Disability Beat is about and for people with all types of disabilities with a slant toward social justice, community supports, inclusion, accessibility, freedom and choice.

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Listen to live episodes of Disability Beat at www.weft.org Mondays at 5:30 PM Central time.

Disability Beat Podcasts

5.13.13 Cindi Swanson, Illinois and National Advocate, talks about the importance of community inclusion, social capital, and how to start thinking about building community for young children with disabilities. LISTEN  

5.6.13 Tim Stone and Alison Kopit of L’Arche Chicago talk about the culture
of L’Arche and Tim’s dream of owning his coffee roastery and coffee shop. LISTEN 

4.29.13 Alyson Patsavas of the University of Illinois, Chicago, runs down the schedule for Bodies of Work, a disability arts event in the Chicago area in May. LISTEN

4.22.13 Teresa O'Connor and Sally Mustered on the C-U Autism Walk, to be held on Sunday, April 28 at Hessel Park in Champaign. LISTEN

4. 5.13 Peter Tracy, Exec. Director of the Champaign County DD Board and Mental Helath Board comes for a continuation of the discussion about the workings of the boards and the efforts they support on behalf of providers and people with disabilities in Champaign County. LISTEN  

4.8.13 Katherine Hamann of the Arc of Illinois Family Transition Project discusses details of the "Going Home" Rally in Springfield, on April 9. LISTEN   

4.1.13 Peter Tracy, Executive Director of the Champaign County Developmental Disabilities Board and Mental Health Board. LISTEN

3.25.13 Amy Armstrong, driving force behind the new Stevens Family YMCA and Larkin's Place, discusses achievements, progress and issues in better serving children and adults with disabilities in the new facility. LISTEN

Sheila Fisher, talking about her daughter Devora, and the importance of real community inclusion. Listen 

Mary Meduna, keynote speaker for the Family Conference in Peoria
on March 9   Listen 

Gail Olson, Coordinator of Hearing and Vision Early Intervention Outreach discusses the highlights of the upcoming Parent Conference in Peoria on
March 9. For more information go to www.starnet.org.   Listen 

Trevor Halfacre self-advocate talks about his life, hopes, dreams and challenges. Listen

 Jessica Cox is an articulate and accomplished young woman born without arms who is the star and subject of a new documentary, "Rightfooted".
Listen 

1.21.13 Robert Kingett, advocate, speaker and writer. Listen

12.24.12 Sheila Ferguson of Community Elements discussing Mental Health Services in the wake of the Connecticut School shootings Listen

12.17.12 Sue Suter, "retired" state and national leader in the disability community is currently a board member for United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) who
is exploring providing services in Champaign County. Listen

12.10.12 David Morrissey, the Executive Director of the United States International Council on Disabilities, discussing the recent attempt to pass the UN Treaty of the Rights for People with Disabilities in the US Senate. Listen

 12.3.12 Margie Wakelin, staff attorney for the Equip for Equality, Special Education Clinic on a recent Illinois due process case involving a 5-year-old
with autism. Listen

11.26.12 Ed McManus, parent, and recently "retired" after 17 years with the Illinois Division of Developmental Disabilities. Listen

8.20.12 Jamie Stevens, employment specialist for Community Choices Cooperative in Urbana Listen

8.13.12 Mariah Kilbourne, Miss Wheelchair America. Listen

8.6.12 Alan Goldstein of Equip for Equality on a lawsuit filed against the IHSA (Illinois High School Association) on behalf of a high school athlete with a disability who wants to compete on the swim team. Listen

7.30.12 Michele Westmaas on the rollercoaster ride of parenting a child with a disability diagnosis. Listen

7.23.12 Kurt Yaeger, cast member of the FX series, "Sons of Anarchy" on his role as "Greg the Peg". Listen

7.16.12 Peter Tracy, Executive Director of the Champaign County Developmental Disabilities Board and Mental Health Boards on the funding available for providers and support groups. Listen

7.9.12 ‎Krescene Schneider-Beck of the Illinois Self-Advocacy Alliance and
Blue Tower Training on helping self-advocates to dream and communicate their dreams to others.  Listen

6.25.12 Katherine Hamann, Director of the Family Transition Project of the
Arc of Illinois. Listen

6.18.12 Michael Mayer of Community Resource Alliance on the closure of Jacksonville Developmental Center. Listen

6.11.12 Janice Fialka, author of the new book, Parents and Professionals Partnering for Children with Disabilities: A Dance that Matters. Listen

6.4.12 An interview with Diana Braun, advocate from Springfield, IL. Listen

5.30.12 Tim Wambach and Mike Berkson of the live stage show, Handicap This! being performed in Bloomington, IL on June 27, 2012in conjunction with the 5th Annual Gathering: The Power of Community. Listen

