In this week's episode, co-hosts Keith and Maddie talk with The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies' Co-Directors Shaylin Sluzalis & Germán Parodi. The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies (The Partnership) is the only U.S. disability-led, 501(c)(3) organization that prioritizes equity, access, disability rights, disability justice, and full inclusion of people with disabilities, older adults, and people with access and functional needs before, during and after disasters and emergencies. We chat about how their work started, how Floridians with disabilities can stay safe ..read more

In this episode of You First, we talk with Jen White Johnson (she/they), a renowned artist, educator, and disability activist who uses the arts as a medium to champion the life, joy, and experiences of the disabled and neurodivergent community. Jen discusses their journey as someone diagnosed with ADHD later in life, the barriers for disabled Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) to getting a diagnosis, and the impact of their son being diagnosed with autism. They talk about the need for more disabled BIPOC representation in visual media, their efforts to bring disabled arti ..read more

Two Disability Rights Florida education advocates, April Katine and Daysi Ortiz, join Keith in education planning for students with disabilities. The three discuss the importance of individual education plans (IEPs) and transition planning and offer tips on how parents can more effectively find success throughout the process. Tune in to learn about the various services available under IEP, how to prepare for IEP meetings, the significance of periodic re-evaluations, the importance of maintaining written records, and how to best collaborate with your child's IEP team. Relevant links:  Tra ..read more

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In this episode of You First, hosts Keith and Maddie discuss the impact of language on disability rights and inclusion with advocates Lawrence Carter-Long, Damian Gregory, and Laura-Lee Minutello. The conversation highlights the #SayTheWord disability campaign, personal experiences with disability-related language, government services, marketing, and legislation affecting the disability community. They discuss person-first versus identity-first language and how language influences societal perspectives and policy-making. They emphasize that people with disabilities are integral to society ..read more

In this bonus episode, You First Podcast host Maddie talks with 5 guests about various legal and medical precedents that have led to the division between the disability and LGBTQ+ communities. The history between the LGBTQ+ community and the disability community is often at odds with each other. Historically, LGBTQ+ identities were viewed as mental illnesses, and many within the LGBTQ+ community rightfully rejected this. However, debility and harm from LGBTQ+ oppression and discrimination leading to worse health outcomes can cause disability. In fact, despite trans and non-binary people b ..read more

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), and to recognize that, this episode of You First is all about barriers to employment. Disability Rights Florida advocates Wendy Vance, Victor Panoff, Howard Bell, and Allison Klein explore numerous barriers to employment, beginning with school-age issues all the way to challenges in the workplace, and how they can each be overcome ..read more

In this special episode of You First, we recognize the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Disability Rights Florida staff members Barb Page, Juli Pack, Curtis Filaroski, Ann Robinson, Andrea Jenkins, and Olivia Babis discuss the impact the ADA has had on them, how things might be different without the ADA, and what still needs to be accomplished even 30 years later ..read more

In the second part of this episode of You First, we conclude our conversation with Disability Rights Florida's Olivia Babis and Tony DePalma as they discuss the 2019 Florida Legislative Session. Olivia and Tony explore several key bills that were presented to the legislature, the outcome of those bills, and their impact on Floridians with disabilities. For more information about the 2019 Legislative Session, visit www.disabilityrightsflorida.org/legislation ..read more

In this episode of You First, we talk to Disability Rights Florida's Olivia Babis and Tony DePalma to discuss the 2019 Florida Legislative Session. Olivia and Tony explore several key bills that were presented to the legislature, the outcome of those bills, and their impact on Floridians with disabilities. For more information about the 2019 Legislative Session, visit www.disabilityrightsflorida.org/legislation.  ..read more