textJohanna Atienza and Paul Pulver are the Chief Growth and Innovation Officer and the CEO of Options for Learning respectively.Johanna brings over 15 years of experience in higher education and community-based programming to her role. Before joining Options for Learning in 2022, she served as the Associate Vice President of Advancement and External Relations at Pacific Oaks College and Children's School. Johanna oversees strategic initiatives, program innovations, communications, admissions, and project management at Options for Learning, and is deeply passionate about educational equity, early childhood education, mental health, foster youth, and anti-bias education. She's actively involved in local initiatives like Growing Together Pasadena and All Children Thrive Pasadena, as well as supporting organizations like Leadership Pasadena, Ability First, and the Boys and Girls Club of Pasadena. Johanna holds a bachelor's degree in political science with minors in film and sociology from USC, along with a Juris Doctor from Golden Gate University School of Law.Paul Pulver, who has been the CEO of Options for Learning since 2019, oversees all the organization's programs and operations, serving nearly 9,000 children annually across 90 sites and 300 classrooms throughout the greater San Gabriel Valley. With over 35 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, Paul is known for facilitating organizational growth and has held leadership roles at various nonprofits, including as Executive Director for Pathways LA, Vice President of Development and Communications for Maryvale, and Executive Director for United Cerebral Palsy of Orange County. Paul currently serves as the Vice President of the Board for the Child Care Alliance of Los Angeles and is a board member of Su Misericordia, a faith-based organization supporting indigenous people in Mexico. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Christian Ministries and a ministry credential from Azusa Pacific University. Outside of his professional life, Paul enjoys sports, gardening, and cherishing time with his wife, three children, daughters-in-law, and three granddaughters.Together, Johanna and Paul are making significant strides in fostering educational opportunities and supporting families across Los Angeles County. Tune in as we explore their inspiring work, dedication to social impact, and commitment to building communities where children and families can thrive.Website: optionsforlearning.orgPhone: 626-699-8060Instagram: @optionsforlearning___________________Music CreditsIntroEuphoria in the San Gabriel Valley, Yone OGStingerScarlet Fire (Sting), Otis McDonald, YouTube Audio LibraryOutroEuphoria in the San Gabriel Valley, Yone OG__________________My SGV Podcast:Website: www.mysgv.netNewsletter: Beyond the MicPatreon: MySGV Podcastinfo@sgvmasterkey.com

It's Thursday and that means it's time to catch up on politics with The Times-Picayune/The Advocate's editorial director and columnist, Stephanie Grace. Today she tells us how changes the federal Justice Department are filtering down at local U.S. attorneys offices. The federal government is currently debating cutting more than $800 billion in Medicaid funding. This is causing major concerns for people who rely on Medicaid, specifically people with disabilities. This week, disability rights advocates from across the country are gathering in New Orleans to address these concerns and drum up support for Medicaid. Armando Contreras, president and CEO of United Cerebral Palsy, and Ashley Volion, lecturer in Sociology at Tulane University, tell us more about the impacts of these proposed cuts.On Friday, May 2, Loyola undergraduate student Damian Sandoval Chable – known professionally as Damian Ch – will make his Jazz Fest debut, the first time a Loyola student has played at the music event.  Damian, a native of Mexico, will perform his own brand of Latin hip hop at the Cultural Exchange Pavilion, which is honoring Mexico this year. Damian Ch joins us to talk about his musical journey and what to expect at his upcoming performance. ___Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Bob Pavlovich. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. We get production support from Garrett Pittman and our assistant producer Aubry Procell.You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, the NPR App and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you!  Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

Happy Spring Break Hot Teas! Discover Long Island's Vice President of Strategy, Stacy Black is back on the show this week to spill the tea with Sharon on where to enjoy with the kids while they're off from school! #LongIslandLIfe Spring Break on Long Island! -Adventureland (Farmingdale)-Urban Air Adventure Park (Lake Grove)-Long Island Aquarium (Riverhead)-Long Island Game Farm (Manorville)-White Post Farms (Melville)-Fire Island Lighthouse (Robert Moses Field Five)-Long Island Museum of Arts, History & Carriages (Stony Brook)-Vanderbilt Museum & Planetarium (Centerport)-Dave & Busters (Islandia) Download our App to see what's happening near you! NEW BLOG: Tee Off Like the Pros at LI's Legendary Golf CoursesLong Island has long been a golfer's paradise, with its rich history and prestigious courses drawing players from around the world. There are close to 130 golf courses and clubs in our region, more than 60 of which welcome public players. As the 2025 Ryder Cup approaches, the island is once again set to take center stage in the world of golf, at the notorious Bethpage Black Course. With the onset of spring, now is the perfect time to explore the island's unforgettable golf courses For more visit discoverlongisland.com/blog and download our new Ryder Cup App to plan for your visit to Long Island! #ThisWeekendOnLongIsland Friday, April 18thCreate Your Own Blend at RGNY in RiverheadHappy Hour at Opus Steakhouse, One10, Blackstone Steakhouse & Rare650Splish Splash Job Fair (Opens May 24th for their 35th Season!)Saturday, April 19thPort Jefferson Desert Crawl, Easter Parade & Egg HuntHamptons Whodunit annual mystery and crime festival in East Hampton Village. (All Weekend)Sunday, April 20th (Easter)Checkout our TikTok & Instagram Reel for a huge list of Easter Brunches on LI!For more events to check out and detailed info please visit discoverlongisland.com or download our mobile app! #ChariTEA Camille from United Cerebral Palsy of Long Island reached out about their two fundraising events coming up “A Night in Monte Carlo,” on April 24 and their Cornhole Tournament, sponsored by our Young Professionals, on July 26More information will be included in the show notes but visit ucp-li.org to learn how to support this amazing cause. CONNECT WITH US:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/longislandteapodcast/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DiscoverLongIslandNYTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@longislandteapodcastX(Twitter): https://x.com/liteapodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/longislandteapodcast/ DM us on any of our social channels or email spillthetea@discoverlongisland.com to tell us what you want to hear! Whether it is Long Island related or not, we are here to spill some tea with you! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Final November and Thanksgiving Week 2024 episode of the program all about TV. Our guest: United Cerebral Palsy president and chief executive officer Armando Contreras, reacting to the new Disney+ original movie Out Of My Mind. Plus a special Thanksgiving edition of recurring TWBT segment Something I'd Like To See.

Pre-Thanksgiving Week Friday 2024 episode of the program all about TV. Our guests: Jennifer Kramer, Hallmark Media's vice president of programming; Peter Saraf, Academy Award-nominated producer of new Disney+ original movie Out Of My Mind--joined by United Cerebral Palsy president and chief executive Armando Contreras, and Lauren Applebaum, senior vice president of advocacy organization Disability Belongs.

  In this episode of the Friends for Life Podcast, we explore the challenges facing the direct support professional (DSP) workforce, despite recent increases in hourly wages. Although DSPs saw an average hourly wage of $15.79 nationwide in 2022—a historic first—the high turnover rate of over 40% continues to strain disability service providers, who are struggling to maintain adequate staff. Many providers report having to refuse new referrals or reduce services, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable workforce solutions. Temporary support from the 2021 American Rescue Plan provided essential funding to boost wages, but this relief is set to expire in 2025, raising concerns about long-term stability in the field. Barbara Merrill, CEO of ANCOR, and Armando Contreras, president of United Cerebral Palsy, emphasize the critical need for more consistent support to ensure DSPs receive competitive compensation and people with developmental disabilities can access essential services without prolonged delays. With over half a million individuals still on waiting lists for services, the conversation underscores how years of underinvestment in Medicaid have limited providers' ability to address the workforce crisis fully, jeopardizing the right of people with disabilities to live independently in their communities.

