Janni Lehrer-Stein/Ondréa Burton: Disability Rights Advocates

Welcome to Disability Matters with your host Joyce Bender. All comments, views, and opinions expressed on the show are solely those of the host, guest, and callers. Now the host of Disability Matters, here's Joyce Bender.

Hello everyone, welcome to the show, to all of you in the Americas and around the world. You know, We have Japan, we have Brazil, we have China, we have Russia, we have Australia. We have so many countries with listeners. And I always say the same thing. Remember, if you are only one, one person can make a difference. You need to spread the news to other English-speaking listeners. Until we figure out how to get everything translated for all of you. And I mean it, I welcome you, I'm so happy to have you. And a special shout out to Yoshiko Dart, you know Yoshiko, I'll never forget you. And to Richard Roberts in Brazil, Richard, you know I love you with the State Department and I can't wait to see you at the beginning of next year. And Highmark. Highmark is the lead sponsor of this show. And if you don't know, we're not like, this is not a new thing. We've been on 21 years. Can you believe it? 21 years. I feel like one of these long-watching TV series when they say 15, 20, And I can't wait to say 25. But with that, we have two national disability rights advocates and people fighting for the vote. I want to say Voice America is bipartisan, and either party is welcome to be on the show with me. But today, It is the Harris-Balz campaign leaders and friends of mine. How about that? They are both people I know well. They are both disability rights advocates. And you all know that disability vote is so important. And here we are, headquartered right in that state. Pennsylvania. Um, well, Andrea, owner and CEO of Always You, and Janie Lehrer Stein, national disability rights advocate, policy advisor, uh, campaign strategist— I could go on and on. I love both of them, and I'm thrilled to have these two national disability rights leaders on the show today. So, Janie, welcome to the show.

Thank you, Joyce Bender. It's a pleasure to be back with you all.

Well, it's a pleasure to have you back. Here's what's happened since then, Janie Bender. With all these global listeners, we often hear, hey, great show, but I wish I knew more about that person. So what I started doing is asking our guests to tell their story, you know, like where they grew up what they went through with their disability as a child, where they went on to get their education, and then what brought them to where they are now. So, Jani, let's start with you and hear your story.

Thank you so much, Joyce Bender. This is Jani Bender. My disability is blindness, so I'm going to describe myself even though we're on the radio today. I am a Caucasian woman, 5 feet tall. I have curly brown hair and hazel eyes. I grew up, of all places, in pretty much the northernmost part of Canada, in a town called Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, which was, let's face it, a great place to grow up. And from a very early age, I wanted more than anything else to be a lawyer. Now, it may be that that was because my parents called me shall we say, combative. I prefer to think of myself as tenacious. But from a very early age, I was interested in the field of law. And most students grow up and go to the public school that they're closest to, and then to the public university, because Canadian universities are available for people at very low cost. But I grew up at a time and was ready to enter university in the mid-1970s when life in the United States was on a very fast pace. You may remember that was towards the end of the Vietnam War. And so I decided that it was time to take my combative personality and move out of the house, which is very unusual for university students there. And I applied to the 3 universities that I knew, I heard of in the United States: Yale, Michigan and Harvard. Got into two of them. Did my undergraduate degree at Yale and never looked back. I found America, the United States of America, to be a fascinating place. And so I went to law school in the United States. I'm married and have lived there continuously since 1975. I had no idea I was going to enter the world of disability and was determined to become a litigation attorney. I was fortunate enough to graduate with a law degree in 1981, the same time I married my husband, now 43 years, Lenny. And at that time, I really felt like one of those kind of invincible kids. You know how it feels when you're starting off in your career. So I had been married to my husband for 6 months, I had just passed the bar a couple of weeks before, and I was in my dream job at a litigation firm in Washington, D.C. And then I woke up one morning to the very first time I experienced a snowstorm in Washington, and it wasn't quite like what I was used to in Northern Canada. I learned that Washington pretty much shuts down. At the very first snowflake. And I had that morning one of those annoying eye infections. So, fortunately, before everybody went home, I was able to get an appointment to see a physician in my building, who is— most of his appointments had canceled. And he diagnosed me with an eye infection and gave me a prescription for that. But then he told me the words that changed my life forever. Because he told me that he also saw signs of a retinal degenerative disease, and that I would go blind, likely within the next 6 months. But then he said I shouldn't worry too much about that because most people like me get hit by a bus before they ever go totally blind. So, that was my entry into the disability community, very unexpected. Everything that I had really counted on and built my identity around seemed suddenly at risk. But as we all know, those of us in the disability community, that entry is sometimes a point for identifying yourself and taking your life in both the directions you wanted to go. I remained an attorney, wanted to become a mother. I have a mother of 3, grandmother of 1, and it turned my life around in that it clearly became very quickly my passion to execute my career as an attorney in the field of disability advocacy and disability law and rights.

