The Heumann Perspective

This episode, Judy interviews James Ian, and Zack and Zarek Elizondo. The three worked together with many others to create the song and music video SPACES, which was sponsered by Genentech as a part of the SMA My Way program, which was built to support and raise awareness for the Spinal Muscular Atrophy community. The transcript for this episode is available here. James Ian is a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, actor and writer. He is a passionate advocate for authentic representation of disabled actors in TV, film and other media. His filmography includes several movies and commercials, TV series and documentaries, including The Allnighter, Pugsley, Kimboo and Inner Warrior. He also serves on the board of DisArt. Zarek DeMarco and Zachary Markel (together known as the Elizondo brothers), have dedicated themselves to completing Zarek's life-goal list, while also educating others about SMA. Zack is a musician for a regional rock group called ...And The Hero Prevails. Sharing his experiences of opening for many bands like The Offespring, Puddle of Mudd, and Saliva have been some of the greatest moments they've shared as brothers and content for their vlog Sweet Life of Zack and Zarek. Related Links: 'SPACES" Music Video The Making of SPACES: A First-of-its-Kind Musical Collaboration for Disability Visibility Shane and Hannah Burcaw 'SPACES' YouTube Video James Ian on iHeart Radio Sweet Life of Zack and Zarek Website ...And The Hero Prevails on Spotify Big King Zilla on Spotify DisArt RAMPD This episode's Ask Judy question came from @gabriellamaya on Instagram. If you'd like to submit a question for Ask Judy, send it to media@judithheumann.com or DM Judy on Instagram or Twitter. Find a shortened video version of this interview on Judy's YouTube channel.  Outro music by Gaelynn Lea: https://violinscratches.com/

This episode, Judy chats with her long-time friend, Colleen Starkloff. Colleen has expertise in many areas that are working towards fully integrating disabled people into society and enabling them to live independent, meaningful lives. The transcript for this episode is available here. Learn more about Colleen and the Starkloff Disability Institute here. Colleen Kelly Starkloff is co-founder, with her husband Max, of the Starkloff Disability Institute. During the 1970's, they founded Paraquad, Inc. in St. Louis. Ms. Starkloff has worked in the field of disability rights since 1973. She has extensive experience educating and training the disabled and non-disabled communities on issues related to employment of people with disabilities, independent living; developing new program initiatives; and coordinating activities that promoted the successful implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). She served two terms as the United States Organizer of the Japan/USA Conference of Persons with Disabilities. In 1999, she joined a citizens' advocacy group responsible for the establishment of the Affordable Housing Commission in the City of St. Louis, which oversees a $5M Affordable Housing Trust Fund. She ensured that housing created by the Trust Fund must include Universal Design features. She served as Founding Chair of the Commission. She is the creator and Organizer of 6 national Universal Design Summits which train architects, designers and builders on uses and benefits of Universal Design in home and community design. In 2016 she began a new venture, "Colleen Starkloff Talks Disability", as a public speaker on disability issues. Starkloff Disability Institute Paraquad Inc. Colleen's full biography Max Starkloff and the Fight for Disability Rights book at the Missouri History Museum and Amazon.com This episode's Ask Judy question came from @jenkeeton on Instagram. If you'd like to submit a question for Ask Judy, send it to media@judithheumann.com or DM Judy on Instagram or Twitter. Find a shortened video version of this interview on Judy's YouTube channel.  Outro music by Gaelynn Lea: https://violinscratches.com/

