The mission of MOPD’s podcast, All Access, is to share stories, build community, raise awareness and increase meaningful employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
All Access
The Chicago Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities launched All Access to share stories, build community, raise awareness and increase meaningful employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Join co-hosts Deputy Commissioner Christina McGleam and Program Director Lauren Hooberman as they connect with guests about a range of topics from disability inclusion in employment to disability rights and the 33rd anniversary of the ADA.
Episodes
Tuesday Sep 12, 2023
Tuesday Sep 12, 2023
In honor of National Service Dog Month, cohost Christina McGleam and MOPD colleague Carly Englander share their experiences with their service dogs Jade and Hiden. What should people know about getting a service animal? Why do service dog owners also get trained along with their dogs? And how do the service dogs know when it’s time to stop working?
Later, Lauren and Christina talk to Rolando Zavala about how service animals support veterans like him. Rolando worked with K9s for Veterans to train his rescue dog Blue to serve as a neurological service dog, and he shares how service animal access is opening up important conversations about mental health needs in the veteran community.
Watch this episode with ASL interpretation and captions on YouTube.
Friday Jul 28, 2023
Friday Jul 28, 2023
Wednesday, July 26th marked the 33rd anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This civil rights movement included a collaboration of thousands of people working together to increase access for people with disabilities. This episode will highlight aspects of Mike Ervin’s journey as part of ADAPT, which led and organized protests to make CTA buses accessible. Other voices of the disability community share the impacts the law has made in their life, as well as the work still yet to be done.
Monday May 08, 2023
Monday May 08, 2023
It is common for people with disabilities to also be a part of a different marginalized community. This episode explores the challenges faced by MOPD Career Center job seeker, Ulysses Williams, as well as the work that Willette Benford, Chicago’s first Director of Re-entry, is doing to break down barriers for returning residents.
Learn more about Director Benford
Link to YouTube:
(ASL Interpreted and Captioned version here)
https://youtu.be/8UTQfzCq4LE
Monday May 08, 2023
Monday May 08, 2023
This episode provides background on the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities’ podcast project, MOPD’s Commissioner Rachel Arfa’s story, and the launch of MOPD's Career Center.
Learn more about Commissioner Rachel Arfa
Link to YouTube:
(ASL Interpreted and Captioned version here)
https://youtu.be/nKcvcS3lU-Y