Wow, what a great story that is, um, and what a force you are. I wouldn't say combative, but I'd say you're a fireball and a force to be reckoned with. That I would say. Well, Janie, thank you so much for your story here. And my friend Andrea. Hi, Andrea. Welcome to the show.

Hi, Joyce. Thank you for having me. I'm glad to be here.

Well, I'm glad to have you. And by the way, anyone listening to the show, remember, this is on demand on Spotify, Apple, voiceamerica.com, almost every social venue that you can hear this show. So just go to the podcast Disability Matters with Joyce Bender on voiceamerica.com. You can subscribe and you can hear the show, you can share the show, and I'm going to urge you to share this show and post it. So with that, Andrea, how about you? Let's hear your story.

Sure.

Um, so I grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I learned early on just how essential community and support are in shaping our lives. Um, those values became even more important when I became the mother of a child with a disability. My daughter is the joy of my life, and watching her grow with such strength and resilience has been my greatest inspiration. She's the reason I'm so passionate about this work, because I've seen firsthand how much it matters, not just for her, but for every family facing similar experiences. My commitment is to ensure that every individual and family has access to the support and resources they need to thrive. I've been fortunate enough to spend much of my career in the government sector working at both the county and federal levels where I crafted policies that impact people's lives. But when my own daughter was transitioning out of high school, I experienced firsthand how difficult it was to find the quality services she deserved. And despite my understanding of policy, I realized how many gaps still existed and that so many other families were struggling with the same challenges. That's when it became clear it was the resources. If the resources weren't available, I needed to create them. And that's how Always You began, not just to build a brighter future for my daughter, but to provide solutions to other families navigating similar circumstances. Our purpose is clear, to empower families by providing the resources, opportunities, and support they need to lead fulfilling, dignified lives. For us, it's been a path of love, determination, and a deep commitment to creating lasting change. I'm grateful to work alongside incredible families and advocates, all focused on ensuring that individuals with disabilities have the tools they need to succeed and thrive.

Wow. You know, I always say, give me the mother of a child with a disability and look out. Look out. And look out. Yeah. Hey, Andrea, and isn't it fortunate that she has you as an advocate? Because if today, the way the system is set up, if you do not have a parent that's an advocate, well, you're just lost. Do you know what I mean? So true. Yes, thank goodness.

But the families that we have the the fortunate opportunity to work with, have us as their advocates and supports. And so we're just trying to grow and touch as many lives as we possibly can so that everyone feels that they're not on this journey alone.

That's right. Well, Jani and Andrea, Andrea, I'll start with you. When you are not working in the Harris Lawless campaign, What is your current job? What do you do right now outside of all your campaign work?

Sure.

Well, voting efforts and encouraging people to participate in our democracy are always at the heart of what I do as the owner and CEO of Always You. Whether it's advocating for inclusion or civic engagement, these values are woven into both my work and the mission of our agency. And at Always You, we focus on bridging critical gaps for individuals with developmental disabilities, intellectual disabilities, and autism, offering services like community integration, workforce development, and caregiver training. Our goal is empowerment, helping people design meaningful lives, meaningful, sustained, sustainable lives that don't— they don't just get by, but they thrive. And it's about creating lasting legacies and helping each person reach their full potential. What's especially powerful for me is seeing how we create truly inclusive environments to give individuals with disabilities the opportunities they need to succeed. Working alongside families and communities to ensure everyone has the access to resources they deserve is incredibly rewarding, and with the right support, anything is possible, and I'm honored to be part of that journey.

