Off The Crutch Podcast

Did you know that individuals on SSI (Social Security Income) can only have up to $2,000 dollars in their checking account or their medical benefits may be taken away? On the first episode of 2022, my guest, Heather Benavidez shares what the ABLE program is and how that can help individuals with disabilities become more financially independent. Heather Benavidez has been a proud public servant for...

Happy Christmas Eve Eve everyone! Today my podcast just got a little merrier! I had the pleasure of interviewing Karen Roy I first connected with Karen a couple of years ago on LinkedIn and during my first Abilities Expo in Phoenix, I got to meet her in person! What makes Karen unique is how she has handled adversity since the spinal cord injury she sustained in 1987, as the result of a gunshot wo...

In today's episode, I re-visit the wonderful organization of Best Buddies. My guests are Tessah Latson, State Director for Best Buddies in New Mexico, and Martha Mondragon, Program Manager for Community Engagement. For those of you who didn't check out my podcast episode last year with Whitney Michielssen, Best Buddies is a non-profit organization that serves students and young adults wi...

After several months of being away working and enjoying the summer, the podcast is back. Check out this episode to hear what I've been up to. Then, listen to my interview with Billy Price, owner of Billy Footwear. As a teenager and Seattle native, Billy suffered a spinal cord injury and became paralyzed from the chest down, losing the ability to move his fingers. Daily tasks became difficult,...

Thankful to everyone who checked out my birthday episode. I have some exciting news to share with you all about my new job! No interview this week. Take a listen. Send us Fan Mail TEDx Talk ,  Disrupt HR Talk

Today is my birthday! And I am so excited to share my interview with Stacey Sumereau. I've only known Stacey for less than a year but her story has ties with my journey living with cerebral palsy. Without giving much away in the description, this hits home for me for so many reasons, especially on my birthday. Here's a little background about Stacey: Stacey Sumereau’s unique journey span...

Last week was a great conversation with Janie McCloughan. I decided to continue the conversation of SLP with my friend, Monica Harms. Monica Jordan has been involved in the disability community since she was young, which propelled her in the direction of speech-language pathology. She graduated with her Masters of Communication Disorders at New Mexico State University and has extensive experience...

Hope everyone had a Hoppy Easter! We are finally in April and this month is my favorite for a number of reasons.  This week is about Speech-Language Pathology. My guest is Janie McCloughan who is a graduate student at Saint Xavier University in Chicago.  Janie shared the journey she has gone through picking the major and navigating its ups and downs. I got tons of information about SLP and I hope...

This is the last week of Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month and with that, my guest is Chelsea Bear. Chelsea Bear is a South Florida-based disability and inclusivity influencer and advocate. Chelsea utilizes her social media platforms to share her first-hand story of living with cerebral palsy. Her content consists of educational, fun, and lighthearted posts that strive to create acceptance and awaren...

Week 4 of Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month and on this episode, I have comedian Andy Imlay.  Andy Imlay was born several weeks early in Owensboro, Kentucky. Having a disability doesn’t get him down and gives him a unique perspective in life, and that translates into comedy gold.  He has performed throughout the US, including appearances at top clubs, such as The Comedy Caravan in Louisville and the...

Week 3 of Cerebral Palsy Awareness Week and today, I have Tylia Flores.  Tylia Flores, who lives in Florida, is a 25-year-old born with cerebral palsy. Although her condition has affected her mobility, it has never affected her will and determination to make a difference in the world. Tylia is the podcast host of Stomping On Cerebral Palsy, talk show host for Asheville FM, and a writer for Disabil...

Week two in Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month is here. This month also belongs to those with developmental disabilities. Because of that, my guest is Kayla Scheer, whom I met during my time in TEDx. In 2012, Kayla Scheer married her high school sweetheart and earned her BA in Secondary Education and Spanish with a concentration in Bilingual Education from UNM. Then, in 2014, she earned her MA in Orga...

