You First is a bi-weekly interview-based podcast hosted by Keith Casebonne and Maddie Crowley. In each episode, we delve into issues of national and global importance to people with disabilities, such as accessibility, identity, discrimination, rights protections, voting, and much more. Please note that the opinions of our guests are not necessarily those of Disability Rights Florida.
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Encore Episode: By and For People with Disabilities - with Elizabeth Wright and Jennifer Price
43:56
Welcome back to You First, where we’re taking a small break from producing new episodes and instead are sharing some older episodes you might have missed. There’s a good chance you missed this episode, our last of four encore episodes, as it didn’t perform as well as most of our other ones. But we think the content is compelling and the guests are …
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Welcome to another encore episode of You First. We’re taking a little break from making new episodes and are re-sharing some past episodes that we feel are worth another listen. This is the third of four encore episodes, initially released in July of 2023, and it’s called "Paving a Way Disabled in STEM." We interviewed Dr. Anita Marshall to learn m…
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Encore Episode: The Intersection of Disability and Reproductive Justice - with Morénike Giwa Onaiwu, Rebecca Cokley, Keith Jones, and Heather Watkins
1:05:29
Today we have another encore episode of You First. This is the second of four encore episodes as we’re taking a bit of a break from producing new episodes. Now this episode, "The Intersection of Disability and Reproductive Justice," is by far our most popular episode – and by a significant margin! But in case you missed it back in August of 2022, c…
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We’re taking a break from producing new episodes of You First for a bit, so we’ll be re-releasing four older episodes that we feel are worth another listen. We’re starting things off with an episode that is from February 2021 called "Disability Media Representation." We spoke with Beth Haller and Jeff Preston, both of whom are university professors…
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In this episode of You First, hosts Maddie and Keith dive into disability voting rights and the upcoming 2024 election with experts Michelle Bishop, Monica Wiley, and Jack Rosen from the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN). The discussion explores voting accessibility, challenges faced by disabled voters, and new support resources in Florida.…
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In this episode of You First, hosts Keith and Maddie interview Matthew Cortland, a Senior Resident Fellow at Data for Progress. Matthew shares insights about their work in public opinion research and advocacy focused on disability issues and social policies. They discuss their personal journey, including challenges with the healthcare system, and e…
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In this episode of the You First Podcast, hosts Maddie and Keith talk with disabled activist and attorney Marissa Ditkowsky about the challenges and inequities faced by disabled women in healthcare, employment, and financial freedom. Marissa discusses her role as Disability Economic Justice Council at the National Partnership for Women and Families…
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In this episode of the You First Podcast, hosts Keith and Maddie interview Cara Reedy, founder and director of the Disabled Journalists Association. Cara shares her journey from political science and theater to journalism, spending ten years at CNN. She discusses the challenges of being disabled in the newsroom, toxic productivity, and the systemic…
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Content warning: mentions of suicide, assisted suicide, and medical violence against people with disabilities. In this compelling episode of the You First podcast, hosts Maddie and Keith continue their in-depth interview with Anita Cameron, a prominent activist in the disability rights movement. They explore Anita's role at Not Dead Yet, focusing o…
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The History of ADAPT, Atlantis Community, and Disability Disobedience - Part 1 with Anita Cameron
1:23:02
On this episode of You First, we talk with the fantastic disability rights activist Anita Cameron. Anita was, and still is, a core reason why we have disability rights today. They were an early adopter of disability rights and justice advocacy and heavily involved and a leader of the organization ADAPT (known throughout the years as American Disabl…
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In this unique episode of You First, hosts Maddie and Keith share a personal and insightful discussion about Long Covid and its effects on everyday life. Initially delayed due to Maddie's Long Covid flare-up, this episode takes a candid and casual approach to a serious topic, highlighting symptoms, the politicization of masking, and the ongoing pan…
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Disability & Artificial Intelligence - with Lawrence Weru, Ariana Aboulafia, and Jennifer Gray
1:29:14
Today's episode features disability and artificial intelligence (AI) experts Larry Weru, Ariana Aboulafia, and Jennifer Gray. AI has been around for years, but things changed when OpenAI released ChatGPT. Since then, the news around AI has increased a lot. AI is more than just a chatbot responder; it can be used in many different ways. We talk with…
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This podcast episode features Andrew Pulrang and Gregg Beratan, prominent figures in disability advocacy and social change. Their pioneering initiative, #CripTheVote, created alongside Alice Wong, has been important in raising awareness about the political power of disabled citizens and sparking meaningful conversations about disability, politics, …
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In this episode of You First, co-hosts Keith and Maddie speak with Indigenous activist and disability rights leader Vesper Moore about the Mad Movement, psychiatric survivorship, and envisioning a future of collective care. Vesper, deeply involved in mental health and disability rights activism, discusses their work in altering perceptions and legi…
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In today's episode, we are joined by two international disability advocates, Rosangela Berman Bieler and Patricia Almeida. During our conversation, we discuss the importance and impact of global disability policy and rights work, including their work with the UN and UNICEF. They also discuss how other countries compare to the US regarding disabilit…
