Including You: A Disability Rights Arkansas Podcast

Welcome to a special episode of 'Including You', where we discuss creating an inclusive holiday experience that goes far beyond the wrapping paper and ribbons. Hear from Mollie Hernandez and Jen Goodwin share how to make sure your holiday activities are inclusive for all. We cover everything from accommodating food sensitivities with grace to ensuring the physical space is navigable for guests with disabilities. And because no holiday is complete without the shared experience of a classic film, we reveal simple tweaks like audio descriptions and closed captioning that can bring everyone together. With our guests' personal anecdotes and a little tech magic from gadgets like heated blankets and smart home scent systems, we'll guide you through a holiday season where inclusion and innovation make for the perfect celebration. Guests: Support the show Contact DRA Subscribe to our newsletterStay connectedShow your support Thanks for listening! Make sure to rate & review! Become a supporter of the show!

Have you ever felt the weight of underrepresentation or wondered how to navigate the workplace with a disability? Join us as we bring the conversation to the forefront with the employment team at Disability Rights Arkansas. Wednesday, Molly, and Jen discuss their personal journeys navigating employment with a disability. They pull back the curtain on the obstacles faced and their battles for representation. As we delve deeper, we shift the spotlight to self-advocacy and building soft skills, crucial elements for workplace success. Our guests impart wisdom on the importance of accommodations and how to advocate for them. They also share their insights on fostering an inclusive workspace and the resources that can bolster individuals with disabilities to thrive in their careers. Tune in for an enlightening discussion that serves as a roadmap for individuals with disabilities navigating the workplace, filled with recommendations, resources, and the power of persistence. Support the show Contact DRA Subscribe to our newsletterStay connectedShow your support Thanks for listening! Make sure to rate & review! Become a supporter of the show!

Natural disasters can happen anywhere and to anyone – they don’t discriminate. But when the power is out, transportation is limited, or you are isolated from others – it can be detrimental to the disability community. We are here with Logan Perkes, from Federal Emergency Management Agency or FEMA, to talk about how FEMA can help people with disabilities and how we can prepare in case of said disasters. Guest: Helpful Links: People with Disabilities | Ready.govEmergency Preparedness for Arkansans with Functional and Access Needs - Arkansas Governor's Council on Developmental DisabilitiesFind a CERT | Ready.gov (fema.gov)Emergency Management Coordinators - Arkansas Department of Public SafetyDRA Emergency Preparedness Toolkit Support the show Contact DRA Subscribe to our newsletterStay connectedShow your support Thanks for listening! Make sure to rate & review! Become a supporter of the show!

In part 2 of our travel series, we start at the beginning – where you stay and things to consider when booking it – whether that is a hotel, Air B&B or VRBO. We are also highlighting some great tips to be sure you can truly be involved in your next beach or ski trip. Guests Helpful Links Visit our WebsiteAccessibility at AR State ParksInteragency Access PassiCANNational Sports Center for the Disabled Achilles InternationalAllTrailsSupport the show Contact DRA Subscribe to our newsletterStay connectedShow your support Thanks for listening! Make sure to rate & review! Become a supporter of the show!

Summer has officially kicked off, and for a lot of people, that means travel. We don’t want that to intimidate anyone. Today our guests will share not just tips but real-world experiences from their travels, good and bad. Guests: Helpful Links: US Department of StateUS Department of TransportationAir Carrier Access ActADA ResourcesDOT 2021 Air Travel Complaint DataTravel TipsAccessibility at AR State ParksInteragency Access PassSupport the show Contact DRA Subscribe to our newsletterStay connectedShow your support Thanks for listening! Make sure to rate & review! Become a supporter of the show!

Did you know that 1 in 5 Americans experience a mental health illness in a given year? Despite its prevalence, individuals with a mental health diagnosis are still fighting to eliminate the stigma around mental health and getting treatment. Ableist language has become common vernacular with words tossed around like “crazy” and “insane.” I am joined today by Cory Bates-Rogers, Roger Isbell, and Tom Masseau to discuss this mental health crisis. Note: There is a trigger warning for this episode for triggering language and discussion of restraint and seclusion. Guests: Helpful Links: Visit our Website988 Suicide & Crisis LifelineLevel Up Your Vernacular BlogMental Health Conditions in the Workplace and the ADARestraint & Seclusion | Roger’s StoryPAIMI Advisory CouncilSupport the show Contact DRA Subscribe to our newsletterStay connectedShow your support Thanks for listening! Make sure to rate & review! Become a supporter of the show!

In this episode, we're getting personal. We were talking about the subject that makes your palms all sweaty and weak in the knees, yep, we're talking dating. Everyone has a right to date. They have a right to be single, to be choosy, and it's even okay to feel lonely too. Guests: - Wensday Kraemer, Self-Advocates Network Development (SAND) Project Coordinator for the Arkansas Alliance for disability advocacy at DRA Helpful Links: Self-Advocates Network Development (SAND)Victims with DisabilitiesSexual Violence and Intimate Partner Violence Among People with DisabilitiesDating with a Disability (Easterseals)Support the show Contact DRA Subscribe to our newsletterStay connectedShow your support Thanks for listening! Make sure to rate & review! Become a supporter of the show!

There is a stigma around people with disabilities. Many believe people with disabilities don’t deserve a family life or can’t handle it. I am joined today by Julie Petty – a wife, a mom, and a strong self-advocate here to break down that stigma. Guests: Partners for Inclusive Communities Helpful Links: Visit our WebsiteUsing People First LanguageSupport the show Contact DRA Subscribe to our newsletterStay connectedShow your support Thanks for listening! Make sure to rate & review! Become a supporter of the show!

Life is about informed decisions. The question is - whose life is affected by those decisions? Whose rights are stripped? In this episode, we are diving deeper into alternatives to guardianship, more specifically, supported decision-making. Today we are joined by self-advocate Jordan Anderson, whose entire life was uniquely impacted by an overnight decision to support his rights. We are also joined by Hezzy Smith, Director of Advocacy Initiatives at the Harvard Law School Project on Disability and proud sibling. Guests: LinkedInLinkedInHarvard Law School Project on Disability Hezzy SmithHelpful Links: Guardianship: Rights, Remedies, and Responsibilities WebinarGuardianship Resource BookletYouth Ambassador WebsiteConnect with an Advocacy Group - The Arkansas Alliance for Disability AdvocacySupport the show Contact DRA Subscribe to our newsletterStay connectedShow your support Thanks for listening! Make sure to rate & review! Become a supporter of the show!

Today we are talking about changing mindsets and allowing everyone the opportunity to succeed or fail. Guardianship refers to the legal role given to an individual to manage the personal activities or resources of another person who "cannot do so on their own." What happens when we shift the conversation from complete control over someone's life to supported decision-making? Guests: Helpful Links: Guardianship: Rights, Remedies, and Responsibilities WebinarGuardianship Resource BookletYouth Ambassador WebsiteConnect with an Advocacy Group - The Arkansas Alliance for Disability AdvocacySupport the showContact DRA Subscribe to our newsletterStay connectedShow your support Thanks for listening! Make sure to rate & review! Become a supporter of the show!