Wow. So that, that is awesome. And also, before that, you worked with a senator, correct?

I worked with Congressman Conor Lamb out of Pennsylvania.

And you were— I will tell you what our friend Mary Esther Van Schoren said about you. She said you are the most organized person she ever met in her life. She said ever.

Yeah, Mary Esther and I have planned some pretty impressive events, large-scale events. I met her when I worked for Allegheny County Department of Human Services, also based out of Pittsburgh. And so she and I partnered on some really large-scale events to support individuals with disabilities as well as our more mature constituents in the county. And so she saw firsthand how I was able to manage a large-scale event, putting together all those elements.

Yeah, she told me she never met anyone like you. And by the way, Mary Esther Van Shura Is the sleeper. Okay. Like she would go to events. She'd be right here in Pittsburgh. And even when President Obama with President— Vice President Biden came here, she was there. No matter where President Biden is, she's there because she's friends with the family. Yeah. I made her laugh because I told her at an event at the White House, I saw the President and I wanted to get a photograph. I had my cell phone. All I got out of my mouth was, "Mary Esther." He said, "Mary Esther!" And he took my— he took a photo. He did a selfie of us. And I told her, "Wow, you have the power, Mary Esther." Well, how about you, Janie? Yes, she does. Janie, what did you do? You know, you were saying how you were a litigator, then what did you go on to do?

Well, thank you, Joyce Bender. I did practice law for a considerable period of time into the mid-1980s, early 1990s, but as we discussed previously, I very much wanted to be a parent, and I was one of those women who were just kind of crawling crossing the threshold of that period of time where we were still really struggling to have families and to be full-time employees, and especially attorneys. It's a very labor-intensive experience. And so, I made a decision with the birth of my second daughter that I was going to take some time off in order to raise my family. Raised my family of 3 children, and then I returned to do disability policy work. Right now, I am a retired attorney, and so I have the wonderful privilege of serving on a number of national nonprofit boards and organizations, including the American Federation of the Blind. And I also serve currently as the vice chair of the DNC Disability Caucus, on the National Advisory Eye Council for the NIH, and on the Committee for Preservation of the White House, where we are working hard to increase accessibility for all who visit that great home.

Wow, that is so great. You know, that reminded me when you said that about When Christopher Reeves went to the White House and met with President Clinton, and President Clinton said, "So, you know, since I've been here, we've done a lot to get this accessible," and Christopher Reeves said, "That's great." He said, "Since FDR." He said, "That's great. Now, what about that statue of FDR?" where you don't see the wheelchair. And as you know, Janie, it's the disability community that fought the fight and got that new statue with the wheelchair. I am so thrilled you're doing that at the White House. That is just, uh, so awesome. And now you are both all about supporting I am supporting Vice President Kamala Harris for president, president of the United States. And I just want to say to all your listeners, you listeners, I was at the White House, well, recently, where I saw Jani. But the year before, she was probably at that also, I was invited. It was the president invites like the disability leaders to the White House to celebrate the ADA, the signing, and other executive orders. And while I was there, when he took that picture I told you about, who came to talk to everyone? Vice President Kamala Harris. She went down the line. She talked to all the people. If they were in a wheelchair, if they were blind, if they were deaf, it didn't matter. She talked to everyone. So, like, don't think this is like one of those campaigns where we're saying, "Oh, and you know, the person knows about disability." She's already been doing that. She's already had programs and support. So, I just want to make that clear to you. This is not like a new thing for Vice President Harris. So, Jani, I want to start with you. Why are you supporting Vice President Kamala Harris for president, and why do you believe that the disability community should support her?

