True Tales by Disability Advocates – Details, episodes & analysis

This episode is dedicated to MsBoye and those that we have lost from "Actual Lives." After a tribute to MsBoye from Jennifer McKinney, Adam and Celia discuss Maggie Jochild's "Crip Ward Tango" and do a reenactment of it with music. Celia also reads Maggie Jochild's "Elvis Lives" piece. Celia and Adam talk about their memories of MsBoye and Mike Burns, and Celia reads Mike Burns' "Mop Boy." We end with John Beer's tribute to MsBoye.

Click here to listen with the full transcript

For more details about our programs go to Art Spark Texas, True Tales Podcast Page.

Welcome to the return of the "True Tales By Disability Advocates" podcast! In Episode 24, hosts MsBoye, Jennifer McKinney, and Adam Griebel hear multiple stories from Tanya Winters about "Maurice," the arm of her friend Susie Angel that has its own personality. This episode was recorded in September of 2024, and it will be the last episode hosted by Ms Boye due to her unfortunate passing. In Ms Boye's final episode she, Jennifer, and Adam discuss with Tanya about remembering our friends who have passed, learning to love your own body, and how important dance can be in expressing your disability.

Links

Art Spark Dance

DanceAbility International

Click here to listen with the full transcript

For more details about our programs go to Art Spark Texas, True Tales Podcast Page.

"Awkward Moments" is being launched in March 2023, featuring two female storytellers with international stories in recognition of International Women's Day. For the first time, we feature a member of our multi-talented working group as storyteller and host. Host Kamand Alaghehband opens the episode with "London Calling", by storyteller Jennifer McKinney, about an awkward moment with her cane when riding the tube during her first trip to London, that in retrospect, reveals her ability to be independent. 
Jennifer becomes the host for our second story “Matu Bird” by storyteller Alisha Momen. Alisha shares her ongoing battle with her beloved African Grey Parrot “Matu.” Alisha’s favorite religious and cultural events include her favorite Indian dishes. Since Matu loves the same dishes, Alisha has to figure out a way to avoid the awkward moment of Matu stealing her food at these family celebrations. Can she and Matu find a way to coexist peacefully, that honors them both?
Did you know March 19th is Awkward Moments Day. Awkward Moments Day is our chance to embrace those embarrassing or awkward moments from our past and learn from them, and hopefully laugh about them too. 

The great thing about us humans is that we are all a beautiful tapestry of individuality and commonality. The great thing about awkward moments is that they are a bridge between our individual and shared experiences, they connect us, everyone has them, and they are part of being human. Awkward moments can be embarrassing but when we recognize everyone has them we can turn them into playful stories that build connections. We hope this episode highlights the gifts and resilience an awkward moment can offer us all.
Storyteller and Host Jennifer McKinney was born legally blind. She has always enjoyed reading and writing. Some of her work has been published in Soupstone Literary Anthology. Despite the challenge of being visually impaired, Jennifer graduated from American Broadcasting School. She went on to work for KOOP 91.7 FM, a community radio station in Austin. An active member of her community for the past nineteen years, Jennifer joined Art Spark Texas in the Spring of 2014. She was introduced to OMOD by a friend. In her spare time, Jennifer loves traveling abroad and singing along with the radio poorly.
Storyteller Alisha Momin is from a Muslim, Ismaili Hindi family living in Houston, Tx. She is a writer, artist, musician, singer, and dancer. She studies theatre arts at The River inclusive arts program.
Host Kamand Alaghehband - My name is Kamand Alaghehband. I was born in Austin Texas and I have autism. In 2020 the CDC reported approximately 1 in 54 children in the U.S. diagnosed with autism ratio is more than all cancer patients combined. But what about us? what happens to our future? What kind of jobs and lifestyle is available to support us? I am me, I am Kamand. I  love Special Olympics. My favorite sports are swimming, basketball, and Track. I am a member of the executive committee of Special Olympics athletes leadership in Texas. I created podcasts and videos of various health activities during the pandemic to keep the athletes' minds occupied in a healthy way.  My mission with my population is to bring peace for today and create a vision for tomorrow.  I feel grateful for what I have. I choose to be thankful. I choose to be happy. 

