The Hidden Workforce

We are continuing our series of interviews highlighting some of our Oklahoma State Legislators and the work, advocacy, policy collaboration, and/or learning they are doing for Oklahomans with disabilities. This week, we welcome Senator Julia Kirt! Senator Kirt represents Oklahoma State Senate District 30. She is a fierce advocate for people who live with disabilities, inclusive/special education,...

This week, we are kicking off a series of interviews highlighting some of our Oklahoma State Legislators and the work, advocacy, policy collaboration, and/or learning they are doing for Oklahomans with disabilities. First up, we welcome Representative Melissa Provenzano! Rep. Provenzano represents Oklahoma State House District 79. She is a fierce advocate for education, women’s preventative health...

We have an inclusive, historic, story-telling filled show for you this week on Episode 201 of The Hidden Workforce! Welcome Dennis Delemar, Founder and Director of the Greenwood Film Festival! Dennis shares with us the journey of starting the Greenwood Film Festival, the power of inclusive and representative storytelling, and how they are opening doors for new filmmakers to direct and produce film...

We are celebrating a very special 200th episode on this week’s show of The Hidden Workforce! Host, Lisa and Co-Host, Maggie come together to share their excitement for this milestone in our show’s history and to celebrate, have chosen some special episodes that continue to have a substantial impact with our listeners as well as sharing important messages of inclusion! We’ll feature excerpts from t...

Like we have shared before- Spelling to Communicate (S2C) has taken the world by storm! We’ve heard from a guest who is a speller, a mother’s perspective on how life-changing S2C has been for her son and their family, and NOW we have the woman who started it ALL on this week’s Episode 199 of The Hidden Workforce! Welcome Speech-Language Pathologist, Executive Director of I-ASC and Founder of Spell...

We have a show that will make you laugh, hopefully not cry (unless it’s tears from being moved by an amazing story!), but it will definitely empower you on Episode 198 of The Hidden Workforce!  Welcome Indie Film Producer, Comedian, and Actress- Sydney Alison! Sydney is famous for her “Sit Down” comedy sets and she currently works with Kirkpatrick Kinslow Productions on projects of all types from...

We have an enabling, innovative, and empowering show for you on Episode 197 of The Hidden Workforce! Welcome Miranda Hutchison to The Hidden Workforce! Miranda is the Programs Administrator of Innovation and Training for a program offered through DDS (Developmental Disability Services)- Oklahoma Enabling Technology! Oklahoma Able Tech’s website describes their programs’ mission as, “to improve the...

We have an incredibly resourceful show for you on Episode 196 of The Hidden Workforce! Welcome Sibling Support Coordinator, Samantha Basave and Bilingual Family Support Coordinator, Michelle Rico from Sooner Success! In this episode, we learn all about the programs, services, and supports Sooner Success provides for people who live with disabilities and their families all throughout the state of O...

We have an advocacy driven show for you on Episode 195 of The Hidden Workforce! Welcome multi-faceted leader, state-wide disability advocate, powerhouse mom, and Assistant Director of the University of Oklahoma Center for Learning and Leadership, Wanda Felty! In this episode, we learn all about Wanda’s moving and personal journey into advocacy, navigating being a mom through adoption and having a...

We have a show full of inclusive summer fun for you on Episode 194 of The Hidden Workforce! Welcome Brenda Brandt, the Camp Director of Camp Barnabas to the show! Brenda chats with us about her journey through Camp Barnabas- from her brother attending as a camper, her volunteering as a high schooler- then college student- then Camp Barnabas evolving into her career up to this point! We also learn...

We have a resourceful and Oklahoma state-wide impactful show for you on Episode 193 of The Hidden Workforce! Welcome Jen Randle, the Executive Director of The Developmental Disability Council of Oklahoma! The DD Council states on their website that, “the mission of the Developmental Disabilities Council of Oklahoma is to advance communities where everyone has the opportunity to live, learn, work,...

We have a special workforce themed show for you on Episode 192 of The Hidden Workforce! Join our Host, Lisa Toth along with Jael Leon and Laurie Winiecke! This week, Lisa is taking us through Jael and Laurie’s journeys to employment! Both ladies have secured jobs in fields they love and it’s thanks to their hard work, Lisa’s hard work, and the willingness of each employer to give them a chance to...

We have a deeply inSIGHTful episode for you to HEAR on this weekend’s show in episode 191 of The Hidden Workforce! Welcome Cassandra Oakes, Founder and President of the nonprofit SHEP (Sight Hearing Encouragement Program). Also welcome her VP, Alethea Grigsby who is translating the interview, as well as one of Cassandra’s interpreters who empowers and assists her to communicate with us. Join us as...