Armando Contreras is the National president and CEO of United Cerebral Palsy Inc. The organization has 55 affiliates, 53 of which are here in the United States and two are in Canada. Armando grew up in East Los Angeles and then attended college at the University of Southern California where he obtained a degree in Business Administration. Later he secured a Master's degree in Divinity from the University of San Francisco.   Armando has worked both in the for profit world as well as for and with several nonprofit organizations. He tells us about all his life adventures including being a cancer survivor now for ten years.   Mr. Contreras and I have a great discussion about his vision for UCP which this year is celebrating its 75th anniversary. Along the way, UCP expanded services beyond just working with persons with Cerebral Palsy. As he explains, the same kinds of services required by people with CP also apply to persons with Downs and Autism.   I hope what Armando discusses with me inspires you as much as it did me. Please let me know what you think.     About the Guest:   Armando A. Contreras is the President and CEO of the Washington, D.C. and Vienna, Virginia-based United Cerebral Palsy Inc., one of the nation's leading health associations providing vital services and advocating for the inclusion of people living with neurodevelopmental disabilities, such as cerebral palsy, autism, and Down syndrome via its 55 affiliates (53 in the U.S. and two in Canada).   A native of Los Angeles, Armando's professional career includes having served as CEO of UCP of Central Arizona, President and CEO of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (AZHCC), Director of the Arizona Registrar of Contractors, and Executive Director of the Council on Small Business under former Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano.   He was featured in Activator Magazine's March 2021 issue (“A Servant Leader's Faithful Journey”). In November 2016, Arizona Business Magazine recognized him as a top CEO in the nonprofit health sector. In 2015, Armando was named one of the most Influential Minority Business Leaders in Arizona. He was also the featured CEO in the December 2013 issue of Arizona Business Magazine, and the Phoenix Business Journal awarded him a Champions in Diversity award in 2012. Armando was a special guest on The Hill newspaper's virtual Disability Summit, featuring policymakers, business and nonprofit leaders discussing ways to increase employment across the disability community.   Armando attended the Harvard School of Business Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management program. In May 2001, he was honored to meet with President George W. Bush to discuss faith-based and community initiatives during a White House gathering on the topic.   Today, Armando serves on the Board of SourceAmerica. He is a former member of the Bishop's Finance Committee of the Catholic Diocese of Phoenix, and he recently completed a term serving as a member of the Board of Directors of the Kino Border Initiative, a binational organization that promotes U.S.-Mexico border and immigration policies that affirm the dignity of the human person.   Armando earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Southern California and a master's degree in theology from the University of San Francisco. He also received certificates from the Indiana University School of Philanthropy and Harvard University.   He and his wife, Norma Contreras, live in Phoenix, where they are active in the community, particularly contributing their time and talents to faith-based social justice issues. The couple has three adult children and a grandson with another grandson on the way.       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 Welcome to another edition of unstoppable mindset where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet, and I won't go through all that again, it's inclusion because that means we include disabilities. Diversity typically doesn't, but the unexpected is what we get to deal with a lot as well. It's all fun, and we're glad that you're able to be here with us, wherever you happen to be. Our guest today is Armando Contreras, who is the president of United Cerebral Palsy, Inc, and I'm really anxious to hear more about that keeps keeps him, and I think a lot of us busy, and there's a lot of good stories and very relevant things to talk about regarding that. So let's get to it, Armando, I want to thank you and really appreciate you being here. Michael,   Armando Contreras ** 02:06 it's such a pleasure, and really it's an honor that I can be here on your show. So thank you for the kind invitation. Well, you   Michael Hingson ** 02:15 are. You're certainly most welcome, and Armando is one of those people who came to us again because of Sheldon Lewis here at accessibe, and he's he's keeping us busy, which is a good thing, and he's probably working on getting Armando to use accessibe, unless you already are with UCP. I haven't checked the website lately. Well, we   Armando Contreras ** 02:33 have. So we've already put in that, I believe, a plugin, and some of our affiliates are actually using accessibe as well,   Michael Hingson ** 02:43 which is cool, and it does a lot to help, which is, of course, what it's all about. Because accessibe, using AI, is able to do a lot of the work with the AI widget, not all, but a lot that needs to be done. So it's really great that you guys are using it, and I appreciate that and thank you for it, or on behalf of all of us at accessibe, yeah,   Armando Contreras ** 03:04 you're welcome. Well,   Michael Hingson ** 03:06 why don't we start as I love to do at the beginning? Why don't tell us a little bit about kind of the early Armando growing up and all that sort of stuff? Yes, so might as well,   Armando Contreras ** 03:18 yeah, the early Armando, growing up, was in East Los Angeles, in East LA so my father had a disability for most of his life. He had a he was in a car accident, and the doctors had said he would never work again. And right about that time when he had that car accident. I was born. I was the first, the oldest of three and my brother Louis and my sister Elizabeth. So life really changed for him, because he was middle class entrepreneur in Mexico, while he was American citizen. Then when he married my mom, then they moved over to Los Angeles, and eventually East Los Angeles, and that's where I grew up. I grew up pretty much in, you can say, in poverty. And while we were in a neighborhood called in Barrio, it's just a neighborhood of of, really, for the most part, a lot of good people. Our neighbors were fantastic, and we knew each other. So that was kind of like the beginning of many years of really, you know, experiencing disabilities with my dad and seeing what he had gone through. And it was a it was a tough, really. It was a tough. It was tough growing up, let me put it to you that way, for for many reasons. So then later, I got involved with the Catholic Church, Saint Lucy. Catholic Church in Los Angeles or a small town called City terrace, and that kind of that really changed a lot for me, as far as getting involved with community issues, getting involved in helping people, getting involved in connecting with the kind of the local issues that were happening in the city of Los Angeles, because those priests, those Catholic priests, were very involved in that, in ministries, and they went outside of the ministries to help community members, regardless if they were Catholic or not, what. And prior to that, I got involved as a musician. So I was a trumpet player, and I played trumpet at St Lucy's church for about 23 years. But then that that did something, something of sort of a miracle for me, because when I applied after going to a junior college in Los Angeles College, and then I applied to a dream university, USC, so the University of Southern California, and I think one of the big reasons that I got in was because of my community involvement, so that that led to a full scholarship, and that was quite the blessing for me, because there was no way that that we can afford me going to a private university. So, you know, that's kind of like, in the nutshell, my my upbringing, otherwise I would be here three days, you know,   Michael Hingson ** 06:30 yeah, what year? What years were you at USC,   Armando Contreras ** 06:34 I was there. I was there in 8085 through 87 ish, around that time? Yeah, around that that time? Yeah, I graduated in 87   Michael Hingson ** 06:46 that's that's much beyond my favorite USC football game, which was, how was it? I think Notre Dame was leading SC 24 to nothing at the end of the first half. You know, the game, I can tell by the end, it was 55 to 24 USC, which is the way it should be.   Armando Contreras ** 07:07 You know, SC had his great moments, and sc has had their challenging moments. Has Yeah. So, you know, last year, it could have been a better year for us. But, you know, we look to the future. And like I always say, don't fight on. So fight on   Michael Hingson ** 07:23 is right. My wife did her graduate work at SC I've never been to a football game there or anywhere, and one of these days, I'd love to go, but she just passed away in November of 2022 we were married for 40 years, but I've already been an SC fan before I married her, and one of my favorite SC stories is that the day we got married, we arrived at the church, and it was supposed to be a wedding that would pack the church. A lot of people wanted to come and see us get together, but the wedding was supposed to start at four o'clock, and like the church was less than half full on about 412 suddenly the doors opened, and this whole crowd came in, and the wedding went forward, only about 15 minutes late. Later, we tried to find out what it was that kept people away for so long. And what we heard was everyone was in their cars waiting for the end of the USC Notre Dame game. And since SC one, it was that God clearly was on our side.   Armando Contreras ** 08:25 I love that. Yeah, it's a great story. And my my sister, condolences for loss.   Michael Hingson ** 08:31 Well, thank you. You know she her body was just slowing down. She was in a wheelchair her whole life, and just in 2022, things were kind of catching up. And as I say, the spirit tends to move ahead of the body sometimes, and that's what happened. But she's watching somewhere, and if I misbehave, I'll hear about it. I'm not at all worried I'm going to try to be a good kid. But that's great that she did go to USC, and you said something else. I think that's really interesting to me, and that is that where you grew up, people were very nice and very friendly. And I think that is so often true, and a lot of times people stray into some of these areas and they think it's going to be horrible, and they they look for the worst, and they find it because they're not looking for the best. They're not looking to try to find friendly people and and it's so unfortunate that too many, too many times, we don't really look for the best in people. And unfortunately, then it comes out.   Armando Contreras ** 09:34 Well, you know, I I could only say great things about East LA and the barrio that I, that I grew up in, were there elements in there? Of course, sure you were, we were about a block away from from the gang activity, and you just had a choice, right? And thanks to my parents that were super strict, they didn't, they didn't allow me to make those kind of choices when I was younger. You know. To join the gangs, but that element was in front of you, you know, and some of them, some of the folks I still know today, some of them that were in gangs and stuff, now they've settled down. They have families, but I just have to say that there was a sense of community there where I grew up, even, even, or despite the elements that were around us. So yes, do I hear the negativity when they somebody mentions East Los Angeles? Yes, but I could, I have to say that even though we grew up in poverty and even though there was a lot of challenges for us as a family, I I really cherish the neighbors that were there. When I remember that the kind of those gatherings, we had nothing. So there was no we played, you know, with just a regular basketball or something. There was no communication via a cell phone or anything like that. Yeah. So, you know, I have only good things to say. And part of my upbringing there today, I realized that wow, I was I was working on a strategic plan without even knowing what a strategic plan was back in the day. Yeah.   Michael Hingson ** 11:17 Do you think that today it's harder, or there's more of that kind of activity, or is it just that people are now having their attention drawn more to it, and again, still, I think all too often deal with it in such a negative way. But do you think it's worse than it was?   Armando Contreras ** 11:36 I mean, if we're talking about, if we're talking about gang activity. I mean that still, I think, is just as prominent that today, unfortunately, than what it was this as it was back. You know, when I grew up in the night, in the 60s, I believe that leaders, community leaders, our representatives, really have to invest into communities, invest in education, invest in in jobs, right? Because people, naturally, some of them, will start looking for a way of making a living, and they may choose a different route. In addition to that, gangs and they become a family. So, you know, parents do need to, you know, also be aware of what their kids are doing, and support them and and nurture them and show them love, right? And because, if you really get to the bottom of it, and you start speaking to a gang member, she or he, there's underlining problems, and maybe comes from family. You know, there could be so many things that are happening, but I truly have a vision that that someday there's going to be more funds invested into communities like East Los Angeles, because a lot of great people come out of there, and I'm not talking about myself, but there's just a lot of good people, good hearted people, that really like to help their neighbor and others. When   Michael Hingson ** 13:10 I was selling in New York, when still living in California, and would go back and spend days at a time, I stayed at a particular hotel in midtown Manhattan, Near Time Square, and if I went out at night, every so often, somebody would come up and he would say, I'm one of the guardian angels. You're familiar with them? Yes. And he said, I'm with guardian angels. I want to walk with you. And I said, you know, you don't need to. And he said, I want to. And I didn't mind, but what I always felt and and experienced was if I treated people right, if I treated people like people, if I was I was treated like someone, and I didn't really need to fear any of the other kinds of things. Now, I'm sure there were crazies around, but in general, I really do think that if we would be a little bit more open to just accepting and not fear so much those things that we don't understand, or those kinds of communities that we're not as knowledgeable about, and I'm not so much thinking of the gangs, but just all the other communities, like East LA and watts and so on, we would be a whole lot better off, and we would learn to get along with people better.   Armando Contreras ** 14:31 I totally agree with that. I think it's building relationships, right, and getting to help and getting to know, you know, folks from different ethnicities, people with different abilities, right? It all comes together. Here is that, knowing them, respecting them, listening for understanding, and then building a friendship, right? And collaborating together. Um. For the betterment of humanity. That's what I believe, where it's at, and everybody has an opportunity to do that.   Michael Hingson ** 15:08 Yeah, and I just think that we, we, we somehow also need to get the politics out of providing the funds. And I don't know, it's just people have locked themselves into some very hard political decisions sometimes that that don't help the process at all.   Armando Contreras ** 15:26 Yeah? Michael, so yes, yes. Part of it is yes, taking out the politics, but the other part of it is bringing in the politics right? Is letting our our representatives, our public officials, and on the local level, on the municipality level, state level, on the federal level, to bring them in and know what the issues are, because we're all part of the fabric of society. Yeah, all somehow we do give, and we do contribute, and I don't, I don't care what ethnicity, what religion you are, if you if you have a disability, if you don't have a disability, we're all part of the society, and I believe that our representatives really need to know that and how we contribute in a very big way.   Michael Hingson ** 16:16 I think the biggest part is they need to be open to listening to hear that some do, some don't. And I am a firm believer in the fact that over time, all the issues that we need to deal with will get dealt with.   Armando Contreras ** 16:30 I believe so too, and I think those that those that don't listen to communities, for whatever reason it is that eventually somebody in their family or them may end up in that situation themselves, and then, you know, they'll begin to have that lived experience. But while they've had a chance to make a difference, and if they ignore it, then there was a window of opportunity for them to do something.   Michael Hingson ** 17:01 Yeah, well, and, and if they choose to ignore that again, I believe that things will will happen to deal with that, whatever it is, and hopefully it it doesn't a negative, horrible thing that has to happen to make them realize it. But I think in some cases, that has been what has occurred. But I have a lot of faith in the human race. Yes, so do I. Well, so you, what was your degree in from USC?   Armando Contreras ** 17:29 It was in business administration.   Michael Hingson ** 17:32 Ah. And did you go to any football games?   Armando Contreras ** 17:35 I did, yeah, good   Michael Hingson ** 17:36 for you. My wife did too. Yeah.   Armando Contreras ** 17:38 And, and most recently, most recently, I've gone to the last two USC UCLA games. So last year, it was great. It was fantastic. We were at the Rose Bowl at, you know, in UCLA territory this year, not so good. We were so good, not so good. We were at home at the Coliseum. And, you know, it didn't, it didn't work at a while, but it was a fun game. I   Michael Hingson ** 18:04 don't know, what do you think of the coach?   Armando Contreras ** 18:07 Um, I think that he's good, and I think that he will continue to be successful this year, this next year. I think it will be better this year. Yeah, I think so. And they got this young, this young man that showed up at the at the bowl game. I'm trying to remember Miller. I think it was Miller, and it was his name, and he showed up. He was a he, he did a fantastic job. And I do see a great future for him at USC and perhaps in in the in the NFL.   Michael Hingson ** 18:40 Well, it'll be fun. I know they got a new defensive coordinator and that they needed, so we'll, we'll see how it goes. But we won't bore everyone with football and our likes, but it's nevertheless, it's part of the world. So there you go, but then you went on to the University of San Francisco, right?   Armando Contreras ** 19:01 I did. So that was a few years later, and I graduated, I believe, in 2004 and I it was, it was something that drew me, and it was an opportunity for me to get a degree in Theology at a Jesuit university. So at that time, I was working for a faith based Catholic organization, a national organization called the National Catholic council for Hispanic ministry. And what we looked at overall in the United States were the issues of upper mobility for Hispanic Catholics for immigrants, or for our sisters and brothers that are immigrants, the issues that are happening with Hispanic families, education was a huge thing. You know, how do we how do we move, you know, our children that from, you know, grammar school to. Catholic high schools and perhaps Catholic universities were, yeah, unfortunate. Unfortunately, I have to say, is that there's not a whole lot of access, and we're the backbone of the Catholic Church, right? Because it's so expensive. So those were the things that that we were part of, and one of the opportunities that came about was attending the University of San Francisco and and I received, you know, I earned a degree in theology, master's degree, yes,   Michael Hingson ** 20:32 well, let's go back a little bit. So you graduated from SC then what did you do?   Armando Contreras ** 20:37 Well, then I had several jobs after that. I worked for a nonprofit in Los Angeles that helped people get jobs. And then after that, I believe, I went into a construction company as a contract administrator. I was here for maybe a year and a half or so, and then I went on for whatever reason I was interested in real estate. So then I worked for a corporation that did mortgage loans. And in that I met a gentleman who had his own real estate company, and then we decided to start our own real estate company. So I did that for about seven, seven years, and then I I got hired to work with this nonprofit, the National Catholic council that I just mentioned a little bit ago. I was there for about 10 and a half years. So I had I had a chance to travel around the nation and to meet with Hispanic Catholic leaders, lay leaders. I got to meet with religious orders of men and women from Jesuits, Franciscans, many other different orders. So it was, it was really a insightful time for me in those 10 and a half years about our church. And then after that, we moved from Los Angeles to Phoenix. And shortly after that, I got hired. Let's see here. I'm trying to remember the I got hired by governor Janet Napolitano, but I was her small business advocate, and in about 11 months, I moved into being a deputy director of a one of her departments, the Arizona register of contractors, and soon after that, I was on her cabinet. So I was honored to serve under Janet Napolitano when she moved to Washington, DC, because President Barack Obama appointed her as Secretary of Homeland Security. Then I moved on to the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, here Arizona, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. And then about a year later, then that's where I had folks come to me and said, there's an organization here that is the United Cerebral Palsy association of central Arizona. And I said, Well, I'm going to maybe put the word out and see who might be interested in that position, which was a CEO position. And then they said, No, we're looking for somebody like you. So to make a long story short, I got hired. And that was really a beginning of of a lot of things. I got hired not because I had the clinical background, or the researcher background, or that I had been involved with disabilities. I got hired so then I can take take that organization to another level, where they wanted to increase the revenues, they wanted to increase their brand awareness. They wanted to make sure that we had stronger collaborations in the community in Arizona, in in Phoenix, and that's why I got hired, to make sure that we enhance that to benefit the children and adults that we were serving.   Michael Hingson ** 24:05 Well. So what do you think about the differences since you've been in a position to have done both working in the for profit corporate kind of world, as opposed to working in the the nonprofit sector? That's,   Armando Contreras ** 24:21 that's Michael. That's a really interesting question, because there are similarities,   Michael Hingson ** 24:27 I know, and I've done the same thing. I've worked for both as well. Well,   Armando Contreras ** 24:31 look, you know, I'm working for a nonprofit, and those that are going to be listening to this, that are CEOs are working in development for both for profits and nonprofits. There's not a whole there's not a big difference there. Because we strive to be sustainable, like a for profit. We strive to look at years to come, because we want to be around and help people in the next 1015, 75, Years which we we're celebrating this year, our 75th anniversary. So part of our responsibility as a leader, as a president and CEO, is really looking beyond the years that you're going to be there. You can, you can serve for one year, 10 years, 20 years, 30 years. But really the i i truly believe that the test is, once you leave, will that organization continue to survive because of what you put together? So to answer your question, a lot of similarities between a for profit and a non profit. However, at the end of the day, the mission for us is to not make a profit, but to be sustainable so we can continue our life saving work   Michael Hingson ** 25:49 and for not, not for profits. Nonprofits generally tend to work more in an arena where they're trying to make a social difference. And although they're they're still selling products. The products are different. They're oftentimes less tangible, although a lot of the services that that they provide, like UCB, UCP provides and so on, end up being very tangible, but still there's there's an intangibility, but still, I agree with you that the reality is that they're very similar. Development is extremely similar to what a for profit company does. And in reality, when you're in development, you're in sales, and when you're in sales, you're in development, it's just that people have come up with two words for the same thing, but they're so similar in what you ultimately are trying to get from them, and ultimately, how you present to people who you want to be your customers or your donors, is so much the same as well.   Armando Contreras ** 27:00 Yeah, I agree with you, Michael, so in development, because I also have a background in fundraising, it's aligning with the folks that have the same vision and that would want to contribute for an impact that's happening in society. So with United Cerebral Palsy and our affiliates are providing direct services to children and adults with cerebral palsy and many other conditions. So there are people that are very, very generous, but I have to say that in the world of philanthropy now, donors are becoming a lot more informed, and they want to make sure that the dollar that they're going to donate, that it's going to go a long way. Yeah, so obviously they're looking at at administrative costs versus your program program costs, right? And that's a good thing. I encourage the philanthropic community to do that, to do their research and to pick those nonprofits in the United States or maybe around the world that are really making a huge impact. Michael, we we serve 100 and approximately 155,000 children and adults on an annual basis, and this is our affiliates that are working day in and day out to provide those services, vital services, life saving services, and services that maybe other organizations don't or people don't want to do. So those are the things that that people that are going to invest their return is really what's happening in the lives of 1000s and hundreds of 1000s of people. Many,   Michael Hingson ** 28:45 many years ago, I remember watching a little bit of a telethon. It was actually on Channel 13 out here, kcop, and it was back in what had to be the early to mid 80s, I think, and it was a telethon put on by the Society for the Prevention of blindness, which I don't even know whether they're around anymore, but at the end of the telethon, they had raised, I think, like $200,000 it was a local, Just independent television station doing it. But what we learned was that 95% of the cost of the telethon went to pay for it, and that the organization only ended up with about 5% of that $200,000 which is, of course, a real problem.   Armando Contreras ** 29:39 It is so like I mentioned before, is that today you're having more informed donors, right, that are looking at that ratio, right? Yeah, how much of their dollar is going to go to actual services, right? Versus cost for putting on a. For putting like you mentioned, a telethon today, there's not a whole lot of telethons going on. Have a million channels, but back in the day, I remember the channels 13, 574, and maybe 11 nine. Yeah, 11 nine. So there was a few more today. What do you have? 234, 100, and then more and all of that. There's other ways that I certainly believe that that can be as impactful and less expensive than the telethons. But sure, you bring up a really good point, is that if you're going to, if you're a donor, if you're a philanthropist, if you really want to have your money change people's lives, they have to do some homework. Yeah, they have to look at that nonprofit and to make sure that 90% of your dollars not going into it, and 90% is not going into it, administrative expenses. It   Michael Hingson ** 30:55 may well be that that 90% works or maybe a little bit less. You're spending a little bit more money on administration, if you can justify it, to say, but look out of that we are able to reach more people and thus get more money. But I do think it's, it's a it's a tight rope.   