Steve Irwin: Employment of People with Disabilities in PA

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.

Well, hello everyone and welcome to the show today to everyone in the United States and around the world. I'll tell you what, China, your listening audience keeps getting larger. Thank you so much for following the show. But you know what? Even in countries where there's only one listener, like Saudi Arabia, hey, one person can make a difference. But we now have listeners in 17 different countries. So to everyone Greetings, all my best to you, and keep spreading the news that people with disabilities, no matter where they are, deserve quality of life. And a special shout out to my good friend Yoshiko Dart. How are you? And you know what? I just thought I'm going to include those people from the State Department that have worked with me around the world, like Richard Roberts, South Korea and Japan, Gyeong-young Cho in South Korea, Veniamin in Kazakhstan, and Cheryl Harris, who now is with the State Department, but was once with Tunisia. And as I said last week, to all of our friends in the Ukraine, We're behind you. I'm on the World Institute of Disability Board, and we are in support of you and specifically people with disabilities in that country. So just know that we are behind you. And today I'm so excited. We have a guest right here from Pennsylvania, and we soon will be having another one involved in politics. This is a great state. This show is sponsored by Highmark, a great company in Pennsylvania, and someone that our guest knows well, and that would be State Representative Dan Miller. Welcome to the show.

Yes, hi, thank you, Joyce Bender. Thank you for the invite. I love always talking with you.

Well, we think the world of you, and before we go on, I have to tell Everyone. I've known him. He is so dedicated to the disability community. He'll be talking about that mental health summit, but I've known him. I've been to his events. He's so passionate about people with disabilities. Why am I telling you that? Because he's running for office, and May 17th is the Pennsylvania primary, and he has my endorsement. You know why? He cares about people with disabilities. So the name is Dan Miller. Tell us all about that mental health summit.

Yeah, and thank you, Joyce Bender. We always love working with you, talking with you, and your leadership in the disability and mental health arena as well. We are always excited every year to host our Disability and Mental Health Summit. It has grown tremendously. This is actually the 9th year of its existence. It is in Western Pennsylvania, it is clearly the largest collection of disability and mental health resources. And we have a fantastic collection of always these great information sessions that are there. And then always what is the biggest, the massive resource fair, which brings everything sort of under one roof for people. It's been a little bit difficult, of course, as many events and things sort of going through the pandemic, but we are more and more getting more, getting kind of back to our typical formatting. And unfortunately, the need in these arenas are just so, so big and so important that we have to get back because we still are not where we need to be for disability and mental health supports and opportunities here in Pennsylvania and probably almost in every state.

So Dan, why? Why are you so passionate about this?

Well, you know, it's— I knew that this would be a big issue when I got elected in 2013. I come from a teaching background, and so special education was something I kind of focused a bit on. And then in my advocacy work as a public defender, we bumped into so much unaddressed mental health and things that were being sort of shoved into a criminal justice paradigm when it should have been somewhere else. We also, of course, have family connections to disability as well, and so all that kind of came together to recognize that this was a sort of an issue and an area that was not being addressed well in the state house here in Pennsylvania and in Harrisburg as a whole. And so we were like, you know, let's take this issue and let's champion it. But again, we knew it would be big, but Joyce, we had no idea how big the challenges were statewide when it came to opportunities for people with disabilities.

Yes, it is. You know, it's something across America that is such an issue. As I mentioned to you, I lost someone very close to me that I think most people, if they know me, they knew Mary Brocker, who I lost in August in a freak hiking accident. The worst thing that's ever happened to me. But Mary lived with clinical depression for 40 years. If you knew her, you wouldn't know this, as you don't with a lot of people. But Mary was all about helping young people with disabilities, specifically mental health. So we have started the Mary Brocker Mental Health Initiative at vendorleadership.org. That's benderleadership.org. And it's people like you, Dan, that are really just raising your hand saying, hey, we're all important, and that includes people with mental health disabilities. So before you go, two things. Number one, how can people register for this event?

Well, thank you. Yeah, so our programming is at disabilitysummit.com, okay? So you'll see it there for our April 28th event that's coming up, and then you'll soon see more information coming on our second part, which will be on May 26th of this spring. So all the information is there. And again, it's a little different format than typical years, but we will be growing back hopefully in 2023 with even a larger footprint and a larger amount of resources for people. We are excited for this year and we're so glad to offer it. So again, disabilitysummit.com is where somebody can go for everything they need to know about our upcoming summit.