For more details about our programs go to Art Spark Texas, True Tales Podcast Page.

In this episode, we highlight storytellers who are practitioners of this “Magical Advocacy.” The tools these practitioners use are, being clear about what you are asking for, knowing why you’re asking and connecting with people by using personal stories to put a human face on the issue.  In her story “Wand Quest”, Jessica Guerrero invokes her advocacy skills to manifest a long held dream. Our second story “First Impressions” by Nissi Salazar shows the strength of her magical power to break down barriers comes from her passion for adventure, her commitment to Universal Love and her faith.

“Wand Quest” - Jessica Guerrero, has lived independently in Austin for around 10 years and has been with the Speaking Advocates program from its very first class. She told us, “I have a mild case of  cerebral palsy but my wheelchair has opened the door to cosplay, martial arts, travelling, adaptive sports and so many other adventures.” She also really enjoys helping out in the community. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimotion159/. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessica.guerrero.1441

Host: Brittany Sessum is a Houston native and Army veteran that loves making connections with others. She has a passion to serve her family, the community, and her country by giving back in any capacity. She believes that her passions and actions live beyond herself. Brittany loves writing poetry, reading, traveling, and working as an entrepreneur.

 “First Impressions” - Nissi Salazar: Nissi Salazar has lived her life in a wheelchair. Nevertheless cerebral palsy and the confinement of her chair cannot keep her from living! Her sassy and adventurous spirit gives her the drive to go beyond what is the norm for someone with her limitations. In fact, Nissi has made a career in proving that with a little help you can achieve anything. 

She comes from a loud and loving family. One of four children to two hard-working Colombian immigrants. She’s lived in the front porch of the Texas Hill country most of her life. Both of her parents are big dreamers and have encouraged their children to dream big as well! https://www.nissisalazar.com/, Buy Nissi’s book A Paradox Of Victory, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nissis1/

Host Kamand Alaghehband: Kamand Alaghehband was born in Austin, TX and has autism. In 2020,  The CDC reported approximately 1 in 54 children in the U.S. diagnosed with autism. This ratio is more than all cancer patients combined. Kamand has spent her life supporting all generations with disabilities. Kamand loves the Special Olympics and her favorite sports are swimming, basketball, and track. Kamand is a member of the executive committee of Special Olympics Athletes Leadership in Texas.She has created podcasts, Tik Tok videos, video games, and a variety of health activities during the pandemic to keep the athlete’s mind occupied in a healthy way. Kamand’s mission within her population is to bring peace today and create a vision for tomorrow’s disable population. Kamand hopes that she’ll be able to teach others to turn denial into acceptance. Watch Kamand’s Special Olympics  healthy lifestyle videos on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mespecial8588

 Click this link to listen to our previous episodes.

For more details about our programs go to Art Spark Texas, True Tales Podcast Page.

Note: This episode is slightly longer than usual to honor the natural speech patterns of our guests.

Welcome to the Mid-Winter Episode of True Tales by Disability Advocates, season two. Winter is the time of stillness and darkness when nature encourages us to look within and access what’s ready to grow in the coming year. In this episode, “Practice Peace not Pity”, hosts Toby Al-Tarabulsi and Kristen Gooch talk to storytellers Kaye Love and Darla Murphy about the practices they use to find peace in their lives. We invite you to join them and take time to look within and discover new ways to find peace for yourself in the coming year.

Part 1 “Pity Fatigue”

Host Toby Al-Trabulsi and guest Kaye Love discuss her journey in life and the strategies she developed to protect herself from the toxic impact of ableism in her story “Pity Fatigue.”