This episode, Judy chats with Leroy Moore and Keith Jones, the co-founders of Krip Hop Nation. Enjoy their discussion with Judy about the work they're doing, together and individually, as artists and activists. The transcript for this episode is available here. 2021 Emmy award winning Leroy F. Moore Jr. is the founder of Krip Hop Nation. Since the 1990s, Moore has been a key member of Poor Magazine, starting with the column "Illin-N-Chillin" and then as a founding member of the magazine's school, the Homefulness and Decolonize Academy. Moore is one of the founding members of National Black Disability Coalition and an activist around police brutality against people with disabilities. Leroy has started and helped start organizations including Disability Advocates of Minorities Organization, Sins Invalid, and Krip-Hop Nation. His cultural work includes the film documentary Where Is Hope, Police Brutality Against People with Disabilities, spoken-word CDs, poetry books and the children's book Black Disabled Art History 101 published by Xochitl Justice Press. His graphic novel Krip-Hop Graphic Novel Issue 1: Brown Disabled Young Woman Superhero Brings Disability Justice to Hip- Hop was published in 2019 and 2020 under Poor Press. Moore has traveled internationally networking with other disabled activists and artists. In fall of 2021, Leroy started his Ph.D. in Anthropology at UCLA. Moore has written, sang and collaborated to do music videos on Black disabled men. In July 2019 Leroy Moore under Krip-Hop Nation organized African Disabled Musicians San Francisco Bay Area Tour with disabled musicians from Uganda, Tanzania and The Democratic Republic of the Congo. In 2021 Leroy Moore published a book about Black disabled young men under SoulfulMediaWorks. Leroy has won many awards for his advocacy from the San Francisco Mayor's Disability Council under Willie L. Brown to the Local Hero Award in 2002 from Public Television Station, KQED in San Francisco and in 2014, San Francisco Bayview Newspaper named Leroy, Champion of Disabled People in the Media on Black Media Appreciation Night. Keith Jones is the President and CEO of SoulTouchin' Experiences. An organization aimed at bringing a perspective to the issues of access inclusion and empowerment, which affect him as well as others who are persons with a disability. Along with Mr. Leroy Moore the two men co-founded Krip Hop Nation an international collective of artist with disabilities. The tag line of Krip Hop Nation is, "Its more than music..." Mr. Jones is also extremely active in multi-cultural, cross-disability education and outreach efforts. Mr. Jones works to not only educate the disability community about enhanced community living, but also the community at large. Mr. Jones holds a strong desire to get the disability community more involved in the issues that concern their own lives and provides outreach support in relationship to the arts and independent living skills. Mr. Jones has been recognized for his emerging leadership by the state of Massachusetts and President's Commission for Employment for People with Disabilities. Over his years as and advocate Mr. Jones has been awarded New Leadership Development Award From The President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities. The Commonwealth Coalition's Progressive Leadership Award the 2006 Moro Fleming Consumer Involvement Award from the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, with as well as, a recent graduate of the inaugural class of Initiative for Diversity in Civic Leadership. Also, in 2008 long shot 2008 U S Senatorial bid based on "Fulfilling America's Promise". Also, Mr. Jones was the Disability Law Center's 2011 Individual Leadership Award. While at the same time Mr. Jones continued his artistic endeavors. Krip Hop Nation Soul Touchin' Experiences LLC "Honoring" poem-song by Leroy Moore and Gabriel Wilson for Black History Month

Brandon Farbstein, a 22-year-old speaker and activist, advocates for empathy after facing cyberbullying and overcoming personal challenges linked to his rare form of dwarfism. He shares powerful stories from his public speaking journey, touching on the mentorship that guided him to TEDx at 15. Brandon discusses his legislative efforts on bullying prevention and emotional intelligence in schools. He emphasizes self-love and community while reflecting on his Jewish upbringing, highlighting personal storytelling as a vital tool for resilience and advocacy.

This episode, Judy interviews Jillian Mercado. Jillian is a model, actress and activist. Judy and Jillian chat about her life and career, as well as her experience of being the representation she always yearned to see growing up. At the end of this episode is a brand new segment called Ask Judy! Find this episode's transcript here. Follow Jillian on Twitter @jilly_peppa and on Instagram @jillianmercado. Jillian Mercado is an actress, model, and activist who was born and raised in New York City and is of Dominican descent. Diagnosed with spastic muscular dystrophy as a child, Jillian has become a prominent figure in the fashion world, challenging beauty ideals, and re-defining traditional norms in the fashion industry. To date, Jillian has starred in campaigns for Olay, Bumble 100, Calvin Klein fragrance, Nordstrom, Target and Tommy Hilfiger. In September 2018, she was featured on Teen Vogue's first digital cover. In addition, editorial features include CR Fashion Book, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Glassbook, Jejune, and Herring & Herring magazine. As an actress, Jillian's most notable role is playing 'Maribel' on the L Word Generation. Jillian has spent her off camera career actively fighting to advocate for more representation of people with disabilities and eradicate the enduring stigma they face in the fashion industry. Related links: Jillian's CAA Profile Jillian's Portfolio The L-Word: Generation Q on Showtime Disabled Black Creatives If you'd like to submit a question for Ask Judy, send it to media@judithheumann.com or DM Judy on Instagram or Twitter. Find a shortened video version of this interview on Judy's YouTube channel.  Outro music by Gaelynn Lea: https://violinscratches.com/