And I will be so excited to participate and speak at that event. And you know what I was just thinking, Dan? You were saying how big it will be next year. That will be the 10th anniversary.

Yes, that's very true. You know, for a moment I was thinking, well, we just did the 30th with the ADA.

But yes, it will be the 10th.

You know, you mentioned Mary though too, and I just have to say how fantastic she was to work with. And I know often when you couldn't make every meeting we do, Mary was at I think every other one. And she was just tremendous, a fantastic, fantastically gifted person who was always saying yes to every idea we came up with about how to find new opportunities and expand programming possibilities. She was just, great, and I can't tell you how much all of us, uh, miss working with her now. And, uh, we do hope obviously to take her passion and to use it as a bit of fuel to keep going.

Well, thank you very much. Uh, yeah, that's her. That is the energy of Mary Brooker. And tomorrow night, uh, she is being recognized and honored at the Susan Daniel Hall of Fame event virtually that I, uh, was on the first year and her the second year. So my point is she is being remembered by everyone. She touched so many people. And before I go, Dan, one last thing, uh, your website is—

so my, my state website is repdanmiller.com, and you'll see a bunch of information beyond just the disability and mental health. But the Disability Mental Health Summit is disabilitysummit.com. So we have two ways for people to stay in touch and see what we're working on.

Okay, don't forget May 17th, Dan Miller. Thank you, Dan. Thank you, Dan, for being with us today. All right, have a great day. So here, here we go from one great leader to the next. And isn't it interesting how it's, uh, like, it seems like it's public day, you know, for people that want to make a difference and serve people in our community. Uh, and I was so excited to have the current Democratic candidate for U.S. Congress for the state of Pennsylvania with us on the show today, and that is Steve Irwin, who I have been a friend with for a very long time. Steve, welcome to the show.

Oh, thank you, Joyce. It's great to be on with you. It's really great to follow Dan Miller. Hard act to follow.

Yes. So Steve, before we talk about your— your, uh, well, before we talk about how you got into so much, let's talk about you. Just let everyone around the world hear your story. So, uh, where did you grow up? What made you pursue a law degree? And where are you right now, why are you running for US Congress?

Yeah, thanks Joyce Bender. This is, this is really fun. I, so I, I'm not from Pittsburgh, although I've lived in Pittsburgh longer than anywhere else in my life. I've raised my 3 kids in Pittsburgh, and I was born in, in New York. I was born in Brooklyn and lived there till I was 10. To a working-class family that my dad was a butcher and my mom was the assistant to the rabbi. And when I was 10, my family moved to Florida, to St. Pete, Florida, which was a very, very different world for me. But through hard work and opportunities that were presented to me, I was able to get a scholarship to go to Harvard College. And from Harvard, I went to Washington, D.C. Where I worked in the United States Senate for a Pennsylvania senator for 5 years. And during that time, the senator saw that— and I was the first to graduate from college in my family. And he saw a real potential and encouraged me to go to law school and said I could continue to work in the Senate while I was going to law school. So I applied to Georgetown Law School, which is around the corner from the Senate. And I shuttled back and forth from Georgetown Law and the Senate. And it was a great thing, and it brought me to Pittsburgh because I came here after law school to clerk for a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, Judge Wise, for whom our courthouse is named, and fell in love with Pittsburgh, and I've been here ever since.

And we're lucky to have you. So when you do run for office and you're elected, what would be your precinct?

Well, so the district— I'm in the 12th Congressional District, which is Mike Doyle's seat. It used to be the 18th. It's now the 12th. It is all of the city of Pittsburgh. It's portions of the South Hills like Bethel and South Park, Bridgeville. There's— now it has all of the Mon Valley, a good portion of the Mon Valley, and then now a third of Westmoreland County. Not all the way to Greensburg, but Irwin and Export, part of Hemfield, up that way. So it's about 750,000 people, and we have 17 congresspeople in Pennsylvania now. We lost a congressman, but Mike Doyle is retiring, and that's why I got in the race.

