Nothing Without Us! A Disability Advocacy Podcast

We're back this week with guest Joyce Bender! Joyce Bender is the Founder and CEO of Bender Consulting Services, Inc., and the Bender Leadership Academy, located in Pittsburgh, PA. Her focus for both organizations is employment for people with disabilities. As a woman living with epilepsy and hard of hearing, she dedicated her life to a crusade for youth and adults to gain the dream of competitive employment. She works tirelessly to break down the barriers and stigma that exist for people with disabilities.
In 1985, Joyce had a life-threatening accident due to epilepsy that caused a cerebral hemorrhage requiring subsequent brain surgery. Against all odds, Joyce recovered from this accident that left her with a 70 percent hearing loss in one ear and a realization that she had epilepsy. This accident changed the trajectory of her life and led to the founding of Bender Consulting Services, Inc. in 1995.
She serves as the Chair of the Epilepsy Association of Western and Central PA, the Vice-Chair of the American Association of People with Disabilities, on the President’s Advisory Board for Carlow University, as a Trustee for The Bazelon Center on Mental Health Law. She is a board member of the World Institute on Disability (WID), and Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera (CLO). Joyce is an Advisor for the FDR Memorial Legacy Committee, Business of Health Ambassador for Pitt’s School of Business Ambassador Program, and an Epilepsy Alliance America Representative for the National Plan for Epilepsy Committee (NPEC). Joyce has served as a disability employment expert for the U.S. State Department in Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Panama, Kazakhstan, Tunisia, Libya, and Nigeria. She conducted training for female entrepreneurs in business for Austria. She has been featured in periodicals including Reader's Digest, New York Times, Investor’s Business Daily, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and Chicago Tribune. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from Geneva College, and hosts the show, Disability Matters with Joyce Bender, on voiceamerica.com for over twenty years.
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This week on NWU! we have Hank Poore and Ashley Ferry from the Hank Poore Foundation! The mission of the Hank Poore Foundation is to provide opportunities and experiences for people with disabilities which will foster authentic connections between individuals, groups and community.
Inspired by Hank Poore, a Tuscaloosa native with cerebral palsy, HPF was born out of a desire to provide others with the opportunities and experiences that Hank has had, and is built on the ideals of inclusion, engagement, education, and unity. These ideals have played significant roles in Hank’s life, both as he has lived them out and as others have embodied them. Hank is lucky to be a part of a community, both near and far, that has embraced his disability, and to have had the opportunity to engage in adaptive athletics, summer camps, long term employment and a number of other activities and experiences that are not always available to people with disabilities. Hank, and all other staff and volunteers at HPF, are committed to making these experiences and communities widely available to people with disabilities by providing forums for connection and empowerment, and by working to reach and support families in need of the resources, community, and opportunity that enable individuals with disabilities to live life to the fullest. In so doing, HPF hopes to model and bring forth the sort of inclusivity, compassion, and limitless possibility that changes lives.
https://hankpoorefoundation.org/
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This week we have Andy Imparato on the show! Andy is one of America's most influential disability rights leaders and policy advocates. He serves as Executive Director of Disability Rights California, the nation's largest disability rights organization. Over more than three decades, he has held leadership positions as President and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities, Executive Director of the Association of University Centers on Disabilities, Disability Policy Director for Senator Tom Harkin on the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, and General Counsel and Director of Policy for the National Council on Disability. He also served on President Biden's COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force and helped lead national efforts behind the ADA Amendments Act and other landmark disability policy initiatives.
A graduate of Yale University and Stanford Law School, Andy has dedicated his career to advancing civil rights, employment, healthcare and community inclusion for people with disabilities. His combination of legal expertise, policy experience and lived experience with bipolar disorder has made him one of the most respected voices in the disability movement today.
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This week on the show we have yet another extremely impressive guest, Doc Jacobs! Doc is a nationally recognized adapted athlete, decorated combat veteran and motivational leader whose story is defined by perseverance, grit and determination.
A former U.S. Navy corpsman embedded with the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines during combat operations in Ramadi, Iraq, Doc sustained catastrophic injuries in 2006 when his unit was struck by a triple stacked IED. He lost both legs in the explosion and was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor and Purple Heart for his bravery and sacrifice in combat.
Rather than allowing adversity to define him. Doc transformed his recovery into a mission driven pursuit of excellence. He became the first amputee in U.S. Naval history to return to a deployable infantry unit, before retiring from the military service in 2012. Since then, he has built a reputation as an elite adapted athlete, advocate, author, and speaker, using sport and storytelling to inspire others to overcome obstacles and pursue their highest potential.
Doc is also a forensic science specialist, co-founder and president of Super Friends Archeology, a DPA partnered organization, and does battlefield recoveries from past wars.
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For more information visit lakeshore.org

