Human Potential At Work

This special episode of Human Potential at Work features a panel of experts discussing the issue of bullying of Asian Americans and what companies can do to be inclusive towards the AAPI community with disabilities. You’ll also learn about SCADA, the Southern California Asian Deaf Association, why it was formed, and how it has benefited the Asian deaf community.

Elaine Katz, Senior Vice President of Grants and Communications for the Kessler Foundation, joins the program to discuss how her organization drives positive change for people with disabilities. Discover how the Kessler Foundation conducts groundbreaking rehabilitation and disability employment research and fund innovative initiatives to provide access to job opportunities. 

Hyungsoo Kim joins the program to discuss his journey of creating the Bradley Timepeace, which features raised hour markers that allow you to feel the time by touch. Guided by the conviction that everyone has a right to time, Kim collaborated with designers and persons with vision impairments to create a watch that everyone—sighted or blind—can use and enjoy.

Meghan McLean, Senior Vice President, Sports, for the Special Olympics joins the program to discuss the history of the Special Olympics, and share details about the upcoming 2022 games. Discover the various events happening at the games and the preparation that goes into making sure that the games are a success. 

In this episode, Debra Ruh is joined by her producer, Doug Foresta, as they discuss Billion Strong, an identity and empowerment organization designed to bring the billions of voices of persons with disabilities together. Discover the mission and vision of Billion Strong and how to get involved. 

Rosemarie Rossetti, Ph.D. joins the program to discuss her journey of becoming paralyzed after a tree fell down on her. She discusses her subsequent efforts to create a home that was accessible and reveals how she and her husband are on a personal mission to influence those associated with the housing industry, government policymakers, and the public at large, to address and meet the needs of all individuals, including those with lived experiences with disabilities. 

Maria Scazzero joins the program to discuss how organizations can support individuals who face mental health challenges and shares her own journey of being diagnosed with ADHD and borderline personality disorder (BPD). Discover how to overcome stigma and how individuals diagnosed with mental illness can find support and live their truth. 

Psychologist, author, and coach Dr. Patti Ashley returns to the program, along with her daughter Elizabeth Herman, to discuss the importance of celebrating diversity and difference, and how to support our children in noticing their feelings and engaging in self-care. Discover how to activate your curiosity and creativity. 

BBC Reporter and Senior Producer Paul Carter joins the program to discuss his career journey, and the work he does on Click, the BBC's flagship technology program broadcast around the world each week, 52 weeks a year. Discover how technology can change society, and the world.   

Disability Inclusion Consultant, Speech and Language Pathologist, and Founder and CEO of The Resource Key, Jourdan Saunders, joins the program to discuss how to create inclusive branding. She also discusses the importance of advocating for social media platforms to be more accessible and inclusive.  

Matthew Ney, Founder of Kakana, joins the program to discuss how he launched Kakana, an accessible fitness platform focused on people with disabilities and advancing the future of adaptive fitness and health., and closing the product gap between the fitness industry and people with disabilities. 

Executive coach, author, speaker and consultant Drew Aversa joins the program to discuss his own journey with disability, including having a career ending injury while working as a firefighter. Drew shares his thoughts about bridging the gap between the physical health disability community and the mental health disability community, as well the need to honor and acknowledge invisible disabilities that are not mental-health related. 

Andy Imparato, Tho Vinh Banh and Eric Harris from the Disability Rights California (DRC), join the program to discuss the history of their organization as well as their individual career journeys. Discover the importance of leveraging lawyers in terms of advancing the disability rights movement, and the need to embrace intersectionality. 

Bestselling author and human rights advocate Tara Moss joins the program to discuss her latest book, an internationally bestselling crime novel, The War Widow, and her unique process of developing the characters in that story. Discover the importance of being sensitive to accurate representations of diverse characters in stories. Tara also shares her own journey of being injured and living with chronic pain, and what’s she’s learned from that experience.

Traveling on an airplane with a wheelchair is incredibly inaccessible and impossible for the millions of people around the world who use a wheelchair. Many do not even fly because of bad experiences and stories they have heard from others. Wheelchairs get damaged constantly and even sent to the wrong airport and airlines spend millions every year repairing them. In this episode, Michele Erwin, President of All Wheels Up, joins the program to discuss the work that her organization is doing to make air travel more accessible.   

Debra Ruh is joined by LaMondre Pough, Chief Sustainability Officer at Ruh Global Impact, as they discuss the power of creating a global community to celebrate and empower people in the disability community. You'll hear about Billion Strong, a global community that is combining the efforts of people all over the world, and changing the narrative about disability and disability inclusion. 

Emily Golden, Master Certified Coach, Speaker and Career Performance Expert, joins the program to discuss her own disability journey, as well as raising a son with Tourette syndrome. Emily also talks about her new book "The New Golden Rule" and how you can close the gap between where you are and where you want to be, simply by putting yourself first.

Dr. Kristen Allott and Natasha Duarte join the program to discuss the connection between what we eat and our overall functioning. Discover the connection between food and mental health, and how to eat more mindfully. 

Mohammed Yousuf, Director, Office of Infrastructure, Safety and Asset Innovation, and Founder and President of the EquallyAble Foundation, joins the program to discuss his career journey and why representation matters. He also discusses his book Ascending Adversity, in which he discusses his story of being a polio survivor dealing with disability and discrimination. 

Lauren Presutti, LLMSW, psychotherapist and founder of River Oaks Psychology, joins the program to discuss the intersection of mental health and disability. Lauren discusses her own journey as a person with a disability, and the stereotypes and challenges she faced along the way. Discover the difference between the medical model of disability vs. the social model of disability, and the key questions we need to ask in order to create a more inclusive society.