Yes, and he is really, you know, I'm a friend of his, and I'm really glad you're running for that office, Steve. What happened actually, uh, why Dan Miller jumped on this call today is to advertise the mental health summit that I'm speaking at. Uh, it's— it was so big 2 years ago, you know, before we went virtual. Uh, but he is just, for personal reasons, passionate about this. And so do you have personal reasons, which we'll talk about in a little bit. But what made you decide, I'm going to run for office? I mean, that's a big job. That's— that is a very big job. So why? Why did you decide to do this?

Well, you know, it's interesting. I've, I've been blessed. I've, I've been appointed to a number of positions in government over the years. I'm currently the chair of the U.S. Civil Rights Commission for Pennsylvania. I was the banking and securities commissioner under Governor Rendell for 8 years and served in Mayor Murphy's administration heading up the parking authority, and then I was our representative to the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission. But I really over the years realized that the power of elective office is really— is great and that really your ability to get things done is unparalleled and the opportunity to be a real leader in the community and And if you have a vision for the future, you have the means to accomplish those objectives. And so right now we're facing— we're really at an inflection point in the history of our country. Our democracy is threatened. Our region has to figure out who we are and how we're going to solve some of the greatest problems that we've known, from inequities in healthcare to addressing the carbon problem in our atmosphere, in the air that we breathe, and trying to make sure that people are able to have jobs and provide for themselves and their families. And now we even have geopolitical problems beyond that, as we know, in Ukraine and in the Mideast and China, etc. So all my life I've been working in these areas in nonprofits and in my career as a lawyer and in my public service positions. And I really believe that it's time for me to put those to use for the greater community.

Well, that is wonderful. And I'm so glad that you are doing that. Uh, because I'm going to tell everyone— I'm not going to even wait to the end to tell everyone this, uh, what I said about Dan. I feel very strongly in support of Steve Irwin, very strongly, and I, I endorse him. And anyone listening, you know, to our show today, uh, in Western Pennsylvania, specifically, uh, in the area replacing Mike Doyle, you're going to hear in a little bit why But since I've known him, he has been a big supporter of the disability community and someone who was very close to me that we'll talk about in a little bit. But he is the real deal. Now, listen, we need help, people with disabilities. We have the highest unemployment. We have still 70% of people not counted in the workforce. I mean, this is this year the 32nd anniversary of the signing of the ADA, and how can that be possible? So we need someone that would really, you know, lead the charge and fight the fight for us, and I believe that is Steve Irwin, May 17th. So Steve, I want to talk about your platform. So our listeners can hear about that. What are some of the main issues of your campaign?

Well, Joyce Bender, first of all, thanks for your endorsement. That means so much to me, you have no idea. There are so many issues, and when you're a congressperson, you have to be a jack of all trades. And so because I've been the chair, co-chair of the Pittsburgh Regional Health Initiative, I really am counsel to the Health Care Council of Western Pennsylvania for many years. I really understand healthcare, and our healthcare system is broken on on so many levels. We've made great progress, but we still have so many people who are not covered, not covered sufficiently, having challenges paying for their pharmaceuticals, and not only that, there are so many things that are not paid for. And so I think healthcare, medical error, ending medical error is a big part of what I'm going to do. I'm going to champion the creation of a National Patient Provider Safety Board, kind of like the NTSB, which is for transportation, but for healthcare, so we can end avoidable medical error, the third largest cause of death in this country. And some of that happens because we have people who are disabled in one way or another and unable to maybe communicate as well what their needs are when they're in the hospital, and so they are not given the kind of care that they deserve and need. We can prevent those things from happening. Also access. Access is huge. It's such a big problem. The infrastructure problems we know in this region because our region was built 120 years ago are legend. Certainly the Fern Hollow Bridge, which my bus that I take to downtown to my law office every day goes over that bridge. And we have 150 other bridges just like that. And when I was in Washington, I did transportation for Senator Specter, and I helped build the— get all the money to build the light rail transit system to the South Hills. I know how to get those things authorized. I know how to get them appropriated, and I know how to make sure that the work's done on time and on budget. And so I think infrastructure and access, and, you know, if we have time, we can talk about it, but I have some special insight into the importance of access and the need for access. You can't expect people who may be in a wheelchair to be able to necessarily get to a job by sitting and waiting for access to pick them up for 2 hours and take them home at the end of the day for 2 hours. They might as well be working working in Harrisburg. So that has to end, and we have to make sure that Pittsburgh gets its fair share of, of that, of those dollars. And the last thing I would say is that obviously the economy is a great challenge to us. Inflation is really out of control, and we've got to make sure that we improve our supply chain. We start making things in this country, make sure that the Mon Valley in Pittsburgh, which has great workers with great work ethic and expertise, is a big part of that transition of our energy away from coal and toward renewables and other— and hydrogen and other technologies that are going to enable us and sustain us. So those are just some of the things that I'm focused on.