This week on the show we have yet another extremely impressive guest, Doc Jacobs! Doc is a nationally recognized adapted athlete, decorated combat veteran and motivational leader whose story is defined by perseverance, grit and determination. A former U.S. Navy corpsman embedded with the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines during combat operations in Ramadi, Iraq, Doc sustained catastrophic injuries in 2006 when his unit was struck by a triple stacked IED. He lost both legs in the explosion and was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor and Purple Heart for his bravery and sacrifice in combat. Rather than allowing adversity to define him. Doc transformed his recovery into a mission driven pursuit of excellence. He became the first amputee in U.S. Naval history to return to a deployable infantry unit, before retiring from the military service in 2012.Since then, he has built a reputation as an elite adapted athlete, advocate, author, and speaker, using sport and storytelling to inspire others to overcome obstacles and pursue their highest potential. Doc is also a forensic science specialist, co-founder and president of Super Friends Archeology, a DPA partnered organization, and does battlefield recoveries from past wars. Follow us on instagram @nothingwithoutuspod For more information visit lakeshore.org

This week on the pod we have Paralympian and former Survivor castaway Noelle Lambert! Noelle has excelled across sports her entire career. As a D1 athlete, she had a standout freshman lacrosse season, earning America East All-Rookie team honors at UMass Lowell. During the following summer, Lambert suffered a life-changing injury from a moped accident, resulting in the amputation of her left leg above the knee. Despite the tragic incident, Lambert never let the severity of her injury defeat her. Noelle has competed at the 2021 and 2024 Paralympics in the 100-meter race as well as the long jump, and she provided on-site coverage at the 2026 Winter Paralympics for the USOPC. In 2018, Lambert founded the Born To Run Foundation, which aims to provide child and adult amputees with prosthetics so they can live a more fulfilling life. Noelle recently appeared on Season 43 of Survivor, quickly becoming a fan favorite with her inspirational story and pure grit. https://theborntorunfoundation.org/Follow us on instagram @nothingwithoutuspodFor more information visit lakeshore.org

We're back for our season 3 premiere with the "Ultimate Guy" Noah Galloway! Noah Galloway is a Purple Heart recipient, double amputee, author, and motivational speaker from Birmingham, Alabama. After losing his left arm and leg in an IED attack during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Noah transformed personal adversity into a message of resilience, fitness, and purpose through his “No Excuses” philosophy.
He became the first veteran and amputee to be featured on the cover of Men’s Health magazine earning their “Ultimate Guy” title in 2014 and landing him on the Ellen show. Noah also became a finalist on the hit ABC show Dancing with the Stars and would win the debut season of FOX’s American Grit.
Through speaking engagements and his No Excuses Charitable Fund, Noah continues to inspire audiences to pursue mental and physical wellness without limits.
https://www.noahgalloway.com/
Follow us on instagram @nothingwithoutuspod
For more information visit lakeshore.org

We're back for our season 3 premiere with the "Ultimate Guy" Noah Galloway! Noah Galloway is a Purple Heart recipient, double amputee, author, and motivational speaker from Birmingham, Alabama. After losing his left arm and leg in an IED attack during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Noah transformed personal adversity into a message of resilience, fitness, and purpose through his “No Excuses” philosophy.
 
He became the first veteran and amputee to be featured on the cover of Men’s Health magazine earning their “Ultimate Guy” title in 2014 and landing him on the Ellen show. Noah also became a finalist on the hit ABC show Dancing with the Stars and would win the debut season of FOX’s American Grit.
 
Through speaking engagements and his No Excuses Charitable Fund, Noah continues to inspire audiences to pursue mental and physical wellness without limits.
 
https://www.noahgalloway.com/
Follow us on instagram @nothingwithoutuspod
For more information visit lakeshore.org

Hey Nothing Without Us listeners! We are hard at work recording season 3, but until then, here's a compilation episode featuring wisdom from some of our wonderful advocate guests throughout seasons 1 and 2. These featured clips collect stories of our guests' origins and inspirations in becoming disability advocates. Be sure to follow the podcast on instagram @nothingwithoutuspod For more information go to lakeshore.org

On this special season two finale of NWU, our guest is Ali Ingersoll. Ali is a TEDx speaker, corporate strategy consultant, health equity advocate, day trader and former Miss Wheelchair America. She draws upon her experience as a C6 quadriplegic from a shallow water diving accident in 2010, leaving her paralyzed chest down at age 27. She embraces the world around her, backed by neuroscience strategies combined with dark humor, life lessons, and powerful stories to help others embrace new perspectives in their own lives. https://aliingersoll.com/Follow us on instagram @nothingwithoutuspodlakeshore.org