Thank you so much for that question, Joyce, and thank you for clarifying clarifying that the Vice President has long been someone who has engaged with our community and seeks to embed us in every aspect of her policy and work. I'm from San Francisco for the last almost 40 years, and so I have had the honor of knowing and having Kamala Harris as a leader locally in the state of California, as well as her work in the Senate, representing California, and now as Vice President. I can tell you with certainty that Vice President Harris is someone who knows and understands not only our community, but the fact that we must be fully engaged, have complete accessibility, and truly be embedded in the important work that she will be doing when she becomes the United States. From the very beginning, Kamala Harris has worked, as she states, for the people, including people with disabilities. So, even when she began her work here in the District Attorney's Office in San Francisco, she was someone who was very committed to defending the rights of all marginalized groups, including women. And most of you have probably heard her story. She became a prosecutor because one of her closest friends was being abused by her stepfather. And so she intervened, made sure that young woman was taken into her own home by Kamala's mother, and that directed her career. So as a member of the District Attorney's Office, then District Attorney of San Francisco, as our as State Attorney General. One of her most famous cases was defending a firefighter who had been injured in the line of work and wanted to continue to work as a firefighter. She took on his case and won it. As a United States Senator, she greeted us outside of the Capitol. Joyce, you were probably with me in 2017 when we marched in defense of the Affordable Care Act. Fought and succeeded in protecting it because the president at that time wanted to dismantle it. And I had the honor of working with her as a disability policy advisor for her primary campaign and then with the Biden-Harris administration. She represents those same values and traditions that we cherish. She is tenacious. She is a fighter, and we're fighters, too. You all know that Judy Heumann took over a federal office building in San Francisco in the 1970s before the Occupy movement was even dreamt up in support of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. So many of us were present at the Capitol crawl to set up the ADA, and as I said, I think we marched together in 2017. In defense of the ACA. She's that kind of fighter. We're her kind of fighter. She also cherishes the right of individuals to choice, respect, and dignity. We know that the Dobbs decision poses a major threat, not only to women, but to people with disabilities, because the way that the Supreme Court decision came down threatens as well the Olmsted decision, which protects our rights to remain in our community. And she respects the dignity of everyone. It was stated most recently in the debate. It was a major, major topic in her incredible acceptance speech. And it has been present in almost everything she's done throughout her community. So I believe it is imperative for us to support this candidate and her wonderful running mate, Tim Walz.

Yes, so true, everything you said. And you know what, uh, Jannie, why I, you know, wanted to bring all of this up, and you explained it so beautifully, is that someone can run for president and say, well, this is what I will do for the disability community. I just want people with disabilities to know she already has. You heard Janie, how far back. And at the White House, she has met with AAPD and many leaders several times. But hey, you know, we're often left out. Let's face it, that's why the unemployment rate is so high. People with disabilities are often left out, and we need someone that could do something about subminimum pay, about accessibility in the private sector, about enforcing Section 503 of the Rehab Act. We need someone, uh, and, and I can't stress to you how important it is to vote. And with that, uh, Andrea, what about you? I wanted to ask you two questions. Why do you support her and what— and, and Governor Walz— and what is you— your belief of the impact of having a Black woman as president?

That is just such a wonderful question, Joyce Bender. I just believe that having Vice President Harris as the leader of our nation will be truly transformative. She brings the character, competence, integrity we urgently, we urgently need at this critical moment. Her entire career, as Jani beautifully laid out, has been about advocating for marginalized communities, consistently proving her deep commitment to creating meaningful, lasting change for all Americans. What's especially powerful is her— is how she connects with so many different aspects of the American experience. She's a multiracial woman, the daughter of immigrants, and was raised by a single mother. Her journey resonates across race, ethnicity, gender, and class. And people from all walks of life can see themselves in her story, whether they're navigating multiple identities, coming from humble beginnings, or striving for better opportunities. But it goes beyond representation. It's about hope, possibility, and breaking barriers. Her leadership shows that the highest levels of power are accessible, that barriers can and will be broken. It's a message— message that a message to future generations. No matter your background, you can aspire to lead. And when we see ourselves reflected in leadership, it changes the conversation, the policies, and the future. With her at the helm, we're building a world where everyone's experiences are acknowledged, valued, and woven into the fabric of our country. That's the kind of leadership that doesn't just— fire, it drives real lasting change.