Can we go back for one minute to access? Sure. You know, I want to just mention something and then I'd like to hear more about that. We are— we had to downsize. We had a large office. Why? Because my employees work from home in my corporate office, all of them. And we had such a great year, I told them, you know, we're staying that way. You can work from home. So, um, that— and then I have a lot of consultants out in the field working for Highmark or AHN or PNC, you know, whomever it is, and they already are working from home. A great majority. So I said, you know what, we're gonna have to downsize the office. So we start on this hunt for smaller, smaller space, but still a nice space, you know, for us. And no matter where I'm going, I can't believe it— no power-assisted door. No matter where I went, no power-assisted door. And the only way I'm going to be able to get in is if I rent like thousands of square feet like 4 times the size or 5 that I'm in right now, and I would say, you got to be kidding. Like, if I have Senator Tammy Duckworth come to visit me, she can't get in.

Right.

Then I go inside, the restrooms aren't accessible, no power-assisted door. Then I, you know, then I— the elevators do not have Braille, or they're so skinny thin. You could never get a power wheelchair in there. And you know what people would say to me in almost every building— and by the way, these are well-known corporations, uh, out in the Robinson Township area— they would say, well, let's go to the back and see if there's an entrance there that's power.

Yeah, Linda, I mean, I can't tell how many of them said that.

And you know what I wish Steve, when you get elected, I wish somehow you could have an impact on that. Uh, we did find space in Moon Township, and these people are so awesome because it's new building and they're renovating it that yes, they're putting in power-assisted doors everywhere, including at the, uh, restrooms. So what do you think about that?

Well, I think that— I'll be completely honest with you and transparent, Joan— Joyce, because, you know, I said Joan because I'm thinking Joan Stein. When you start talking about those things, she's the first person that comes to my mind, Joyce.

Yeah, yeah, me too, all the time.

But I think people need to be educated. Until I frankly had a certain condition, an onset of a certain condition 10 years ago where I largely became, you know, was, had impediments in getting around because of a very serious chronic bladder inflammation that I'll have the rest of my life, and a pelvic floor muscle spasm which prevented me from walking and had a number of other consequences. I thought I was probably one of the most empathetic people for, for people who had those kinds of challenges. And, and as you know, our mutual friend Linda Dickerson and I, you know, spent so much time together, and I never thought of her as ever being in a wheelchair or having any, any disability. We just dealt with each other, you know, mano a mano. It was just the way it was, and I thought I was empathetic and understood, and we got around. But when I, when I finally had my own challenges I realized how many things people took for granted. And when people are healthy and they're young or they don't have any kind of physical or mental challenges, they just can't really get their heads around them and they don't understand. And so we have to educate. We have to have people in the workplaces who are responsible to make sure that things that they think work don't work and fix them. These are, these are, real issues. And so, you know, I just know from my— we need those people who really truly understand to call it out. And I promise to continue to call it out when those things happen, even if it's just as a leader in the community. That's one of the responsibilities for a congressperson. And hopefully I can show them the way.

Well, and once again, to all of my listeners, what better to have a person with a disability fighting the fight for us because he gets it. So once again, and I'm going to ask right now, Steve, how does someone get involved in your campaign?