Spelling to Communicate (S2C) has taken the world by storm! We’ve heard from a guest who is a speller, now we are hearing from a mother’s perspective on how life-changing S2C has been for her son and their family as a whole in Episode 190 of The Hidden Workforce! Welcome Lori Rogers, mom to speller- Craig Rogers to our show! We’ll hear from Lori on how S2C has changed Craig’s life and opened his w...

This week we have a show full of connection in episode 189 of The Hidden Workforce! Last month- Rise Staffing, The Hidden Workforce, and Open Ears Open Opportunities, Inc. hosted our first, but certainly not last Spectrum Speed Dating event! Welcome Adam Wulf and Dr. Swarna Singhal as they share with us about the event! The energy and excitement fueled the evening with meaningful connections and c...

This week, we have a roaring good show for episode 188 of The Hidden Workforce! We are featuring members from The Lions Club! In particular, their OKC West Side Chapter! Welcome Little White Dove, Richard Schiver, Johnny Bennett, Kathy Whaley, and Oliver Anyabolu to the show! Each of these members share the amazing work their chapter as well as all Lions Clubs are doing in our communities and worl...

This week, we are featuring a crucial resource on Episode 187 of The Hidden Workforce! Welcome Monica Maple, Attorney and founder of Maple Law! Monica shares with us her journey of becoming an attorney, what led her to this specialty, and the crucial importance of planning what happens to your children/loved ones and assets when you’re gone- especially if you have a loved one who lives with a disa...

This week we’re featuring a wonderful family sharing their experience with 2 different organizations that have impacted them on Episode 186 of The Hidden Workforce! Welcome Torie and Margaret Dinsmore to The Hidden Workforce! Torie shares about the Tulsa Cerebral Palsy Association and how they have supported her as well as her experience at Camp Barnabas! Torie’s mom, Margaret joins us to share th...

This week we have a show full of wisdom, leadership, and going above and beyond in your purpose in Episode 185 of The Hidden Workforce! This week, we welcome Sean Kouplen President and CEO of Regent Bank! Sean shares with us the miraculous journey of buying, growing, and building Regent Bank into the incredible institution it is today. His journey shares wisdom on leadership, faith, how to navigat...

This week we have an impactful show for you on episode 184 of The Hidden Workforce. Welcome Dixy Green, the President of The Brain Injury Association of Oklahoma! Dixy shares with us her personal connection to this world as well as the heart and mission of BIAOK- resources, support groups, preventative education, and more. Their website states that, “The Brain Injury Association of Oklahoma is Okl...

We have an important and resourceful show for you on episode 183 of The Hidden Workforce! Welcome Olivia Hook the Director of Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s Mobility Management Program! Everyone needs transportation. Getting from one place to another is what drives growth, independence, and connecting with social groups and building community! Oklahoma Mobility Management helps connect yo...

We want you to HEAR the incredible work of our guests on this week’s Episode 182 of The Hidden Workforce! Welcome Dr. Nikki Pain and Audiology Assistant Kara Westhoff from Hearts for Hearing to the Hidden Workforce! Hearts for Hearing is a nonprofit organization that helps people in their hearing loss journey throughout their lifespan. They especially emphasize early intervention with children who...

We have an amazing, inspiring show for you this week on Episode 181 of The Hidden Workforce! Welcome Jeanette O’Hara, the founder and Executive Director of Will’s House in Tulsa. Jeanette says she started Will’s House in honor of her son, Will, “I founded Will’s House in honor of my son, Will, who passed away in 2017. Will’s life and medical challenges made us stronger as a family and showed us ho...

We have a show full of respite, resource, and hope on Episode 180 of The Hidden Workforce! Welcome our special guest, Amy Bonham! Amy is the founder and Executive Director of the nonprofit, “A Special Purpose!” A Special Purpose’s mission is to “encourage, inspire, and resource families caring for children with special needs.” Their core programming educates and equips churches, businesses and any...

We have an “I Can Too Spirit” show for Episode 179 of The Hidden Workforce! We’re excited to welcome Sarah and Amy Weyrich the founders of Sam the I Can Man Foundation! Sarah and Amy talk about the life of Sam, his legacy, and how his life inspired the development of their nonprofit foundation, Sam The I Can Man Foundation. Sam lived with Aicardi–Goutières Syndrome (AGS) and despite what doctors s...