Armando Contreras ** 31:20 Yeah, I definitely agree with that, that you have to be strategic when you're out fundraising and your your case statement really has to be where it's so compelling that and then showing the data and and and bringing children and adults to tell their story, right of how their lives have been changed. Those are the storytelling is really part, one part, or a major part, of development and fundraising.   Michael Hingson ** 31:56 Well, tell us a little bit about UCP, the history and so on, if you would to inform more people about it.   Armando Contreras ** 32:02 Well, one, you know, I'm, I'm so excited to share with everybody that we're celebrating our 75th anniversary, right? Uh, 75 years of providing vital services, right? 75 years of having our direct service professionals, the folks that are working at home, under the home community based services. We have we have pre Ks, the different therapies that are out there. We have group homes, we have transportation, we have employment. There's so many things that we're bringing to the community. But it started in 1949 right? It started with concerned citizens and concerned parents, that they felt that in that time, which was a totally different world for people with disabilities, that they felt that something more had to happen, that no more can society or the doctors or people in authority can say, would your kids have to go to an institution no matter if they had Down syndrome? Well, maybe autism wasn't. Were so prevalent back then, maybe not as prevalent, but cerebral palsy, spinal bifid, all of that that their kids suddenly were taken away from their home.   Michael Hingson ** 33:22 Well, my parents were told by our doctors that they should send me to a home when it was discovered I was blind, and my parents rejected that, which was very fortunate, but   Armando Contreras ** 33:32 yeah, and good for your parents. And that's how it started, right? I think, I think a lot of nonprofits started in that way, but back in 1949 that's when a group of parents got together and said, we have to do something more right. Then today, we've evolved where we're in the disability world, there's greater access than there was before, there's more inclusion than there was before, right? We're trying at least that used because UCP national and our affiliates, we're trying to help people be more independent, if it's through legislation, research, therapies, everything that we're trying to do. And we're very we're very centric to those issues that are out there, and we're trying to make a huge difference. So what I'm looking at is, I'm looking at another 75 years and that United Cerebral Palsy. One we're trying to in here. Four goals. One is brand awareness. Also let folks know about our 75th year anniversary. But one of the bigger things Michael that is the challenge for us is that United Cerebral Palsy serves children and adults with cerebral palsy and other conditions, so we're trying to bring that message out. And figuring out, how can we let the community know that if your child has Down syndrome autism, that we are there providing vital services for for them as well. The next goal is development, or what we just spoke about, connecting with the philanthropic community, because we, while a lot of our affiliates rely on government funding and reimbursement, I believe that there's another level that we have to engage with, and that's the philanthropic community right. There are millions and millions of dollars. Michael, I go to this to a an event called the heckling event in Orlando, I've been going there for now five years, and those professionals that are working with Planned Giving, some of them will come to me and say that their clients don't know where to give their money to. That's why we're present there, and that's why other profits are there too, as well. Is that we need to educate the community that that you can actually invest in something that's going to bring back this return of investment, but more of a humanity return, and something that's going to be great for society. The other goal that we have is advocacy. So we're known throughout the federal government, the Biden administration, as well as the Trump administration community, communicated with us, especially during COVID So we had communications with the White House. We still do. We're engaged at the Congress and Senate level with various representatives and senators to make sure that they create legislation that's going to be beneficial for our for the for the disability community, and that we don't ever go back to the institutions that that would be their only option. Unfortunately, Michael, today, there's still institutions that exist, not as many as before, but there's still institution the last goal we have is to grow our footprint, not only nationally, but but internationally. So we're having discussions locally, in places that were not present, to grow our footprint, to see how we can collaborate. We're also having, I'm having conversations with people on the global level, like the International cerebral palsy society, like aacpdm, the Academy for cerebral palsy. I've been invited twice, once, well, I got invited last year to the International Congress on cerebral palsy in Mexico City, I got invited again. I was their president, and I gave a speech. And I got invited again this year, in March, I'll be in medida Yucatan at an international congress again, and that brings a lot of awareness for us, brand awareness, and the main thing is really collaboration. So I kind of touched upon some of the some of the goals, Michael, and some of the things that important things and vital things that our affiliates are doing. So if there's, if there's something else that you want me to elaborate, I'd be glad, more than glad to do. So how are   Michael Hingson ** 38:19 you working toward creating more and better brand awareness to the general population?   Armando Contreras ** 38:27 Well, one of the things that we're doing, given that we have this window of opportunity that we're celebrating our 75th year, and that begins in that started in February, and we'll go all the way through January 31 is that one, we have a lot of partners out there that are doing things like you're doing access to be right, that invited me on this program. And that's one of the beautiful things that in social media, it's not it's not very expensive for us to be out there. So we're using the media vehicles such as LinkedIn, Facebook and the others that are out there. And we're also using YouTube to spread the message out there. So we're we're also sharing the stories of our affiliates and their accomplishments and the people that are being served, the parents and their children, so they can share those great stories that sometimes are miracle stories because of the people that are serving them and providing quality services, care and love. So that's one vehicle. The other one is that I I was on 26 I traveled to 26 locations last year, so I'm also providing that message out there. And then within our affiliate network, they're also doing marketing, and they're doing. Brand awareness as well. So it's a whole it's really this whole core nation that we want, not only the nation, no, but globally. Let the people know who is you at UCP and United Cerebral Palsy,   Michael Hingson ** 40:16 what caused UCP to add in as part of the services that are provided, services for people with downs and autism, as opposed to just UCP   Armando Contreras ** 40:32 or UCP. Yeah, so if I go back to when I was at the local United Cerebral Palsy the UC central Arizona. It just happened to be that the programs, the same programs that were provided for children and adults with cerebral palsy, also were beneficial to other conditions. I'm not a researcher, but when there's a breakthrough in cerebral palsy or in autism or in a different condition, they try to see if that same breakthrough will help people with different conditions. What we do know is that the therapies that are being offered to children and adults with cerebral palsy, those same types of therapies are also impactful to other conditions. So what was happening is that, then parents started to to, I guess, the word went out, and what we have across the board in the United States is that we have a high percentage of non cerebral palsy clients, or we'll call them family members, that are are getting services because that's much needed. One Michael is like respite, like respite care. You know any, any family can use that rest, that respite care, no matter what the condition is. So if you're offering that, then you can offer it to the disability community, a broad range of of people that have various conditions,   Michael Hingson ** 42:13 which makes perfect sense, because a lot of the care that needs to be provided is very similar. Well, or is the same? Yes, well, you know, you, I understand, had a an involvement with cancer, and you survived that. How has that affected you and in your attitude? Because, clearly, you're a very sensitive person and very much involved in community and family and helping people. But what, what was the whole situation with you in cancer?   Armando Contreras ** 42:42 You know, I think it's that. I think that's, it's the experience that all people go through when they first hear that you have cancer, right? First thought is, are you going to survive? You know, the first, first thing that comes to you is that it's, it's terminal, right? You're not going to get through it. You know this when you hear news like that, and you know, maybe it's the same as parents hearing that their child has cerebral palsy or disability, you know, you just, you just, it's a scary moment. It's a scary time. So what? Yeah, it was a difficult time for me and for my family, especially, I think my family knowing that I had transitional carcinoma, high grade, and it was a it was a tumor in my bladder that was nine and a half centimeters. I haven't really talked about it a lot, but it's been 10 years. So February, when I had seen that as a suggestion, like you want to talk about that, my first thought was, No, I think I'm going to skip it. But a few seconds later, I said, maybe it's time for me to share with the community, because it's been 10 years since I was diagnosed so and I'll try to make this short, I got diagnosed huge tumor. They had asked me if I wanted that tumor to be taken out, otherwise I could die. And I said, of course. So they took out the tumor. I had a brilliant surgeon that did that. And then after that, they basically said to me that if I don't, if I don't do radical surgery, taking out my bladder, taking out some lymph nodes, my prostate, that I wouldn't live very long, that I had really, like a 35% chance or less to live. So I had said that I wanted to put a pause on this rush, and that perhaps there's an option out there, perhaps there was another way, because I knew that billions of dollars have been raised for cancer. And maybe because this is a whole new journey for me, that the cure was somewhere out there. Well, after going to five different doctors for second opinions, they all said the same to me, that I only had one choice, and that choice radical surgery. And even after that, even after that, I was still I was confused, I was scared, but I was still. There was a pause that I felt that maybe there was something out there. So thanks to my sister, she really saved my life. She connected me with the scientists that she was researching, and that scientist said, you know, I only, I've only done lab studies on this particular oil called frankincense oil. I haven't done any clinical studies, and today, Michael, there's still no clinical studies on frankincense oil. So I started doing that three months after they they took the tumor out. I had 20 more tumors come back in my bladder. But they were small. They were lesions. So I just asked them to scrape, scrape them. The doctors were furious with me. I get it. I mean, that was, that was a protocol. I totally get it, you know. But something, people say that I had a lot of courage. I'm not sure if it was, like just something, it could have been something was telling you. I mean, I definitely there was a lot of prayer during that time. Yeah, a lot of prayer happening at that time. I just couldn't see myself dying, and I didn't want that to happen. So just to kind of, like, kind of close on this is that when those 20 tumors came back, they scraped them. They were supposed to be a lot more coming back, or it was going to invade my body. Three months later, I had nothing, absolutely nothing. Three months after that, I had six lesions come back, and that was March of 2015, so it's been nine years since the last reoccurrence. It's been 10 years since I was diagnosed, and I get checked very often. Once a year in the beginning, I would go in and get checked every three months. So it's been quite the miracle. But I have to say, this is that one I changed. I had changed my diet at the time for about four and a half years, I was strictly doing a lot of juicing, no sugar, a lot of prayer, a lot of family love, a lot of support. I did the frankincense oil. So I think in a comprehensive way, that helped me, and that gave me another option. And I'm very grateful for that, and I'm very grateful that every day I wake up and I say to God, thank you for sparing me. But on the advocacy side, Michael, I just didn't leave it there. I've had conversations with with the with the University of Arizona, with the Arizona State University, with Cancer Centers of America, with St Joseph's Hospital, with my alma mater, USC, and the last conversation I had was with Georgetown University, and these were top CEOs. And I was sharing my documentation, because I have it all there. But sadly, I have to say that they're not interested. They're not interested in a cure, and I'll continue to pursue it when the opportunity continues on, but it's only my story, and I didn't want to leave it where. Well, Lord, thank you so much. You know it never came back, so thank you. No, I have a responsibility to figure out some ways, somehow, that my my story, can turn into a clinical study, and that someday, and maybe not in my my time, that there's going to be an option for millions of people that will contract cancers. So that's my story in a nutshell. Thank you for asking.   Michael Hingson ** 49:04 So what did the frankincense oil actually do? I assume that you feel it was a very significant part of your ability to deal with it.   Armando Contreras ** 49:12 Yeah, it's a good question, because medically, I can't tell you, because we haven't done right? Yeah, we haven't done clinical studies. And I've been, I've been asking these universities and these hospitals and these cancer firms, you know that are out there, and said, Why don't we do the clinical studies so you can so you can see exactly what it did. I can't tell you that what it did. The only thing I can tell you is that is that as they, as they as they took samples of the cancerous tumors. So you had the big tumor, and then the 20 small tumors, and then you had the six lesions that, according to the scientists, dr, dr Lynn, HK Lynn, what he did see is that the cancer cells were becoming less aggressive. And at the end, some of the cancer cells actually turn into good cells. Now, you know, people can believe that or not. I'm I'm okay with that. Sure, only thing I'm saying, Michael is that there should be, there should be clinical studies on this, because I believe it would save hundreds of 1000s of lives. What was it? We don't know. Was it the combination? Is it the combination of me juicing on a daily basis for four and a half years? Was it that, as a Catholic, you know, I was going through all the different sacraments, prayers and healing masses? So I believe there was a holistic healing process. And then my family that was supporting me during a very difficult time,   Michael Hingson ** 50:49 sounds to me like it's time to write a book.   Armando Contreras ** 50:54 I've I've been asked many times, and I think when I think, when, when I feel that, that when I'm ready for that, that, yeah, that's that will happen.   Michael Hingson ** 51:03 Yes, you've got to, you've got to feel ready and feel that it's the right time. But that might be one way to bring visibility to it. Yes, well, you know, you you value family a lot. I understand that there are music connections in your family, has music always been a part of your life or   Armando Contreras ** 51:24 or, yeah, I think I think so. I think that. Well, I know so, because when I was the trumpet player, young trumpet player at St Lucy's Catholic Church, a few years later, my lovely wife, Norma, joined the choir. I didn't know she was married, but she joined the choir. And you know, we have this thing that she doesn't agree with me, but I say, hey, when I when I met you, when I seen you, was love at first sight. And and I said, but not for you. It took a while. And she says, no, no, but so So music, I was playing trumpet, normal was singing. And then later we got married, and then we had our first child. Was Andrea, Andrea Michelle, our daughter, our beautiful daughter, who's with child today, her and her husband, Fabian. So she knew that in our home there was a lot of music happening, and if it was church or at home. And then our second child, Armando, Michael, he started catching on a little bit, but we started to notice that he started to sing and sing right in tune. And then we said, hey, maybe there's something here. So his first recital in Los Angeles, he's saying pop by the Sailor Man and over the rainbow. And he did pretty good. So later he joined as a as a young child, you know, five years old, he joined the choir at St Lucy's. And then we moved. We moved from, we moved from Los Angeles over to Phoenix, Arizona, which was a great blessing being here. And we then were exploring how we can continue to support his talent. And he joined the Grammy Award winning Phoenix boys choir, and that's where he began to sing. Got to meet some wonderful people. They had wonderful directors there, and had a great experience. That experience led him to fall in love with the classics. Oh, there he began to be part of some of the local, local opera performances. So to make a long story short, Norma, my wife and I supported him. He went to the Cleveland Institute of Music, from there in vocals, and then from there, he went to the University of Missouri in Kansas City for his masters. And today he's a professional opera singer. He's a baritone. So it's it's been amazing. All our kids are amazing. I also have to mention that our youngest Andrew, Matthew. He went to Gonzaga University and then graduated from Lewis and Clark in clinical psychology. He's worked with a lot of kids with disabilities. He's a drummer and he's a guitar player. So yes, music is a big part of our family.   Michael Hingson ** 54:28 Well, it is getting to be that time of the year that Gonzaga will become visible again as we get back down to march madness. I actually, I actually had the pleasure of going up there once to speak and and I hadn't really known a lot about Gonzaga at the time, and they were the ones who told me, however, one always said, Where is Gonzaga? You know what? What kind of a place is it? And so I've kept up with it ever since, but it is kind of funny that their basketball team is good. Yeah.   Armando Contreras ** 54:59 Yeah, it's a, it's a beautiful place. It's a great Jesuit university. We, I, you know, he had a great experience. This is Andrew. He had a great experience out there. So, yes, I totally agree. Yeah, we had a chance to go out to Bob, trying to remember the city here. Spokane, yeah, yeah, yeah. Spokane, various times with him,   Michael Hingson ** 55:25 that's pretty cool. Well, so is he professionally doing music now? No, so,   Armando Contreras ** 55:30 So Andrew, our youngest, he's professionally now a clinical psychologist. Ah, yeah, now and now. Armando, Michael, he is a professional opera singer, right? And that's what he does. So, you know, his, his, one of his dreams, is going to be singing at the Metropolitan Ooh, we do see that perhaps happening within a year or two, because they he'll be, right? He'll be auditioning for that, probably very soon, and he's very young. He's just 34 years old.   Michael Hingson ** 56:03 So that'd be super What would you like people to know about the disability community in general, when we think about disabilities, you know, when there's so many prejudices, what would you like people to know and in terms of disabilities and how to maybe change attitudes, yeah,   Armando Contreras ** 56:23 well, they're definitely part of the fabric of society, and we, nobody, not me, or anybody else in in any organization, can speak for them. We need to allow for them and give them that opportunity and space to voice their concerns, to voice whatever joy they have, to voice things that we need to hear in our community. We have to provide while we're here in the United States, and there's been laws that have been enacted, enacted that laws now have to be updated. We have antiquated laws that do not even pay people with disabilities even minimum wage, right? So, so that we really have to be conscious of a community that is part of our society. We need to engage. Furthermore, we have to collaborate. We need them as public, public officials. They need to run for office, right? Some of them do. They have to be part of the decision making, decisions that are being made from all levels of government, all levels of corporation, all levels of nonprofits. And that's the way, that's the way I really see it. Is that, and we also have to have breakthroughs in research, right? What are some of the things that that we can do so we can those lives can be more that they would have more of a more access, right? That even if you go to certain states in the United States that I've been, there's not even accessibility for wheelchairs. And just speak about the airlines, right? How, how and why are people thinking in those corporations that a person that has a disability can easily go into their bathrooms. There's no way, right flying, especially if it's a long flight. So no, there's, there's been some great things Michael that have, that have evolved and happened through a collaboration of a lot of advocates, and a lot of them are self advocates, but we still have a long way to go.   Michael Hingson ** 59:08 Yeah, and I think that's absolutely true. So what is UCP Inc doing to celebrate its 75th anniversary? What kinds of plans do you have and where do you go from here?   Armando Contreras ** 59:19 Well, we do have a an annual conference coming up in Orlando, and this year in April. So that's a good thing for us, you know. But the bigger thing for us is to celebrate is really bringing that education, bringing that awareness of what we're doing, not only in here in the United States, but we also have affiliates in Canada. So as we celebrate, part of our celebration is educating the society about exactly what we do and please, you know, knock on our door for for help. So that's that's really part of it. The other part of it is acknowledge. Gene, the folks that started UCP back in 1949 right? Like the, like the golden sins, and also the housemans and many others that that have helped us get through the 75 years.   Michael Hingson ** 1:00:18 Yeah, well, it's, a great milestone to be able to celebrate 75 years, and I am sure that you, with your background, is very concerned about making sure that there is great sustainability for the future, which is really important and cool that you're thinking about that, because it's something that always needs to be with us in whatever we're doing. That's a good thing. Any kind of last thoughts that you have that you want to convey to people who are listening or watching us.   Armando Contreras ** 1:00:51 Yes, one is first, I want to share my gratitude for inviting me, Michael. And then second, please reach out to us the disability community. Please find us@ucp.org we may be in your backyard. If there are organizations out there that want to become an affiliate of United Cerebral Palsy, please reach out to us as well. We are here. We want to continue to be here for the next 75 years, so that our community can be part and be an inclusive part of our society. That we can bring that help, bring that independence, but we can continue to see those miracles, that children that we're told, and families that were told that they would never walk. I've seen them walk, and were physicians that said to a mom and dad that their child would never move or never speak, and I've seen them hug their parents and tell them that they love them, right? And we want to continue to make those miracles happen through therapies, through early detection, through early intervention, all these forms of of of a reach that we have through United Cerebral Palsy in the United States and Canada and and watched for us in the near future as we begin to go global, and that's really a vision that that I have. But and also, again, is that it's important to know that we know that I know that, Michael, you know that is that everybody is a fabric at society, some way, somehow, no matter their abilities. And that's really important, important message for people to know.   Michael Hingson ** 1:02:43 I agree. Well, I want to thank you for being here with us and conveying all this information, and I hope people will take it to heart and that they'll support UCP and and reach out and learn more about the organization and that you are doing, and will continue to do a lot to just help people in general, with disabilities, which is cool. I appreciate that, and I want to thank Go ahead. No, no.   Armando Contreras ** 1:03:10 I just wanted to thank and I also want to thank accessibe, right? That's how we got here. So I really thank them for what they're doing and providing. I love their model that they have. They have a for profit, a for profit model. However, the services that they, that they provide for nonprofits, are free, and that's that's amazing. So we're really happy with the services, the access services for websites, the accessibility that they're providing for people in the disability community to have that access. Well,   Michael Hingson ** 1:03:48 thank you, and we're excited about the time ahead and and I think that's that's a good thing, and we'll all work to make it happen. Well, I want to thank everyone who was listening and watching today. We really appreciate it. I hope that you'll give us a five star rating wherever you're observing our podcast. We value that. Love it. If you'd reach out to me, give me your thoughts, your opinions and Armando for you and for all of our guests, our listeners and so on today, if you know of anyone else who ought to be a guest on unstoppable mindset, please let us know. Provide introductions. We're always looking for guests. You can reach out to me directly at Michael H, i@accessibe.com that's m, I, C, H, A, E, L, H, I at accessibe, A, C, C, E, S, S, I, B, e.com, or go to our podcast page, www dot Michael hinkson.com/podcast, and Michael Hinkson is spelled M, I C, H, A, E, L, H, I N, G, S o, n.com/podcast, so we really do value all the thoughts and and information and suggestions that people provide. Yeah, as I think I've mentioned to many of you before, I also do travel and speak, especially after September 11, 2001 if anyone needs a speaker, please reach out. You can get me easiest at speaker at Michael hingson.com but however you do it, you've got all sorts of ways to reach out to me. Love to hear from you. And you know, once again, Armando, I want to thank you very much for being here, and thank you for all of your time today.   Armando Contreras ** 1:05:24 Michael, thank you many blessings to you and your family, and many blessings to everybody out there who is going to listen to this podcast interview.   Michael Hingson ** 1:05:39 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.

