If you’ve been a listener of You First , you might notice things sound a little different. That’s because we’ve rebranded! Welcome to Disability Deep Dive! The same podcast, but with a new name, a fresh perspective … and a brand new co-host. Keith Casebonne and Jodi Beckstine from Disability Rights Florida continue to bring you the stories, voices, and ideas that matter to the disability community. So whether you’ve been with us for years or you’re just diving in—we’re glad you’re here. New Disa...
Jun 12, 2025•50 sec
Welcome back to You First , where we’re taking a small break from producing new episodes and instead are sharing some older episodes you might have missed. There’s a good chance you missed this episode, our last of four encore episodes, as it didn’t perform as well as most of our other ones. But we think the content is compelling and the guests are engaging, so we're putting it back out there. This episode is called "By and For People with Disabilities," and it was initially released in Septembe...
Dec 19, 2024•44 min•Ep. 78
Welcome to another encore episode of You First . We’re taking a little break from making new episodes and are re-sharing some past episodes that we feel are worth another listen. This is the third of four encore episodes, initially released in July of 2023, and it’s called "Paving a Way Disabled in STEM." We interviewed Dr. Anita Marshall to learn more about her work to make STEM education more accessible for students with disabilities. Anita created GeoSPACE, the first-ever disability-accessibl...
Dec 05, 2024•49 min•Ep. 77
Today we have another encore episode of You First . This is the second of four encore episodes as we’re taking a bit of a break from producing new episodes. Now this episode, "The Intersection of Disability and Reproductive Justice," is by far our most popular episode – and by a significant margin! But in case you missed it back in August of 2022, count your lucky stars because here it is again. Roe v Wade was overturned not long before we recorded this episode, and we wanted to take a deep dive...
Nov 21, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 76
We’re taking a break from producing new episodes of You First for a bit, so we’ll be re-releasing four older episodes that we feel are worth another listen. We’re starting things off with an episode that is from February 2021 called "Disability Media Representation." We spoke with Beth Haller and Jeff Preston, both of whom are university professors, authors, and experts on disability in the media. We had a great discussion about what’s been done both right and wrong with the portrayal of people ...
Nov 07, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 75
In this episode of You First , hosts Maddie and Keith dive into disability voting rights and the upcoming 2024 election with experts Michelle Bishop, Monica Wiley, and Jack Rosen from the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN). The discussion explores voting accessibility, challenges faced by disabled voters, and new support resources in Florida. Emphasis is placed on the importance of local elections, the power of the disability vote, and the critical need for inclusivity and accessibility f...
Sep 19, 2024•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 74
In this episode of You First , hosts Keith and Maddie interview Matthew Cortland, a Senior Resident Fellow at Data for Progress. Matthew shares insights about their work in public opinion research and advocacy focused on disability issues and social policies. They discuss their personal journey, including challenges with the healthcare system, and explain how data is used to influence policy decisions. The conversation covers topics like the importance of accurate demographic data, the role of p...
Sep 05, 2024•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 73
In this episode of the You First Podcast, hosts Maddie and Keith talk with disabled activist and attorney Marissa Ditkowsky about the challenges and inequities faced by disabled women in healthcare, employment, and financial freedom. Marissa discusses her role as Disability Economic Justice Council at the National Partnership for Women and Families and shares insights on systemic oppression, the impact of disability on financial stability, and the importance of intersectional advocacy. The episo...
Aug 22, 2024•35 min•Ep. 72
In this episode of the You First Podcast, hosts Keith and Maddie interview Cara Reedy , founder and director of the Disabled Journalists Association. Cara shares her journey from political science and theater to journalism, spending ten years at CNN. She discusses the challenges of being disabled in the newsroom, toxic productivity, and the systemic ableism in the journalism industry. Cara then explains how her organization supports disabled journalists by providing resources and advocating for ...
Aug 08, 2024•56 min•Ep. 71
Content warning: mentions of suicide, assisted suicide, and medical violence against people with disabilities. In this compelling episode of the You First podcast, hosts Maddie and Keith continue their in-depth interview with Anita Cameron , a prominent activist in the disability rights movement. They explore Anita's role at Not Dead Yet, focusing on their work against assisted suicide and their perspectives on medical discrimination and healthcare rationing affecting the disabled community. Ani...
