The Independent Life

In this episode, we sit down with a true champion of health equity, Monica Simmonds, the Director of Health Equity Program Implementation for Walmart. But before we dive into the incredible work Walmart is doing, we rewind to a chance encounter that set the stage for a transformative partnership. Tony and Monica, who share a unique journey that began during Tony's first semester of his doctora...

Are you or someone you know in search of essential resources and services within your community to meet unique needs? If you're seeking affordable housing, medical assistance, transportation, social support, or ways to become more involved in your community, this episode is a must-listen! In this informative episode, we're delving into a remarkable solution for a pervasive challenge faced...

In this captivating episode, we're joined by an inspiring individual who is making waves in the world of community engagement and empowerment. Ashlyn Michael, our Community Health Worker at The Center For Independent Living of North Central Florida, sits down with us to share her remarkable journey and shed light on the invaluable work she's been doing to foster a sense of belonging and vi...

Join us for an inspiring episode as we sit down with Sean, whose life changed dramatically when he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in 2003. From facing initial misdiagnosis to navigating insurance denials, Sean's journey sheds light on the harsh realities individuals with disabilities endure. Discover how he embraced optimism and empowered himself with a positive mindset, leading to...

On this episode, Tony is joined by Founder and CEO of Abilities Workshop, Jeanetta Bryant. Abilities Workshop is dedicated to serving families and caregivers to those with special needs so that they can be their best. If you have a child that has been diagnosed with Autism or another Special Needs Diagnosis, Abilities Workshop is here to help. They offer a variety of programs and workshops to help...

In this thought-provoking episode, we are joined by Sarah Catalanotto, as we delve into the remarkable work of Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) in the state of Florida. Join us as we explore the extensive programming AHEC offers to promote health and facilitate the learning of pre-health professionals, including medical doctors, nurses, occupational therapists, physician assistants, and physic...

In this thought-provoking podcast episode, join hosts Tony Delisle and Vanessa Spero as they delve into the multifaceted world of disability. In their engaging webinar, they unravel the intricacies of disability - exploring the definition, synonyms, and positive language associated with the term "disability." Tony and Vanessa go beyond mere definitions to discuss the concept of independe...

Join us on a thought-provoking journey as we delve into the world of community psychology and the significance of mobilizing and engaging the disability community. In this captivating podcast, we sit down with Dr. Mark Salzer, a renowned licensed clinical community psychologist and professor in the College of Public Health at Temple University. Dr. Salzer shares his personal experiences and insigh...

In our last episode, we had on Jonathan Pruden, Wounded Warrior Project’s® Special Advisor to the Chief of Staff for Warrior Care, who shared his journey of disability and finding purpose in supporting veterans with service-connected disabilities. As an Army veteran, Jonathan's firsthand experience as an IED casualty in Iraq led him to advocate for fellow warriors. He testifies before Congress...

Join us on this episode as we dive into the inspiring story of Jonathan Pruden, Wounded Warrior Project’s® Special Advisor to the Chief of Staff for Warrior Care. This is the first of two parts where Jonathan shares his journey into disability and how he found his purpose in helping other veterans with service-connected disabilities. Jonathan Pruden is an Army veteran and the Special Advisor to th...

Welcome to this episode of our podcast, where we continue to pull the thread on community with Dr. Laura Guyer. As we emerge from the isolation brought by the COVID pandemic, we believe that reconnecting, re-engaging, and reuniting our community and the community of people with disabilities is more important than ever. Tony and Dr. Guyer met at the University of Florida and have worked together on...

In this episode, we continue our conversation about the Florida AgrAbility project and talk about how important this program is to our farmers in Florida and to our community. If you haven't had a chance to listen to our previous episode on AgrAbility with Lindsey Head and Serap Gorucu, we highly encourage you to take a listen and learn about the Who, What, and Why of Florida AgrAbility. In th...

The National AgrAbility Project is a federally-funded program that aims to help farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural workers with disabilities to continue working and living independently. The project is a collaboration between the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and various universities across the country. The primary goal of the National AgrAbility Project is to provide assis...

Advocating for the rights of people with disabilities is an essential step towards creating a more inclusive, equitable society. People with disabilities are often subjected to discrimination, lack adequate access to resources and services, and are underrepresented in the public sphere. Disability advocacy seeks to address these issues by amplifying their voices and advocating for improved policy...

Self-Direction. Participant-Direction. Consumer-Direction. Regardless of what it is called in your state, these phrases represent a long term-care option for Medicaid eligible individuals and their families that puts them in control. If you or a loved one is an individual with disabilities, chronically ill, or simply aging, self-directed home care is your alternative for supporting you in performi...

On this powerful episode, we are joined by husband and wife, Dr. Michelle Medeiros and Dr. Henry Medeiros. They join us on the podcast to share their journey as parents raising a child with disability, specifically through the educational system. Michelle and Henry vulnerably share their experience with learning how to navigate an educational system that does more to exclude and alienate a child w...

Cheryl Russell shares her journey in discovering her own disability and her experience of being a parent with a disability. She is an IPE Advocate (Individualized Education Plan) for parents with students who have a disability in the school system. She helps parents and guardians with students with disabilities prepare for for the IEP Program, helping to set the expectations for what to do before,...

Nancy Hardt is known for her dedicated commitment, demonstrated leadership, innovative approaches and proven impact on improving access to primary care health services and positive health outcomes of Florida’s at-risk populations. Her innovative approaches for positively impacting health outcomes in Florida include: data to action -- providing data in a format that is both engaging and focused thr...

 This is a critical conversation and a center of gravity for why people should listen to this is that even though we may be over the pandemic, the pandemic is not over us. There are thousands of people who are dying every week due to COVID. We are currently entering into what is predicted to be a disruptive winter with COVID and other strands of viruses circulating around large holiday gather...

On this episode, we present a panel discussion about disability identity. At a state conference .. Tony had the opportunity to moderate this panel discussion based on the topic of disability identity. This discussion is both critical and foundational to who we are as people; disability helps to really form our perspective of who we are and our place in the world, which drives our thoughts, words,...

And we are back! Tony kicks off Season 3 of The Independent Life by sharing his reflection and gratitude from when we first launched the podcast on Thanksgiving Day.. 2 years ago. Also sharing what you can expect from Season 3 - we’re going take a more intentional look at the independent life and how its impacting people with disabilities in various areas, especially with social situations and sup...

Today we wrap up Season 2 of The Independent Life Podcast and what a season it has been! On today’s episode, Tony emphasizes the message on unity and the shared human condition that we call disability. He reiterates the thread we’ve pulled on throughout the podcast, of this idea that we can always work towards becoming better versions of ourselves; collectively, we’re on a quest to create and fulf...

On our final dojo for the season, Tony wraps up his reflections on the remaining dojo episodes, N-Z, as he continues to share his takeaways on the threads we’ve pulled within these dojos. Let's always remain mindful as we continue traveling the road of becoming the best version of ourselves possible. Key Takeaways: 00:00:46 Need 00:04:54 Opportunity 00:07:29 Purpose, Passion, and Philosophy ...