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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 justi…
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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…
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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…
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Disability Inclusive Campaigning - with Neal Carter, Jess Moore Matthews, Sarah Blahovec, and Dom Kelly
1:31:49
In this episode of You First, hosts Keith and Maddie talk with guests Neal Carter, Jess Moore Matthews, Sarah Blahovec, and Dom Kelly about disability-inclusive campaigning, strategies to reach disabled voters, and the significance of accessible elections. Today's episode is not about any specific candidates or voting laws. Instead, we focus on the…
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Say the Word: Disability - with Lawrence Carter-Long, Damian Gregory, and Laura-Lee Minutello
1:29:52
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, a…
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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…
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In this episode, guests Ashley Shew and Mallory Kay Nelson discuss the concept of technoableism, the history of disability and technology, and the importance of involving disabled people when developing new technologies. They highlight the challenges surrounding the definition of disability, the impact of assistive technology on people with disabil…
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Willowbrook and the Future of Disability Rights - with Dr. William Bronston and Marlene Sallo
1:56:48
In this episode, co-hosts Maddie and Keith talk with Dr. William Bronston and Marlene Sallo about Willowbrook State School, its exposé, and its impact on the disability rights movement. The episode starts with our conversation with Dr. Bronston, a doctor who worked at Willowbrook and ultimately was vital in the lawsuit against New York State, ultim…
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You First podcast co-hosts Keith and Maddie are joined by disability activists and legal scholars AJ Link, Jalyn Radziminski, and Haley Moss, who identify as neurodiverse and disabled. They shared their personal stories and insights about their experiences with law school, advocacy, careers, and more. The guests discussed how their unique perspecti…
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In this episode of You First, we chat with our friend Beck DeTrempe who is doing some awesome peer led community building in Florida. They founded Basically Wonderful, which is a grassroots organization run by Queer + Disabled folks in Orlando, Florida, USA. Their mission reads: Our hope is to create peer-led spaces for marginalized communities whe…
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With one of their favorite holidays just around the corner, co-hosts Maddie and Keith delve into a serious discussion on using disability as a tool for instilling fear in others, all in the name of Halloween fun. From dressing up in offensive costumes to visiting eerie museums and reopened haunted institutions, the hosts explore how disability hist…
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On today's episode, we chat with the co-hosts of The Accessible Stall podcast, Emily Ladau and Kyle Khachadurian! These two disabled podcasting stars were some of the first podcasters with disabilities when they got their start in 2016. They are both strong advocates for disability, accessibility, and the power of story-telling. They join Keith and…
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As we head back to school in a few weeks, we wanted to highlight our new Transition Toolkit. Transition is a term to describe when youth are moving into a new phase of life. Think about big transitioning moments in your life growing up: going to middle school, trying to get a job, or being able to vote. The Transition Toolkit has timely, helpful in…
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Guest Dr. Anita Marshall joins hosts Keith and Maddie to talk about her work to make STEM more accessible for students with disabilities. As someone who acquired a disability later in life, she realized how ableist and inaccessible higher education really was. Anita created the first-ever disability-accessible planetary geoscience field course and …
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Who's Missing in Florida's New Youth Survey - with Dr. Norín Dollard, Nadine Smith, and Caitlyn Clibbon
41:27
A little over one year ago, Florida decided to stop participating in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) voluntary Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). Since 1991, Florida participated in the YRBS. It is widely given to youth across the United States to assess their well-being regarding to mental health, teen dating violence, bul…
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In honor of Pride Month, upcoming Disability Pride Month, and the opportunity to always highlight cool disabled people, let’s talk about Frida Kahlo. Many are aware of the legendary artist, Frida Kahlo: her famous artwork, impact on culture, and iconic appearance. But many people do not know that she was a bisexual disabled woman with physical disa…
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Guest Jen Deerinwater joins host Maddie Crowley to talk about the intersection of disability and Indigenous identities. Jen is a disabled Two Spirit Indigenous individual who is an award-winning journalist, organizer, and leader within the disability, Indigenous and environmental justice movements. During the conversation, they discuss paving the w…
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June 1st is the beginning of hurricane season. As Floridians know, it can be a mixed bag as to what storms we’re going to get. But hurricanes impact other states around the country, and it’s important to be prepared and safe. On the show today we’re talking with our coworker, Bryan Russell, who is the Emergency Management Coordinator at Disability …
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With our lives and world becoming more connected and reliant on the internet, what does that mean for people with disabilities? The internet can be a great way for disabled folks to connect, especially as access barriers and safety considerations keep our community apart. But, what if that online space wasn't accessible to the very folks that need …