Amen to that. And hey everyone, it is time for our news break on the half hour, which we have on every week, and that would be with our own anchorwoman, Perijude Radesik.

Thanks for having me.

I'm always happy to have you. By the way, Jannie and Andrea, we've been on the air 21 years, and for over 6 years, Perry, who's the CEO of Disability Rights Pennsylvania, has been my newscaster on every show with what's going on nationally in legislation or other issues. Do you know we're the only place doing that? Because we don't have a CNN So instead, we have disability rights with Joyce Bender. And in this case, with the great Perry Jude. What do you have for us today, Perry?

Yeah, Joyce, the U.S. Census Bureau has finally announced an upcoming meeting with disability community stakeholders to engage us on disability Community Inclusion and Representation in Future Census Efforts. This community meeting is taking place next Monday, September 30th, from 10:45 in the morning to 5:00 PM Eastern Time. It's happening in D.C. So for your listeners around the country, the meeting is going to be livestreamed on the U.S. Census Census Bureau platform. It's called Census Live. We have a link to Census Live in this segment that is on our website, which we'll get to in a minute. We all know that we get our data— quality data about our nation from the US Census Bureau. The Census Bureau helps determine how congressional seats, electoral districts, and funding for public services and public schools are allocated.

So it's—

the Census Bureau has just been such an important part of our lives for so many years. Now this meeting stems from an action we all took in the disability community last December to stop the Census Bureau from implementing changes to the 4 questions that they ask on disability in the American Community Survey. The disability community believed that those changes would actually lead to an undercounting of the disability population in America, and then it would lead to reduced funding for federal programs. Your listeners might recall the segment that we did in December when we talked about this issue, because the Census Bureau currently asks yes or no questions. About disability, and their proposed questions would have asked people to assess their functional level. So these changes just didn't make any sense to the disability community, and we weren't consulted prior to the Census Bureau making those changes. So Joyce Bender Advocacy Matters, Disability Matters listeners, your listeners responded to that Advocacy Matters segment, and they did submit comments.

And you know what? That's what makes all the difference. I always say on the show, and this is why you've got to vote, I always tell people, don't complain to me about anything in this country if you have not voted. And by the way, Perry's part of Rev Up,, and I just want to say that if anyone listening right now in Pennsylvania, if you go to vote and you do not have the ability to vote because it is not accessible, get in touch with disabilityrightsPA.org. Is that right, Perry?

Yes, Joyce, absolutely. Come to disabilityrightsPA.org, Click on our resource page where you can get an intake form, call us, and we will resolve those Election Day problems for you.

Yeah, and they are on it. They're on it the whole day. So remember, don't say, oh my God, I couldn't vote, it wasn't accessible. DisabilityRightsPA.org. All right, hey, thanks, Perry. Talk to you next week.

Yeah, thanks, Joyce. Sure, bye-bye.

And, um, how much do you run into that problem in California, Jannie, the problem with accessibility voting?

You know, the accessibility of voting stations for in-person voting is a problem still in California and across the nation. We are fortunate that we have groups like the one you just described, that we've got Rev Up with the AAPD and other organizations, as well as hotlines that were very useful in 2020 that are run by the secretaries of state of each state. We also have disability caucuses in almost all of the states. I think all but 11 at this point have caucuses, and they are gearing up to help not only with voter registration, but also to assist people to the polls, and to help with voter protection on the day of the election. In addition to that, we have seen, because of COVID and the lessons we learned there, a huge increase in the number of people who will vote by mail. That's how I vote, because as a blind person, it is easier for me to use my own personal technology, which I have on my cell phone, to enable me to listen through and then accurately mark my ballot. I voted privately and independently for the first time in 2012, thanks to the Obama legislation that expanded accessibility for, for voters with disabilities. And I think this is going to be something that will be a critical issue in the upcoming election. So anyone who wants to vote should be able to do so, and we are fortunate to have organizations and the state governments backing us up.

