12.31.08 Zelig Bartell, President of the Depression and BiPolar Support Alliance, shares his personal story in the last of five episodes. Listen Comment
12.24.08 In the 4th of 5 episodes, Disability Beat deals with Bipolar Disorder. Guest Nathan Welsh shares his story. Listen Comment
12.17.08 Guests Cindi Swanson and Deb Fornoff talk about their upcoming workshop, Meet Us With Open Doors: Congregational Inclusion, a full-day event sponsored by the Heart of Illinois Down Syndrome Association, Saturday, Jan 17, 2009 from 9am-3pm in Washington, IL Listen Comment
12.10.08 Ben Anderson, author of the book, IQ of 63- So What? talks about his life as a person with a disability in special education, college, and as a national speaker. Listen Comment
12.3.08 Kathy Bresnahan of Individual Advocacy Group talks about Traumatic Brain Injury and the types of supports available for people with this disability. Listen Comment
11.26.08 Mental illness affects 1 of every 5 people in the U.S, but when it affects your family you often feel alone and isolated. In the third of five episodes on Bipolar Disorder, Jane (not her real name) share her family's compelling story. Listen Comment
11.19.08 Sarah Castle, Wheelchair Basketball Gold Medal winner at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics Games shares her story and perspective on disability, sports, and the media. Listen Comment
11.12.08 Angela James and Devin Chambers of FAIRE (Family Awareness in Redeveloping Education) discuss this new advocacy resource for parents in Champaign County. Listen Comment
11.5.08 In the second of a five-part series on Bi-polar Disorder, Mike Workman talks about his compelling story. Listen Comment
10.29.08 Sarah Palin is the topic today. Is it enough, and is it important that the parent of a child with a disability be elected as vice president? Listen Comment
10.22.08 Barb Bressner has lead the organization of the Disability Resource Expo in Urbana for the 2nd year in a row. She talks about what visitors can expect to experience during this event. Listen Comment
10.15.08 Nelson Bond and Zelig Bartell of the Depression and Bi-Polar Support Alliance talk about supports for people with mental illness in this first of five programs on this topic. Schedule- Resources- Listen Comment
10.8.08 Gale and Holly Bohling of Federated Human Services Cooperatives discuss the pros and cons of parents joining together to provide quality services for their family members with disabilities, funded in Illinois by the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities through Managing the Art of Living. Listen Comment
10.1.08 The Blueprint for System Redesign is an initiative developed through the efforts of the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities that details changes needed in the disability system. Sheila Romano, Executive Director of ICDD discusses its potential impact and how it can be supported. Listen Comment
9.27.08 Today's guests are Beth Owens and Trish Lasso of Illinois Mentor, a small, little-known program that has existed in Illinois for 20 years. The program matches people with disabilities and families in the community in foster family-like arrangements. Listen Comment
9.13.08 Jonathan Mooney, author of The Short Bus: A Journey Beyond Normal talks about his experiences as a person with Dyslexia and Learning Disabilities, as well as his experiences and perspective as an advocate, speaker and author. Listen Comment
9.6.08 Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is today's topic. Ajeet Charate of Trinity Services in Joliet talks about this disability which is 100% preventable. For more information on FASD click here or call (815) 462-4273. Listen Comment
8.30.08 Mark Shelden, Champaign County Clerk, talks about efforts to make voting more accessible for people with disabilities in Champaign County. Listen Comment
8.23.08 Unfortunately, a recording of this week's show is not available. The guests were Ann Ford, Executive Director of the Illinois Network for Centers for Independent Living (INCIL) and Jack Dellzell, Program Coordinator from PACE, Inc. in Urbana.
