Nothing Without Us! A Disability Advocacy Podcast

Lakeshore Foundation

Nothing Without Us! is a disability advocacy podcast produced by Lakeshore Foundation. Each 8 episode season will feature leaders in the disability and accessibility community sharing stories that will make you laugh, cry and think—and, often, all three. 

  1. Sep 9

    Nothing Without Us! Episode 22 - Joyce Bender

    We're back this week with guest Joyce Bender! Joyce Bender is the Founder and CEO of Bender Consulting Services, Inc., and the Bender Leadership Academy, located in Pittsburgh, PA. Her focus for both organizations is employment for people with disabilities. As a woman living with epilepsy and hard of hearing, she dedicated her life to a crusade for youth and adults to gain the dream of competitive employment. She works tirelessly to break down the barriers and stigma that exist for people with disabilities. In 1985, Joyce had a life-threatening accident due to epilepsy that caused a cerebral hemorrhage requiring subsequent brain surgery. Against all odds, Joyce recovered from this accident that left her with a 70 percent hearing loss in one ear and a realization that she had epilepsy. This accident changed the trajectory of her life and led to the founding of Bender Consulting Services, Inc. in 1995. She serves as the Chair of the Epilepsy Association of Western and Central PA, the Vice-Chair of the American Association of People with Disabilities, on the President’s Advisory Board for Carlow University, as a Trustee for The Bazelon Center on Mental Health Law. She is a board member of the World Institute on Disability (WID), and Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera (CLO). Joyce is an Advisor for the FDR Memorial Legacy Committee, Business of Health Ambassador for Pitt’s School of Business Ambassador Program, and an Epilepsy Alliance America Representative for the National Plan for Epilepsy Committee (NPEC). Joyce has served as a disability employment expert for the U.S. State Department in Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Panama, Kazakhstan, Tunisia, Libya, and Nigeria. She conducted training for female entrepreneurs in business for Austria. She has been featured in periodicals including Reader's Digest, New York Times, Investor’s Business Daily, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and Chicago Tribune. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from Geneva College, and hosts the show, Disability Matters with Joyce Bender, on voiceamerica.com for over twenty years. Follow us on instagram @nothingwithoutuspod Learn more at lakeshore.org

  2. Sep 2

    Nothing Without Us! Episode 21 - Hank Poore and Ashley Ferry

    This week on NWU! we have Hank Poore and Ashley Ferry from the Hank Poore Foundation! The mission of the Hank Poore Foundation is to provide opportunities and experiences for people with disabilities which will foster authentic connections between individuals, groups and community. Inspired by Hank Poore, a Tuscaloosa native with cerebral palsy, HPF was born out of a desire to provide others with the opportunities and experiences that Hank has had, and is built on the ideals of inclusion, engagement, education, and unity. These ideals have played significant roles in Hank’s life, both as he has lived them out and as others have embodied them. Hank is lucky to be a part of a community, both near and far, that has embraced his disability, and to have had the opportunity to engage in adaptive athletics, summer camps, long term employment and a number of other activities and experiences that are not always available to people with disabilities. Hank, and all other staff and volunteers at HPF, are committed to making these experiences and communities widely available to people with disabilities by providing forums for connection and empowerment, and by working to reach and support families in need of the resources, community, and opportunity that enable individuals with disabilities to live life to the fullest. In so doing, HPF hopes to model and bring forth the sort of inclusivity, compassion, and limitless possibility that changes lives. https://hankpoorefoundation.org/ Follow us on instagram @nothingwithoutuspod Learn more at lakeshore.org

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Nothing Without Us! is a disability advocacy podcast produced by Lakeshore Foundation. Each 8 episode season will feature leaders in the disability and accessibility community sharing stories that will make you laugh, cry and think—and, often, all three.