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Welcome to Part 2 of a conversation with Heather Watkins and Dom Evans about marriage inequity, disabled relationships in the media, and disabled parenting! Please check out our show notes from part 1 for more background information and relevant links mentioned in the episode.由Disability Rights Florida
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In February, we created a blog post on disability marriage inequality. We knew people would be interested in the topic, but were taken aback by the immense engagement and shock felt by our audience. Because of that, we wanted to create a podcast episode talking with disabled folks about disability marriage inequality, parenting, and more. On the sh…
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On March 4th, 2023, the world was shaken by the passing of the legendary disability rights activist and leader Judith (Judy) Heumann. She is considered “The Mother of the Disability Rights Movement” and is frankly a badass. Judy was essential to disability rights advocacy and progress. It is because of her advocacy that our organization can do the …
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Medicaid Unwinding in Florida starts on April 1, 2023. With information coming from various Florida agencies and organizations, it can be hard to get clear information about what is happening with Medicaid eligibility. The Medicaid Unwinding process can feel overwhelming, but we hope our show today will provide you with important clarifying informa…
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In this episode of You First, we chat with Alan Herbert, a Kenyan journalist, social inclusion advocate, and behavior change communications professional. He brings on a wealth of experience in inclusive media practices, leadership, and advocacy. Alan currently serves as a prime-time TV host at Signs TV Kenya and is a founding member and Chief Execu…
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Our first episode of the new year focuses on our legislative priorities for 2023. Florida's legislative session starts in March, and Disability Rights Florida has been following the conversations around what bills and topics will be featured. Many of these issues can greatly impact the disability community in Florida. That's why we're here to give …
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Let's talk about Accessible In-Person Voting in the sixth and final episode of our new series, "Your Voice, Your Vote!" It’s almost Election Day - and you have the right to vote in person with accessible options. On this episode of "Your Voice, Your Vote!" we’re grateful to have Sarah Goldman, the Director of Administration and Youth Initiatives at…
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Let's talk about Running for Office with a Disability in the fifth episode of our new series, "Your Voice, Your Vote!" On today’s episode, we’re excited to have guests Sarah Blahovec, Olivia Babis, Karolyn Campbell, and Sabrina Cohen. These four individuals have run for office as folks with disabilities, advocated for inclusive campaigning strategi…
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Let's talk about Understanding the Disability Vote in the fourth episode of our new series, "Your Voice, Your Vote!" In this two-part episode, we talk about the disability community, their access to voting, what barriers are up against the disability community’s civic involvement, what trends we see in disabled voters, and what efforts are being ma…
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Let's talk about Voting and Intersectionality in the third episode of our new series, "Your Voice, Your Vote!" In this episode, we talk to Jazlyn Gallego from Vote Riders about intersectionality and how marginalized voters are impacted in the election process. Jazlyn is Voter Riders’ Florida State Outreach Director and Florida Voter ID Coalition Co…
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Let's talk about Accessible Vote by Mail in the second episode of our new series, "Your Voice, Your Vote!" In this episode, we talk with Doug Hall and Marsha Bukala, two Floridians with disabilities who have fought for and now utilize Accessible Vote by Mail. They discuss the history of accessible elections in Florida, how they advocated for access…
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Let’s talk about disability voting laws in the first episode of our new series: "Your Voice, Your Vote"! In today's episode, we talk with Michelle Bishop, the National Disability Rights Network’s Voter Access and Engagement Manager. She has extensive academic and embodied knowledge about laws protecting disabled voters, voting accessibility, barrie…
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As we approach the 2022 Elections, we want to focus in on all things disability and voting. The disability community makes up a fourth of the population, making it a very powerful voting block! Even though this is a huge voting group, there are many structural and interpersonal barriers set up against them. These issues disincentive disabled voters…
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The Intersection of Disability and Reproductive Justice - with Morénike Giwa Onaiwu, Rebecca Cokley, Keith Jones, and Heather Watkins
1:03:39
Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, we’ve seen huge repercussions for people’s safety, health, access to medical care, and more. And we know that the overruling impacts people differently, depending on who you are. If you have marginalized identities, you experience more barriers to health care and, therefore, more barriers to accessing abortion …
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Today on the podcast we have guest Neil Romano, a member and former chair of the National Council on Disabilities where he is serving his second three-year term. A former Communications Director at the White House, Neil was nominated by President George W. Bush to be Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy where he developed a…
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The sixth and final episode of our "Accessibility Outside the Box" series is about Research. We are excited to have Rua Mae Williams on the podcast to talk about accessible research. They are an academic researcher who studies how technology design, computing research practices, and Disability Justice interact. They touch on a variety of concepts l…
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