8.16.08 The recently released film, Tropic Thunder, has sparked a thunder of protest from the disability community for it's frequent use of the "R" word and other demeaning portrayals of people with disabilities. Local activist and Mom, Jennifer Schrad has spearheaded an effort to raise awareness and fight prejudice. For more information go here. Listen Comment
8.9.08 The topic for today's show is Special Needs Trusts with attorney, Wesley Coulson. Click here to find a qualified lawyer, or contact the Coulson Group by email at steve@coulsonlawgroup.com. To listen to the podcast click Listen. Comment
8.2.08 John Spears is an Outreach Coordinator for Healthcare and Family Services and more specifically, Health Benefits for Workers with Disabilities, a program designed to provide health benefits so that people with disabilities can work, save money, AND keep or supplement their health benefits. Listen Comment
7.26.08 Michael Callahan of Marc Gold & Associates is a consultant who specializes in customized employment for people with significant disabilities. He talks about the philosophy and decision-making processes that support meaningful and productive community employment. Listen Comment
To listen to the archive of previous programs click on the Podcast Archives on the left!
7.12.08 Cindi Swanson of Illinois Lifespan and the ARC of Illinois is also the parent of Adam, a young man with Down Syndrome. Her topic, Transition Begins at Diagnosis, delves into the philosophy of inclusion that has guided the decision-making for their family and their son over the past 21 years. Listen
7.5.08 Fragile X Syndrome is the topic today, along with guests Anne Cheevers of the University of Illinois and parent, Joyce Dill who has 2 family members with Fragile X. For more information on this disability you can visit the National Fragile X Foundation or the Fragile X Research Foundation. Listen
6.28.08 Larkin's Place is a proposed recreational center designed for people with disabilities and their families, but open to the entire community. The project is named after the daughter of Amy Armstrong, Larkin, who was born with Down Syndrome. Listen
6.21.08 Jennifer Knapp is the Lead Organizer for the Campaign for Real Choice in Illinois, a grassroots advocacy group promoting freedom and choice for all people with disabilities in the state of Illinois. Jennifer talks about the various activities of the Campaign, including a rally to support the closure of Howe Developmental Center in Tinley Park and a survey of political candidates in Illinois. Listen
6.14.08 Brian King is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, author, speaker and person with Asperger's Syndrome who also has two sons diagnosed with Asperger's. Listen
5.24.08 Barbara Pritchard coordinates the Disability Rights Task Force, a sub-group of the Champaign County Health Care Consumers. She talks about an upcoming event to train medical providers about understanding and serving the needs of people with disabilities. The event will occur on June 20, 2008 at Provena Covenant Medical Center. Listen
5.17.08 The Parent & Educator Partnership is an Illinois project that provides support to parents of school-age children with disabilities. Merle Siefken, Project Coordinator, talks about the two parts of the project, the Illinois Statewide Technical Assistance Center for Parents and the Parent Mentor Projects. Listen
5.10.08 Dr. Sheila Romano, Executive Director of the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities discusses the Blueprint for Systems Redesign, a project to promote increased quality community supports for people with disabilities. Listen
5.3.08 Dr. Charlene Bennett is the Executive Director of Individual Advocacy Group, an Illinois Service Provider that supports people with disabilities in Community settings and their own homes rather than sheltered workshops and group homes. Listen
4.26.08 Peter Leidy, Composer, Performer and Advocate for people with disabilities talks about his work and his music. Peter's composition, Jerry Lewis Blues is the Disability Beat theme song. This episode does include music! Listen
4.19.08 Ellen Bronfeld, co-moderator of a listserve called IPADDUnite (Illinois Parents of Adults with Developmental Disabilities, talks about membership, resources and supports for family members of adults with developmental disabilities. Listen
4.12.08 Peter Tracy, Executive Director of the Champaign County Mental Health Board and Developmental Disabilities Board talks about the efforts of the Anti-Stigma Coalition and a special event at EbertFest that includes a free showing of the movie Canvas on April 27 at 4:30 pm at the Virginia Theater. My apologies for not posting the podcast. The recording failed this week.