Jul 25, 2024•49 min•Ep. 70
On this episode of You First , we talk with the fantastic disability rights activist Anita Cameron . Anita was, and still is, a core reason why we have disability rights today. They were an early adopter of disability rights and justice advocacy and heavily involved and a leader of the organization ADAPT (known throughout the years as American Disabled for Accessible Public Transit or American Disabled for Attendant Programs), the Atlantis community, amongst many other pivotal leadership roles. ...
Jul 11, 2024•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 69
In this unique episode of You First, hosts Maddie and Keith share a personal and insightful discussion about Long Covid and its effects on everyday life. Initially delayed due to Maddie's Long Covid flare-up, this episode takes a candid and casual approach to a serious topic, highlighting symptoms, the politicization of masking, and the ongoing pandemic. The conversation takes an unexpected yet comforting turn into the world of grilled cheese, exploring how this simple meal has served as a go-to...
Jun 28, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 68
Today's episode features disability and artificial intelligence (AI) experts Larry Weru, Ariana Aboulafia, and Jennifer Gray. AI has been around for years, but things changed when OpenAI released ChatGPT. Since then, the news around AI has increased a lot. AI is more than just a chatbot responder; it can be used in many different ways. We talk with the guests about how AI impacts people with disabilities in their healthcare, education, and employment. The guests provide both intriguing and alarm...
Jun 06, 2024•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 67
This podcast episode features Andrew Pulrang and Gregg Beratan , prominent figures in disability advocacy and social change. Their pioneering initiative, #CripTheVote, created alongside Alice Wong, has been important in raising awareness about the political power of disabled citizens and sparking meaningful conversations about disability, politics, and activism. Through their efforts, Pulrang and Beratan have used social media to foster a continuous online space that acts as a living archive for...
May 23, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 66
In this episode of You First , co-hosts Keith and Maddie speak with Indigenous activist and disability rights leader Vesper Moore about the Mad Movement, psychiatric survivorship, and envisioning a future of collective care. Vesper, deeply involved in mental health and disability rights activism, discusses their work in altering perceptions and legislation surrounding mental health both nationally and with international bodies. The conversation delves into the history of psychiatric survivor mov...
Apr 04, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 65
In today's episode, we are joined by two international disability advocates, Rosangela Berman Bieler and Patricia Almeida . During our conversation, we discuss the importance and impact of global disability policy and rights work, including their work with the UN and UNICEF. They also discuss how other countries compare to the US regarding disability progress and inclusion, global accessibility initiatives, and the need for continued fighting for disability rights. Relevant Links Disabled People...
Mar 21, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 64
In this week's episode, co-hosts Keith and Maddie talk with The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies' Co-Directors Shaylin Sluzalis & Germán Parodi . The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies (The Partnership) is the only U.S. disability-led, 501(c)(3) organization that prioritizes equity, access, disability rights, disability justice, and full inclusion of people with disabilities, older adults, and people with access and functional needs before, during and after disasters ...
Mar 07, 2024•48 min•Ep. 63
In this episode of You First , we talk with Jen White-Johnson (she/they), a renowned artist, educator, and disability activist who uses the arts as a medium to champion the life, joy, and experiences of the disabled and neurodivergent community. Jen discusses their journey as someone diagnosed with ADHD later in life, the barriers for disabled Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) to getting a diagnosis, and the impact of their son being diagnosed with autism. They talk about the need f...
Feb 22, 2024•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 62
Two Disability Rights Florida education advocates, April Katine and Daysi Ortiz , join Keith in education planning for students with disabilities. The three discuss the importance of individual education plans (IEPs) and transition planning and offer tips on how parents can more effectively find success throughout the process. Tune in to learn about the various services available under IEP, how to prepare for IEP meetings, the significance of periodic re-evaluations, the importance of maintainin...
Feb 08, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 61
In this episode of You First , hosts Keith and Maddie talk with guests Neal Carter, Jess Moore Matthews, Sarah Blahovec, and Dom Kelly about disability-inclusive campaigning, strategies to reach disabled voters, and the significance of accessible elections. Today's episode is not about any specific candidates or voting laws. Instead, we focus on the broader culture of political campaigns, exploring why the disability community often feels excluded and what disabled organizers are doing to challe...
