An insightful podcast by the National Disability Rights Network offering advocacy tools, heartfelt storytelling, and real-world policy insights—accessible whether you’re an advocate in the field or just someone who cares deeply about disability rights.
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This episode of National Disability Radio highlights a recent disability rights victory in Colorado, where advocates successfully worked to repeal a law that permitted the forced sterilization of people with disabilities. One of our very own P&As, Disability Justice in Colorado, was instrumental in making this happen! Hear from policy leaders and self-advocates behind the effort as they discuss coalition-building, and why disability rights progress depends on keeping people with disabilities at the center of the conversation. **NOTE** Disability Law Colorado has recently rebranded to Disabilit
Video Version: What does it actually mean when disability advocacy is “level funded”? What are federal appropriations, and why are they such a big deal for disability rights? On this episode of National Disability Radio, Alden Blevins (Communications Manager), Stephanie Flynt McEben (Public Policy Analyst), and Eric Buehlmann (Deputy Director for Public Policy) pull back the curtain on the federal funding process and what it means for the Protection and Advocacy (P&A) network. They discuss the successful FY26 funding fight, why advocacy on Capitol Hill matters, and how everyday people can help
On this episode of National Disability Radio, we sit down with award-winning recording artist, advocate, and author Lachi for a powerful conversation about disability pride, music, and unmasking. Lachi shares her journey, from navigating the music industry as a blind artist, to founding RAMPD, a coalition amplifying disability culture across the industry. We talk about what it means to say “I identify as blind,” move beyond the medical and social models of disability into a cultural model rooted in identity and joy, and remind listeners that no one can defeat someone who hasn’t given up. From
On this episode of National Disability Radio, we sit down with award-winning recording artist, advocate, and author Lachi for a powerful conversation about disability pride, music, and unmasking. Lachi shares her journey, from navigating the music industry as a blind artist, to founding RAMPD, a coalition amplifying disability culture across the industry. We talk about what it means to say “I identify as blind,” move beyond the medical and social models of disability into a cultural model rooted in identity and joy, and remind listeners that no one can defeat someone who hasn’t given up. From
Alden Blevins, the newest host of National Disability Radio, has a personal journey with autism and ADHD that has shaped her perspective on disability rights and advocacy. Alden was misdiagnosed with anxiety and depression as a child, and did not receive the correct diagnosis of autism and ADHD until her late 20s. Alden describes her experience navigating the workplace and healthcare systems as an autistic individual, emphasizing the challenges of "passing" as neurotypical and the importance of self-accommodating.
Jack is going off to law school. So the gang sits down to reminisce on his time at NDRN, share a few stories from behind the scenes, and hear a joke from Stephanie that gets a good laugh out of us. Full transcript available at: https://www.ndrn.org/resource/ndr-august25/ Jack Rosen: Like we have any sort of agenda for today, so just sort of going to get what I get. Turn that into a podcast, I guess. Stephanie Flynt McEben: Sure. Michelle Bishop: And that’s different from any other episode because… Jack Rosen: It’s not, it genuinely, I guess is not, I suppose at some point we’d have a guest and
We wrap up our series on the battle for the passage of the ADA with none other than Senator Tom Harkin. Senator Harkin was the lead sponsor of the ADA in the Senate and has spent his career being a steadfast ally to the disability community. In this interview we talk to him about what that was like, where we need to go from here, and he even stumps us with a bit of disability rights trivia. Full transcript available at: https://www.ndrn.org/resource/ndr-harkin/ Michelle Bishop: Welcome back to another episode of National Disability Radio. This is the final in our series on the anniversary of t
On part two of our series commemorating the fight for the passage of the ADA, we have on long time activist Jim Dickson. Jim talks with us about the challenges they faced in getting the ADA passed, what changes he’d still like to see, and surprises us with a fun story about a former guest and friend of the podcast. Full transcript available at: https://www.ndrn.org/resource/ndr-jim-dickson/ Jack Rosen: You know, Michelle, we feel like this part of your life is more mysterious. What was living in St. Louis like? Okay, started that wrong. I’m trying to just get you to give us some St. Louis triv
To kick off our series highlighting the fight for the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act we have on NDRN’s founder and former Executive Director Curt Decker. Curt tells us about how the disability community came together to make sure no one was left out of the protections of the ADA and warns us about the downsides of helping getting major legislation passed in summertime in DC. Full Transcript available at: https://www.ndrn.org/resource/ndr-curt-decker/ Jack Rosen: I don’t know. I guess someone has to kick it off, right? Michelle Bishop: One of us should definitely be talking. How
After three years, Jack has finally gotten Stephanie and Michelle to do an episode about sports. And not just any sport, but golf. In this episode we sit down with Josh Basile, Andrew Mitchell, and Kate Strickland to talk about AdapTee Golf, what it means to reclaim sports as a person with a disability, and how to play the ninth hole at Sligo Creek Golf Course. Learn more about AdapTee Golf at: https://adapteegolf.com/ Learn more about Determined2Heal, Josh’s foundation focused on people with spinal cord injuries at: https://www.determined2heal.org/ Full transcript of this episode available at
NDRN's Deputy Executive Director for Public Policy Eric Buehlmann came on the podcast to explain what's going on with the budget and how it impacts the funding NDRN and the Protection and Advocacy network receives.
This we had on Taylor Easley for Social Work Month. Taylor talks about her experiences earning a social work degree and how social work overlaps with the disability rights movement.
Friend of the pod and NDRN colleague Monica Wiley joins us to talk about the role models that inspired her own activism.
Friend of the pod and NDRN alumni Ian Watlington get's back on his advocacy horse to talk to us about the impact weather events like the recent DC blizzard can have on folks with disabilities.
The gang celebrates the holidays with a slightly disorganized episode talking about our holiday traditions and how we're celebrating this year. Sort of featuring special guest Quinn McEben.
We're coming to you live on Election Day for a special episode of National Disability Radio. With surprise guests (even we don't know who they'll be yet!)
In celebration of NDEAM the pod squad is working extra hard! We interview the folks at the FAIR Program at Disability Rights Louisiana, and then we speak to Dr. Josie Badger.
Jack steps into the guest chair alongside Monica Wiley to talk with Michelle and guest host David Card about NDRN's new documentary short "Accessing Democracy"
Paralympic medalist and World Games record holder Sandy Hanebrink joins us to talk about her journey from St. Louis to the 1996 games in Atlanta.
Amy Scherer joins us for her fourth appearance on the pod to discuss her work covering the US Olympic Gymnastics trials, and the accessibility challenges she's faced both at the events themselves and while traveling for them.
The gang heads to Europe to see how the fight for disability rights is going on the other side of the Atlantic. Michelle interviews Alejandro Moledo the Deputy Director and Head of Policy of the European Disability Forum, and Jack interviews Mercedes Lopez Miranda about her experiences being a person with a disability in Europe.
In this (mini?) episode the gang interviews Stephanie's wife Quinn McEben about their work as a mental health care nurse, and how mental healthcare can better serve the disability community.
This month we're joined by our own Rebecca Shaeffer for a discussion of what people with disabilities experience in the carceral system, how they disproportionately end up there, and what we can do to support returning citizens.
On this episode of National Disability Radio, we sit down with three women leaders in the disability rights movement, Marlene Sallo (NDRN), Maria Town (AAPD), and Robin Troutman (NACDD).
On this episode of National Disability Radio we sit down with author Jules Sherred, who wrote the cookbook "Crip Up the Kitchen" about how he rediscovered his love of cooking after finding a way to make it accessible.