4.5.08 Dr. John Trach, Associate Professor at the University of Illinois has spent the majority of his career preparing professionals to provide people with disabilities with effective transition plans and supported employment through the RSA Region V CRP RCEP. Listen
3.29.08 Nora Handler is the sister of three brothers with developmental disabilities and mental illness. She talks about her advocacy for other siblings and shares resources for children and family members. Listen
3.22.08 John Schornagel, Executive Director of the Community and Residential Services Authority talks about the role of this little-known Illinois agency in coordinating services and advocating for the needs of students with emotional and behavioral disorders. Listen
3.15.08 Charlotte Cronin, Executive Director of the Family Support Network discusses the basics of medicaid waivers and home-based support funding, and why it is important for families and people with disabilities. Unfortunately, the quality of the phone audio is poor, but the information is important. I hope you take the time to listen. Listen
3.1.08 Dr. Johnell Bentz teaches a course at the University of Illinois called Culture of Disability. In today's program she, and students Jenny Linsenmeyer and Erin Hand, discuss the content and relevance for students, the university and the disability community. Listen
2.23.08 Amy Walker of Illinois Voices talks about proposed legislation in Illinois that would require public schools to provide curriculum in Disability History. Listen
2.16.08 Babette Leek and Michael Granse of the Champaign County Regional Planning Commission, Prioritization of Unmet Needs (PUNS) database Listen
2.9.08 Jenell Hardy of Persons Assuming Control of their Environment (PACE) on supports for home ownership. Listen
1.25.08 Tony Paulauski, Ex. Dir. of the Arc of Illinois, Legislative Initiatives Listen
1.19.08 Claudia Lennhoff, Ex. Dir., Champaign County Health Care Consumers, Advocacy for Quality Health Care Listen
1.12.08 Lilia Teninty, Director of the Illinois Division of Developmental Disabilities Listen
1.5.08 Jim Waldrip, self-advocate, and Brenda Page, on community supports Listen
12.29.07 Tony Oligney-Estill, Champaign-Urbana Special Recreation Listen
12.22.07 Fannie Griffin, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Listen
12.15.07 David Pitonyak, Preventing Self-injurious Behavior Listen
12.8.07 Joel Sheffel, Ex. Dir. of West Suburban Access News Listen
12.1.07 Mike Kaminsky, Illinois Lifespan Project Listen
11.24.07 Robert Stephens, self-advocate Listen
11.17.07 Patrick Henry Hughes Listen
11.10.07 Shirley Paceley, Macon Resources and Illinois Voices Listen
11.3.07 Paula Kluth, Differentiated Instruction Listen
10.27.07 Matthew Cohen, Special Education Law Listen
10.20.07 Sheila Krein, Champaign-Urbana Autism Network Listen
10.13.07 Dale Dileo, author of Raymond's Room Listen
10. 6.07 Peter Tracy and Barb Bressner, the Disability Expo of Champaign County Listen
9.29.07 Rahnee Patrick of ADAPT on the Chicago demonstrations Listen
9.22.07 Christie Gilson on Blindness Listen
9.15.07 Dr. Janet Gaffney on Literacy Listen
9.8.07 Chris Wasik, consultant with Project CHOICES Listen
9.1.07 Melissa Hoerner, Down Syndrome Network Listen
8.25.07 Cheryl Jansen, Equip for Equality Listen
8.17.07 Dr. Tamar Heller and Dr. Mary Kaye Rizzolo of the University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, at the University of Illinois Chicago Listen
8.11.07 Dr. Steve Vaupel on Deafness and Behavior Disorders, Illinois Service Resource Center (ISRC) Listen
8.4.07 Phil Gattone, Epilepsy Listen
7.28.07 Dr. Sheila Romano, Ex. Dir, Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities Listen
7.21.07 Bill Bogdan, Disability Liaison, Illinois Secretary of State, on Parking Accessibility Listen
7.14.07 Sarajane Annin on the Next Chapter Book Clubs Listen
7.7.07 Amy Walker, self-advocate and Systems Change Activist Listen
6.30.07 Katie and Candee Basford, College for young adults with developmental disabilities Listen
6.23.07 Elaina Osterbur, Pre-Natal Diagnosis of Down Syndrome Listen
6.16.07 Barbara Pritchard, Access to Quality Health Care and Accommodations Listen
6.2.07 Deb Einhorn, Ex. Dir, Family Matters Parent Training and Information Center Listen