Send us a textI recently came back from an eight day solo travel trip to Austin, Texas. Anyone who uses a wheelchair knows that traveling is hard. It was a learning experience and I decided to share the top five disability experiences I had on my journey. Big shout out to all the people I met and who made the experience so memorable.This episode is about growth, connection, and learning from your past.Follow me on social media at @offthecrutchpod or e-mail me at offthecrutch@gmail.comTo donate to my United Cerebral Palsy campaign click here, https://give.classy.org/travisdavis

Send us a Text Message.Something I enjoy regularly is giving talks to physical therapy students about cerebral palsy. In today's episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing three physical therapy students in a class I spoke in last year. This episode is unique because all four of us, Aly West, Cameron Samrai, and Dillon Werner, were together in one room. We had an hour-long conversation that included their reflections on that class, questions about cerebral palsy, and my honest views on how physical therapy impacts me.I also wanted to let you know that this month, I've been involved in a fundraising campaign for United Cerebral Palsy, a national non-profit that provides services and programs to individuals with disabilities. The campaign ends at the end of next month, and if you would like to donate, please check out the link below.Follow me or send me an e-mail at@offthecrutchpodoffthecrutch@gmail.comTo donate to my United Cerebral Palsy campaign click here, https://give.classy.org/travisdavis

