Innovating Inclusion

Nicholas Wyman on Creating Apprenticeships for the Disability Community, the Hashtag #GSD, and His New Book

Workforce development guru Nicholas Wyman joins us today to talk about how his company IWSI America build apprenticeships, especially around the disability community. He will also discuss his new book, Attract, Retain,, Develop: Shaping a Skilled Workforce for the Future. NICHOLAS WYMAN BIO Nicholas “Nick” Wyman began his career as an award-winning chef before becoming a globally recognized leader in workforce innovation. As founder and CEO of IWSI America, he has pioneered national apprenticeship initiatives — from the first registered U.S. forestry apprenticeship in 35 years to groundbreaking healthcare programs for people with disabilities. Nick is the author of Job U: How to Find Wealth and Success by Developing the Skills Companies Need (Penguin) and Attract, Retain, Develop: Shaping a Skilled Workforce for the Future (Fast Company Press, 2025). He contributes to Forbes, Fast Company, CNBC, and the MIT Press Journal, and is known for translating global best practices into practical solutions that reshape careers and communities. His latest work explores the intersection of wellness and work — how personal health, resilience, and performance fuel not only individual success but also the future of organizations. WEBSITES https://www.iwsiamerica.org/ https://www.readywillingable.us/who-we-are https://www.nicholaswyman.com/ LINK TO AMAZON for Nick's New Book [https://www.amazon.com/Attract-Retain-Develop-Shaping-Workforce/dp/B0FK5SHBNP/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2QPMLOOGJX5SP&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Bl7CTCnU1i3zZx1vi3TtoxU93tVnnsNnLFOcq6fBTDvodBGwjCosFgnbeYPpi4NPUDuC7a9HjrD2ryOeYyd8CDaqoUluksXuzaXMuBytmeQkS_HI-LGNn0Xoug5iNULVzKZmG14lOTKQWWW84hpjFwYiFmWpIA8nrcdTHoO49ak6yvAcACc67Ye8kiLhsI3LDcYzaXc-sGZjMwqqpbGlp0vwO69JfOTdfQWbYERRInw.z5IAAtaI4_ngOKAVHOOWHmKLWqOWPOIPoHUPIHcFwRw&dib_tag=se&keywords=nicholas+wyman&qid=1762587061&sprefix=%2Caps%2C162&sr=8-1] If anyone is interested in a complimentary copy of Attract, Retain, Develop: Shaping a Skilled Workforce for the Future, please contact info@foxgiving.org. Audio books are also available.  Thank you, Nick! CO-PRODUCED BY Alexandra Rush HOST & PRODUCER Akira Nakano [https://www.foxgiving.org/our-team/akira-nakano] www.innovatinginclusion.org

Lauren Branch on Leveraging Technology and Advocacy to Make Her Org the Largest Employer of the Blind in Oklahoma

Katie and Steven sit down with CEO Lauren Branch, as she talks about building NewView Oklahoma into the largest employer of people who are blind in the state.  BIO LAUREN BRANCH has been with NewView Oklahoma, formerly the Oklahoma League for the Blind, since 1997. A native of Houston, Texas, Lauren received her bachelor’s degree in accounting and business administration from Texas A&M University in 1986. She is also a certified public accountant. Under Lauren’s leadership, NewView Oklahoma has undergone unprecedented growth, employing more than 150 individuals, most of whom are blind or low vision and serving thousands of Oklahomans with vision loss. NewView is now the largest employer of people who are blind in the state and has been recognized both locally and nationally as one of the premier organizations in the country providing comprehensive low vision services for people losing their vision. Over the years, NewView has received numerous awards and recognitions including National Industries for the Blind Employment Growth Award, Oklahoma ABLE Tech Partner of the Year, Oklahoma Attorney General Keith Boyd Employer of the Year Award, American Optometric Association Apollo Award, DHS Aging Services Achievement in Aging Program of the Year, Blue Cross Blue Shield Dr. Rodney L. Huey Memorial Champions of Oklahoma Health Award, Oklahoma State Use Program Organization of the Year Award, and Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits “One Award” Finalist in Self-Sufficiency. Lauren is very active in her community, having served in various capacities over the years in the non-profit and business sectors. She currently serves on the board of National Industries for the Blind and is the current chairperson of VisionServe Alliance, a national organization dedicated to improving the quality of life to and for people with vision loss. Lauren is also a member of Leadership Oklahoma City, Class XXVIII and Leadership Oklahoma Class XXVII . She is a member of Rotary Club 29 in Oklahoma City and has been since 2004. WEBSITE nvoklahoma.org HOSTS Steven McCoy Katie Corbett   www.innovatinginclusion.org