Yes, and go to your website, go to your website. Remember, Disability Rights PA is the entire state of Pennsylvania, disabilityrightspa.org, and we will get that out on our Facebook Vote, vote, vote, vote. And Andrea, weren't you at— I know you were at the Black Caucus. Were you— you met people from the Disability Caucus at the conference, I mean the convention at the DNC? Yes. Yeah, that is good. And we're going to really have that news out in Beaver, PA and Pittsburgh. Because there have been problems in some rural areas with voting. So we'll make sure that we're on that. So, Janie, how important, you know, we have all these people listening to this show, how important do you think it is for the disability community to support Vice President Kamala Harris for president? Because I also know Tony Coelho Joyce Bender, my close friend and author of The ADA, is fighting for the enforcement of accessibility in the private sector, not just the federal government. So do you believe with Kamala Harris we would have a chance of making different things we've been fighting for happen?

It's absolutely essential that every person with a disability every person who is engaged, parent, spouse, family member of a person with a disability makes sure they vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. And it's as simple as this. The iconic founder of our community was Justin Dart. You mentioned Yoshiko just at the beginning of the hour, and so nice to hear her name mentioned. But Justin Dart put it this way. He said to us way back in the mid to late 1960s, "Vote as though your life depends on it, because it does." And that could not be truer now, because the contrast between these two candidates really is best demonstrated by the way they categorize our community. Let's be clear, Donald Trump does not respect us, value us, and if his nephew can be believed, he thinks it would be more convenient if we just all went away or died. But Kamala Harris wants us to thrive. In the last 4 years, in her work as vice president, we have seen more progress progressive legislation, executive orders, and regulations increasing accessibility and opportunities for people with disabilities than we have in many decades. We've seen regulations under Section 2, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and under the Rehabilitation Act. Kamala Harris has convened stakeholder meetings consistently for the last 4 years. Including a very important one on transportation, just a couple of years ago, where we talked about important issues like self-driving cars and access to transportation network companies and taxis for people with disabilities, especially people like me who have a guide dog. She has been absolutely clear that the Dobbs decision poses a threat not only to women, but to Everybody wants to make their own choices about their bodies. And that is really something that is the foundational value of our very community. So not voting is not an option. Voting for Harris-Waltz will help us be able to obtain the opportunities that we've been working so hard to see. And it will help people like our friend Tony Quello, in his search for things like ending the digital divide and seeing more progressive legislation that will enable people with disabilities to be consumers, to be trained, to be in the employment sector, which I know is so important to you, Joyce Bender, and to make all of our own choices about our bodies, our families, and our lives.

Oh, um, so well stated. And I want to say again, you know, Voice America is bipartisan. Both candidates are welcome to be on the show, but I have to say that I have seen her in action. I have seen the Vice President in action. And folks, I got to tell you, we need people that talk about us, of course, in a positive way. Because guess what? Do you know that when President Obama, in one of his speeches, when he went through the different protected class groups and then said, and people with disabilities, do you know that like I, yay, I jumped up clapping. That is how rarely we had been talked about. Here we're the largest group. We're like the silent majority. That's why I never understood why everyone didn't realize we have that power. You have that power. You've got to get out there and vote. And speaking of disability— Joyce Bender.

Yes. Just wanted to add to that comment of yours. We represent almost 38 million people eligible to vote and 70 million Americans without even counting our supporters and our family members. So you're right, we're a very significant voting bloc, and this is a critical election.