Today on the Rarified Heir Podcast, we are talking to Brad James, son of game show host and television icon, Dennis James. We loved talking to Brad because of all the many connections his dad had to early – and we mean early – television that connected with host Josh Mills own family in early television. Fans of classic television should appreciate this episode as we talk about televisions earliest beginning when there were literally just a few hundred sets in the New York metropolitan area. From there we discuss all the many game shows Dennis James was a part of including landmark shows like: The New Price is Right, Let's Make a Deal and Name That Tune as well as obscure shows like Haggis Baggis, Cash and Carry and Name's The Same. It's why he was known as the “Dean of Game Shows.” We are just scratching the surface here as James worked on commercials, radio, movies and became a philanthropic juggernaut when he hosted the first-ever telethon for united Cerebral Palsy Associations as emcee that continued well into the 1990s. In fact, after his father passed away in 1997, Brad took over that role as host to help keep his father's life work alive. Along the way, we talk golf & Kevin Costner, a skinny kid from New Jersey like James named Sinatra who came up through the ranks together and how his father raised – get this $750 million dollars in his five decades of work for United Cerebral Palsy. There is also a story about Foster Brooks and a gun that entertained us to no end. So please, take a listen to the Rarified Heir Podcast with guest Brad James. Everyone has a story.

Until 1976, Dennis James appeared on television more times than any other TV star. He was the first person to raise more than $750 million for United Cerebral Palsy. He hosted the Cerebral Palsy Telethon for 47 years with Paul Anka, Florence Henderson, and others. Dennis started out in radio at WAAT in Jersey City and then WNEW in New York City.  On television he worked on “The Price is Right,” “Let's Make a Deal,” and “Truth or Consequences.” Dennis guest starred on “77 Sunset Strip” and “Fantasy Island.” On the big screen he appeared in “Rocky III” and others. He was the on-air spokesperson for Old Gold cigarettes and Kellogg's cereals. 

Shoot us a Text.Employees of the 16-dealership Wilson Automotive Group in Orange County, CA, have donated an impressive amount to various charities this year. Find out how much on today's show.This annual donation is made in lieu of giving their boss, David Wilson, a birthday and Christmas gift, reflecting their generous spirit and community-minded values.Current recipients include Orangewood, Olivecrest, Lakers Youth Foundation, United Cerebral Palsy, and the American Cancer Society.Hosts: Paul J Daly and Kyle MountsierGet the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/ JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/ Read our most recent email at: https://www.asotu.com/media/push-back-email

It's March, which means it's Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month! Last April, I had the fortunate  opportunity to speak at the United Cerebral Palsy Annual Conference in Las Vegas, NV. I shared my story of reslience and how I live my life with cerebral palsy.  Because this month means so much to me, I thought it would be appropriate to have on CEO and President of United Cerebral Palsy, Armando Contreras to share about the organization and how it helps people with disabilities. Armando has been the CEO for the past 7 years and under his leadership, the organization has seen the highest grown during its upcoming 75th year. Enjoy!To learn more about United Cerebral Palsy, go to https://ucp.org/Follow me @offthecrutch or e-mail me at offthecrutch@gmail.com

In this episode, we sit down with Cammie Wayne, the heart and soul behind Cammie's Old Dutch Ice Cream Shoppe, a place that holds a special place in the hearts of Mobilians. Starting as a teenager working at the shop, Cammie later took a bold step to purchase the establishment from the original owner, Mr. Widemire. Tune in as Cammie shares the intricate process behind the creation of her distinctive ice cream, a product of dedication and hard work that clearly sets her apart in the competitive market. From taking the courageous step to start making ice cream on-site to tirelessly crafting a mind-blowing array of flavors, Cammie's journey is nothing short of inspiring.Cammie goes beyond just discussing ice cream; she shares touching narratives of how her shop has become a vibrant hub where people come together, united by the love for sweet treats. She also gives us a sneak peek into the exciting expansion plans lined up, including branching out to Fairhope, promising more folks the joy that a scoop from Old Dutch brings.Don't miss out on this episode where Cammie Wayne lays it all out - the challenges, the triumphs, and the sheer joy of running Cammie's Old Dutch. It's a story of passion, community, and, of course, the finest ice cream in Mobile.Local Restaurants Mentioned: Butch Cassidy'sTaco MamaWintzell's Oyster HouseRoostersDumbwaiterDebrisChuck's FishEllenJayBake My DayAloha Made BBQGambino's Flavors of Cammie's Old Dutch Ice Cream Mentioned:PeppermintChocolate ChipCreole PralineBischoff CookieGerman ChocolateCarrot CakeBanana Nut BreadKing CakeMoon PieChristmas Tree CakeVanillaDon't miss the 14th Food & Folly event at Ft. Whiting on September 21st, where you can indulge in gourmet samples from over 20 local restaurants and enjoy fine wines, craft beers, and spirits, all while grooving to the Excelsior Band's carnival music. Organized by the Richardson Wealth Management Group, this event promises a night of fun with a silent auction and wine grab, and supports the United Cerebral Palsy of Mobile in aiding clients with disabilities across 32 south Alabama counties; find out more and grab your tickets at ucpmobile.org.If you enjoy the Port City Plate Podcast, consider buying Chris a coffee. (Locally owned, of course!)Support the Show Share the best dish you've had in Mobile! Join the Port City Plate Facebook GroupAll episodes are presented by Bienville Bites Food Tour. Take a guided walking tour through Downtown Mobile while tasting your way through the best food and drink in town! Book a Bienville Bites Food TourBook a tour with our sister tour company in beautiful, Fairhope, Alabama! Book a Taste of Fairhope Food Tour

On this episode of the Port City Plate Podcast, host Chris Andrews welcomes the culinary mastermind behind Sheepshead Eats, Rob Varner. Immerse yourself in the life of chef, from the classrooms of Le Cordon Bleu to the kitchens of Mobile, Alabama. Discover the story of a chef who not only masters the art of cooking but brings a dining experience right to your doorstep with Sheepshead Eats.We talk about Rob's early days where his love for cooking was ignited. His time at culinary school, working at a multiple James Beard Award winning restaurant in New Orleans, to the creation of the cult legend that is the 504 Pizza at O Daly's. Discover how Rob transformed the pandemic's adversity into an opportunity, venturing into personal chef services that bring a five-star restaurant experience straight to your dining table. Venture further into the episode as Chris and Rob discuss the unforgettable dining experience curated specially for Chris and his close ones. Engage in a lively discussion that walks you through a “greatest hits” meal featuring dishes that are nothing short of a culinary spectacle, from Delta Dumplings to the iconic King Cake Bread Pudding. Finally, we end this episode with a conversation about where Rob sees Sheepshead Eats evolving along with a conversation on a multitude of local restaurants and dishes in our final segments, 'Meat and Three' and 'Chris's Dishes'.  You don't want to miss all of the good food in this episode! Local Restaurants Mentioned in this Episode:Felix's Fish CampFiveWintzell's Oyster HouseO Daly'sChicken DistrictHammeredCowThe OutsiderNoJaNoble SouthDebrisAroy ThaiShishoVandals Street KitchenFront Yard TacosMarket By the BayPot of PhoSatsuma ChevronSouthwood KitchenBay Breeze CafeBariachi Mexican KitchenBB.Q ChickenDon't miss the 14th Food & Folly event at Ft. Whiting on September 21st, where you can indulge in gourmet samples from over 20 local restaurants and enjoy fine wines, craft beers, and spirits, all while grooving to the Excelsior Band's carnival music. Organized by the Richardson Wealth Management Group, this event promises a night of fun with a silent auction and wine grab, and supports the United Cerebral Palsy of Mobile in aiding clients with disabilities across 32 south Alabama counties; find out more and grab your tickets at ucpmobile.org.If you enjoy the Port City Plate Podcast, consider buying Chris a coffee. (Locally owned, of course!)Support the Show Share the best dish you've had in Mobile! Join the Port City Plate Facebook GroupAll episodes are presented by Bienville Bites Food Tour. Take a guided walking tour through Downtown Mobile while tasting your way through the best food and drink in town! Book a Bienville Bites Food TourBook a tour with our sister tour company in beautiful, Fairhope, Alabama! Book a Taste of Fairhope Food Tour

Hosts Dave Kawada and Aaron Mikami with special guests John Nishida (Executive Director of United Cerebral Palsy of Hawaii) and Ron Lee (Saint Louis Football Head Coach).

Lauren LoGiudice: grew up in the Howard Beach section of Queens, New York. After graduating from Wesleyan University,  she obtained the American India Foundation William J. Clinton Fellowship Award for service in India. During her tenure in Bangalore, India, she worked with a non-profit organization that served victims of AIDS and studied Bharata Natyam. After attending Lakme Fashion Week in Bombay, Lauren decided to pursue acting back in New York. When she returned, she studied at the most prestigious acting schools and teachers in New York: Michael Howard Studios, the T. Schreiber Conservatory, Scott Freeman and privately with Lynn Singer, under whom she began seriously studying vocal production, and learned to speak without a New York accent, which greatly expanded her casting options and opportunities. Her TV and film credits include Veep, Bittersweet Monday, and Galaxy360. A Moth StorySLAM Champ, her work has been featured by The New York Times, BBC, Bust Magazine, McSweeney's Internet Tendency, Hyperallergic, La Voce di New York, among others. Her writing has been called "criminal." Lauren was cast in numerous national and regional commercials, including Zappos' scandalous "More Than Just Shoes" campaign. Her multi-character projects include her autobiographical solo show Queens Girl, which toured worldwide - Stockholm Pride invited LoGiudice to perform Queens Girl in their cultural festival. The production was noted by Backstage as a valuable performance and marketing tool; Garbo Dreams, a site-specific play about Greta Garbo of which The Red Room performances with Michael Arenella were given mention in The New York Times; and Yule Log With Friends, an interactive video project featured at High 5 Gallery, with Reviews that said, “While you watch the characters go about their lives you'll see the influences from Sacha Baron Cohen and Tracey Ullman.” Her show The Melania Trump Road Show: Get Out the Vote and Get Me Out of the White House of Garbage toured virtually due to the pandemic and then wrote a book: INSIDE MELANIA: What I learned about Melania Trump by impersonating her!! She produced three short films: Bridal Party (premiered at the Gotham Screen Film Festival), Yes and No, and Reality Check, as well as the web series Ciao Grandma….. LoGiudice debuted over 15 sketch comedy characters on her YouTube channel, including Principal Mary Poppins. She began ANCESTRY DOT COMEDY:  A variety show for anyone who's ever looked at their family and thought: How did I get here? Giving space for: DNA surprises; donor-conceptions; family; genetics, the absurdity of life in general! Always very busy, Lauren has endorsed several non-profit causes throughout her career. She hosted a photography exhibition by Javier Gomez, voted People Magazine's Sexiest Artist Alive, to benefit Strengthen Our Sisters, a grassroots, community based nonprofit serving homeless/battered women and children. LoGiudice has also supported United Cerebral Palsy. Follow Lauren at: @laurenlogi and laurenlogiudice.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ozzie-stewart/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On tomorrow's Make A Difference Minute, I'll be highlighting Leslie Walker and her work with United Cerebral Palsy as she helps make facilities, including lodging facilities, sensory-friendly. Sponsor: The Alabama Pecan Company AlabamaPecanCo.com

On tonight's show, I have Kimberly Dalberto with Visit North Alabama, Emma Lansdell with Montesano State Park, Dr. Ryan Gibson with Holistic Performance Group, Mariah Gullatte with AC Hotels by Marriott Huntsville Downtown, & Leslie Walker with United Cerebral Palsy. We just finished North Alabama Flawless Delivery and they're sharing their stories and how the past two days went. This two day training was courtesy of Alabama Tourism (Sweet Home Alabama) and Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association.