Ollie Cantos on National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) and White Cane Day

Today we speak to West Covina City Councilman Ollie Cantos as we recognize National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) and White Cane Day. Blind since birth and born in Los Angeles to Filipino immigrants, Ollie as a native son of West Covina was raised here since age 4. He defied conventional wisdom of what was then considered possible or practical in light of the relatively limited expectations about persons with disabilities during his formative years. The product of West Covina values — proud, strong, and determined-- he has spent his life, breaking new ground and paving the way for others to follow.  Ollie is the first blind person and individual with a visible disability ever to be elected to the City Council since West Covina's founding in February 1923. Early leadership roles include Student Body Vice President at Hollencrest Junior High in Eighth Grade; Junior Class President and Student Body President at Bishop Amat Memorial High School in La Puente; and Student Senator, Speaker of the Senate, Vice President of Student Services, and Executive Vice President and Chairperson of the Student Senate at Loyola Marymount University where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. The year he graduated, he received the Stanley Chan Award, the highest honor to be given by the University's Political Science Department. After earning his Juris Doctor degree from Loyola Law School Los Angeles and becoming an attorney, he served as Staff Attorney and Director of Outreach and Education at the Disability Rights Legal Center, General Counsel and Director of Programs for the then 70,000-member American Association of People with Disabilities, Special Assistant and later Special Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Justice, Associate Director for Domestic Policy at the White House under President George W. Bush, and now Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education. He has also received presidential appointments from two different Presidents of the United States. His work at the Federal Government level has spanned across both Republican and Democratic administrations since 2004. In addition to his ongoing Federal Government responsibilities, Ollie is Attorney Mentor with the American Bar Association's Commission on Disability Rights, Member of the Kiwanis Club of West Covina, and Chairman of the Board at RespectAbility, a multi-million-dollar national nonpartisan non-profit cross-disability organization that fights stigmas and advances opportunities on behalf of this nation's more than 61 million Americans with disabilities. Prior leadership posts include Member and Vice Chair of the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities,  Legal Officer for the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, Vice President of the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, Member of the Board of Directors of the Loyola Marymount University National Alumni Association, and Member of the Board of Governors of the Loyola Law School Alumni Association.  Among others, he was also on the boards of the ENDependence Center  of Northern Virginia and Community Lodgings. But Ollie is most grateful for his adoption of three blind triplet boys – Leo, Nick, and Steven.  Their compelling story has been told by National Public Radio [http://www.npr.org/2014/02/21/280277459/the-lives-of-blind-brothers-changed-when-dad-came-knocking], PEOPLE Magazine [https://people.com/celebrity/ollie-cantos-blind-attorney-adopts-blind-triplets/], The Washingtonian Magazine [https://www.washingtonian.com/2016/09/07/meet-amazing-blind-man-raising-blind-triplets-2/], USA Today [https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theadvertiser.com/amp/682584001], and videos that went viral on https://m.facebook.com/watch/?v=1070130473077076 www.innovatinginclusion.org

Saran Tugsjargal - Policy Maker, Advocate, Mongolian-American, and a College Freshman

Our Superstar Guest, Saran Tugsjargal is a student with ASD, SLD, ADHD starting her freshman year at Rice University. She is an advocate for equitable education with a goal is to prove that disabilities don't hinder leadership. Collaborating with ACLC's special education department, she amplifies disabled student experiences. Initiating the Mongolian American Disability Mentorship program in Summer 2023, she mentored over 50+ families. In October 2023, she became one of California's first student commissioners with disabilities, representing over 800,000 students. Speaking at conferences like Breaking Barriers and CarsPlus, she's influenced over 400+ educators. Notably, she championed bill AB2173, changing "emotional disturbance" to "emotional disability." Recognized with awards like the Rotary Youth Leadership Award and the Ronald Reagan Leadership Medal, she's celebrated for her exceptional leadership and advocacy. LINKS https://www.linkedin.com/in/saran-tugsjargal/ email: sara.tugsjargal@gmail.com Our Host Dennis Tran is a social impact storyteller, DEIA speaker, and consultant committed to fostering a neuroinclusive and accessible world. As a queer, partially blind, late-identified autistic-ADHDer (AuDHD) Vietnamese American with C-PTSD and glaucoma, Dennis channels his lived experiences to support others navigating similar challenges. Holding a degree in Public Health Policy with a Business Management minor from UC Irvine, Dennis has successfully built a multi-faceted career across sectors, including digital media, technology, healthcare, entertainment, and philanthropy. Through storytelling, cultural and disability inclusion consultation, and accessibility advising, Dennis empowers neurodivergent and disabled individuals to live fulfilling lives. His advocacy work emphasizes the transformative power of representation and the importance of creating inclusive spaces where individuals don’t have to hide or “overcome” who they are. Dennis is passionate about uplifting the AANHPI community, addressing cultural stigma, and bridging intergenerational gaps. Dennis has spoken at UCSF, CSUF, Autodesk, Steelcase, and Heap, sharing insights on neurodiversity, anti-ableism, and DEIA best practices. He is one of the co-hosts and co-producers of the Innovating Inclusion podcast. His work is driven by the belief that disability and neurodiversity are not a limitation but a source of resilience and creativity. CONTACT DENNIS [https://www.foxgiving.org/our-team/fox-fellows/dennis-tran] www.innovatinginclusion.org

Paul Grossman & Jessie Weber - Recognizing The ADA at 35 Years and Unpacking 504

A special edition of the Innovating Inclusion podcast where Civil Rights Attorneys Jessie Weber and Paul Grossman unpack the ADA and Section 504, Title II, and tell us how it all relates to Roy Payan, Portia Mason, and the National Federation of the Blind in their case against the Los Angeles Community College District. BIOS For over 30 years, PAUL GROSSMAN served as the Chief Regional Attorney for the US Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR) in San Francisco. In Washington, D.C. and San Francisco, Paul has worked on every type of education discrimination matter under Title VI, Title IX, Section 504, and the ADA, including securing equal access and academic accommodations for students with disabilities in higher education. For nearly 20 years, Paul also had lead responsibility for internal disability law training for OCR and continues to provide training services for OCR. For over 20 years, Paul was an Adjunct Professor of Disability Law at Hasting College of Law, University of California, one of many law schools that use the textbook he publishes with Distinguished Professor, Ruth Colker. Paul is a much sought-after keynote speaker at education and law conferences, including the University of California, Berkeley School of Law; Harvard Graduate School of Education; the Association for Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) and its regional chapters; the National Association of ADA Coordinators (NAADAC); and Children and Adults with AD/HD (CHADD). Paul also provides consulting services to institutions of higher education (Grossman and Vance, Beyond the ADA). For five years, Paul was also a member of the Board of Directors for AHEAD and remains a member of the Public Policy Committees of CHADD and AHEAD as well as a faculty member for NAADAC. Paul is an individual with several disabilities including dyslexia and diabetes. JESSIE WEBER enjoys helping clients navigate a diverse range of difficult legal issues, with a focus on civil rights, including disability and LGBTQ rights, employment law, including wage and hour cases, and appellate litigation. Jessie’s successes include obtaining a $1.25 million settlement for a class of Baltimore City school bus drivers and attendants wrongly denied their full pay, securing an injunction requiring the Maryland Board of Elections to make absentee voting accessible to voters with print disabilities, and winning an arbitration award of more than $250,000 on behalf of an African-American former Hooters server who was fired from her job because of Hooters’ racially discriminatory image policy. Jessie is an experienced appellate litigator. She has argued before the Fourth, Sixth, Ninth, and D.C. Circuit Courts of Appeals and has also submitted briefs in the United States Supreme Court, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, and in state appellate courts in Maryland and Washington State. She is known for her groundbreaking work obtaining equal access for individuals with disabilities to voting, websites, and government information and services. Jessie is well versed in both complex litigation and negotiations and enjoys using a range of tools to obtain justice for her clients. www.innovatinginclusion.org