A little over one year ago, Florida decided to stop participating in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) voluntary Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). Since 1991, Florida participated in the YRBS. It is widely given to youth across the United States to assess their well-being regarding to mental health, teen dating violence, bullying, drugs, eating and exercise habits, and sexual activity. This survey has been critical lately to monitor the rise in anxiety, depression, and su...
Jul 06, 2023•41 min•Ep. 49
In honor of Pride Month, upcoming Disability Pride Month, and the opportunity to always highlight cool disabled people, let’s talk about Frida Kahlo. Many are aware of the legendary artist, Frida Kahlo: her famous artwork, impact on culture, and iconic appearance. But many people do not know that she was a bisexual disabled woman with physical disabilities due to polio and an automobile accident. Her disabilities made a lasting impact on her art, heavily influencing what, who, and how she painte...
Jun 22, 2023•39 min•Ep. 48
Guest Jen Deerinwater joins host Maddie Crowley to talk about the intersection of disability and Indigenous identities. Jen is a disabled Two Spirit Indigenous individual who is an award-winning journalist, organizer, and leader within the disability, Indigenous and environmental justice movements. During the conversation, they discuss paving the way to create a native media organization, combatting ableism and invisibility, and highlighting upcoming opportunities and new resources developing fo...
Jun 08, 2023•50 min•Ep. 47
June 1st is the beginning of hurricane season. As Floridians know, it can be a mixed bag as to what storms we’re going to get. But hurricanes impact other states around the country, and it’s important to be prepared and safe. On the show today we’re talking with our coworker, Bryan Russell, who is the Emergency Management Coordinator at Disability Rights Florida. And, while it might be hurricane season, people in Florida and individuals across the country experience severe weather and natural di...
May 11, 2023•40 min•Ep. 46
With our lives and world becoming more connected and reliant on the internet, what does that mean for people with disabilities? The internet can be a great way for disabled folks to connect, especially as access barriers and safety considerations keep our community apart. But, what if that online space wasn't accessible to the very folks that need it most? We're here to help you change that. We co-authored a blog on this back in November 2022 , but we think this information is important to share...
Apr 27, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 45
Welcome to Part 2 of a conversation with Heather Watkins and Dom Evans about marriage inequity, disabled relationships in the media, and disabled parenting! Please check out our show notes from part 1 for more background information and relevant links mentioned in the episode.
Apr 13, 2023•56 min•Ep. 44
In February, we created a blog post on disability marriage inequality. We knew people would be interested in the topic, but were taken aback by the immense engagement and shock felt by our audience. Because of that, we wanted to create a podcast episode talking with disabled folks about disability marriage inequality, parenting, and more. On the show today we have two fantastic guests, Heather Watkins and Dom Evans. Heather Watkins (she/her) is a disability advocate, author, blogger, mother, and...
Mar 30, 2023•47 min•Ep. 43
On March 4th, 2023, the world was shaken by the passing of the legendary disability rights activist and leader Judith (Judy) Heumann. She is considered “The Mother of the Disability Rights Movement” and is frankly a badass. Judy was essential to disability rights advocacy and progress. It is because of her advocacy that our organization can do the work we do today. We are indebted to her and her work, and we will continue her fight for disability rights in her honor. To honor her, we wanted to r...
Mar 16, 2023•23 min•Ep. 42
Medicaid Unwinding in Florida starts on April 1, 2023. With information coming from various Florida agencies and organizations, it can be hard to get clear information about what is happening with Medicaid eligibility. The Medicaid Unwinding process can feel overwhelming, but we hope our show today will provide you with important clarifying information you need to be ready and prepared for the process. In this bonus episode, we talk with our co-worker from the Public Policy team, Laura Minutello...
Mar 14, 2023•17 min•Ep. 41
In this episode of You First , we chat with Alan Herbert , a Kenyan journalist, social inclusion advocate, and behavior change communications professional. He brings on a wealth of experience in inclusive media practices, leadership, and advocacy. Alan currently serves as a prime-time TV host at Signs TV Kenya and is a founding member and Chief Executive Officer of Black Albinism, Kenya. Alan is also an inclusive communications consultant who has worked with organizations to develop inclusive em...