David P. Bennett serves as the Senior Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations at Howard University. In this role, David provides strategic vision, and leads the critical work of developing campaigns and activities that will enhance philanthropic support and alumni engagement for the University. David is an energetic leader with more than 25 years of experience advancing development strategies for organizations with national and international focus. Most recently he led all philanthropic programs globally for one of the world's largest nonprofit organizations, the National Geographic Society. Serving as Chief Development Officer, his responsibilities included managing a portfolio of trustees and high net-worth donors and prospects, overseeing all international fundraising efforts and providing direction for several keys areas including principal and major gifts, planned giving, annual giving, and stewardship. In addition, he helped to build a network of fundraising and programmatic offices for National Geographic around the world. David has a proven track record of building close, collaborative, and transparent relationships across teams, creating strategies that increase engagement, and driving campaigns that exceed their target goal.Prior to joining National Geographic, David was Chief Advancement Officer of Safe Kids Worldwide, an international injury prevention organization. In this role, he was responsible for the fundraising, communications, and public policy functions of an organization with over 350 affiliates in the United States and operations in 17 other countries. His previous experience also includes serving as vice president of United Cerebral Palsy of America and as director of the Fundraising and Sponsorship Group of Odell, Simms, & Lynch, a consulting firm that provide services to nonprofit organizations. Early in his career, Bennett worked in federal politics as a finance director for two United States Senate campaigns and as a fundraiser for a national political party.David earned a Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia.

Dan RossiDan discusses his coming out process, life on the east coast and other topics, including his vast experience heading up several large non-profits.Prior to his current job as Executive Director of the Palm Springs Animal Shelter, Dan  was with the Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh, where he led the very successful Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh over 12 years. Dan is a Pittsburgh native and holds a Bachelor's Degree from Carnegie-Mellon University, as well as a Master's Degree from Robert Morris University. His extensive nonprofit experience spans not only animal welfare but also human health, having served as CEO of United Cerebral Palsy of Central Arizona, part of the United Cerebral Palsy network which is one of the largest health nonprofits in the United States. Dan's animal welfare journey really took off in 2010 when he accepted the role of Executive Director at the Animal Rescue League. Under his leadership the ARL experienced unprecedented growth and became the largest animal shelter in the Pittsburgh region, touching the lives of more than 25,000 animals and 30,000 households annually. In 2017, Dan was named CEO of Humane Animal Rescue – the legacy organization of the merged Animal Rescue League and Western PA Humane Society.Dan  is married to his husband Ed Garofolo and they live with their pets in Palm Springs, California.Visit the Palm Springs Animal Shelter: https://psanimalshelter.orgPhoto: Copyright Wilkinson/2022Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Today on the Rarified Heir Podcast we are talking to Brad James, son of legendary television personality Dennis James. We talk to Brad about his dad's career that began in New Jersey radio in the 1940s (where he became friends with a young Frank Sinatra) and moved to television in New York shortly after. A man of firsts, Dennis James (aka The Dean of Game Show Hosts) was the first person to: appear in a television commercial, host a wrestling event on television, emcee a variety show, appear on video tape, appear in an infomercial and on and on and on. The man started in television when there were likely only 300 in the entire New York area. He went on to have a 6 decade career as a host of the United Cerebral Palsy telethon which raised a billion dollars over the years, hosted a variety of game shows like Name That Tune and The New Price Is Right as well as play himself in films like Rocky IIIand The One and Only. Somehow we get through all of this and find time to discuss meeting Elvis Presley, believing comedian Foster Brooks was Santa Claus, parking cars at The Playboy Mansion, befriending local LA legend Mad Man Muntz over a thoroughly inappropriate videotape and much more. If you love game shows, stories about the birth of television, watching Jeopardy with Bob Hope and golfing with Kevin Costner, take a listen to this episode of the Rarified Heir Podcast.

Carolyn Harding and today I'm talking with Dr. Alice Faryna and Bob Krasen with SPAN Ohio, an organization working for improved Medicare for All in Ohio! Dr. Alice Faryna, M.D. served in private practice in Marion, OHio, at the Neighborhood Health Center; VA hospitals and in Academic medicine at Wright State University. Her last full time job was as medical director for Part B Medicare in Ohio and West Virginia. That is what convinced her that the Medicare program should be expanded to cover all ages, but with improvements to eliminate co-pays and deductibles which can be done at a cost less that our current privatized system. Bob Krasen is a former clergyman in Cleveland; he worked for non-profits in Columbus, including United Cerebral Palsy; American Red Cross Blood Services; and Vision and Vocational Services; until retirement in 2006. He has been involved in SPAN Ohio ever since, and is now Coordinator in Central Ohio, promoting Medicare for All on the National and State levels. I'm turning 65 in November and since last November I've been getting a lot of mail, emails and texts about Medicare. I'm confused, I assumed Medicare was an automatic enrollment, but I'm hearing it's not that easy. I need help. So let's break this down for everyday folks- and for those of us skeptical of the spin and possible booby traps. How does one best sign up for Medicare? SPANOhio.org GrassRoot Ohio - Conversations with everyday people working on important issues, here in Columbus and all around Ohio. Every Friday 5:00pm, EST on 94.1FM & streaming worldwide @ WGRN.org, Sundays at 2:00pm EST on 92.7/98.3 FM and streams @ WCRSFM.org, and Sundays at 4:00pm EST, at 107.1 FM, Wheeling/Moundsville WV on WEJP-LP FM. Contact Us if you would like GrassRoot Ohio on your local station. Check us out and Like us on Face Book: https://www.facebook.com/GrassRootOhio/ Check us out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grassroot_ohio/ If you miss the Friday broadcast, you can find it here: All shows/podcasts archived at SoundCloud! https://soundcloud.com/user-42674753 GrassRoot Ohio is now on Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/.../grassroot-ohio/id1522559085 This GrassRoot Ohio interview can also be found on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAX2t1Z7_qae803BzDF4PtQ/ Intro and Exit music for GrassRoot Ohio is "Resilient" by Rising Appalachia: https://youtu.be/tx17RvPMaQ8 There's a time to listen and learn, a time to organize and strategize, And a time to Stand Up/ Fight Back!

Edward R. Matthews, CEO of ADAPT Community Network (formerly the United Cerebral Palsy of NYC) for more than 33 years is “a powerhouse leader for … Read More

Maneet Chauhan is an award-winning chef, author, TV personality, mother, and Founding Partner and President of Morph Hospitality Group in Nashville, Tennessee. She's worked in some of the finest hotels in the world and some of the greatest restaurants across the US. Maneet competed AND WON Guy Fieri's Tournament of Champions where she donated her winnings of $40,000 to help different restaurants survive the pandemic. In this episode, we discuss why she has a hard time saying no, and how her no-nonsense husband/business partner is the yin to her yang. She shares an unbelievable story of how her son was born at 5am the same day her first restaurant in Nashville was set to open that evening at 5pm. Chauhan is an incredibly philanthropic chef sharing her voice and talents with the likes of World Central Kitchen, March of Dimes, United Cerebral Palsy, One Generation Away, Nashville Food Project and more. Enjoy this episode as we go Beyond the Plate… with Chef Maneet Chauhan.This episode is brought to you by Martin's Famous Potato Rolls.Check out our #BtPlatePodcast Merch at www.BeyondthePlateMerch.com Follow Beyond the Plate on Facebook and TwitterFollow Kappy on Instagram and TwitterMentioned in this episode:Martin's Famous Potato RollsFollow @potatorolls on ig for recipe inspiration.

Applying for SSI or SSDI is a daunting process that's anything but transparent. The system is set up for you to fail, and as a result a lot of people eventually just give up. Today, we sit down with social work expert Dena Gassner, who presents her proven system for successfully applying for SSI/SSDI – without getting a lawyer. She educates us on the seven criteria Social Security is looking for (but won't actually tell you about) and how to cross reference medical reports with your personal narrative. She also lets us in on the fact that Social Security will be thrilled to give you an extra budget for financial literacy purposes, and how to itemize living expenses so you can qualify for your max benefit. We also learn more about how to get Medicaid to pay for Medicare premiums when you're on SSI/SSDI. You won't want to miss this episode of Mom Autism Money!   Check out today's sponsor, CalABLE: https://calable.ca.gov/ Find educational webinars on CalABLE's Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk02cbbE8PCkHATIvrsTfIA Dena's Center for Understanding FB page: https://www.facebook.com/CenterforUnderstanding/ The ARC: https://thearc.org/find-a-chapter/ The Autism Society: https://autismsociety.org/contact-us/ United Cerebral Palsy: https://ucp.org/find-us/  Contact Dr. Connie Anderson to check audit availability for Dena's class at Townson: https://www.towson.edu/chp/departments/health-sciences/faculty-staff/canderson.html Find more episodes of Mom Autism Money: https://momautismmoney.com/episodes/ Full episode transcript: https://tinyurl.com/mamssissdi

Listen to a new episode of Your Next Stop recorded live on Fireside with host Juliet Hahn featuring award-winning author, public speaker, wife, mother, and the CEO & Founder of Sage Spoonfuls, Liza Huber.   “It's always so important to be open to feedback.” - Liza Huber   Liza Huber started Sage Spoonfuls in 2012 after not being able to find homemade baby food products that had the ease of use, quality, and convenience she was looking for.   Sage Spoonfuls has become one of the most trusted brands for homemade baby food products and is available at major stores nationwide. It's an industry leader in children's mealtime products and is available at major retailers nationwide.   Liza travels around the country speaking at parenting events on the benefits of fresh, homemade food for babies and children, including how to help prevent picky eating and food allergies. She is also an advocate for organic, green, and non-toxic living. She helps to inform and inspire others to take action to create healthier, safer environments where children and families can flourish. Liza is a featured contributor for Project Nursery, Green Child Magazine, and Big City Moms. She has been featured on Good Morning America, Good Day LA, The Insider, News12 Long Island, and Martha Stewart Radio as well as in Parenting Magazine, Fit Pregnancy Magazine, The Bump, and the NY Daily News. She has appeared on the covers of Green Child Magazine, Long Island Parent, Milieu Magazine, and Networking Magazine.   Liza also speaks at national events designed to inspire and empower female entrepreneurs. She has been a featured speaker at Northeastern University, the National Association for Professional Women, Atlanta's Dare 2 Aspire Conference, and was the keynote for the Town Of Hempstead's 2015 Pathfinder Awards.   She has received multiple awards including, the Mom's Best Literary Gold Award; Independent Publisher's Award; Cribsie Award; John J. Byrne Community Center's Hero of the Community Award; and the Little Flower Children and Family Service's 2015 Humanitarian Award.   Liza is active in the community and involved with numerous charitable organizations. She is a Parent Ambassador for Healthy Child Healthy World and has recently started working with Little Flower's Parent Youth Program. She is also a longtime supporter of the March of Dimes and United Cerebral Palsy of New York.   Liza was recently featured in Forbes "Female Entrepreneurs Rocking the World" series. Learn more about Liza and Sage Spoonfuls on SageSpoonfuls.com. Follow through on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and YouTube. Sponsor Today's episode is sponsored by TookTake, the best way to know if you took, or still need to take your medication & supplements. Visit them at https://tooktake.com/. Get 10% off upon check out by using this code: NEXTSTOP   Follow TookTake on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram. Find Us Online! Fireside: Juliet Hahn Instagram: @iamjuliethahn LinkedIn: Juliet Hahn FB: Juliet Hahn Clubhouse: @iamjuliethahn YouTube: Juliet Hahn Twitter: @iamjuliethahn