Yes, uh, yes, as she said, vote as if your life depends upon it, as Justin Dart said, because boy, it does in 2024. It really matters. Hey, we're talking about disability, Andrea and Janie. What about Governor Walz? With his background, what do you think he'll do to support the disability community? And in the words of state representative, state of Pennsylvania, Dan Miller, who I love and who speaks with me on mental health issues. We spoke at a Pride event and he said, "Making fun of Governor Walz's son is heinous." You've gotta be kidding that you would go to that level. You've got to be kidding me. So I just had to make that statement. But anyway, Andrea, what do you think about Governor Walz and what his commitment is?

Well, I think Governor Walz brings a deeply personal perspective as the father of Gus, a young man who's living with a disability. The love and respect between them was truly heartwarming, and it's clear that Gus has been raised with unwavering support Embracing his strength and potential. That kind of lived experience gives Governor Walz an understanding that few leaders have. It's not just theoretical for him, it's personal. What's especially impactful about Governor Walz is his ability to connect through his diverse background as a teacher, coach, congressman, and now governor, and soon to be vice president. He understands firsthand what families in the disability community feel. We face and that real change isn't about— just isn't just about policies. It's about transforming lives. I believe he'll champion initiatives that expand access to education, healthcare, employment, and affordable housing, recognizing that opportunity and dignity are essential for individuals with disabilities to thrive. Leaders like Governor Walz know these issues aren't just government responsibilities. They're about the values we hold as a society. By breaking down these barriers and fostering real inclusion, he can help create a future where everyone, regardless of ability, is valued and empowered. With his leadership, I'm confident we can build a world where everyone has a chance to reach their full potential and live with dignity.

Oh, I agree with you. I'm sure you agree with me, Jani, about these people in the media that made negative comments about Gus?

It's absolutely not to be tolerated. Um, it's something we've seen throughout the last 3 administrations. People who disrespect, including candidates who disrespect the incredible talent, creativity, and ability of people with disabilities. One of the things I really admire the most about Governor Walz is that he doesn't just speak about his son Gus. He speaks about the talents and the opportunities he's seeking for his children. He has a daughter as well. For me, this is really personal. Very recently, one of my children entered the world of disability quite unexpectedly. And it has been a challenge for me, not only as a person with a disability, but now as a mother of a child with a disability. And I am determined that this next generation will not have to fight the fights we fought in the 1970s for the Rehabilitation Act, in the 1990s for the Americans with Disabilities Act, but really be able to fully take charge as a generation who has grown up inside the protections of the ADA to become everything that they aspire to be and to live their own American dream.

Amen. And by the way, think about it. You look up the platforms and also look up what people have made fun of people with disabilities or have not. Because I live with epilepsy, and you know, although I don't have a tonic-clonic seizure, you know, people that do, like cerebral palsy, have a lot of movement with their hands. So that is not a good Um, okay, hey, we got a quick break here with our own Gerald Homi. Gerald, are you on the line?

Yes, I am.

Can you hear me?

Yes, I can, Gerald. How are you?

I am wonderful. Thank you, Joyce Bender, for letting me call in. How are you?

Good. I have these two wonderful guests.

You do, man. Andrea and Jenny, you guys are Fantastic, and thank you for all the incredible work you are doing in your community. It's an honor to be a small part of this as I get to help Joyce with our PA Rev Up Coalition as Bender Consulting Services and Bender Leadership Academy both get involved in the statewide coalition as a part of AAPD's national bipartisan effort to get out the vote and get people with disabilities registered and to eliminate barriers to vote, which you guys have talked so much about on this show. Such an important continued fight, as we get to get involved in that right here in the state of Pennsylvania. So, if you're here in the state of Pennsylvania and you want to get involved in that fight, you can fight alongside us here at Bender. Go to benderleadership.org to learn more about the PA Rev Up Coalition.

Yes, and you know, we are working with AAPD, and when Maria Town told me several years ago, yeah, you don't have that in Pennsylvania, I said, what? So we do now. We have this in Pennsylvania. So Gerald, if someone listening to the show, REV UP, Register, Educate, Vote, what again should they do? If, oh, I have questions about registering, and by the way, Janie and Andrea, at the Bender family picnic, Perry Jew was right there registering people when they came in, uh, to the picnic. What should they do, Gerald, if they want to get registered to vote or have any questions?