Sure. No matter where you are, if you're able to use a, use a phone, you can help us make phone calls. If you want to knock on doors, you can. You can even contribute. Go to SteveForPA.com. You'll see some pictures of me. The ones of me rowing were before— the before pictures, but go take a look. You know, even with respect to rowing, you know, I was the president of Three Rivers Rowing here in Pittsburgh, and, you know, we became the— during my presidency and leadership of that organization, we became the U.S. Rowing Club of the Year, not because of the races we won, that we made the boats go the fastest, but because we made it so everybody could get in a boat, and including people who might not otherwise have access to the rivers, people in the inner city who don't have transportation, people who even are in wheelchairs and unable to. We were able to get folks in boats with— and assisting them. We had a great program. The Bayana Nurses Regatta spoke to that kind of assisted rowing and other marginalized folks in society. So go to Steve for PA. Follow me on social media at Steve Irwin PA. And please follow and like and do all those kinds of things. And we'd love to have your help. I will be a champion for the disabled and the mentally and physically challenged and everybody. I mean, that's— it's— there's so many issues and challenges that we all have and some that are particular to different segments of our society. All I can say is that I see you, I hear you, and I'm going to represent you zealously in Washington.

Oh, and that's what we need. Uh, that's why I'm gonna ask Steve to call in again on another show. Uh, why? Because this is very important to me, to have someone I know and that I trust and that I believe in representing us. One more time, website?

SteveForPA.com.

SteveForPA.com. I want to just say something.

One word, one word. SteveForPA.com. Yep.

Okay. SteveForPA.com. Is that what you said?

For PA, PA, like Pennsylvania.

Oh, okay.

SteveForPA.com.

Steve can't spell today. We better make sure that we have you talking. I want to say something. Else about this. When you're making a donation, remember, even if it's $26, $25, anything, everything counts. Just remember Bernie Sanders, and you will remember what I mean when I say that. So again, I encourage you, I really encourage you. You can see I feel strongly about Steve. So Steve, something I do want to talk about is our mutual friend, another person I lost, and that's why at the Bender Leadership Academy, we have every year, we're giving out $1,000 scholarships to high school students with disabilities. Of course, they have to write an essay, and it's about the impact of Linda Dickerson on their life, and it's always so exciting to call a high school student and say, you are are a recipient of the Linda Dickerson Scholarship. And this year we're going to be giving out 15. So if you all want to know more about that, benderleadership.org. But I know you know, Steve, why I feel like this. But you knew her longer and you were so close to Linda. What— let's talk about Linda. What impact did Linda have on your life?

Oh my gosh, where do I begin? You know, Linda Dickerson, I knew about her before we became friends, but we sat next to each other at a dinner of the Anti-Defamation League, which I'm very involved in. And the Anti-Defamation League, you know, fights hate and bigotry in all forms against the Jewish people and all people. And Linda and I started talking and we ended up becoming her escort to pretty much everything, which is fun because Linda was the head of the zoo and the aviary and the ballet. And she never would stand for going in the back door, that's for sure. And Linda was just such a great friend. I met such wonderful people through Linda, including you Joyce, and Mary of course. And, you know, she— we became confidants. We— I got to know her intimately through her health challenges and became her lawyer. We fought all sorts of battles together. She knew that I was running for Congress, and she would have chaired the campaign. So it's— I wish I had her here because there's very few people who could write or think as well as Linda Dickerson.

She, Linda, was the great communicator, you know, just, and she was on the board of CMU, not just graduating from CMU, but on the board of CMU. And Linda, Linda was brilliant. That's all I can say. And so, you know, for those of you that don't know, Linda used a wheelchair and she had a significant disability and you would not know 'cause she was a powerhouse and no one, nothing, I don't think I knew of anyone when I met her I met her, I don't think I knew anyone that knew so many CEOs as Linda Dickerson. Recently he passed away, but how I got to be friends with Ben Sarny, the at one time CEO of PPG, was Linda. And, you know, and Danforth. I mean, she knew everyone. I mean, she did. She was a powerhouse. And a supporter of mine from the beginning. Uh, it was just— let's put it like this: the day I found out that Linda had passed away was the day I was doing filming for the Bender Leadership Academy. And right then, right there, that day, I said, we're going to have a Linda Dickerson Scholarship Fund. I don't want anyone to forget who she was and the impact that she had. I mean, she was unbelievable, that's for sure. And she, yeah, she would have been your campaign manager.

She would have been all over this. She, you know, Linda was the first student to graduate from Carnegie Mellon who attended in a wheelchair. They're going to be naming a big portion of their new health and wellness facility, the new building they're building at Carnegie Mellon, in her honor, so I'm looking forward to that. And there's a scholarship there at CMU too also for a student each year. So Linda's impact will reverberate long after we're all gone, and, you know, I know we think of her every day.