We're kicking off 2022 with a special edition episode! Kylie Miller, the producer of The Heumann Perspective, steps in to interview Judy and her co-author, Kristen Joiner. Together, they wrote "Being Heumann: An unrepentant memoir of a disability rights activist" and the YA version, Rolling Warrior. Being Heumann formats and vendors: Find a hardcover copy at a local bookstore Find a paperback copy at a local bookstore Paperback, Hardcover, and Kindle eBook on Amazon Paperback, Hardcover, and Nook eBook on Barnes & Noble Large Print Edition Audiobook on Audible Audiobook on Apple Books Rolling Warrior formats and vendors: Find a paperback copy at a local bookstore Paperback and Kindle eBook on Amazon Paperback and NOOK eBook on Barnes & Noble Large Print Edition on Amazon Large Print Edition on Barnes & Noble Audiobook on Audible Audiobook on Apple Books Kristen Joiner is a writer and activist who tries to tell stories that change how people see the world. Her writing on exclusion, inequality, and social change has been published in Ms. Magazine, Stanford Social Innovation Review, The Spin-Off, Stuff and other outlets. She lives in New Zealand with her husband and three children. Connect with her on Twitter @kristenjoiner. Find a shortened video version of this interview on Judy's YouTube channel.  Outro music by Gaelynn Lea: https://violinscratches.com/

This episode, Judy chats with Pauline Castres about the relationship between environmental justice and disability. Pauline defines eco-ableism, describes how disabled people are disproportionately impacted by climate change, shares takeaways from COP26, explains why disability activists should also be environmental activists, and much more. Pauline is a climate change, disability rights, and global health policy and advocacy professional with ten years of experience working with local and national governments, EU institutions, and UN agencies. This year, she's been named one of the thirty most influential disabled activists in the world, and one of the 100 most powerful disability advocates in the UK by the Shaw Trust's Disability Power 100. Pauline has led high-profile advocacy projects - for UN agencies, the British Medical Journal, The Lancet, and several health charities - including a project that won the EU NGO Health Award in 2016. She previously worked on the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in developing countries, with a focus on the intersectionality between disability and gender in education settings. Pauline is currently setting up her own consultancy platform where she will train climate activists on disability issues, as well as disability activists about climate issues. Additional Resources: Humanity & Inclusion Climate Change and Disability Statistics UN Human Rights Climate Change and Disability Statistics Eco-Ableism Straw Example Benilda Caixeta Obituary CNN Article on Benilda Caixeta and FEMA Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies Disability News Service Article featuring Pauline Air Quality News Article featuring Pauline "Climate anxiety plagues millions in Britain as COP26 faces criticism for missing mark on disability" Article featuring Pauline Friends of the Earth Article featuring Pauline and Judy Find a shortened video version of this interview on Judy's YouTube channel.  Outro music by Gaelynn Lea: https://violinscratches.com/

This episode, Judy chats with the co-founders of Inevitable Foundation, Richie Siegel and Marisa Torelli-Pedevska. The Inevitable Foundation is a new non-profit organization dedicated to funding and mentoring professional disabled screenwriters. Their ultimate goal is to create a world where people with disabilities are valued both on and off screen. Richie is the co-founder and President of Inevitable Foundation, charged with leading the Foundation's overall strategy and day-to-day operations. He is a filmmaker and entrepreneur by trade who, before founding Inevitable, spent seven years running a consulting and research firm in the consumer goods industry called Loose Threads. Under Richie's leadership, Loose Threads became a leading strategic partner to the C-Suite of many brands, private equity firms, media companies and real estate investment firms. He was a founding board member at the podcasting startup Simplecast, which was sold to SiriusXM in 2020. He supports a number of causes including racial justice, transcendental meditation, criminal justice reform, disabled artist education and voter registration, among others. Richie has a younger sister who has epilepsy and other developmental disabilities who was one of the inspirations for starting Inevitable Foundation, since he would never see people like his sister in film and TV growing up. Marisa is a co-founder of Inevitable Foundation, tasked with leading the Fellowship experience as well as talent outreach. She is a screenwriter by trade who studied at USC's School of Cinematic Arts and was the recipient of the Jay Roach Endowed Scholarship and Sloan Screenwriting Award. Before Inevitable Foundation and USC, Marisa worked for seven years at  a summer camp for teens and adults with developmental disabilities. Her time at summer camp was a transformative experience for her-the first time she was in a majority disabled space-and led her to choose a career in screenwriting, given the total absence of disabled characters she would see on-screen growing up. Marisa also lives with invisible physical disabilities, which have informed the ways she views accessibility in the traditionally inaccessible entertainment industry and drives her passion for systematic change.

