In this Quest Podcast episode, we chat with the founders of Dateability, a dating app geared towards individuals with disabilities and chronic illnesses. Alexa and Jacqueline Child have devoted their time to create a safe and accepting space that allows individuals to create meaningful connections. Their goal is to make love accessible for everyone. These ladies join us to share their experiences, expertise, and advice. Transcript Guests:  Alexa Child, co-founder of Dateability, graduated from Georgetown Law in 2015 and currently works as a public interest attorney. Through witnessing her sister’s experience with disability, Alexa has become an advocate and ally for the disability community. She is passionate about social justice, enjoys TV and film, and loves all things Halloween. Jacqueline Child, co-founder of Dateability, has turned her experience with disability and chronic illness into a new venture. She created Dateability with her sister after years of discouraging ableist experiences on the mainstream dating apps. When she isn’t managing her health, Jacqueline enjoys playing the guitar, reading, and spending time with her family and dogs. Connect with Dateability: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dateabilityapp/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dateability Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dateabilityapp Info Page: https://info.dateabilityapp.com/ iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dateability/id6443474660 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dateabilityapp&hl=en&gl=US Web App: https://www.dateabilityapp.com/login Host: Mindy Henderson is MDA’s Vice President of Disability Outreach & Empowerment, Editor-in-Chief of Quest Media, and the host of this podcast. She was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, type 2 when she was 15 months old and has been a life-long partner to MDA. Mindy is also a motivational speaker and a writer, and author of the book, The Truth About Things That Suck. Connect with Mindy: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hendersonmindy/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindyhendersonspeaks/

In this Quest Podcast episode, we chat with one of Muscular Dystrophy Association’s Ambassadors, Isaac Banks about finding fulfillment in our lives as we skyrocket into 2024. As a certified public speaker, author, and podcaster, he has devoted his career to providing equity and inclusion for others and finds personal fulfillment through his faith and mindfulness. He joins us to share his experiences, expertise, and advice. Transcript Guests: Isaac Banks has many obstacles that could stop him, but muscular dystrophy isn’t one of them. At age 8, Isaac was misdiagnosed as having Duchenne muscular dystrophy by a family doctor. When he was 21, doctors noticed Isaac’s diagnosis wasn’t progressing as expected. After contacting MDA, he was tested and the results revealed that he was actually living with limb girdle muscular dystrophy. Isaac has since found a successful career in corporate America. He is a talented public speaker and has designed a comprehensive Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion program, as well as a Servant Leadership for Management program. Over the years, Isaac participated in various programs provided by MDA, including Summer Camp and speaks about the profound ways that Summer camp set him up for success in life and molded him into the deeply fulfilled person he is today, spending as much time as he can giving back. Connect with Isaac: Facebook: IsaacDBanks LinkedIn: isaac-d-banks Apple Podcast: Man vs Wheelchair PodBean: Man vs Wheelchair Host: Mindy Henderson is the Senior Director & Editor-in-Chief of Quest Media, and the host of this podcast. She was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, type 2 when she was 15 months old and has been a life-long partner to MDA. Mindy is also a motivational speaker and a writer, and author of the book, The Truth About Things That Suck. Connect with Mindy: LinkedIn: hendersonmindy Instagram: mindyhendersonspeaks