That's right, we do. So, Steve.

Yeah.

Do you believe that we're going to be able to work together in this state in Pittsburgh to see an increase in employment opportunities for people with disabilities with this bipartisan— partisan, I'm sure, sorry— world that we live in today. Like Tony Coelho, the author of the ADA, has told me he does not believe he could have got the ADA signed right now. In this world we're living in. What do you think?

I think that the world is ripe for more opportunities with people with disabilities because so much can be done, so much can be done remotely that, and can be done flexibly, right? And what we're going to have to do is step up enforcement of our Civil Rights Act laws, which I'm actually, I'm a I'm a— when I'm not running for Congress, I'm an employment lawyer in the civil rights field. I've done a lot of work in the ADA and ADA and Title VII, et cetera, and discrimination in employment. And a lot of— and discrimination in employment and in housing often happens when people— you can see it because people are accepted to a job or accepted to— accepted into a home or a rental or whatever it is, and then after they show up, suddenly the opportunity disappears or someone else is selected. That's because of people's— obviously people's biases very often. So I think we've got to do more monitoring and make sure those things don't happen. You know, I do think that disabilities do not know race. They don't know age. They don't know political party. And so it cuts across all people. So my job my job in Congress is going to be to look out for those people who have friends and loved ones and family that are experiencing these challenges and build a caucus of folks who are going to, you know, see to it that we can get things done. The work that's being done at Carnegie Mellon right now in assisting people, not in building robots to replace people, but to augment their capabilities, their abilities, is really going to be dramatic in giving more opportunities for folks. So I think it's going to be a matter of making sure that our civil rights agencies are adequately funded. I don't think the EEOC is adequately funded and training people and putting together coalitions in Washington of people who want to expand opportunities. And because we have, you know, we do have sort of a workforce shortage to a certain degree right now or at least a shortage of people who want to go to work. I think that with, with that need and the need for people who can do these jobs, perform these essential functions of these jobs, I think we're going to have more opportunity. And the other key piece of this, as we discussed earlier, is access and making sure that our transportation systems, as they evolve, are flexible and speak to the needs of all different kinds of people so they can get to job training, so they can get to work. To work, so they can get to the doctor, so they can get to school. And I'm going to make sure that I get behind those new modes of transit and to make sure that everyone has access to that opportunity.

Yeah, I have to mention something, and that is I am a big civil rights supporter. Across all boards, but I'm talking for a moment about disability. I don't know if you saw on the news what happened at the McGuire Home and how— this is people at the McGuire Home are people with extremely significant disabilities on a developmental level or, with intellectual disabilities, or they are, you know, unable to speak, etc. Well, what happens? They find out that they were being abused ongoing. Now I'm meaning horrific, okay? I'm meaning putting, uh, like Clorox or something in their eyes, hitting them, jumping on them. I, I mean Just imagine, horrific. Well, not only are they going to prison, they're pretty sure going to be charged with a hate crime. And I was going to tell Senator Casey, you know, in the state of Ohio, they just got past— every nursing home is going to have a camera. Wow, would I like to see that in Pennsylvania. Uh, my dad is in assisted living. He is not— he's 97. He is not in skilled nursing because we want him to have his own room, although they have access to skilled nursing. For our fear of what happens to people, people with disabilities, you know, I have a friend, a disability rights leader, the head of the World Institute on Disability that I talked about earlier, and she said one day to me on the air— she said this on the air, she's been in the New York Times, different things— she said, you know, they slaughtered us, they slaughtered people with disabilities, because everyone seems to forget that those are people with disabilities, people that are marginalized, possibly more vulnerable because of the situation they're in. But I am proud that you are in civil rights because I know you will include us in civil rights. So Steve, if you were talking to people listening to the show right now that are in Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, and able to vote for you, and they said to you, Steve, why should I vote for you? What would you say?