5.21.12 Wendy Partridge  has been supporting people to type to communicate for the last 9 years. She has learned from her son and others who use alternative forms of communication there is much they have to say. Listen

5.14.12 ‎Diana Braun - lived in an institution, has lived independently for 14 years, made a movie, traveled to Uzbekistan, and drove to Champaign for the interview! Listen

5.7.12 Derrick Dufresne of CRA is a leader in the effort to close the Jacksonville Developmental Center. He discusses the challenges and opportunities of this complex project. Listen

5.2.12 Rebekah Flores, Program Coordinator at L'Arche in Chicago, a faith-based living arrangement for adults with disabilities. Listen

4.25.12 Sheila Ferguson, Director of Community Elements, and menber of the Anti-Stigma Alliance on their collaboration with the Roger Ebert Film Festival. Listen

4.18.12 Deb Einhorn , Executive Director of Family Matters discusses the upcoming Family Conference to be held on Saturday, April 28 in Peoria.   Listen

4.11.12 Tim Welsh of Autism Aid discusses this national effort to assist families of children and adults with autism in getting needed supports. Listen

3.28.12 Jeni Forshier-Jenkins and Mary Jones on an upcoming Parkinson's Awareness Fundraiser, April 14 at Lincoln Square Mall in Urbana. Listen

3.7.12 April Keaton, Licensed Clinical Social Worker discusses her work with young adults with autism and other disabilities. Listen

2.29.12 Tony Paulauski, Executive Director of the Arc of Illinois on Governor Quinn's budget address and the potential impact on people with disabilities in Illinois. Listen

2.8.12 Author Zachary Fenell on his book, Off Balanced. Listen

2.1.12 Leroy Moore and Brooke Willock of Sins Invalid a performance project that incubates and celebrates artists with disabilities and others who have been historically marginalized.  Listen

1.25.12 Mark Doyle is the Project Manager for Transition of Care, Governor Quinn's initiative to move people with developmental disabilities who currently reside in State Operated Developmental Centers to quality services in the community. In this interview he outlines the plan, the players and the philosophy and values behind the project. Listen

1.18.12 Shirley Perez of the Family Support Network trains and coordinates parent advocates to support quality community living. Listen

1.11.12 Teresa Parks and Cathy Wolf of the Human Rights Authority, Guardianship and Advocacy Commission. Listen

1.4.12 Cathy Ficker Terrill, CEO of the Institute on Public Policy discusses a conference in Champaign scheduled for January 26 on a national initiative, Employment First. Presenters include David Mank of Indiana University, Kevin Casey, Director of the Ilinois Division of Developmental Disabilities, Kim Zoeller, CEO of Ray Graham Association. Listen

12.21.11 Patti Werner of Access Living in Chicago on the Colbert v. Quinn consent decree - another class action lawsuit forcing the state to provide communty supports for people with physical disabilities or mental illness who currently live in nursing homes in Cook County. Listen

12.14.11 Tim Wambach and Mike Berkson, creators of, and performers in a cutting edge live stage show, Handicap This!. Listen

12.7.11 Lisa Ellis and Theresa O'Connor of the Champaign County Birth to 6 Council. Listen

11.30.11 Frequent guest and friend, Tony Paulauski, Executive Director of the Arc of Illinois,  gives information and perspective on the pending closure of four State-Operated Developmental Centers in Illinois. Listen

11.16.11 Leroy Moore and Rob "Da Noize" Temple of Krip-Hop Nation discuss the international networking of artists with disabilities. Listen

11.9.11 Dori Bollinger is a Certified Mneme Therapist, a new type of arts therapy developed for people with Alzheimers and dementia, which is now being used for children and adults with developmental disabilities. Listen

11.2.11 Katie Herriott, Director of United Cerebral Palsy Land of Lincoln in Bloomington discusses services and possible expansion. Listen

10.26.11 Tony Records, Court Monitor for the Ligas Consent Degree discusses the proposed implementation plan to serve a minimum of 3000 people with disabilities in Illinois over the next 6 years. To join as a member of the class-action lawsuit go here.  Listen

10.19.11 Barb Bressner, Consultant with the Champaign County Disability Board, and Jim Mayer of the Champaign County Transition Planning Committee share information about the upcoming Disability Resource Expo, Reaching Out for Answers, Saturday, October 22 at Lincoln Square Mall in Urbana. Listen

10.12.11 Zelig Bartel of the Depression and Bi-Polar Support Alliance shares his personal story and information about support for individuals and families. Listen

10.5.11 Code of the Freaks is a documentary being produced by Carrie Sandahl, researcher at the University of Illinois-Chicago, exploring the portrayal of disability in mainstream film as well as viewers reactions. Listen

