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In this episode, we are talking to Daniel DeFabio, who co-founded the Disorder Channel, the Rare Disease Film Festival, and also works as a community manager for Global Genes. Daniel and I discuss his background in designing games, creating media, and how the birth of his son Lucas, who was born with a rare disease called Menkes Disease, helped him and his wife figure out what really matters in their lives.

Daniel's empathy, creativity, and openness shine in this episode. It's another terrific example of how the difficulties we experience around disability or disease is a both/and experience, filled with joy, difficulties, and moments that help you understand what gives life meaning and value.

You can learn more about Daniel here:

https://globalgenes.org/2022/04/22/tell-your-story-daniel-defabiorare-dad-filmmaker-advocate/

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Millions Lost The Unrealized Potential of Entrepreneurship and Disability

We often read that people with a disability are especially good at solving problems, have a surplus of resilience, and utilize soft skills–like empathy–to better adapt to the world. If solving problems, resilience, and soft skills–like empathy–are common and requisite traits for entrepreneurs, why are so few people with a disability entrepreneurs, or working with entrepreneurs? What biases and narratives still exist that continue leaving people with a disability out of these opportunities? And what can we do to shift these narratives so that more companies recognize the latent and untapped potential in the disability community to start businesses or help businesses thrive? Entrepreneurs with a disability share their stories, as a way to shed light on the millions of people who are facing unnecessary roadblocks that often prevent them from realizing their true entrepreneurial potential and contributing their genius to the world.

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The Nuance of Disability: “Because of,” NOT “In Spite Of”

A film director and producer, along with a writer, share their stories as creatives who embraced their disability and made a conscious choice to flourish because of it, not in spite of it. As a result, their work is now reclaiming the narrative around disability and portraying it not as a burden, but instead, simply as another essential consideration within which to work, much like a budget or a guideline. When reframed like this, disability changes from an afterthought or a legal requirement to a welcome and helpful element that, along with others, guides the ingenuity, design, beauty, and usefulness of the end result because it tells a better story from all angles.

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How Diversity Actualizes Potential: The Omnium Circus Approach

Most conversations about human resources in organizations revolve around diversity, equity, and inclusion. Yet those three topics usually focus primarily on race and LGBTQ rights, and disability is often neglected in the dialog.

This program will explore the major benefits that organizations, audiences, and communities reap when diversity–including disability–is embraced at every level. Join Gustavo Serafini, host of the Enabled Disabled Podcast, in conversation with Lisa B. Lewis, Executive Director and Founder of Omnium Circus, as they explore the unique and beautiful case of this world-class, non-profit organization and how it is changing the narrative around disability, diversity, and the many ways to actualize more human potential.

Discover how Omnium Circus designed an entire hiring philosophy and practice to create a jaw-dropping audience experience by employing gifted circus performers from different countries and cultures embracing a multi-racial, multi-abled, LGBTQ inclusive approach.

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Inspirational Speaker Ruth Rathblott is a TEDx speaker and an award-winning former CEO committed to creating inclusion for all. She is a leader who has spent her entire career focused on providing opportunities for those who face obstacles.

Born with a limb difference, Ruth currently speaks on issues of inclusion and diversity, the gifts of being unique, the freedom of accepting your differences, and rising above life’s challenges.

Ruth has been a leader in nonprofit organizations for more than 25 years, 15 of which she spent at Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City, where she played a central role in its expansion. Here, she fostered a deep appreciation for inclusion within education and opportunity, which successfully propelled the students to greater achievement. For over eight years as CEO of the Harlem Educational Activities Fund (HEAF), an NYC-based college access and success program for underserved youth, she directed the HEAF vision of providing a continuum of educational, developmental, leadership, and personal resilience opportunities. She currently serves as a Board Member of The Lucky Fin Project.

Ruth holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Goucher College and a Master of Social Work degree from Boston University. She was honored as the youngest alum ever awarded the Goucher College Excellence in Public Service Award. In 2014, she was given the Smart CEO Brava Award and profiled as a CEO in the NY Times Corner Office, which featured her passion and motivation for “things I want to be a part of.” Ruth has also been identified and received the Trailblazer Award from the Community Resource Exchange in 2019 and the Unsung Hero Award from the Female Founders Alliance in 2020. In addition to Corporate Speaking Keynotes, Ruth received Certification from American Management Association in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (2020) and has been a guest on several Webinars and Podcasts — including Sree Sreevisan, Mayshad, Tevis Trower, et al. — in 2020-21. Author of the forthcoming book: Singlehandedly.

