ADALive!

For more information, bios, resources, and transcripts visit adalive.org/episodes/episode-141/. Dr. Robin Powell, an assistant professor of law at Stetson University and a leading expert on the rights of parents with disabilities, discussed her extensive background in social work, law, and academia. She highlighted the discrimination faced by parents with disabilities, noting that 42 states and D.C. can terminate parental rights based on disability. Powell emphasized the importance of legal representation and resources like the National Research Center for Parents with Disabilities and the Disabled Parenting Project. She also discussed the impact of the Dobbs decision on reproductive rights and the need for expanded disability rights to include family and parenting.

For more information, bios, resources, and transcripts visit adalive.org/episodes/episode-140/. We all love to travel to learn new things, enjoy fun experiences, and make lasting memories. For many of us with disabilities, travel is not easy. We know that leaving home and going somewhere else has its own set of challenges. It can be difficult to visit a theme park or go to a baseball game, even one near our home. Our guest for this episode is Cory Lee, a wheelchair user and self-described “travel addict” who will share with us how and why accessible travel is possible and also fun! He shares his journey, starting with a trip to Walt Disney World at age four and his first international trip to the Bahamas at 15. In 2024, he traveled for 152 nights, working with destinations to promote accessibility. Corey emphasized the importance of early planning, often starting 6-12 months in advance. He highlighted the challenges of air travel and the need for positive attitudes. His website, Curb Free with Corey Lee, features 630 travel guides from 52 countries. He also co-authored a children's book, "Let's Explore with Core Core," to inspire accessible travel.

For more information, bios, resources, and transcripts visit adalive.org/episodes/episode-139/. How many of us dreamed of running away to join the circus when we were kids? For many of us, the circus was bigger than life. In this episode of ADA Live! we are going to the “big top” to learn how a circus can be made accessible for everyone, including people with disabilities. Our guest for this episode is Lisa Lewis, the founder and CEO of Omnium Circus, an inclusive and accessible circus created by and for the whole community, including people with disabilities.

For more information, bios, resources, and transcripts visit adalive.org/episodes/episode-138/. Barry Whaley and Lisa Tucker discuss how to plan and host the ADA National Symposium, emphasizing the importance of accessibility for people with disabilities. As the Events Manager at the Great Plains ADA Center, Lisa outlines her role in choosing locations, contract management, assisting with the registration from start to finish, and ensuring ADA accommodations for all participants. Barry and Lisa discuss the challenges of making conference presentations accessible and why it is important to ask the right questions during the registration process. Lisa explains why technology like video remote captioning and sign language interpreters are required for accessibility. She also shares resources for accessible event planning and encourages self-advocacy for participants with disabilities.

For more information, bios, resources, and transcripts visit adalive.org/episodes/episode-137/ This ADA Live episode features Barry Whaley and Troy Balthazor discussing the 2025 ADA National Symposium, which will celebrate the 35th anniversary of the ADA. The symposium, hosted by the Great Plains ADA Center, will be held in Atlanta, Georgia, from June 15-18, 2025. The event aims to provide comprehensive training on the ADA, attracting up to 1,200 attendees in person and a significant virtual audience. The symposium includes sessions on various ADA-related topics, a certification track for ADA coordinators, and special events to honor the ADA's 35th anniversary and the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act.