In this Quest Podcast episode, we chat with Muscular Dystrophy Association’s National Ambassadors, Leah Z., and Amy Shinneman. Amy feels that connecting and sharing her story with others through MDA has been life changing. Leah is a dedicated advocate that feels it is important to advocate for yourself and stand up for those that are not able. These ladies join us to share their experiences, expertise, and advice. Transcript Guests: Amy lives with a type of muscular dystrophy called Bethlem myopathy. She has had symptoms since birth but did not receive a diagnosis until she was 44 years old - thanks to genetic testing. She is the mom of two boys who are in college and high school. She enjoys painting with acrylics and oils, cooking, baking, reading and exercising. She also enjoys training for marathons with her husband, Jamie, who pushes her in her duo bike. They have competed in multiple marathons together. Connect with Amy:  Facebook: amy.l.shinneman Instagram: @ashinneman Leah is 16 years old and was born with an ultra-rare form of neuromuscular disease. She is an accomplished actress, dancer, model and adaptive athlete. She has danced on the Lincoln Center stage, walked in New York Fashion Week...twice, and appeared in the Jennifer Lopez movie, Marry Me. Connect with Leah: Instagram: @leahj.zelaya Host: Mindy Henderson is the Senior Director & Editor-in-Chief of Quest Media, and the host of this podcast. She was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, type 2 when she was 15 months old and has been a life-long partner to MDA. Mindy is also a motivational speaker and a writer, and author of the book, The Truth About Things That Suck. Connect with Mindy: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hendersonmindy/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindyhendersonspeaks/

In this Quest Podcast episode, we chat with the Director of Marketing and Communications at Idealist.org, President for New York Women in Communications (NYWICI) and host of the NYWICI WomenHeard Changemakers podcast. Georgia Galanoudis had devoted her career to deliver advice, inspire action, and make us feel closer together while sharing stories of resilience and positivity. She joins us to share her experiences, expertise, and advice. Transcript Guest: Throughout her career Georgia Galanoudis has been exploring content’s ability to educate, inspire and build community. As the Director of Marketing and Communications at Idealist.org, Georgia and her team deliver the support and access needed to help individuals reach their full social-impact potential. She uncovers authentic and compelling stories that deliver advice, inspire action, and make us feel closer together. During her career, Georgia has managed marketing solution agencies within large publishers, such as Time Inc. She ran the strategy practice for a full-service digital agency and led new business efforts for best-in-breed content agencies. At the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), as Head of Media and then as Chief Experience Officer, Georgia helped ensure the HIMSS member community had access to the tools and connections necessary to realize the mission of reforming the global health ecosystem. As an experienced board director, Georgia currently serves as President for New York Women in Communications (NYWICI). She is the host of the NYWICI WomenHeard Changemakers podcast, where you can hear communications industry leaders share personal stories of resilience and positivity in the face of challenging transition. Connect with Georgia: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgiagalanoudis/                 https://www.linkedin.com/company/idealist.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Idealist X (formerly known as Twitter): https://twitter.com/idealist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/idealist_org/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@idealist_org Mindy Henderson is the Senior Director & Editor-in-Chief of Quest Media, and the host of this podcast. She was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, type 2 when she was 15 months old and has been a life-long partner to MDA. Mindy is also a motivational speaker and a writer, and author of the book, The Truth About Things That Suck. Connect with Mindy: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hendersonmindy/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindyhendersonspeaks/

In this Quest Podcast episode, we chat with a distinguished business leader from the St. Louis area, who lives with physical disabilities. Lori Becker, CEO of Starkloff Disability Institute, has devoted her career to promoting diversity and inclusion both in the workplace and in the community. She joins us to share her experiences, expertise, and advice in recognition of National Disability Employment Month.  If you would like to get involved in advocating for policy issues related to employment for individuals with disabilities, please go to https://www.mda.org/get-involved/advocacy for information about the MDA Grassroots Advocacy Team. Transcript Guest:  Lori Becker joined the Starkloff Disability Institute in 2013 as Director of Development and Communications.  With her influence, the Institute has grown by leaps and bounds. Lori was named to the 2020 class of Diverse Business Leaders by the St. Louis Business Journal.  One of 20 leaders selected from a pool of more than 90 nominees, she was featured in a September issue of the Business Journal where she was recognized for her efforts to promote diversity and inclusion both in the workplace and in the community. The Board of Directors named LoriCEO in 2023.  Like many Starkloff employees, Lori has a disability.She is legally blind due to a genetic disorder called Stargardt’s Disease.  Connect with Lori:  https://www.facebook.com/StarkloffDisabilityInstitute/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel https://twitter.com/SDI_Disability https://www.instagram.com/starkloffdisability/ https://starkloff.org/ Mindy Henderson is the Senior Director & Editor-in-Chief of Quest Media, and the host of this podcast.  She was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, type 2 when she was 15 months old and has been a life-long partner to MDA.  Mindy is also a motivational speaker and a writer, and author of the book, The Truth About Things That Suck. Connect with Mindy:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hendersonmindy/      Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindyhendersonspeaks/