It's not how you start — it's how you finish! Curb Your Enthusiasm star Cheryl Hines reveals to Kellie and Chad how a bartending gig in LA led to a meeting that changed everything. She also riffs on her time with Rob Reiner and Larry David — and opens up about the significance of... chicken? Chad and Kellie also chat about their own early industry experiences, joining Cheryl in spilling the details on their most horrific auditions.Follow Cheryl on Instagram _cherylhines and on Twitter @CherylHines and learn more about United Cerebral Palsy of Central Florida See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Rhonda Findling is the author of the bestselling and internationally acclaimed "Don't Call That Man! A Survival Guide To Letting Go" which has been translated into eight languages. She is also the author of "Don't Text That Man! A Guide To Self Protective Dating in the Age of Technology", "When He Can't Commit: What To Do When You Fall For An Ambivalent Man", "Men Who Run From Love: How To Have A Relationship With A Relationship Phobic Man", "Don't Lose That Man: How Women Sabotage Their Opportunities For Successful Romantic Relationships And What They Can Do To Change", "Portrait of My Desire", "Smithtown Girl" and the "Don't Text That Man!" app.Rhonda is a psychotherapist with an international practice based out of Atlanta, Georgia.  She has a bachelors degree in psychology from Stonybrook University in New York and a  masters degree in clinical psychology from Roosevelt University in Chicago. She worked as a staff psychotherapist for Post Graduate Center for Mental Health in New York City for 13 years. Rhonda has also worked as a psychologist for the State of New York for 3 years and United Cerebral Palsy of NYC for 1 year. She was a counselor at Victims Information Bureau where she counseled victims of rape, sexual assault, and spouse abuse.Rhonda has taught courses on psychology and counseling at Marymount College and Berkeley College in New York City. She has presented training for professionals based on her clinical work at the 70th Annual Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama Conference, the 15th European Symposium on Group Analysis and the Training Institute for Mental Health in New York City.  She has led workshops and seminars (including the Learning Annex, the 92nd St. Y and Hazelden) in New York, L.A., Paris, Berlin, and London. Rhonda is also the author of several bestselling courses on DailyOM.comRhonda has been featured in the New York Post, Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe, Newsday, Rocky Mountain News, Cosmopolitan Magazine, PovitchUS Weekly.com, Forbes.com, Latina Magazine, Glamour (UK and Paris editions) Le Progress, Life and Style, Femina and Today's Black Woman. Her articles have appeared in Complete Woman Magazine, Essence, and International Living. com.Rhonda has appeared on several national talk shows including CNN Headline News, Ricki Lake, Geraldo,Povich, Eye Witness News, Good Day New York, Carnie, Ilyana, Tempest and Judith Regan Tonight. She has also been a guest on radio shows nationwide.Rhonda studied acting at HB Studios, Stella Adler Studio Of Acting in New York City and at St. Nicholas Theater in Chicago where she studied with William H. Macy. She's appeared in several community theater productions on Long Island, New York and off-off Broadway productions in Chicago. She is also the author of the play The Psychic that was produced by Caicedo Productions and Doubletime Productions at the American Theatre of Actors in New York City. Rhonda has taken classes in directing, screenwriting, and filmmaking at New School University and Film and Video Arts Inc.  Rhonda was the host, producer and co-editor of  "The Help Me Rhonda Show" webseries/docushort which was the official selection for three web series festivals and a semi-finalist for the 2017 Fade-In Awards. "The Help Me Rhonda Show" is available on Vimeo and Amazon.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/join/Laviecreative)

After three decades at Idaho's leading news organization, KTVB News anchor and journalist Mark Johnson is retiring from television broadcasting.  In his storied career, he's been the face of Idaho news on KTVB's top-rated evening and late newscasts and a champion for countless community nonprofit organizations. He's covered a Super Bowl, a World Series, Fiesta Bowls, NCAA basketball tournaments, and five Olympic games, winning a national Edward R. Murrow award for his work involving the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics.  Johnson became something of a national sensation earlier this year when he updated his bio and the station released a tweet with no information other than his name, picture, and a link to the bio. The mysterious Tweet spawned online memes, one showing two pictures of Johnson claiming he created the Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine. Stephen Colbert noted the sensation on his Late Night show in April, showing a doctored picture of Harry Truman holding up a copy of the Chicago Tribune with the headline “Mark Johnson.” A constant in the lives of generations of Idaho families, Mark Johnson has watched 30 years of Idaho history unfold from his spot in the KTVB studio. Viewers tuning in knew from the smile on his face or his calm, measured tone what kind of day Idaho was having. And on some days, he let Idaho know what he really thought by “Just Sayin'” what was on his mind.  “It has been a blessing and an incredible honor to serve our region while working at the most amazing station in America for the better part of my life. I never imagined I would go to so many places around the country and the world to cover events and stories that mattered to Idahoans. More importantly for me, being able to live and raise a family in such an amazing community while working with hundreds of colleagues who have been more like a family to me has been the greatest gift,” said Mark Johnson. “It's time for me to start enjoying the next chapter of my life with my wonderful wife, four amazing daughters (2 of them headed to college), and my first grandson. Though I will miss the daily rush of the newsroom and the front row seat to the news of the day, I look forward to taking a step back and enjoying all of the wonders Idaho has to offer.”  During his tenure as lead anchor at KTVB, the team has earned multiple awards for broadcast excellence, including regional Emmy® awards for the News at 10. He has also served a number of local non-profits, including The Boys and Girls Club, Big Brothers - Big Sisters, United Cerebral Palsy, United Way, Salvation Army, First Tee of Idaho, Make-A-Wish, the Boise Rescue Mission, Dress For Success, and others.  “It has been an honor and pleasure to work alongside Mark both personally and professionally over the decades. He puts his whole heart into his journalistic work and support of community service events. His immense contributions to the success of KTVB and his colleagues is immeasurable,” said Lisa Chavez, Director of Content. “Mark has provided our audience with steadfast, trustworthy, authentic news coverage with a personality all his own. Please join me in thanking Mark for his dedication and congratulating him on an incredible career and new chapter of life.”  Mark Johnson's final broadcast on KTVB will be on December 23, 2021.

LINDA Mac DOUGALL, a senior massage therapist, senior health advocate, voice for change in the senior living sector, and an author, joined us to discuss her profession and her latest release, "The SPIRIT Method of Massage for Seniors: Raising the Bar...A Primer for Massage Therapists and Caregivers". FROM HER WEBSITE: "Linda got her M.A. in Counseling Psychology because she was seeking answers to family dysfunction. She already had a background of working with the developmentally disabled population since high school. She went on to be an administrator of two group homes for United Cerebral Palsy for over a decade. Following her ex-husband's career, she then moved to Hawaii and became a Federal advocate for the state of Hawaii's families dealing with their population of developmentally disabled. Her work there brought change to the system in the way of studies and a medical review board as well as the state guardians beginning to imitate her way of questioning and challenging the way things had always been done. Today her focus has changed to the older adult population. She is a senior health advocate and massage therapist, a holistic health practitioner, and a management consultant for caregiving situations. As a senior herself, Linda is also an advocate for change in the senior living space. Her background and focus on awareness led to the writing of her book "The SPIRIT Method of Massage for Seniors: Raising the Bar...A Primer for Massage Therapists and Caregivers". www.loveyourlongevity.com

LINDA Mac DOUGALL, a senior massage therapist, senior health advocate, voice for change in the senior living sector, and an author, joined us to discuss her profession and her latest release, "The SPIRIT Method of Massage for Seniors: Raising the Bar...A Primer for Massage Therapists and Caregivers". FROM HER WEBSITE: "Linda got her M.A. in Counseling Psychology because she was seeking answers to family dysfunction. She already had a background of working with the developmentally disabled population since high school. She went on to be an administrator of two group homes for United Cerebral Palsy for over a decade. Following her ex-husband's career, she then moved to Hawaii and became a Federal advocate for the state of Hawaii's families dealing with their population of developmentally disabled. Her work there brought change to the system in the way of studies and a medical review board as well as the state guardians beginning to imitate her way of questioning and challenging the way things had always been done. Today her focus has changed to the older adult population. She is a senior health advocate and massage therapist, a holistic health practitioner, and a management consultant for caregiving situations. As a senior herself, Linda is also an advocate for change in the senior living space. Her background and focus on awareness led to the writing of her book "The SPIRIT Method of Massage for Seniors: Raising the Bar...A Primer for Massage Therapists and Caregivers". www.loveyourlongevity.com

October 6, 2021 | Episode 59 Seth Kanor visits with Shawn & Brian to discuss how his company, Enabling Devices, makes toys for ALL children, neurotypical & neurodiverse. At the age of 13, Seth Kanor was working a few hours a week on the machines that lined his father's basement. At first, he helped to make medical devices for cancer research, but one afternoon he was given a new task. His father, Steven Kanor, had gone that week to consult with United Cerebral Palsy on Long Island and had come back to the basement shop with an idea. He was going to make toys for kids with special needs. Throughout high school, Seth watched as his father worked to bring joy, independence and possibility into the lives of children who so needed his inventiveness, compassion and deep commitment. Later, Toys For Special Children blossomed into Enabling Devices: a company devoted to enriching the lives of all people with special needs. Seth worked for many years in many different jobs before returning to the company his father founded over forty years ago; and he is extremely grateful to be a part of a group of people who are devoted to serving the community to which his father was so dedicated. Website: https://enablingdevices.com/ — Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/just_two_dads/ Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/just-two-dads/id1535250142 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justtwodads Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wearejusttwodads #justTwoDads #SpecialNeedsParenting #EnablingDevicesCEO

This Week's Hyperlocal News: *Speed Limit Change on Winter Garden Vineland Rd *Gotha Community Advocates Rally Against Turnpike Forces *OCPS Disables Your Comments *A BIG LOSS to the preservation of our local environment. Celebrating the life of Madison "Maddy" Trover GoFundMe: https://bit.ly/3AW6JRY Brought to you by: Gymnastics USA | https://www.gymnasticsusa.us Foundation Academy | https://www.foundationacademy.net Stories: @00:55 Speed Limit Change on Winter Garden Vineland Rd @01:34 United Cerebral Palsy of Central Florida @02:05 #WinterGarden Proclaims "Outdoor Dining Month!" @02:30 Gymnastics USA | SPONSOR @02:54 Windermere High School Mourns Death of Student @04:35 Gotha Community Takes on Florida's Turnpike @06:15 How to Get Your Hyperlocal News @07:21 Orange County Public Schools Bans Comments on Facebook @08:44 Hyperlocal SPORTS News! @10:14 Foundation Academy | SPONSOR @11:00 Jim Thomas Passes Away | Environmental Leader in West Orange Show launches weekly on Thursdays 5AM: Podcast Channels and YouTube 8AM: Facebook Live ** Also available for listening on the We Are Winter GardenApp LISTEN via that app HERE: https://qrco.de/bbLWIe ** West Orange on the Go is hosted by Austin Arthur of Winter Garden and brought to you by the West Orange Times & Observer. #WestOrange! This is your news! “West Orange on the Go” hyperlocal news and comment. Please send Austin Arthur your feedback, questions, and ideas by visiting https://www.westorangeonthego.com Follow Austin at: Austin Arthur of Winter Garden #WestOrange #WinterGarden #Windermere #HorizonWest #WestOrangeTimes #ObserverMedia #Observer #AustinArthur #WestOrangeOnTheGo #GymnasticsUSA #FoundationAcademy #LakeApopka #FriendsOfLakeApopka #OCPS

This Week's Hyperlocal News: *Speed Limit Change on Winter Garden Vineland Rd *Gotha Community Advocates Rally Against Turnpike Forces *OCPS Disables Your Comments *A BIG LOSS to the preservation of our local environment. Celebrating the life of Madison "Maddy" Trover GoFundMe: https://bit.ly/3AW6JRY Brought to you by: Gymnastics USA | https://www.gymnasticsusa.us Foundation Academy | https://www.foundationacademy.net Stories: @00:55 Speed Limit Change on Winter Garden Vineland Rd @01:34 United Cerebral Palsy of Central Florida @02:05 #WinterGarden Proclaims "Outdoor Dining Month!" @02:30 Gymnastics USA | SPONSOR @02:54 Windermere High School Mourns Death of Student @04:35 Gotha Community Takes on Florida's Turnpike @06:15 How to Get Your Hyperlocal News @07:21 Orange County Public Schools Bans Comments on Facebook @08:44 Hyperlocal SPORTS News! @10:14 Foundation Academy | SPONSOR @11:00 Jim Thomas Passes Away | Environmental Leader in West Orange Show launches weekly on Thursdays 5AM: Podcast Channels and YouTube 8AM: Facebook Live ** Also available for listening on the We Are Winter GardenApp LISTEN via that app HERE: https://qrco.de/bbLWIe ** West Orange on the Go is hosted by Austin Arthur of Winter Garden and brought to you by the West Orange Times & Observer. #WestOrange! This is your news! “West Orange on the Go” hyperlocal news and comment. Please send Austin Arthur your feedback, questions, and ideas by visiting https://www.westorangeonthego.com Follow Austin at: Austin Arthur of Winter Garden #WestOrange #WinterGarden #Windermere #HorizonWest #WestOrangeTimes #ObserverMedia #Observer #AustinArthur #WestOrangeOnTheGo #GymnasticsUSA #FoundationAcademy #LakeApopka #FriendsOfLakeApopka #OCPS

