Adventures in Accessibility

Ep. 82 - Annie Heathcote

Transcript: rmad.ac/AIAe081 [https://rmad.ac/AIAe081] This week's podcast guest is Annie Heathcote. Annie is a multi-business owner, social media influencer, author, Christian and lifelong disability advocate whose life and work embody the belief that disability does not mean inability. Diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy at just 13 months old, Annie has spent her life breaking barriers, championing accessibility, and inspiring others with her message of resilience and faith. She was crowned Miss Wheelchair Wisconsin in 2023. Using her platform, Caring is Caregiving to reach more than 100,000 people through schools, conferences, organizations, and media appearances across the state. Her advocacy took her to the Miss Wheelchair America national competition where she placed in the top five, earning second runner up and the best speech award. She has since been recognized as a woman of the year for Dane County for her leadership and community impact beyond advocacy. Annie is the founder of Annie Designs and Annie Speaks LLC, where she works as a freelance web and graphic designer and transformational speaker. She also brings creativity and joy into her everyday life through travel, art, music, and her past achievements as an elite athlete in the adaptive sport of power soccer. Annie's mission is simple but powerful. Love, serve God and others, work hard and never give up.  Connect with Annie:  Annie Speaks | Disability. Dignity. Destiny. [https://annie-speaks.com/] Annie's Portfolio – Intentional. Impactful. Invigorating. [https://annieheathcotedesigns.com/] Annie Speaks | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/anniehspeaks/] Annie Heathcote I Disability Advocate & Speaker (@annieheathcote) • Instagram photos and videos [https://www.instagram.com/annieheathcote/] Connect with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at RockyMountainADA.org [https://rockymountainada.org/] or find us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or anywhere else you get your podcasts!

Ep. 81 - Jordan Burk

Transcript: rmad.ac/AIAe081 [https://rmad.ac/AIAe081] This week's podcast guest is Jordan Burk. Jordan is the author of the Kelly And Kelso Children's book series and the creator of Kelly and Friends, an animated series currently in development that's set to be the first US cartoon with a lead character who has Down syndrome. Inspired by his late Uncle Kelly, Jordan writes stories that celebrate kindness, friendship, and the value of every child. Known to students as, That Koala Guy, thanks to Professor Kelso, his six-foot plush sidekick, Jordan brings laughter and life lessons to schools, libraries, and stages across the country. He's been recognized nationally for his work, but at the heart of it all, his mission is simple to remind us that being different is something to celebrate Connect with Jordan:  Discover Kelly & Kelso Series - Inspiring Stories of Special Needs Advocacy by Jordan Burk [https://www.kellyandkelso.com/about-the-author] Kelly and Kelso | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/kellyandkelso] Kelly & Kelso ™ (@kellyandkelso) • Instagram photos and videos [https://www.instagram.com/kellyandkelso] Connect with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at RockyMountainADA.org [https://rockymountainada.org/] or find us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or anywhere else you get your podcasts!

Ep. 80 - Cindy Bentley

Transcript: rmad.ac/AIAe080 [https://rmad.ac/AIAe080] This episode's podcast guest is Cindy Bentley. For the last 25 years, Cindy has been Wisconsin's foremost voice for inclusion and civil rights for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In 1999, Cindy helped found People First Wisconsin, a statewide disability advocacy organization with a mission to provide opportunities for people with disabilities in Wisconsin to speak up and be heard about healthcare, voting, employment, housing, and transportation issues. Cindy began her work at People First Wisconsin as an advocacy specialist, but was promoted to executive director and is the only person with an intellectual disability leading an advocacy organization in Wisconsin. Cindy recently received an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in recognition of her many years of advocacy. Cindy serves on several boards, including the Governor's Committee for People with Disabilities, Life Navigators Board, and the Milwaukee County Combined Community Services Board. The Wisconsin Historical Society published a biography, which Cindy co-authored called Cindy Bentley: Spirit of a Champion. Choose the Pond, a short film about Cindy's life was recently shown at the 2025 Wisconsin Film Festival. Cindy is a highly decorated Special Olympics athlete and global messenger. She's currently training for the Special Olympic National Games in 2026 where she will play volleyball for Team Wisconsin. Connect with People First Wisconsin:  People First Wisconsin [https://www.peoplefirstwisconsin.org/] People First Wisconsin | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/peoplefirstwisconsin/] Connect with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at RockyMountainADA.org [https://rockymountainada.org/] or find us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or anywhere else you get your podcasts!

Ep. 79 - Murray Siple

Transcript: rmad.ac/AIAe079 [https://rmad.ac/AIAe079] This episode's podcast guest is Murray Siple. Murray is a multimedia artist, filmmaker, and adapted surfer from Salt Spring Island, British Columbia. Trained at Emily Carr University of Art + Design, he began his career capturing the raw energy of Canadian snowboard and skateboard culture. He directed the acclaimed documentary Carts of Darkness. After his spinal cord injury left him quadriplegic, Siple turned to painting, sculpture, and murals, exploring resilience, adaptation, and the poetry in broken things. Recently, adaptive surfing has become central to his life and work, offering a new form of movement, freedom, and expression. His upcoming feature documentary follows this journey, capturing the intersection of art, sport, and human determination. Siple's work is unflinching, electric, and demands that viewers look again and keep looking until they see what's truly there. Connect with Murray:  Murray Siple / WALLETMOTH STUDIOS [https://www.walletmoth.com/]https://www.walletmoth.com/ Murray Siple (@murraysiple) • Instagram photos and videos [https://www.instagram.com/murraysiple/] Walletmoth (@walletmothstudios) • Instagram photos and videos [https://www.instagram.com/walletmothstudios/] Connect with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at RockyMountainADA.org [https://rockymountainada.org/] or find us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or anywhere else you get your podcasts!

Ep. 78 - The Holderness Family

Transcript: rmad.ac/AIAe078 [https://rmad.ac/AIAe078] This episode's podcast guests are Kim and Penn Holderness. They are award-winning content creators known for their original music song parodies, comedy sketches, and weekly podcasts. Their videos have resulted in over 3 billion views and over 9 million followers since they first went viral in 2013. Kim and Penn are authors of the New York Times bestselling book, ADHD is Awesome: A Guide to (Mostly) Thriving with ADHD and their new children's book, All You Can Be with ADHD, is coming out this October. Penn and Kim also host an award-winning weekly podcast called Laugh Lines every Tuesday, and they were winners of The Amazing Race Season 33 on CBS. Kim and Penn Live in Raleigh, North Carolina with their two kids and their dog, Sunny Connect with the Holderness Family:  ADHD is Awesome: A Guide To (Mostly) Thriving With ADHD: Holderness, Penn, Holderness, Kim, Edward Hallowell: 9781400338610: Amazon.com: Books [https://www.amazon.com/ADHD-Awesome-Guide-Mostly-Thriving/dp/1400338611] All You Can Be With ADHD - The Holderness Family [https://theholdernessfamily.com/all-you-can-be-with-adhd/] Home - The Holderness Family [https://theholdernessfamily.com/] The Holderness Family (@theholdernessfamily) • Instagram photos and videos [https://www.instagram.com/theholdernessfamily/] Connect with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at RockyMountainADA.org [https://rockymountainada.org/] or find us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or anywhere else you get your podcasts!