In this Quest Podcast episode, we chat with a renowned journalist, model and disability rights activist, who lives with physical disabilities. Madison Lawson, who has been featured in publications including Vogue, Glamour, Teen Vogue, Allure and brands like Sephora, PrettyLittle Thing, and Olay, joins us to share her experiences, expertise, and advice when it comes to navigating life. Transcript Guests: Madison Lawson is a journalist, model and disability rights activist. Her written works have been featured in publications including Vogue, Glamour, Teen Vogue, Allure and more. Lawson’s advocacy work has gotten her featured in campaigns with brands like Sephora, PrettyLittle Thing, and Olay. Her greatest inspiration is the work and legacy of her late friend and the mother of the disability rights movement Judy Heumann who laid the groundwork for disabled people around the world to be better integrated into society. Heumann’s work included organizing and carrying out the longest non-violent occupation of a federal building to get legislation like 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act passed, igniting the disability pride movement that has empowered generations of disabled people around the world. Lawson hopes to give representation to her younger self who never saw people who looked like her shown in a positive light in media, and to be one of the many voices pushing the needle of inclusion forward for people with disabilities. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wheelchairbarbie/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wheelchairbarbie LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madison-lawson-978a63112/ Mindy Henderson is the Senior Director & Editor-in-Chief of Quest Media, and the host of this podcast. She was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, type 2 when she was 15 months old and has been a life-long partner to MDA. Mindy is also a motivational speaker and a writer, and author of the book, The Truth About Things That Suck. Connect with Mindy: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hendersonmindy/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindyhendersonspeaks/

In this Quest Podcast episode, we chat with Mark Fisher, MDA’s Director of Advocacy Engagement and Michael Lewis, MDA’s Director of Disability Policy, an advocate who lives with physical disabilities. They join us to share the most recent air travel updates, advocacy information, and expertise and advise about MDA's grassroots program and advocacy volunteer efforts. Please join us and make your voices heard about making air travel accessible at mda.org/airtravel. Transcript Guests: Mark Fisher is the Director of Advocacy Engagement at the Muscular Dystrophy Association. In this role, Mark leads MDA’s grassroots program and advocacy volunteer efforts. He works to empower advocates and connect them with key decisionmakers in order to advance public policies that improve the lives of the neuromuscular disease community. He previously served as the Digital Grassroots Manager at the American Heart Association and was also a field organizer on a U.S. Senate campaign. Mark earned his Master of Public Policy from American University and is originally from Pittsburgh, PA. For Information About our Advocacy Efforts - https://www.mda.org/get-involved/advocacy Join the Grassroots Advocacy Team - https://www.votervoice.net/MDA/register Michael Lewis has spent over a decade working in disability rights for various organizations. His passion for disability policy advocacy stems from his experience as an individual with cerebral palsy. As Director, Disability Policy at MDA, Michael leads MDA’s advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill and with federal agencies to defend and expand access to civil rights, education, economic independence and employment, and accessible recreation and travel for people with neuromuscular diseases and other disabilities. A graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill and Regent University, Michael resides in northern Virginia with his wife and four children. Mindy Henderson is the Senior Director & Editor-in-Chief of Quest Media, and the host of this podcast. She was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, type 2 when she was 15 months old and has been a life-long partner to MDA. Mindy is also a motivational speaker and a writer, and author of the book, The Truth About Things That Suck. Connect with Mindy: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hendersonmindy/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindyhendersonspeaks/