Feb 23, 2023•45 min•Ep. 40
Our first episode of the new year focuses on our legislative priorities for 2023. Florida's legislative session starts in March, and Disability Rights Florida has been following the conversations around what bills and topics will be featured. Many of these issues can greatly impact the disability community in Florida. That's why we're here to give you the inside scoop on what we have on our radar this session. We spoke to our friend and coworker, DRF Public Policy Analyst Caitlyn Clibbon. She is...
Feb 02, 2023•34 min•Ep. 39
Let's talk about Accessible In-Person Voting in the sixth and final episode of our new series, "Your Voice, Your Vote!" It’s almost Election Day - and you have the right to vote in person with accessible options. On this episode of "Your Voice, Your Vote!" we’re grateful to have Sarah Goldman, the Director of Administration and Youth Initiatives at the Florida Independent Living Council, and Alex Mosca, a Public Information Specialist at the Leon County Supervisor of Elections office. Tune in to...
Oct 27, 2022•32 min•Season 2Ep. 6
Let's talk about Running for Office with a Disability in the fifth episode of our new series, "Your Voice, Your Vote!" On today’s episode, we’re excited to have guests Sarah Blahovec, Olivia Babis, Karolyn Campbell, and Sabrina Cohen. These four individuals have run for office as folks with disabilities, advocated for inclusive campaigning strategies, and educated potential disabled candidates about how to run for office effectively. The conversation illuminates barriers to civic engagement and ...
Oct 20, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Season 2Ep. 5
Let's talk about Understanding the Disability Vote in the fourth episode of our new series, "Your Voice, Your Vote!" In this two-part episode, we talk about the disability community, their access to voting, what barriers are up against the disability community’s civic involvement, what trends we see in disabled voters, and what efforts are being made to make elections more accessible for all. First, you will hear from guests Lisa Schur and Doug Kruse from Rutgers University who do disability vot...
Oct 13, 2022•43 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Let's talk about Voting and Intersectionality in the third episode of our new series, "Your Voice, Your Vote!" In this episode, we talk to Jazlyn Gallego from Vote Riders about intersectionality and how marginalized voters are impacted in the election process. Jazlyn is Voter Riders’ Florida State Outreach Director and Florida Voter ID Coalition Coordinator. She talks about how inaccessible voting practices impact all voters, and she shares helpful information about Voter ID requirements and ele...
Oct 06, 2022•40 min•Season 2Ep. 3
Let's talk about Accessible Vote by Mail in the second episode of our new series, "Your Voice, Your Vote!" In this episode, we talk with Doug Hall and Marsha Bukala, two Floridians with disabilities who have fought for and now utilize Accessible Vote by Mail. They discuss the history of accessible elections in Florida, how they advocated for accessible voting options, and what insights they have about casting a ballot as a voter with a disability.
Sep 29, 2022•33 min•Season 2Ep. 2
Let’s talk about disability voting laws in the first episode of our new series: "Your Voice, Your Vote"! In today's episode, we talk with Michelle Bishop, the National Disability Rights Network’s Voter Access and Engagement Manager. She has extensive academic and embodied knowledge about laws protecting disabled voters, voting accessibility, barriers set up against disabled voters, and where the current state of voting is for the disability community.
Sep 22, 2022•24 min•Season 2Ep. 1
Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, we’ve seen huge repercussions for people’s safety, health, access to medical care, and more. And we know that the overruling impacts people differently, depending on who you are. If you have marginalized identities, you experience more barriers to health care and, therefore, more barriers to accessing abortion and other reproductive-related health care. To dive deep into how the overturning affects one marginalized community--the disability community--we inv...
Aug 18, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 38
Today on the podcast we have guest Neil Romano, a member and former chair of the National Council on Disabilities where he is serving his second three-year term. A former Communications Director at the White House, Neil was nominated by President George W. Bush to be Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy where he developed a series of outreach programs to help Americans and businesses understand the value of people with disabilities in the workplace. He also served as a m...
Jul 21, 2022•48 min•Ep. 37
The sixth and final episode of our "Accessibility Outside the Box" series is about Research. We are excited to have Rua Mae Williams on the podcast to talk about accessible research. They are an academic researcher who studies how technology design, computing research practices, and Disability Justice interact. They touch on a variety of concepts like: how to do accessible and inclusive outreach to communities of study, how we can offer other data collection options so people can fully and authe...