Bio Kaye Love - Kaye has over eight years of experience working with individuals with developmental and learning disabilities, including Intellectual Disability and Autism Spectrum Disorder, in Special Education and Vocational Rehabilitation. She has experience providing spiritually sensitive counseling to clients who identify with diverse belief systems, including Buddhism, Christianity, Ethical Humanism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and Wicca.
Click this link to listen to “Community Faith and Inclusion”
ID:  Caucasian woman with light brown hair smiling. She is wearing a stole and a blue shirt and dark-rimmed glasses.

Website: kayelove.com
LinkedIn: J. Kaye Love, MSSW/MBA, LPC,
Counseling on Thrive: Thriveworks Counseling - Janet Kaye Love 
Acting: http://tiltperformance.org/

Bio Toby Al-Trabulsi - Toby Al-Trabulsi is an actor, writer and creative access advocate for performers with disabilities based out of Austin, TX. Toby is a member of TILT Performance Group and ScriptWorks and is currently pursuing podcasting through the podcasting working group for Art Spark Texas, True Tales by Disability Advocates podcast. He is eager to see where this journey takes him. 
ID:  Toby Al-Trabulsi, a white male with brown hair. Toby is seated and holding a plate of food. He is wearing a red shirt with text “ZOO YORK”.
Follow Toby on Twitter or Instagram
Twitter: @Tobias_Zane
Instagram: @Tobias_Zane
text “ZOO YORK”.

 Part 2 “Peace Fountain”
After Darla Murphy presents her story, “Peace Fountain,” host Kristen Gooch learns more about Darla’s love of creative writing, storytelling, and the other things that bring her peace.

 Bio Kristen Gooch - Kristen Gooch is an Actress, Poet and Advocate from Austin, Tx with Cerebral Palsy and uses a wheelchair for mobility.  She hopes to broaden her horizons and branch out into film and television someday.  She currently facilitates a peer support group called Adapting Shero's for women with mobility disabilities through Imagineart.  She is a company member of TILT Performance Group and Paradox Player.
ID: A caucasian young woman with shoulder-length auburn hair and pink lipstick smiling. She wears a pink short-sleeved dress with gray triangles, a black zig-zag pattern, a black beaded necklace, and hoop earrings. The background is light brown and yellow.

Musical Credits

For more details about our programs go to Art Spark Texas, True Tales Podcast Page.

Hosts Brittany Sessum and Kaye Love introduce storytellers Gene Rodgers and Cade Insall, who share stories about the ways they have used Kindness and Connections to transform their lives.

As we enter the holiday season, listening to “Kindness and Connections” brings you the courage you need to find hope and peace in your life, no matter the circumstances right now.

Guest - Gene Rodgers

As a wheelchair user, Gene Rodgers traveled in 44 countries, on 6 continents. Rodgers sailed on many types of ships on several oceans. He has enjoyed diverse recreational activities including skydiving, snow skiing, sailing, scuba diving, paragliding, and trekking in the Himalayas on an expedition to Mt. Everest Base Camp.
Rodgers worked in several states and earned a merit award for computer programming. Working full-time, and later as an entrepreneur provided funding for his adventures.
Rodgers earned several college degrees and a Switzer Fellowship. He did all this after becoming almost totally paralyzed at age 17, in a hiking accident.
Rodgers learned to thrive on all sorts of adventures. Put him in a country ten thousand miles from home, where he doesn’t know the language or culture, and he’ll feel quite comfortable. 

 My Memoir - AwesomeByAccidentBook.com
My web page - https://genosplace.org
My TV/Web Show -  https://thegeneanddaveshow.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/gene.rodgers.982/

Guest- Cade Insall:
Cade Insall is a Texan that loves to be around family and friends. Cade loves animation and making 3D modeling projects through Blender. Cade likes interacting with others and learning new things in his expression through art.

