The Enabled Disabled Podcast By Gustavo Serafini

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In this episode, we are talking to Daniel DeFabio, who co-founded the Disorder Channel, the Rare Disease Film Festival, and also works as a community manager for Global Genes. Daniel and I discuss his background in designing games, creating media, and how the birth of his son Lucas, who was born with a rare disease called Menkes Disease, helped him and his wife figure out what really matters in their lives. 

Daniel's empathy, creativity, and openness shine in this episode. It's another terrific example of how the difficulties we experience around disability or disease is a both/and experience, filled with joy, difficulties, and moments that help you understand what gives life meaning and value. 

You can learn more about Daniel here:

https://globalgenes.org/2022/04/22/tell-your-story-daniel-defabiorare-dad-filmmaker-advocate/

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Millions Lost The Unrealized Potential of Entrepreneurship and Disability

We often read that people with a disability are especially good at solving problems, have a surplus of resilience, and utilize soft skills–like empathy–to better adapt to the world. If solving problems, resilience, and soft skills–like empathy–are common and requisite traits for entrepreneurs, why are so few people with a disability entrepreneurs, or working with entrepreneurs? What biases and narratives still exist that continue leaving people with a disability out of these opportunities? And what can we do to shift these narratives so that more companies recognize the latent and untapped potential in the disability community to start businesses or help businesses thrive? Entrepreneurs with a disability share their stories, as a way to shed light on the millions of people who are facing unnecessary roadblocks that often prevent them from realizing their true entrepreneurial potential and contributing their genius to the world.

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The Nuance of Disability: “Because of,” NOT “In Spite Of”

A film director and producer, along with a writer, share their stories as creatives who embraced their disability and made a conscious choice to flourish because of it, not in spite of it. As a result, their work is now reclaiming the narrative around disability and portraying it not as a burden, but instead, simply as another essential consideration within which to work, much like a budget or a guideline. When reframed like this, disability changes from an afterthought or a legal requirement to a welcome and helpful element that, along with others, guides the ingenuity, design, beauty, and usefulness of the end result because it tells a better story from all angles.

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How Diversity Actualizes Potential: The Omnium Circus Approach

Most conversations about human resources in organizations revolve around diversity, equity, and inclusion. Yet those three topics usually focus primarily on race and LGBTQ rights, and disability is often neglected in the dialog.

This program will explore the major benefits that organizations, audiences, and communities reap when diversity–including disability–is embraced at every level. Join Gustavo Serafini, host of the Enabled Disabled Podcast, in conversation with Lisa B. Lewis, Executive Director and Founder of Omnium Circus, as they explore the unique and beautiful case of this world-class, non-profit organization and how it is changing the narrative around disability, diversity, and the many ways to actualize more human potential.

Discover how Omnium Circus designed an entire hiring philosophy and practice to create a jaw-dropping audience experience by employing gifted circus performers from different countries and cultures embracing a multi-racial, multi-abled, LGBTQ inclusive approach.

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Universal Design: How "Inclusive Architecture" Benefits Businesses & People

Michael Kimmelman, the architecture critic of The New York Times, wrote that the planning and designing of public and commercial spaces for accessibility and diversity shouldn’t be seen as a requirement, but instead, as an opportunity, both economic and creative. And he also emphasized that such a vision required a shift in mindset: Universal Design (UD).

With one in four American adults living with a disability, it’s hard to believe that only a handful of organizations and institutions have truly embraced the benefits of Universal Design, but for some reason, it is still largely misunderstood and rarely applied.

Did you know that universally designed spaces don't cost significantly more, are just as aesthetically pleasing, and lead to healthier, more inclusive, and productive environments for more people?

This program will change forever–and for the better–the way you look at commercial buildings, public spaces, and bathrooms. 

Join Gustavo Serafini, host of the Enabled Disabled Podcast, and his guests, Jonathan White, Director of Design Consulting at the IDEA Center in SUNY Buffalo, and Julie Sawchuk, Accessibility Consultant, in a dynamic dialog about the big and small benefits that businesses–and the people in them–derive from UD. 

In this conversation you will discover:

The main goals businesses usually have when designing their commercial spaces

How YOUR experience changes, and what you can expect, as a user of universally designed public or commercial spaces

What your future house, office building, school, library, government agencies, and shopping centers will look like when they are universally designed

And so much more!