9.28.11 Tony Paulauski, Executive Director of the Arc of Illinois on the Congressional Super-Committee charged with making cuts to the federal budget.  Listen

9.21.11 Dr. Patrick Schwarz, author, speaker and professor at National-Lewis University on the topic of inclusive education. Listen

9.14.11This week's show features a compelling interview with "Jane" (not her real name), mother of a young man with Bi-Polar disorder, and Zelig Bartel of the Depression and Bi-Polar Support Alliance (DBSA).  Listen

9.7.11 Steve Libowsky, lead counsel on the third of three lawsuits (Colbert v Quinn) that will provide community options for about 20,000 people with physical and mental disabilities in Cook County. Listen

8.31.11 Social Cognitive Therapist Joan Gorsuch discusses the importance of Social Thinking to people with disabilities. An upcoming conference with Michelle Garcia Winter is featured.  Listen

8.24.11 John Foppe is an international speaker from Illinois who shares his experience and philosophy with corporate giants and  the disability community alike.  Born without arms, he focuses on creativity and what is possible, rather than what is not. Listen

8.17.11 CCAMR provides funds for adults with disabilities in the form of mini-grants. Learn about their efforts as well as their upcoming fundraiser at Alto Vineyards this Saturday, August 20 Thanks to board members, Mike Slagor and Jenny Slagor for the interview.  Listen

8.10.11 The topic of this program is bi-polar disorder. Guests are Tara Thompson and Zelig Bartell of the Depression and Bi-Polar Support Alliance.  Listen

8.3.11 David Wetherow of Community Works in Vancouver, BC is internationally recognized for his work in building community and supporting quality lives for people with disabilities. This interview, hopefully followed by several others, touches on some of his thoughts, ideas and knowledge. Listen

7.27.11 Zelig Bartell of the Depression and Bi-polar Support Alliance gives his perspective on the newly formed Champaign County Mental Health Court. Listen

7.20.11 Lars Weborg of Serafin and Associates talks about a website, the Social Challenge,  funded by the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities to impact the use of the r-word. Listen

7.13.11 Photographer Rick Guidotti, went from photographing high fashion models to photographing people with disabilities in a project called Positive Exposure. In this interview he shares his unique perspective as artist and advocate. Listen

6.29.11 Zelig Bartell and "Julie" of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance tell the story of Julie's son who struggles with mental illness. Listen

6.22.11 Barry Taylor, lead attorney for Equip for Equality on the landmark Ligas Consent Decree. Listen

6.15.11 Guest Rahnee Patrick of Access Living and ADAPT talks about non-violent protest and advocacy at the local, state and national levels. Listen

6.8.11 Mike Kaminsky of the Illinois Lifespan project talks about some of the many resources available at www.illinoislifespan.org.  Listen

 6.1.11 Rachel Simon, author of the memoir, "Riding the Bus with my Sister" and New York Times Best-Selling novel, "The Story of Beautiful Girl".   Listen

5.25.11 Tony Paulauski, Executive Director of the Arc of Illinois updates listeners on the status of recent proposals to cut services for people with disabilities in Illinois. Listen

5.18.11 Becca Burrow, self-advocate and aspiring author.  Listen

5.11.11 Charlotte Cronin of the Family Support Network discusses pending budget cuts for human services in Illinois.  Listen

5.4.11 Challenger League Baseball is the topic for this week. Listen

4.27.11  I'm Baaaack!!  Today's return of Disability Beat features Barb Bressner of the Champaign County Developmental Disabilities Board and Mental Health Board reviewing activities for Children's Mental Health Week (May 1-7) in conjunction with the viewing of "Louder than a Bomb" at Ebertfest.  Listen

2.9.11 Marty Murphy, a woman with autism and motivational speaker, talks about her life and her message to families, the community and other people with autism. Listen

2.2.11 Barry Taylor of Equip for Equality, and lead attorney for the Ligas v. Maram lawsuit discusses progress on the Consent Decree that will make community services a reality for thousands with developmental disabilities. The Fairness Hearing will take place on June 15.  If this is important to you, we encourage you to submit testimony! Listen

1.26.11 Sheila Ferguson and Ed Hawk of Community Elements discuss the new Mental Health Court in Champaign County. Listen

1.19.11 Henry Radcliffe, Community Engagement Producer at, Illinois Public Media, WILL on a Community Cinema Series featuring the film, "For Once in My Life", about a band of musicians with disabilities. Listen 

1.12.11 Dr. Ashleigh Molloy, Director of the Transformation Education Institute in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on Inclusive Education. Listen 

1.5.11 Amy Armstrong, Mom of Larkin and driving force behind Larkin's Place, a recreational facility for children and adults with disabilities in collaboration with the new Chamaign YMCA. Listen