Host
Brittany Sessum is a Houston native and Army veteran who loves connecting with others. She has a passion to serve her family, the community, and her country by giving back in any capacity. She believes that her passions and actions live beyond herself. Brittany loves writing poetry, reading, traveling, and working as an entrepreneur.

Host:
 Kaye is passionate about assisting individuals to explore and enhance their sense of meaning and purpose in life in a way that is sensitive to and respectful of their religious or non-religious understanding. She understands the challenges of developing an appreciation of a personal skill set that is unique, positive self-esteem, and creative work-arounds for functional limitations, as well as the difficulties involved in navigating education, employment, healthcare, and community organizations designed for those with typicality. Kaye has over eight years of experience working with individuals with developmental and learning disabilities, including Intellectual Disability and Autism Spectrum Disorder, in Special Education and Vocational Rehabilitation. She is experienced with providing spiritually sensitive counseling to clients who identify with diverse belief systems “Faith and Inclusion”
Website: kayelove.com
LinkedIn: J. Kaye Love, MSSW/MBA, LPC, - Austin, Texas, United States | Professional Profile | LinkedIn
Schedule Counseling onThrive:Thriveworks Counseling -  Janet Kaye Love

For more details about our programs go to Art Spark Texas, True Tales Podcast Page.

Host Kristen Gooch, and storyteller PiPa McCollister, talk honestly about life in a world not designed for folks with CP, Dyslexia, or ADHD. After PiPa presents her story, “The Gift of Not Paying Attention,” host Kristen learns more about PiPa’s lived experience with ADHD. They discuss the impact of ADHD in adulthood, struggles finding a job, getting accommodations and PiPa's experience as a mother of a child with ADHD and Dyslexia and the strategies they use to celebrate their lives as a neurodivergent family. 

Host Bio: Kristen Gooch is an Actress, Poet and Advocate from Austin, Tx with Cerebral Palsy and uses a wheelchair for mobility.  She hopes to broaden her horizons and branch out into film and television some day.  She currently facilitates a peer support group called Adapting Sheros for women with mobility disabilities.  She is a company member of TILT performance group and Paradox Players.

Guest Bio:   PiPa McCollister first came to Art Spark of Texas in 2015. She and her daughter have lived in many areas of the state including East Texas, Austin, and most recently, North Texas. She was born and raised in Cleburne, Texas. PiPa graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies in 2012. She has worked in Special Education for children and adults for over 8 years. She continues to advocate for dyslexic students, children with autism, homeschool rights, and individuals with learning disabilities. PiPa now resides in Cleburne, Texas with her fiance, daughter, and three pets.

Contact Information: Facebook: www.facebook.com/pipa.mccollister
TikTok: tiktok.com/pipamac48

Resources
https://www.additudemag.com/webinar/adhd-awareness-month-2021-hallowell-solden-podcast-375/
https://www.additudemag.com/webinar/empowering-women-adhd/
https://www.additudemag.com/webinar/adhd-in-girls-women-risks-stigma/
https://adhdgirlsandwomen.org/

https://dyslexiaida.org/

For more details about our programs go to Art Spark Texas, True Tales Podcast Page.

We end the first season of True Tales by Disability Advocates with "Positively Shining Bright".
 The stories in this episode highlight the power of choosing a positive mindset. Host Brittany Sessum introduces us to storytellers, Carlos Orellana, and Anne Marie Buckle. In their stories, "Listen to My World" and "Advocate Me," they share how in their own ways they practice having a positive mindset and how remembering to be grateful can help when they have a difficult day or have uncomfortable feelings.

They remind us that focusing on positivity doesn't mean we won't have problems, but it will determine how we dance with them when they show up in our lives.

When Brittany chats with Carlos and Anne Marie about their stories, their conversations offer us a sweet, sensitive insight into their lives living with Cerebral Palsy and Autism respectively. We titled this episode "Positively Shinning Bright" because [chuckles] that was our experience of both Carlos and Anne Marie during our recording sessions.