In this Quest Podcast episode, we chat with Brooke Eby, who was diagnosed with ALS in March 2022. Brooke Eby was recently featured on the Today Show, and with almost 70,000 followers on Instagram alone hopes to spread awareness of ALS to as many people as possible. Transcript Guests: Brooke is a social media influencer who was recently featured on the Today Show. She was diagnosed with ALS in March 2022 after four years of confusing symptoms in her leg. She hopes to spread awareness of ALS to as many people as possible and laugh along the way. Tiktok: @LimpBroozkit Instagram: @LimpBroozkit Twitter: @LimpBroozkit Mindy Henderson is the Senior Director & Editor-in-Chief of Quest Media, and the host of this podcast. She was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, type 2 when she was 15 months old and has been a life-long partner to MDA. Mindy is also a motivational speaker and a writer, and just published her first book, The Truth About Things That Suck. Connect with Mindy: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hendersonmindy/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindyhendersonspeaks/

In this Quest Podcast episode, we chat with a renowned comedian, writer, and advocate who lives with physical disabilities. Steve Way, actor of the Hulu Original “Ramy”, joins us to share his experiences, expertise, and advise when it comes to navigating life and Hollywood. Transcript Guests:  Steve is a 32-year-old actor, comedian, writer, and speaker. He was born with Ullrich Congenital Muscular Dystrophy and is an advocate for disability awareness. Steve performs stand-up comedy and motivational speeches around the country and can be seen on the Hulu show Ramy. Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thesteveway/ Website - https://www.thesteveway.com/ Substack - https://thesteveway.substack.com/ Mindy Henderson is the Senior Director & Editor-in-Chief of Quest Media, and the host of this podcast. She was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, type 2 when she was 15 months old and has been a life-long partner to MDA. Mindy is also a motivational speaker and a writer, and just published her first book, The Truth About Things That Suck. Connect with Mindy:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hendersonmindy/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindyhendersonspeaks/

Summer is around the corner! In this Quest Podcast episode, we chat with two renowned travel writers who live with physical disabilities. Sylvia Longmire, creator of the Spin the Globe accessible travel blog, and Cory Lee, creator of the Curb Free with Cory Lee travel blog, join us to share their experiences, expertise, and advice when it comes to accessible travel. Transcript Guests:  Sylvia Longmire is an award-winning accessible travel writer and photographer, a service-disabled Air Force veteran, and the former Ms. Wheelchair USA 2016. She travels around the world, usually solo, in her power wheelchair to document the accessibility of her destinations through articles, photography, and video. Sylvia is also a director, producer, voice actor, and a staunch advocate for accessibility and disability representation. She is the author of four accessible travel books and the creator of the Spin the Globe accessible travel blog. After being diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy at the age of two, Cory Lee’s thirst for adventure never ceased. He has traveled across all seven continents in his powered wheelchair while managing to run his travel blog CurbFreeWithCoryLee.com, where he shares his accessible — and sometimes not so accessible — travel adventures with others. He is a four-time Webby Award winner, has won two Lowell Thomas Awards for Best Travel Blog, and he has written for publications such as Condé Nast Traveler, National Geographic, and Lonely Planet. As always, his goal is to inspire other wheelchair users to roll out of their comfort zones and see all of the beauty our world has to offer. Connect with Sylvia:  Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/spintheglobeonwheels Instagram - https://instagram.com/sylvia_longmire Blog - https://www.spintheglobe.net [email protected] Connect with Cory:  Blog - https://curbfreewithcorylee.com Instagram - https://instagram.com/curbfreecorylee Facebook - https://facebook.com/CurbFree Mindy Henderson is the Senior Director & Editor-in-Chief of Quest Media, and the host of this podcast. She was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, type 2 when she was 15 months old and has been a life-long partner to MDA. Mindy is also a motivational speaker and a writer, and just published her first book, The Truth About Things That Suck. Connect with Mindy: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hendersonmindy/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindyhendersonspeaks/