Accessible Futures: Rylin Rodgers on Driving Disability Inclusion at Microsoft
Rylin Rodgers serves on Microsoft’s Accessibility Team as a Disability Policy Director. She strives to impact disability policy in the areas of technology, workforce and fundamental right. Rylin’s work is influenced by her lived experiences with disability. She is dyslexic and has idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and the mother of two young adults with physical disabilities […]
Unstoppable: Danny J. Gomez Talks Acting, Resilience, and Disability Representation
Danny J. Gomez is a professional actor who was paralyzed from the waist down in a 2016 mountain bike accident that nearly killed him. He is best known for roles in such hit shows as NCIS: Hawai’i, New Amsterdam, All Rise, and feature film Martinez Margaritas and Murder. He is a two-time Easterseals Disability Film […]
Vision, Leadership, and Lifelong Connections: The Story of Ryan Miller
Ryan Miller is the Founding Pastor of Damascus Road, a church that is committed to following Jesus together at the University of Arizona. Ryan also serves as the Director of Campus Ministry for Missions Door. He provides leadership, vision, training, and care campus ministries throughout the United States, Mexico and Central America. Ryan and Keith […]
Faith, Dance, and Difference: A Conversation with Freddy & Meg
Freddy Pang and Meg Gray are neurodivergent church members at The Journey Church, Tucson and a good friends with Keith. They talk to Keith about their relationship, living as a neurdivergent person and their passions for church and ballroom dancing. Freddy and Meg are newly weds and they talk about navigating their lives living with […]
Racing Through Life: Nathan Klein on Autism, Horses, and the Road Ahead
Nathan Klein is a University of Arizona student with Autism, studying Horse Racing. Nathan and Keith talk about their shared interest in horses and Sonic the Hedgehog. Nathan also talks about his experience as a disability advocate and his autism experience. Nathan and Keith also talk about the future and what Nathan plans to do […]
Empowering Faith: Jim Roden’s Mission for Disability Advocacy
Jim Roden is a Pastor at The Journey Church in Tucson, Arizona. Jim and Keith talk about Jim’s ministry, disability advocacy within the Church, and Jim’s personal experience with disability advocacy. Season 4 is dedicated to Christina Trivigno, Disability Advocate and Friend. Disability Empowerment Now is produced by Pascal Albright.
Empowering Voices: Chris Desborough on Disability Pride and Community
Chris Desborough is the Community Outreach Director for the city of Tucson and Director of Disability Pride Tucson. Disability Pride Day coincides with the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. This United Nations initiative was created to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society. This annual event features […]
Embracing the Polio Family: John R. McFarlane’s Story
John R. McFarlane is an Actor with Polio and a Polio Advocate. John and Keith talk about Polio Advocacy, traveling the world, and John’s personal experience living with Polio. They talk about the importance of living life and embracing the “Polio family.” BEGIN: Thought I would just share a bit about myself. As you may […]
Empowering Minds: Temple Grandin on Autism and Opportunity
Temple Grandin Ph.D. is a renowned autism spokesperson, author and animal behaviorist and an academic. She is a designer of livestock handling facilities and a Professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University. She returns to Disability Empowerment Now to talk with Keith about her books “The Autism Brain” and “Visual Thinking.” She also discusses […]
From Paralympic Podium to Advocacy: Jenny Sichel on Winning, Training, and Leading Change
Jenny Sichel is a 2016 Rio Paralympic Silver Medalist and 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Coach for Team USA in the sport of rowing. She was a USRowing National Team member for seven years and in that time won five international silver medals. When she’s not on the water, Jenny is passionate about destigmatizing mental health and […]