So I guess I'd say two things. It's pretty simple. Um, first of all, uh, I know how to get things done in Washington, DC. I've worked there for 5 years. I have I did the Appropriations Committee, I did the floor of the Senate, I was responsible for important issues for the senator, from education to labor to infrastructure and the environment, things that really matter in people's lives. And I just know how to get it done. Even after I left, I've done extensive lobbying and other things for a number of different organizations in Washington. So I know how to get things done in D.C. And I know Pittsburgh. You know, I'm the longest-serving board member of Big Brothers Big Sisters. My little is 50 years old. I've chaired Sustainable Pittsburgh, Three Rivers Rowing. I've worked on food insecurity issues through— with the food bank, and I could go— Rainbow Kitchen. I could go on and on and on. I'm a neighborhood guy. I'm going to be our neighborhood congressperson, and I'll be able to listen. I'm going to do these backyard backyard, you know, listening tours so I can find out what people's issues are, and I'll translate them into legislation in Washington and work hard to get it passed. And if you don't believe me, believe Mike Doyle, our incumbent. He's talked to everybody who's in this race, and he's decided that he's endorsing me to be the next congressperson for this congressional district. So I'm so honored to have Mike Doyle's— no one knows better than Mike Doyle, who should be our congressperson, and he's endorsed me. Also, the— running for— isn't that great news?

That is. Yeah, that is really great. That is wonderful. So Steve, where do people listening to the show— where are the voting polls? Where do they go?

Yeah, so, you know, you can vote by mail if you're unable to make it to the polls on May 17th. So make sure you order your ballot. I'm And don't be— don't hesitate to call my campaign headquarters, which is in Highland Park. And you can go to that website and just send a note. And if you have any trouble, we'll make sure you can get registered, make sure that you can get a mail-in ballot and mail in advance. So don't not vote. If there's anything you should come away from today, whether you vote for me or Mickey Mouse, please register to vote. It's really important. It's what separates us from a number of countries in this world. The fact that we have a democracy here and we have to stand up for it.

Yeah, and if you can't see that in the news right now, you never will. How terrible is it to be in a dictatorship where you don't have a right to speak up? So I'm with Steve, make sure that you get out there and you vote. So Steve, obviously you have been impacted by people that have given you this passion you have, uh, for civil rights and and, you know, just for leading the charge and caring about other people. So I have to ask you, who is your role model?

You know, I thought you might ask me this question, Joyce, and I've thought about this again and again, and I'm going to give you two answers. You know, I have been very fortunate because I've had many role models, and what I've done is I don't try to be anything like one person, all in on one person, because no one's perfect. You know, Bill Clinton was one of my most favorite people in the world, and he was definitely imperfect, and everyone's got their thing. So in Big Brothers Big Sisters, what I encourage folks is don't make people larger than life. What you need to do is pick out the qualities that you love in different people and make it your own, because we're all unique, and you've got to find what it is in yourself that makes you that special spark that makes you different from everyone else so you can pursue your passion because if you're doing that, you're going to do that best. But, you know, having said that, and I have many role models, you're one of them for me, the way you've been able to— you recognize how important government is, how it can be a catalyst for positive change, and you've run a business successfully and you have your own disability challenges. And now that I've joined that—

No, I have epilepsy. Epilepsy.

Right?

You have epilepsy.

So for me, the positivity that you and Linda and others who I know who just every day, and even Mary, I mean, I never, you know, she was so positive. That positivity that you bring and that just never complaining, that work ethic, those are the qualities that I aspire to be. So I never complain, just keep on moving forward and push forward and do the best that we can. For me, running for office for me when I first got sick for the next 4 years was something that was never going to happen. And when I got to the point where I learned finally after a lot of work after 5 years to manage my disability and I realized that I could do it and the need was there, it was time to put up or shut up. So I'm putting up. I can do it. And, you know, it would be easy for me to say FDR. I'm not in a wheelchair. I don't have those kinds of challenges. But I can tell you that everybody has things they've got to get over, and I'm prepared to overcome mine. I hope it inspires others. And most of all, I'm doing it for the right reasons. I want to be our congressperson. I'm not doing this to run for anything else. This is how I want to spend the next 10 to 15 years and being a champion for Pittsburgh, a place I truly love.

Yeah. You know what I want to say? Congressman Irwin.

That's what I want to say.

That's what I want to say. So listen, Steve, I didn't get to ask you this question, but over the years you've done so much now. In your opinion, would you say that was your greatest accomplishment, you know, dealing with that disability, or what would you say?

