Life’s a Road Trip

When a door closes... She brings a crowbar

This week's guest is Debrah Ruh.
The episode opens with "When told by ‘experts’ that her daughter, Sara, who was born with Down’s Syndrome, would be lucky to push shopping carts at the local grocery store, Debra..."
Listen to the show then circle back to finish the intro with more force. Perhaps only the term "force" would suffice as the title. Debra Ruh is certainly a force -- a force the disability community needs.
The more I do Life's a Road Trip the deeper my own interest grows because with every guest, the more I get behind this movement.
As Debra states more than once, we are in the midst of change. Yes, we are.
Do you want to learn more? Check these sites:
Ruh Global
Billion Strong
The Valuable 500
 
Note: Oftentimes, links are not available on platforms such as Apple, iHeart, etc.. They are available within this episode on our website at https://lifesaroadtrip.podbean.com

Time to Move On, Time to Get Going

This week's guest is Justin Jesudas.
As a good host should, I arrive at the online studio well in advance of my guests. It has nothing to do with tidying things but more to do with allowing my PC to get rolling.
And as luck has it, I always have time to turn on some tunes courtesy of Pandora. On the day of my recording with Justin, the first song that started pouring through my headphones was Time to Move On by Tom Petty on the Wildflowers album.
The opening stanza goes like this:
It's time to move on, it's time to get goingWhat lies ahead, I have no way of knowingBut under my feet, baby, grass is growingIt's time to move on, time to get going
As I was reviewing my notes for Justin's show, it struck me that Petty's words fit the interview that I imagined. 
As you'll find in our discussion, Justin doesn't let grass grow under his feet or the wheels of his wheelchair. With him, it's always time to move on, time to get going.
Okay, Justin's always on the move. So what?
First, consider that he has won 18 gold medals in swimming. Next, consider his work with the Indian Institute of Technology in Madras (LINK). Then there's his crowning achievement: His two little kids.
Oh, did I mention that Justin is a quadriplegic?
Keep on keepin' on, Justin!
Note: Oftentimes, links are not available on platforms such as Apple, iHeart, etc.. They are available within this episode on our website at https://lifesaroadtrip.podbean.com

Progress Over Perfection

This week's guest is Meryl Evans.
It was the statement "Progress Over Perfection" that she proudly wears that made me pause. It didn't take long before I opened another window or two on my PC to start digging into Meryl and what she does on behalf of those who are deaf or hard of hearing.
As the show moves forward, we're more focused on guests who aren't afraid to stand up and speak out when it comes to shining a positive light on the disability community. Meryl definitely fits that mold.
Want to see an example of Meryl's message? Click HERE to watch her TEDx presentation. I promise that she'll make you think. You need to watch her talk on automated captions with Thomas Logan HERE. Interested in having Meryl speak to your company? Go HERE.
Progress over perfection... Listen to Meryl and come away with a better understanding of how important and simple that statement is.
Note: Oftentimes, links are not available on platforms such as Apple, iHeart, etc.. They are available within this episode on our website at https://lifesaroadtrip.podbean.com

His search for the ’Inclusive City’

This week's guest is Steve Wright.
Steve is a respected city planner who isn't afraid to speak his mind when it comes to designing or retrofitting cities so they are welcoming to all -- including members of the disabled community.
When I first came across Steve, it was easy to see that he is eagerly searching for the 'Inclusive City'. 
Yes, he realizes there is no Yellow Brick Road to guide him. But when it comes to shining a light on what is missing, he takes a step back and ponders, and then recommends new ways to make our cities more functional.
Below are just a few of Steve's articles. They're an interesting read.
Everyone Benefits From Inclusion  HERE
When Inclusive...Isn't  HERE
Why Universal Design is critical to CNU  HERE
Note: Oftentimes, links are not available on platforms such as Apple, iHeart, etc.. They are available within this episode on our website at https://lifesaroadtrip.podbean.com

They’re a formidable tag team

This is an encore episode while I shift gears from my teaching and soccer to my book and soccer. New episodes will be recorded during the summer months.
This week's guests are Carla Birnberg & Mariam Ndegwa.
Baron Von Raschke, Dusty Rhodes, Andre the Giant, and The Crusher. Those were some of the wrestling characters that we watched on Sunday mornings before church when I was a kid. But they have nothing on the tag team of Carla and Mariam.
First in the ring is Carla who goes by the nickname of Chief Storyteller. It's her job to make the initial contact with possible donors before she tags off to Mariam who closes the account and the match.
Of course, I'm making light of what Carla and Mariam do within the Next Step Foundation (HERE), which leverages the power of technology to train and upskill people from marginalized African communities, especially Persons with Disabilities
The current task that these two mighty women are wrestling with is the Upili Project. Click HERE to learn more. Go ahead, roll up your sleeves, and jump in the ring as part of their team.
Check out Carla's website 'Unapologetically Myself' HERE and her book What You Can When You Can: Healthy Living on Your Terms HERE.
Note: Oftentimes, links are not available on platforms such as Apple, iHeart, etc.. They are available within this episode on our website at https://lifesaroadtrip.podbean.com