Jan 25, 2024•1 hr 32 min•Ep. 60
In this episode of You First , hosts Keith and Maddie discuss the impact of language on disability rights and inclusion with advocates Lawrence Carter-Long , Damian Gregory , and Laura-Lee Minutello . The conversation highlights the #SayTheWord disability campaign, personal experiences with disability-related language, government services, marketing, and legislation affecting the disability community. They discuss person-first versus identity-first language and how language influences societal p...
Jan 11, 2024•1 hr 30 min•Ep. 59
In this bonus episode, You First Podcast host Maddie talks with 5 guests about various legal and medical precedents that have led to the division between the disability and LGBTQ+ communities. The history between the LGBTQ+ community and the disability community is often at odds with each other. Historically, LGBTQ+ identities were viewed as mental illnesses, and many within the LGBTQ+ community rightfully rejected this. However, debility and harm from LGBTQ+ oppression and discrimination leadin...
Dec 19, 2023•1 hr 51 min•Ep. 58
In this episode, guests Ashley Shew and Mallory Kay Nelson discuss the concept of technoableism, the history of disability and technology, and the importance of involving disabled people when developing new technologies. They highlight the challenges surrounding the definition of disability, the impact of assistive technology on people with disabilities, and the potential problems that may arise during its implementation, such as the pressure for disabled individuals to conform to an ableist sta...
Nov 30, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 57
In this episode, co-hosts Maddie and Keith talk with Dr. William Bronston and Marlene Sallo about Willowbrook State School, its exposé, and its impact on the disability rights movement. The episode starts with our conversation with Dr. Bronston, a doctor who worked at Willowbrook and ultimately was vital in the lawsuit against New York State, ultimately officially closing the institution in 1987. He tells the insidious and harrowing story of abuse, violence, murder, and monetization of disabled ...
Nov 16, 2023•1 hr 57 min•Ep. 56
You First podcast co-hosts Keith and Maddie are joined by disability activists and legal scholars AJ Link, Jalyn Radziminski, and Haley Moss, who identify as neurodiverse and disabled. They shared their personal stories and insights about their experiences with law school, advocacy, careers, and more. The guests discussed how their unique perspectives benefit and challenge them in their work and highlighted areas of accessibility and inclusion that professionals and educators in the field may no...
Nov 02, 2023•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 55
In this episode of You First, we chat with our friend Beck DeTrempe who is doing some awesome peer led community building in Florida. They founded Basically Wonderful, which is a grassroots organization run by Queer + Disabled folks in Orlando, Florida, USA. Their mission reads: Our hope is to create peer-led spaces for marginalized communities where folks are free to express themselves and build friendships with peers who have similar lived experiences. We are creating intentional spaces for bo...
Oct 19, 2023•40 min•Ep. 54
With one of their favorite holidays just around the corner, co-hosts Maddie and Keith delve into a serious discussion on using disability as a tool for instilling fear in others, all in the name of Halloween fun. From dressing up in offensive costumes to visiting eerie museums and reopened haunted institutions, the hosts explore how disability history and the disabled community have been intentionally disregarded in favor of a cheap thrill. Content warning: Mentions of violence against people wi...
Oct 05, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 53
On today's episode, we chat with the co-hosts of The Accessible Stall podcast, Emily Ladau and Kyle Khachadurian! These two disabled podcasting stars were some of the first podcasters with disabilities when they got their start in 2016. They are both strong advocates for disability, accessibility, and the power of story-telling. They join Keith and Maddie to discuss why they began podcasting, what accessibility considerations they make when producing a podcast, and much more. About the guests an...
Sep 21, 2023•40 min•Ep. 52
As we head back to school in a few weeks, we wanted to highlight our new Transition Toolkit. Transition is a term to describe when youth are moving into a new phase of life. Think about big transitioning moments in your life growing up: going to middle school, trying to get a job, or being able to vote. The Transition Toolkit has timely, helpful information regarding education plans, like IEPs or 504s, and things like self-advocacy, assistive technology, driver's licenses, and much more. It is a...
Aug 03, 2023•28 min•Ep. 51
Guest Dr. Anita Marshall joins hosts Keith and Maddie to talk about her work to make STEM more accessible for students with disabilities. As someone who acquired a disability later in life, she realized how ableist and inaccessible higher education really was. Anita created the first-ever disability-accessible planetary geoscience field course and mentoring program, GeoSPACE, and is the Executive Director of The International Association for Geoscience Diversity. We discuss collective disability...
Jul 20, 2023•47 min•Ep. 50