That's a really great question. You know, I think my greatest accomplishment is probably my children. But they're incredibly wonderful and very much the same, very much different. But that's the hardest thing. Being a dad is the hardest thing because when your kid gets sick, you get sick. And my kids have all had challenges and they're all— I just tell them every day, it's going to get better. It does get better, so just hang in there. But I can tell you that, yeah, probably you're right. In 2012, when I got sick, I was at the top of my game, Joyce. I was the president-elect of the North American Securities Administrators, testifying before Congress. I was a world-class rower. Maybe not world-class. I was nationally— I had won a gold and two silvers in rowing. I had a law firm that I built from 10 to 100 lawyers around the country. My family was well. I was really on top of the world. The world. And suddenly the next day I suddenly fell off the face of the earth and next thing you know I'm at the Cleveland Clinic every week and they're trying to figure out what's wrong with me and I lost a ton of weight and I'm never sleeping and I'm in pain all the time and on opioids and you name it. And it really was incredible. I never thought I'd get through that, but I persevered and I worked hard through traditional and non-traditional forms of help and some things that not everyone is able to do. I changed my life and got lucky and got to the point where I can do these things. And so, you know, that resilience, overcoming those mental challenges that came along with that as well as physical challenges, has given me the inspiration to know that running for Congress is certainly icing on the cake and something I can do. So that's— I don't know if that answers your question, but it's the truth.

Oh, yes, it does. And you know what? I want to go back to something you said earlier because a listener just reminded me of this. When you were saying if you can't find an accessible poll to get in touch with you, I want to add to that that if you know right now Oh my goodness, this poll is not accessible. You can also reach out to disabilityrightsofpennsylvania.org. That's Pennsylvania rights disability dot org. And Perry Jude Radesik, who is normally on every show, she couldn't be this week, you know, for our news break, is the executive director. Make sure you get in touch with them. Way ahead of time, in addition to Steve, to let them know. Make sure you do that.

Absolutely. Please, please call. Even if— yeah, anytime. We're here to help. Voting is so important.

Yeah. Oh, it is. It is so important. So Steve, uh, what message do you have for our listeners today?

I think, uh, the message is dignity, humanity, and leadership. I think, uh, The people— we need to ask the people who are public servants to make sure that what they're doing has an impact on their everyday lives, that they're doing things that matter, they're doing things that give people dignity and to give them the opportunity to have a job if they can do it and provide for themselves and their families so they can lead rewarding and satisfying lives. Everybody's got that spark. They have something special and our job is to find that in everybody around us and allow allow each person to pursue that and give them, you know, the tools and the support to be able to do it. So I'm not doing this on my own. My running for Congress is not about me. I've already got, you know, so many volunteers that are helping, and I need more, but we have literally hundreds of people are working on this congressional race. And when I get to Washington, I'm going to— when I'm trying to figure out what are the things I need to address, I'm not I'm going to look all the way around, and when I'm looking to find the solutions to those problems, I'm going to look all the way around to make sure that I have people who are in this community, they are at the table helping me to figure out the answers. So please, finally, don't sit on the sideline. In my campaign, in any campaign, it's not what you can't do, it's what you can do, and you certainly can register to vote, and you can vote for Steve. So thanks very much for this chance to share that with you and tell you a little bit about me that you might not have known and to spend this hour with you, Joyce. What a treat.

Well, it's been a treat for me. Again, I endorse Steve Irwin. Vote for him. You know how he's talking about, and I have a disability, he, Steve, you remember our biggest mantra? In the disability rights community, because disability rights are civil rights. It was and still is today, nothing about us without us. And that's what you made me think of, Steve, when you said about making sure you have the right people represented around the table. Nothing about us without us. So that is so important to all of us. You know, Steve, thank you for being with us today. Your website one more time?

SteveForPA.com.

SteveForPA.com. Make sure you go there and go to that donate button. And with that, you know, we end every show with a quote, and today it is: There are risks and costs to action, but they are far less than the long-range risk of comfortable inaction, said President John F. Kennedy. This is Joyce Bender, America's Voice, where disability matters, at voiceamerica.com. Talk to you next week with national leader Andy Imperato, and remember, in Mary's words, When you leave today, choose joy.

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.

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