We chose to launch this episode during August in the spirit of "Happiness Happens Month." I mean, we all wanna be happy, right? But happiness is an emotion and all emotions are fleeting, that is that they come and they go, they're not fixed, that's the nature of them. Every day we experience a range of feelings and emotions, no matter what's going on in our lives.  We can learn to practice choosing a positive outlook and focusing on the good in every situation, no matter what we are feeling.

 Guest Anne Marie Buckle

Meet Anne Marie (Rie) Buckle. She is a vibrant young adult working every day to overcome autism, IDD and PANS. For Rie, adulthood brings new adventures like getting jobs in various sectors, exploring her passions, and becoming more independent. These things don’t just happen overnight, however. With the ongoing support of her family, therapists, and mentors, Anne Marie has been able to accomplish many of

She was crowned Texas Miss Amazing 2017.

You can find her store at https://www.facebook.com/RiesMarketplace/

And on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/riesmarketplace

 Guest Carlos Orellana

A guy that’s passionate about writing, U.S. History, Theater, and wrestling. Carlos is also a kid at heart even if he’s 28 years old, that enjoys to laugh as well. He is extremely proud to be from Guatemala and loves his family too. He makes his friends happy and laughs when they have a hard day in their life. But, the most important thing to know about Carlos is that he has Cerebral Palsy. Even if his life is hard with Cerebral Palsy, it’s also a happy one too.

You can follow Carlos on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/carlosrafael.orellana.7

Photo ID: Carlos is an Hispanic male with black short and spiky hair wearing glasses. Carlos is smiling in the picture with an eagle pendant necklace, black long-sleeved shirt, and white sweats. Carlos is sitting in a black wheelchair with a grayish-blue door behind him. 

Host Brittany Sessum

Brittany Sessum is a Houston native and Army veteran that loves making connections with others. She has a passion to serve her family, the community, and her country by giving back in any capacity. She believes that her passions and actions live beyond herself. Brittany loves writing poetry, reading, traveling, and working as an entrepreneur.

For more information about the Speaking Advocates Program, trainings and sign up for our newsletter go to Speaking Advocates - Art Spark Texas (artsparktx.org).

For more details about our programs go to Art Spark Texas, True Tales Podcast Page.

For Disability Pride Month, Kaye Love chats to Tanya Winters and Kamand Alaghehband about their stories “Pediacrisis” and “Kamand’s View: No More Prejudice”. Stories about how they navigate the predictable and unexpected barriers they meet daily. We hope your day is enriched by listening to “Independence”. Full transcript available.
World Health Organization on Disability

Guest: Tanya Winters - A Chicago native, Tanya fell in love with Austin after a weekend trip. She loves creating and enjoys pushing the boundaries of arts and disability! Tanya's career as an artist began in theatre in 2005 and shifted to dance in 2007 thanks to a wooden chair and the desire to tell her story. As a student of Austin Community College, she gained an extensive background in improvisation and choreography. She has learned from some of the dance world’s top artists like Alito Alessi Nina Martin, Heidi Latsky, Sandra Paola Lopez, and Stephan Koplowitz.  Tanya started making work of her own and became a certified DanceAbility instructor in 2011. Currently, she is a member of the Body Shift Collective, where she loves dancing, teaching, creating and collaborating with other dancers with and without disabilities. Tanya is the co-choreographer of Together and Apart an ongoing duet that explores the relationship between movement, environment, and the art of human interaction. She hopes that her work will motivate other dancers to think outside the box and erase the line between ability and disability.  Tanya also has a solid background in Social Work, grant reporting, and case management. She possesses excellent communication and organizational skills which help her deal with the complex regulations governing social services. Walk & Roll: https://youtu.be/1IQ6W2NybfA
Constable Pct. 5's Disabled Parking Awareness Video: https://youtu.be/LR0XoXb_w-g
Together & Apart: https://vimeo.com/183923919 And You See Me: https://youtu.be/RSB_WFRbEEI