March is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month which means for the month of March I will be having guests in the CP community, providing resources, and answering any questions you may have. This week I provide 10 facts about cerebral palsy. Please send me an e-mail with any questions at offthecrutch@gmail.com Follow me on Facebook and Instagram at @offthecrutchpod Send us Fan Mail TEDx Talk ,  Disrupt HR...

Everyone has a right to employment. Nobody should be excluded, especially those with disabilities. Human Resources is vitally important in making sure this happens. Today's guest is Kimberlee Oliver. Kimberlee is a Human Resources Administrator for Disability Rights California and has been in the HR field for 4+ years. As an HR representative for DRC, she works with employees to assure they a...

Living with a disability has its ups and downs. Regardless if you are born with one or acquire it, adversity is always part of your life. My guest today is Jesi Stracham and she lives with no excuses.  Jesi Stracham is a trauma survivor on a mission to help individuals see the opportunity in their obstacles. She is the founder of Wheel With Me Foundation, the owner of Wheel With Me Consulting, and...

I think I can confidently say that one of the most difficult parts of having a disability is dating. Today's guest, Kristin Beale has created a brand new show, Date Me that explores this very idea. Kristin is a writer from Virginia. Our conversation highlighted how her journey to acquiring a disability helped shape who she is today. Date Me premieres today on YouTube. Date Me Show https://you...

This week brings me back to my time in California! My guest is a disability advocate, Keely Kat-Wells. Keely is the owner of C Talent in Hollywood, CA. Keely was recently featured in Forbes for her amazing story and how C Talent represents actors and writers with disabilities.  Keely has been named a top 20 Change-maker and has also hosted many panels highlighting Diversity and Inclusion for The P...

Flying has certainly looked different since the pandemic. Add a wheelchair and things get even more complicated. Today my guest is John Morris. He runs a website called www.wheelchairtravel.org. It is an accessible travel blog with tons of information for people with disabilities looking to fly and find accessible lodging.  John is a disability advocate, speaker, writer, and all around great guy!...

Short and sweet this week! I had my first experience with Botox last month and I want to tell you all about it. No interview--just me. Enjoy! Follow me on Twitter, IG, and FB @offthecrutchpod Send us Fan Mail TEDx Talk ,  Disrupt HR Talk

Today's topic is all about mental health during COVID. The majority of the world is struggling right now, especially the disabled community. I'm grateful to have an expert in this field to discuss ways we can cope. My guest is Ann Monson-Slagle.   Ann studied Psychology and Spanish at Azusa Pacific University and received her Masters in Counseling Psychology from the University of Saint...

Happy New Year, everyone! After a two-week holiday break, I wanted to start off 2021 with a bang. What better way than to have a prominent state figure and servant leader in my hometown.  Brian Colón is the New Mexico State Auditor and he came on to discuss his background in politics, relationship to the disability community, and what his office is doing to help New Mexicans with disabilities for...

Did you know the beginning of December is Crohn's & Colitis Awareness Week? Crohn's Disease is a disability that does not get as much emphasis because it is an invisible disability. This week I have another APU alumnus, Kaylin Morford. At seven years old, Kaylin Morford was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. She has now lived this disease for the past 18 years seeing countless hospital...

After a week-long break, I'm back! Happy December! This past Thursday was International Day for Persons with Disabilities. I discuss an "interesting" conversation I had on social media and then interview Kristen Manifold about self-advocacy. Kristen lives in Columbus, Ohio, and is a graduate of The Ohio State University. Like me, she has cerebral palsy and is a disability advocate i...

Legos and Churches...what? Today I have John Kraemer who builds churches out of Legos! Continuing my series of Catholicism for the month, John is a Catholic out of Saginaw, Michigan, and has been building his annual "Lego Church Project" for over twenty years. With a focus on disability awareness. John and I share the same disability, cerebral palsy and it was such a joy to chat with him...

Did you know that religious institutions are completely exempt from Title III of the ADA? In this week's episode, I talk with Ken Griesemer. Ken is a liturgical design consultant and has a passion for making all religious entities accessible for individuals with disabilities. What a cool job he has! Enjoy! Ken Griesemer has worked as a liturgical designer and consultant around the country sin...