 Kate McNulty of ANCOR discusses The Case for Inclusion 2021 Special Report. The report examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on community-based disability services and provides a blueprint for a more sustainable disability services system.The Case for Inclusion outlines the challenges and the opportunities, confronting providers working on the frontlines of community inclusion.The Case for Inclusion - a partnership of United Cerebral Palsy and the ANCOR Foundation is designed especially for advocates who believe that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities should have options and resources to live life without limits. The Case For InclusionANCOR FoundationScioto Properties

United Cerebral Palsy of the Inland Empire will participate again in 2021 in the Tour de Palm Springs to raise money that pays for special bikes to serve their clients who live with a variety of disabilities, as well as other programs. Team Freedom 2021 hopes to raise $100,000 and will have 100+ people riding and walking to support their mission. CEO and President Greg Wetmore joins John McMullen to discuss the significant work the do for people with a wide variety of life-changing programs for youth and adults so they can experience life without limits. Learn about their participation in the ride/walk event and please help them raise their funding goal!Website: www.ucpie.org

In this episode we talk to Lauren Logiudice, she is an American actress. She also writes and performs standup comedy, solo plays, stories, and creates sketch comedy characters. A Moth StorySLAM champ, she's been featured by The New York Times, BBC, among others. After the release of When Harry Tries to Marry, LoGiudice was called a "rising star." Reviews of her recent multi-character sketch comedy video project said, “You'll see the influences from Sacha Baron Cohen and Tracey Ullman.” LoGiudice has endorsed several non-profit causes throughout her career. She hosted a photography exhibition by Javier Gomez, voted People Magazine's Sexiest Artist Alive, to benefit Strengthen Our Sisters, a grassroots, community based nonprofit serving homeless/battered women, and children. LoGiudice has also supported United Cerebral Palsy. You can join Lauren's tribe at www.laurenlogi.com or https://www.laurenlogiudice.com/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/folkesunfettered/message

In this episode we talk to Lauren Logiudice, she is an American actress. She also writes and performs standup comedy, solo plays, stories, and creates sketch comedy characters. A Moth StorySLAM champ, she's been featured by The New York Times, BBC, among others. After the release of When Harry Tries to Marry, LoGiudice was called a "rising star." Reviews of her recent multi-character sketch comedy video project said, “You'll see the influences from Sacha Baron Cohen and Tracey Ullman.” LoGiudice has endorsed several non-profit causes throughout her career. She hosted a photography exhibition by Javier Gomez, voted People Magazine's Sexiest Artist Alive, to benefit Strengthen Our Sisters, a grassroots, community based nonprofit serving homeless/battered women, and children. LoGiudice has also supported United Cerebral Palsy.You can join Lauren's tribe at www.laurenlogi.com or https://www.laurenlogiudice.com/--- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/folkesunfettered/message Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/folkesunfettered. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics Discussed and Key Points: ● Monique's challenges in raising 3 special needs children ● Dealing with the world around you when raising special needs children ● The importance of taking time for yourself ● Lightening up in the face of adversity ● Loving your kids in spite of all the challenges ● How to ask for help when dealing with special needs children Episode Summary: In this episode, Monique shares her difficult experiences with childbirth, including the grieving the loss of the children that she had hoped for so that she could learn to love the children that she actually had. Her children were born with disabilities, two of which, Tai and Devon, with cerebral palsy. Her third child, Al'Mir, was intubated for a long period following his birth, and remained on oxygen for a while thereafter, living at the NICU until he was five and a half months old. Monique recounts these experiences knowing that they are occurrences that most moms thankfully never have to go through. Monique never got to take any of her newborn children home immediately upon her discharge from the hospital and they remained completely dependent on their parents for the duration of their lives. Her children never had the usual milestones—raising their heads, crawling, walking, etc. These unfortunate experiences caused Monique to ask some tough questions of herself: Why did this happen to me? Is there something wrong with me? She has no history with drug abuse or heavy drinking. She lived a healthy lifestyle and prepared well for the birth of her children. Why were her children born the way they were? Monique can't answer the whys and hows around her situation. Instead, she shares how she was able to move past her challenges, and her advice for other families going through similar circumstances. “These babies didn't ask to come here. They didn't ask you to be their parent. And they sure didn't ask to come here with these disabilities that would separate them from most of the world and how it works.” The world can be a cruel place. What has kept Monique going after over three decades dealing with these challenges is her love for her children—disabilities and all. Monique points out that the “system” is broken, and so it takes an extraordinary amount of patience and extra planning to provide for your special needs children. But in spite of it all: “It is what it is.” Monique shares four pieces of advice: 1) You must take time for yourself. Parents feel understandably guilty if they leave their disabled children for even just a few minutes. But what good is your ability to care for them if you can't even take care of yourself? You will implode if you don't give yourself space to destress and refresh. 2) Don't take yourself so seriously. When you're working almost to exhaustion, you need to learn to laugh at yourself. You'll never be the perfect parent to your special needs children. 3) Your kids want you to know that they're just kids. This means that they simply want to be loved and nurtured. 4) Learn to ask for help. If you don't have a lot of family to reach out to, don't be afraid to contact your local agencies. Of these, Monique references United Cerebral Palsy, the Easter Seals Society, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and the National Autism Association. Find a support network as well if you can. It may be hard to ask for help; but it will make you realize that you aren't alone in dealing with these issues. On the other hand, be the one to reach out to others who may need your help. In our introverted society, a single proactive, helping hand can make all the difference. Societal change starts with individuals connecting with other individuals, one by one. This evokes change through raising awareness of the conversations we need to have as a country. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/monique-monge/message

On this episode, we speak with Dr. Ramin Baschshi, Internal Medicine Physician and CEO of United Cerebral Palsy of Orange County, CA.   https://www.ucpoc.org  

Lauren Luckie, Miranda Lambert and Kaley Keith of United Cerebral Palsy talk about their Christmas Nights of Lights 5K

Abbey Curran was crowned Miss Iowa USA 2008. Born with Cerebral palsy, she became the first person dealing with a special challenge throughout her life to compete in the prestigious Miss USA competition.  Abbey Curran is founder of Miss You Can Do It, a pageant for girls with disabilities who range in age from 5 to 28. Now in its 14th year, the pageant has been incredibly successful in bringing Abbey's basic message to its contestants and their families: that any journey, great or small, begins with two words: "I'll try." The Miss You Can Do It pageant remains a unique, annual event that imbues its young contestants with joy, confidence and pride. It's so successful that, in 2013, HBO made a beautiful documentary about it (titled Miss You Can Do It) in which Abbey is prominently featured.  Abbey graduated from Saint Ambrose University with a bachelor's degree in Communications. She spent the last year in nursing school. In recent years, she's given motivational speeches at dozens of venues and events, from fundraising banquets for United Cerebral Palsy to colleges and schools throughout the country. Abbey has appeared on many TV shows, among them The Early Show, The Ellen Show, Katie with Katie Couric, Inside Edition, Access Hollywood, Extra, Fox and Friends, Fox News and CNN Headline News. She has also been featured in stories in also had an exclusive feature story in People and Vogue. In 2011, she was honored by the distinguished Susan G. Komen Foundation, which named her "Leader of the Future" and "Most Inspirational Woman in America."   Last year HarperCollins published Abbey's autobiography, The Courage to Compete. Abbey currently lives in Chicago where she is working as a medical sales rep. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/themichaelcalderinshow/message

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

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

SUSAN LUCCI - LIFETIME'S DEVIOUS MAIDS PREMIERES ON MONDAY JUNE 6TH AT 9/8 CENTRALAs the most famous face in daytime television history, Susan Lucci has held audiences spellbound for years as the sexy, sassy, beautiful "woman you love to hate," Erica Kane on ABC-TV's "All My Children." In May 1999 she won the Emmy Award for "Best Actress," which was a historic moment not only for Lucci, but for all of television. Lucci currently stars in the hit Lifetime series, "Devious Maids" as the wealthy and effervescent socialite, Genevieve Delatour. She is also the host and narrator of Investigation Discovery's highly rated series, "Deadly Affairs." She received a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on January 28, 2005 and was inducted into the Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2006. She is the second woman in the history of the Columbus Day parade to serve as Grand Marshal – the first was Sophia Loren. Lucci was named one of E! Entertainment's "Top Entertainers of the Year" as well as one of Barbara Walters' "Ten Most Fascinating People." VH-1 has also named Lucci one of its"200 Top Icons of all Time."In 2011, Lucci appeared in the highly rated season finale of TV Land's "Hot in Cleveland" and returned for another episode in February 2012 entitled, "I Love Lucci." She also guest starred in a recurring role on Lifetime's "Army Wives" in 2012. Lucci competed on ABC's primetime reality show, "Dancing with the Stars," hosted "Saturday Night Live," and guest-starred in many successful television series and numerous movies for television throughout her career. In March 2011 Lucci released her New York Times bestselling autobiography, "All My Life" with Harper Collins. The paperback edition of All My Life was released on September 13th.Lucci's artistic excellence afforded her the opportunity to expand to luminous careers in theater and cabaret with solo concerts across the country and nightclub performances opening for Regis Philbin. In her 1999 Broadway debut, Lucci starred as Annie Oakley in the revival of Irving Berlin's "Annie Get Your Gun," to amazing review. Michael Logan of TV Guide said, "Susan Lucci didn't just take Great White Way by storm: she took it by tornado, hurricane and tsunami, too."Acting and singing are only two of Lucci's many passions. Within the past 10 years she became a successful entrepreneur launching a Susan Lucci Collection of hair care products, two fragrances, jewelry, shoes, and accessory lines, and a lingerie line for "beauty of all ages." Her head-to-toe collection was a constant sell-out on the Home Shopping Network (HSN). In 2002, Lucci introduced a personal microdermabrasion system with Guthy-Renker, Youthful Essence® by Susan Lucci that has sold over 8 million kits worldwide since its debut. Lucci expanded her expertise with Guthy-Renker by also presenting "Malibu Pilates," the widely popular Pilates chair fitness program.Lucci's commitment to her work with children has taken her to Africa in support of Feed The Children, appearing in an Emmy-award winning documentary. She and her husband have been ongoing champions of Littler Flower Children and Family Services of New York and have been the spokespersons for the National AFib Campaign. She currently hosts United Cerebral Palsy of NYC Women Who Care Luncheon. She has served as the March of Dimes' National Ambassador in 2000 and as a celebrity spokesperson for AMDeC (Academic Medicine Development Company) and The New York Cancer Project. She has also been involved with Broadway Cares Equity Fights Aids and is the recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, the prestigious New York City Gracie Award and the Muse Award for Women in Film & Television. She was inducted into the American Academy of Achievement Awards and presented with the Italian Board of Guardians Lifetime Achievement Award.Lucci's accomplishments and contributions to the world of television and the performing arts have truly made her an icon to millions.WWW.SUSANLUCCI.COM

In the first part of this episode I introduced Lydia and her mother Danae. We heard about the challenges they have faced not having a diagnosis for Lydia, and how they have come to cope with her relentless seizures. In this part of the episode I explore how it is that Danae and I met, and the impact she had on my own ability to cope with Eva's diagnosis. The truth is, it was an email from Danae that was the flick of the switch I needed to decide once and for all that I wanted to be Eva's mother, no matter what. I recorded this interview while staying with Danae, Mark, Lydia and Jack in their home outside of Portland. It was a truly exceptional experience for me to meet this woman who had helped me so much, and to meet Lydia, the girl who had inspired Danae's words. It was particularly special, but also heart breaking, because Danae and Mark have found out through a recent MRI, that Lydia's white matter in her brain has all but disappeared, and she is likely to get pneumonia and die due to this. They don't have a timeline or any certainty, they just know their time with Lydia is limited. For me, that meant this was my one and potentially only chance to meet this girl, and thank her in person. Lydia may never know the impact she had on Eva and on me. But I hope Danae and Mark know just what they mean to me. I just wish they could have met Eva too. Later in this part of the episode we explore another project Danae has been involved in, Fierce Love. Danae, along with a group of mothers from United Cerebral Palsy, got together to work with Well Arts to write a play around their experience as parents of children with Cerebral Palsy. Well Arts is a theatre group that partners with organisations and groups in the Portland, Oregon area to tell their stories and share their experiences on the stage. They serve diverse populations, facing a wide range of health and social issues. During the episode you will hear a selection of audio clips from Fierce Love, including part of a scene where Danae and my email conversation first began. The full DVD of Fierce Love is available for purchase. Email Susan Cushman You can listen to the episode here, or subscribe for free through itunes and Stitcher. If you like what you hear, leave a review in itunes and Stitcher, it helps people find my podcast more easily.  

UNIUTED CERBRAL PALSY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA WHICH RUNS CHARTER SCHOOLS FOR BOTH EXCEPTIONAL AND TYPICAL STUDENTS IN A GREAT VENTURE HAS LINKED WITH GATEWAY TO ACHIEVE TO SIMPLIFY PERSONALIZED LEARNING FOR ALL