 Guest: Kamand Alaghehband - My name is Kamand Alaghehband. I was born in Austin Texas, and I have autism. In 2020 the CDC reported approximately 1 in 54 children in U.S. diagnosed with autism is more than all cancer patients combined. But what about us? what happens to our future? What kind of jobs and lifestyle is available to support us. All my life I tried to support not only me but all generations with disabilities.  I am me, I am Kamand. I love Special Olympics. My favorite sports are swimming, basketball, and Track. I am a member of the executive committee of special Olympics athletes leadership in Texas. I created podcasts, TikTok, video games and a variety of health activities during a pandemic to keep the athlete's minds occupied in a healthy way.  Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to maintain some of those activities cause was costing me money.  My mission with my population is to bring peace for today and create a vision for tomorrow for disabled population.  I feel grateful for what I have. I choose to be thankful. I choose to be happy. Gratitude turns what I have into enough and more. My Instagram info is ka.special . My TikTok account is KAspecialglobal.

Host: Kaye Love - Kaye has over eight years of experience working with individuals with developmental and learning disabilities, including Intellectual Disability and Autism Spectrum Disorder, in Special Education and Vocational Rehabilitation. She has experience providing spiritually sensitive counseling to clients who identify with d

For more details about our programs go to Art Spark Texas, True Tales Podcast Page.

Full transcripts of all episodes available at https://truetalesbydisabilityadvocates.buzzsprout.com

In this episode, guests Laura Odom and Sheena Walter tell host John Beer about the “Awakenings” in their lives. Laura pushed through doubts brought on by years of narcolepsy to try her hand at a new adventure (“Finally Waking Up”), while Sheena flipped self-consciousness about her PICC line into a new and very public role of “Advocacy, Courage and Self-Compassion.” Both women took a stroke of boldness that ignited newfound lives of advocacy and pride in themselves! Listen in to learn about their victories. Toby Al-Trabulsi produces, Kristen Gooch and Ms. Boye mixing and editing, and Jennifer Howell and Joey Gidseg provide script and production.

HOST
No moss gathers on a rolling wheelchair, and throughout the state of Texas are sightings of John Beer and his travel trailer. With his wife's help, John spotlights the disability side of skydiving, fire evacuations and other topics for New Mobility magazine. You’ll also find him on MS Connections at TheMighty.com – and he's wheelie excited being on the team creating Art Spark Texas' new podcast, True Tales by Disability Advocates. John was a member of our first Virtual Speaking Advocates Training and is one of the storytellers in Episode 2, “Life on Wheels”. 

Keep up with John Beer on his blog: Wheelieoutthere.blogspot.com
Follow John on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wheelieoutthere/

GUEST
Laura Odom is a Tyler, Texas-based advocate primarily for disability and rural causes. She is also the office manager for a locally owned textbook publisher. When she isn’t working, she takes her Australian Shepherd/Border Collie-mix dog for car rides and loves to snuggle with her two black cats. She enjoys writing, playing guitar and cross-stitching. Laura was diagnosed with Narcolepsy Type 1 in January 2021 after pursuing a diagnosis for almost 20 years. She continues to raise awareness about Narcolepsy in hopes that more people won’t have to wait that long to receive treatment.

On social media, you can find her at: Instagram: @ordinarileigh
TikTok: ordinarileigh
Twitter: @lauradoestweet
Facebook: Laura Ashleigh Odom

GUEST
Sheena Walter is an artist at Imagine Art in Austin and also works for Art Spark Texas as a social media influencer. She wants to advocate for a change in how people with disabilities are viewed in our society and make sure we have not just a seat at the table, but a voice as well. Her sources of strength and inspiration are her faith, her friends, her family, her pets and walks in the outdoors. 

 Find Sheena and her art on Instagram @sheenawalter1 

For more details about our programs go to Art Spark Texas, True Tales Podcast Page.