And from BA, you want to get registered, you want to learn more, go to benderleadership.org. And on the Get Involved section, there's a Rev Up PA Coalition page where you can learn all about what we're doing. There's information about the deadlines to get registered, how to get registered, all listed right there on the website. And if you want to get involved in the coalition yourself, you can sign up right there.

And remember, you've heard Jani and Andrea and me. Here is what I have to say. If you are thinking, oh my God, I have got to get involved, you can. Benderleadership.org. REV UP. Register, educate, vote. Thank you, Gerald.

Thank you.

Hey, Gerald, wait. Before you go, Gerald, because as Jani said, I am all about employment. What do we have going on?

Oh, we have so many great opportunities here at Bender. Right now we've got our virtual career fair happening on October 2nd in a few weeks, so go to benderconsult.com to learn more and sign up. But if you go to there, you also see openings that we currently have, like competitive employment opportunities in the distribution of medical supplies in the supply chain of hospital networks. Project manager roles in information technology, chief program officers, pro— managing products for organizations, and customer service agents, and more. So, if you're interested in roles, make sure you reach out to vendorconsult.com because we have so many more coming up soon. As I know, we will have lots of opportunity going into October for national National Disability Employment Month.

Thank you, Gerald. And you probably noticed, Jannie and Andreo, he said National Disability Employment Month. Why I don't say Awareness Month, National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we've had more than enough awareness, okay? We've had all this awareness. Hire people. That is where the rubber meets the road. So, Janie, what message do you have for our listeners today?

I think it's important for us all to take action right now and until this election is over to ensure that our right to vote is available for every American, regardless of whether a person with a disability or otherwise, that people use their vote and that they understand that this is perhaps one of the most important elections we will see in our lifetimes. We truly are at a crossroads in history. We have an opportunity to elect a president who represents all of the values that the national disability community has been fighting for, for decades. We are the final frontier in the battle for civil rights in this nation. We have an opportunity to, for the first time, elect a woman, a woman of color, a woman who understands, respects, and will ensure that all of us all of us can live our lives with dignity. It is probably the most important job we've got to do. So, I am so grateful to you, Joyce, for opening up this dialogue so that everyone understands that they, everyone in their family, everyone in their workplace, everyone in this nation must vote and vote Harris-Wells.

Thank you so much. And how about you, Andrea? What's your message?

So my message is simple, Joyce Bender. Ensure that every individual, including those with disabilities, has the opportunity to vote in this critical election. Voting isn't just a right, it's the foundation of our democracy, giving everyone the power to shape the future of our nation. Our leaders must make the entire voting process accessible. This means fully accessible polling places, clear and straightforward forward voting information and election staff trained to assist voters with disabilities. We need to create an environment where everyone feels empowered and supported when casting their vote. We also need to lean in and embrace technology to break down barriers, making sure citizens are aware of, have access to, and are supported in using it, whether it's online voter registration or accessible information about candidates and issues. Technology can make the voting process more inclusive, keeping every voter informed and engaged. This is more than just meeting legal obligations. It's about our shared responsibility to create a society where every voice truly matters. Leaders have the power to make this election a true reflection of our nation's diversity. We must act now to ensure everyone has equal chance to participate in our democracy and help shape a future that represents us all.

Thank you. Oh, such great messages. Well, we have a quote at the end of every show. Boy, this one is easy. It's one word. Ready? Forward. Vote.

Forward.

Forward and vote. Yes, vote, vote, vote. But forward. Said Vice President Kamala Harris. This is Joyce Bender, America's Voice, where disability matters at voiceamerica.com, and it matters that you vote. And in the words of Mary Brooker, when you go out today, remember, choose joy. Talk to you all next week.

Voice America would like to thank you for tuning in. Please join us next Tuesday at 11 AM Pacific Time and 2 PM Eastern Time for another installment of Disability Matters right here on the Voice America Variety Channel. We are the leader in live internet talk radio. VoiceAmerica.com.