This episode, Judy is joined by Kathi Wolfe. Kathi is a writer who works in both journalism and poetry. She often writes about topics involving the LGBTQ+ and disability communities. Judy and Kathi discuss her journey to poetry, characters she's created, what inspires her, and so much more. She also reads two of her poems, "Tasting Braille" and "Dancing with Martha Graham." Follow Kathi on Twitter @UppityBlindGirl. Photo taken by Alexander Vasiljev. Kathi Wolfe is a writer and poet. She writes frequently on disability and LGBTQ+ issues. Wolfe is a contributor with the Washington Blade, the LGBTQ+ paper. Wolfe was a finalist for the Society of Professional Journalists, Washington, D.C. chapter Dateline award-for her Blade feature "Blind and Queer and Finding Community." She was a 1998-1999 Rosalynn Carter Mental Health Journalism Fellow. Her commentary has appeared in the "Washington Post," www.pbs.org and other publications. Wolfe wrote regularly for the disability press publications The Ragged Edge, Mainstream Magazineand Independence Today. Wolfe's poetry has appeared in The New York Times, Poetry Magazine and other publications. Last month, her poem "Tasting Braille" was the Poetry Foundation Poem of the Day. She has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and awarded Writers Grants by Vermont Studio Center.  Wolfe's most recent poetry collection is "Love and Kumquats." Wolfe was a contributor to the groundbreaking anthologies "Beauty Is a Verb: the New Poetry of Disability" and "QDA: A Queer Disability Anthology." She was a 2008 Lambda Literary Foundation Emerging Writer Fellow. "Love and Kumquats" Book of Poetry on Amazon and Barnes and Noble "Tasting Braille" on Poetry Foundation's Poem of the Day "The Sun is Warm: Nagasaki, 1948" and "Dancing with Martha Graham" poems on PBS "Helen Keller and Me" article for PBS PBS Documentary Becoming Helen Keller Panel Discussion featuring Kathi Kathi's contributions for The Washington Blade Find a shortened video version of this interview on Judy's YouTube channel.  Outro music by Gaelynn Lea: https://violinscratches.com/

Judy converses with Andrea Dalzell, also known as The Seated Nurse. She is a Registered Nurse committed to ensuring that healthcare is informed by disability. She advocates for the inclusion of disabled healthcare providers, as well as better care for disabled patients. Not to mention, she is so much more than a nurse! Andrea is an activist, social media influencer, educator, nonprofit founder, athlete, and more. Follow Andrea on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @theseatednurse. Andrea is a Registered Nurse, Healthcare Advocate, Disability Rights Influencer, and most importantly, Survivor! She was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. At the age of 5, she was diagnosed with transverse myelitis which is an inflammation of the spinal cord that causes pain, muscle weakness, and paralysis. She was using a wheelchair full-time by the age of 12. Although this diagnosis was very critical, Andrea let absolutely nothing get in the way of being all that she could be. Andrea received her degree from the City University of New York, College of Staten Island. However, life after graduation for Andrea was the beginning of a long disappointing journey of trying to convince employers that she could handle the job duties of being a nurse in a wheelchair. While diligently trying to secure a position in a hospital, Andrea worked as a health director, case manager, and school nurse to make ends meet.  After 76 interviews, she was finally given the opportunity to prove herself when she was hired as the first Registered Nurse in a wheelchair in New York state. Andrea Dalzell on Good Morning America  Craig H. Neilsen Visionary Prize  Find a shortened video version of this interview on Judy's YouTube channel. Intro music by Lachi. Outro music by Gaelynn Lea.