By connecting with her story of hiding and angst, finding acceptance, being human and authentic, your audience will be engaged, entertained, and inspired!

Helpful Links:

• Ruth Rathblott: https://ruthrathblott.com/

Connect with Ruth Rathblott on Social Media:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ruth.rathblott
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruthrathblottspeaker/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/ruthrath
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruth-rathblott/recent-activity/posts/

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https://www.anchor.fm/enableddisabled

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Learn more: www.enableddisabled.com

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Maya is the producer, creator, editor, and host of Proud Stutter, a podcast about shifting the narrative around stuttering and embracing verbal diversity. She is a writer and community organizer with over eight years of strategic communications experience in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. As a woman who stutters, she is a stuttering advocate working to shift societal norms around stuttering and lifting up marginalized voices. Maya is working on a book of short stories about growing up with a stutter, women representation, and her journey podcasting. Her full-time job is the Media & Democracy Program Manager for California Common Cause where she advocates for journalists who serve communities and neighborhoods in California. She lives in San Francisco with her fiancé and dog Lil’ Stu.

Helpful Links:

• Website: www.proudstutter.com
• Local Resolution Toolkit: PASSING A STUTTERING AWARENESS WEEK.pdf

Connect with Maya Chupkov on Social Media:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ProudStutter/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/proudstutter/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/proud-stutter
• Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/proudstutter/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEDPRORSa4elXrYYmYQxsdA

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Learn more: www.enableddisabled.com

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I am Brianna Paauwe and I became a wheelchair user after a car accident left me with a spinal cord injury. Since the accident, I have found my love of helping others through volunteering and going back to school for Human Services, Social Work, and Criminal Justice. Since graduation in May, I have helped my team launch a fitness app for wheelchair users, moved to a new state, grown my strength and independence, and I am excited to start helping others in the disability community. I want to connect more with others and help them reach a greater level of independence.

Helpful Links:

Wheel With Me Fitness: https://wheelwithmefitness.com/

Wheel With Me Foundation: https://www.wheelwithmefoundation.org/

Connect with Brianna Paauwe on Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bribabe16

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bribabe16/

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brigrace90?lang=en

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Subscribe to Enabled Disabled podcast:

https://www.anchor.fm/enableddisabled

https://open.spotify.com/show/7vEQbn4GGFLUHNzULIY1hO

Learn more: www.enableddisabled.com

Join the Enabled Disabled Community: https://www.enabledchat.com

Lisa Rosen, MS, has 30 years of experience in physical rehabilitation with expertise in education, training, and program development. Most recent professional experience as Manager of the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab’s LIFE Center (formerly known as the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago), a multimedia education center and web portal for people with physical disabilities, their families, health professionals, and the community. Responsible for supervising Education Program Managers who provide education programs, classes, support groups and special events. Direct content management for globally accessed education and training materials. Led and designed a variety of innovative disability awareness programs for patient, staff and medical education, research, customer service and knowledge management. In addition, co-founded the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago/Shirley Ryan AbilityLab peer mentor program to enhance education and the patient experience, which integrates former patients into clinical teaching across all conditions.

Jamee Heelan, OTR/L, brings 35 years of experience with specialty and focus in providing family-centered education for pediatric and adult populations, family, and staff for all levels of care. Conditions include amputee, brain injury, stroke, and spinal cord injury. Jamee’s expertise covers specialty education groups for persons with aphasia and teaching children about a sibling, parent or relatives’ disability. She uses talking notes and customizes educational materials to use an interactive approach that supports all learning preferences. Her approach strengthens the Center’s outreach and impact on community re-integration. Jamee has authored three children’s books and developed brain illustrations for patient and family education in four languages.

Connect with Shirley Ryan AbilityLab’s LIFE Center on Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShirleyRyanAbilityLab/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AbilityLab

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ShirleyRyanAbilityLab

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shirley-ryan-abilitylab

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Subscribe to Enabled Disabled podcast:

https://www.anchor.fm/enableddisabled

https://open.spotify.com/show/7vEQbn4GGFLUHNzULIY1hO

Learn more: www.enableddisabled.com