Xceptional Leaders with Mai Ling Chan & James Berges Xceptional Podcast Network

Oanh "Kim" Vuong is our guest for today’s episode. As a person with cerebral palsy and an AAC user who is an active advocate, she offers a unique and valuable perspective on disability leadership. Mai Ling chats with Kim about the independent confidence she developed at a young age, her advocacy work in southern California, and some of the initiatives she’s currently undertaking. From curriculum development to beach accessibility issues, Kim is an example of a leader who tackles the task despite the challenges.

In this episode, our hosts tackle the timely topic of using Artificial Intelligence tools in your disability-focused business. Mai Ling and James give you a crash course on AI, covering this subject from various angles including ethical considerations, practical uses of tools like ChatGPT, integrating AI into your entrepreneurship efforts, tips for writing prompts, and more!

We have two great guests in this episode! James sits down for a conversation with Jhillika Kumar and Conner Reinhardt, the CEO, and COO respectively, of Mentra. As a neurodiversity employment network, one of the goals of Mentra is to connect neurodivergent jobseekers with jobs, but it goes beyond that. Jhillika and Conner talk in depth about all the problems that Mentra aims to solve, why a neurodiverse workforce is an advantage, and how universal design fits into this discussion. They also share a bit about their own experiences with neurodiversity.

In this episode, Mai Ling is joined by guest Anna Voelker, founder and Executive Director of SciAccess, Inc. SciAccess is an international nonprofit that promotes disability inclusion in STEM education, outreach, and research and Anna speaks with Mai Ling about the beginnings of the non-profit, what universal design is, and having an early interest in space that led to later endeavors. They also chat about what accessibility really means and the AstroAccess initiative, a program focused on furthering disability inclusion in space exploration.

Our guest today is speaker and award-winning author Carol Van Den Hende. She talks with Mai Ling about her novels which are helping both people with disabilities and their loved ones.  These fictional stories draw from Carol’s Chinese American heritage and in addition to telling heart-warming, genuine narratives, they also explore themes such as accessibility, inclusive design, and how cultural background affects relationships. She also shares some of her experiences around book publishing as well.

Certified ADHD Coach, public speaker, and entrepreneur, Kim To, joins Mai Ling Chan on this episode to share her thoughts and experiences with ADHD. Kim talks about the journey to her diagnosis and why she moved into coaching others with this same challenge. She also talks about the unique situation of being an Asian woman with an ADHD diagnosis, which Mai Ling has also experienced. This insightful conversation offers an oft-overlooked perspective on ADHD from two women who are living it every day.