Jun 09, 2022•27 min•Season 1Ep. 7
The fifth episode of our "Accessibility Outside the Box" series is about Video Gaming. We chat with James Rath, a legally blind film director, accessibility advocate, and speaker. In his accessibility efforts, he provides video game and console accessibility reviews, acts as an accessibility consultant for video game companies, and drives the future of gaming in a positive direction. In this episode, we talk all about accessible gaming, where accessible gaming was "back in the day" with the firs...
Jun 02, 2022•27 min•Season 1Ep. 6
The fourth episode of our "Accessibility Outside the Box" series is about Recreation. Today we have two guests on the podcast to talk about various aspects of recreation, and how we can make recreation more accessible for all, including people with disabilities. First, we talk with Ashley Richmond from Help Us Gather, or HUG for short, about their organization, beach accessibility, and how to make recreational events accessible. Then we chat with Stacy Busch from No Divide KC, an arts and music ...
May 26, 2022•39 min•Season 1Ep. 5
The third episode of our "Accessibility Outside the Box" series is about Fashion . We’ve all struggled to find clothes that fit well, we feel good in, or are just right for the occasion we are going to. However, these are everyday struggles when you’re an individual with a disability. Our guest for this episode is Kathy D Woods. She is the first African American little person to create a clothing line designed by and for little people. She’s leading the way in accessible fashion and pushing the ...
May 19, 2022•25 min•Season 1Ep. 4
The second episode of our "Accessibility Outside the Box" series is about City Planning. We interviewed Nora Libertun, a global leading expert on urban planning and design, sustainability, and social inclusion. Her work revolves around making everything in a city more accessible, including the layout, transportation, and recreation. She spoke about how cities need to be designed for everyone to utilize, especially people with disabilities. Links: Nora's book, "Cities as Spaces for Opportunities ...
May 12, 2022•24 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Welcome to the first episode of "Accessibility Outside the Box!" Today we talk about Travel and Vacationing. We spoke to Olivia Shivas and Rebecca Dubber to learn more about this topic. They host a great podcast called What’s Wrong With You? where they recorded an episode during a trip they took, recounting all the challenges they faced along the way. They shared with us what they learned about accessible travel and vacationing. Links: What's Wrong With You? Podcast...
May 05, 2022•31 min•Season 1Ep. 2
We’ll be back in April with new episodes. But until then we’re releasing encore presentations of several early episodes that matter just as much today as they did when they were originally recorded. This month, we bring you our 14th episode, Accessibility in Florida Prisons. This episode was originally released on November 21, 2017, when Disability Rights Florida was suing the Florida Department of Corrections over an enforcement of a settlement agreement signed in summer of that year. That sett...
Mar 16, 2022•26 min•Ep. 36
We’ll be back in April with new episodes. But until then we’re releasing encore presentations of several early episodes that matter just as much today as they did when they were originally recorded. This month we bring you “The Right to Recovery.” This episode was originally released on February 21, 2017. Since then, we’ve done two more episodes on related topics: episode 10 on Peer Support and episode 29 on Clubhouses. Links to those are below, but for now please enjoy this encore episode of Yo...
Feb 16, 2022•32 min•Ep. 35
We’ll be back with new episodes in April, so until then we’ll be releasing encore presentations of several early episodes that still ring true today. This month, we present our fifth episode, titled Supported Decision-Making. This episode was originally published on December 15, 2016, and supported decision-making, or SDM for short, is now going strong in Florida and many other parts of the US. Our guest for this episode, Michael Lincoln-McCreight, is currently the co-chair of the SDM4FL Coaliti...
Jan 19, 2022•21 min•Ep. 34
In this episode, Jordan Kuveke-Guyton, a Veteran’s Affairs Accredited Attorney with Chad Barr Law, and Ann Siegel, the Legal Director at Disability Rights Florida, discuss options available to veterans with disabilities, many of which you might not be aware of. Not only are there benefits and discounts veterans can qualify for, but there are a number of services and rights protections that can provide veterans with a successful transition to civilian life. Links: ProtectingVets.com Find Your Sta...
Dec 09, 2021•21 min•Ep. 33
In this episode of You First , we talk to Angela Muir Van Etten . Angela just published her third book, Always an Advocate , which is full of both practical advocacy advice and many interesting stories. There will always be a need for advocates and, Always an Advocate offers hope for those who are skeptical about changing the discriminatory treatment of people with disabilities. Links: Angela's books on Amazon.com Angela's website and blog...
Nov 18, 2021•51 min•Ep. 32
