The Disability Dish : The UML Perspective

Thank you to this year's storytellers. As a heads up, there was a minor audio glitch from minute 27-29

Disability Dish Podcast live recording with special guests: paralympic multi-medalist Mackenzie Coan, blind scientist/professor/world traveler Mona Minkara, and autistic professor/comedian/musician Noah Britton to hear their inspiring stories and participate in an engaging Q&A with our hosts and audience!

Stories of Disability A huge amount of gratitude to the bravery and vulnerability shared by our storytellers: Justin Lawler,'09, Director of Campus Recreation Beth Lowell, Assistant Director, Career Services Phoenix Lewis, Sophomore, Psychology Major Fahad Alden, Senior '25, Digital Media & English Brian Dervin, Admissions Counselor Kai Sweetland-stultz, Freshman, Physics

Jodi and Lauren chat with DS Specialist Evelyn O'Connor and Peer Coaches Fahad Alden and Kalib Laughran to learn a bit more about them personally and the work they do here. We also chat a bit about what we're proud of from this semester as well as how we will care for ourselves over the break.

Jodi and Lauren had a vibrant conversation with David Driscoll (Director of the Testing Centers), Julia Bruce (Senior Biomedical Engineering major), and Kalib Laughran (Senior Business Administration major) about how they recovered their academic careers after rough starts. We loved hearing about the resiliance, overcoming shame, and positive circumstances they have found. If you want a refreshing...

We learned a LOT in episode 16 about athletes, sports, and disability. Lauren and Jodi were joined by nursing student Catherine Faherty who participates on the US National Women's Sled Hockey Team, Cailin Currie (Merrimack College MA in Higher Education student) who is a two time Paralympian swimmer, and Dr. Jeff Gerson, professor of sports and politics. Some links to topics discussed are as follo...

The latest episode is all about the Veteran's Disability Experience. Jodi and Lauren were joined by 3 Veterans - Marc Fountain '17 Psychology (US Airforce and US Army / US Army Reserve), Peter MacDonald Student in the Business Analytics MS program (U.S. Marine Corps), Levinia St. Jean student in the Leadership in Education PhD program (U.S. Air Force & part-time guardsman), Dr. Janine Wert UML...

Jodi and Lauren talk about disability identity, community, and diagnosis at different life stages with Sue Kim, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies; Ann Ciaraldi, Associate Dean of Student Affairs; Kelley Lawson, Assistant Director of Student Success & Communications, Honors College, and Courtney Morin, Biomedical Engineering Senior.

At long last, Episode 13! Jodi and Lauren talk about putting oneself out there in a new environment and being vulnerable with Hannah Monbleau, Assistant Director of Student Life and Well-Being; and Sayf Al-Aziz Rashid, Freshman in Chemical Engineering.

Episode 12: Jodi and Lauren talked with Dr. Diana Walker-Moyer, Nurse Practitioner and recently retired Director of the UML Health Services; Dr. Stephen Lam Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering at UML; Amanda Holthaus, Nurse and UML graduate student in the Zuckerberg School of Public Health; and Matt Daneau, UML senior in Plastics Engineering about whether society is in a distraction epidem...

Episode 11: Jodi and new co-host Lauren participated in in UMAS Lowell’s annual Social Justice week by recording episode 11 with a live audience. We explored themes from the past year with past guests Ainsley Skinner - sophomore Biology student, Erin Keene-Crouse - Senior Director of Orientation & Enrollment Events, and Marshall Greenleaf - Director of Student & Family Support Services. Th...

In this episode Jodi and Janelle speak to Vanessa Weisbrod - Director of the Boston Children's Hospital Celiac Disease Program, Ainsley Skinner - Biology student, Kyra Barry - Nursing student, and Nicholas Trunfio - Business Administration student, about how the holidays can have a further impact on a person who identifies as having a disability.

In this episode Jodi and Janelle speak with English professor - Dr. Keith Mitchell, Assistant Director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs - Maria McDuffie Clark, Liberal Arts major - Anshel Isles, and Business major - Binnette Kihiu, about disability intersectionality and it's importance.

In this episode, Jodi and Janelle speak to Beth Loell, Assistant Director of Career Services and Beth Brassel, Librarian at the Pollard Memorial Library about navigating the workforce as a person who identifies as a person with a disability.

In this episode Jodi and Janelle speak with, Professor Katherine Fox from the department of Psychology and Brian Richard an undergraduate student majoring in Biology, on the topic of Positive Contributions of Disabilities Integrated in the Community.

In this episode, Jodi and Janelle discuss the field of Disability Services with none other than the UML Disability Services Team which includes: Brandon Drake - Associate Director & Manager of Assistive Technology, Lauren Tornatore - Assistant Director, and Aida Phillips - Administrative Assistant.

In this episode Jodi and Janelle speak to Dr. Bridget Marshall a professor in the English Department and Disability Minor, Noah Madsen an undergrad majoring in English, and Patrick Burns an undergrad majoring in Business Administration, on the subject of identifying as a person with a disability.

In this episode Jodi and Janelle speak with Marshall Greenleaf - Director of Student & Family Support Services, Erin Keene-Crouse - Senior Director of Orientation & Enrollment Events, and Sunita Singh Poma - Graduate Student in Biomedical Engineering, on the topic of life transitions, how transitions impact our day to day lives, and can have a further impact for people who identify as havi...

In this episode, Dr. Ashleigh Hillier - Psychology Professor & Co-Director - Center for Autism Research & Education , Michael Kennedy - Assistant Director of Student Activities & Leadership, and Gihan Semine - Graduate Student in Business Administration, discuss social connections and how the disability community is impacted with Jodi and Janelle.

In this second episode, our guest speakers, Holly Lalos - Director of the Rist Difference Maker Institute and Vanessa Thomas - President of eNable discuss "what makes a change agent in disability culture" with Jodi and Janelle.

Inaugural episode where two very brave first guests Amy Liss - Director of Multicultural Affairs and Lauren Giammasi - Undergraduate in Biology, to talk with Janelle and Jodi on the topics of disability and how it is portrayed in the media and our societal understanding around invisible/hidden disabilities.