In the second part of this two-part series, Katrina Simon sits down with Linda Wolford from the Minnesota Council on Disability to dig into the real story behind “enhanced rate” for personal care assistants in Minnesota. Linda clarifies how this policy actually came to be through the hard work of disability activists rather than the…

The post Boldly Challenging Ableism – S2 E8: A Decades Long Legacy of Advocacy with Linda Wolford (Pt 2 of 2) first appeared on AM 950.

It’s a special homecoming of sorts as host Katrina Simons catches up with Linda Wolford, the Government Relations Director for the Minnesota Council on Disability and a longtime mentor in the disability community. Linda reflects on her forty-year journey in the Twin Cities, from being carried up the stairs of her inaccessible high school to…

The post Boldly Challenging Ableism – S2 E7: A Decades Long Legacy of Advocacy with Linda Wolford (Pt 1 of 2) first appeared on AM 950.

Katrina Simons welcomes back Nick Wilkie from the Metropolitan Center for Independent Living in this concluding part of their deep dive into accessible living. They discuss the financial and logistical hurdles of home modifications before shifting gears to Nick’s passion for three-wheeled motorcycles and his love for building Legos to maintain a positive mindset. It’s…

The post Boldly Challenging Ableism – S2 E6: The Red Tape of Accessible Living with Nick Wilkie (Pt 2 of 2) first appeared on AM 950.

Katrina Simons welcomes Nick Wilkie to the podcast to bond over their shared experiences with disability and life in St. Paul. They explore Nick’s role at the Metropolitan Center for Independent Living and the importance of helping others remove barriers to independence. This conversation kicks off a two-part series highlighting Nick’s journey from an employment…

The post Boldly Challenging Ableism – S2 E5: The Red Tape of Accessible Living with Nick Wilkie (Pt 1 of 2) first appeared on AM 950.

Katrina Simon sits down with Adam Ruff from Advocating Change Together to talk about his journey and work in the disability community. They dive into the personal side of being neurodivergent and the unique hurdles of living with a non-apparent disability. It is an insightful look at how self-advocacy and community leadership are making a…

The post Boldly Challenging Ableism – S2 E4: Navigating Neurodiversity and Self Advocacy with Adam Ruff first appeared on AM 950.

Katrina is joined by disability advocate Joe Carr. Joe gets real about the often-overlooked connection between mental health and disability. He opens up about his personal journey, from the challenges of feeling misunderstood to finding deep support in his faith and the people who truly see him. It’s a powerful conversation about the importance of…

The post Boldly Challenging Ableism – S2 E3: Faith, Mental Health, and Finding Your Voice with Guest Joe Carr first appeared on AM 950.

This week we feature Rob Wudlick, an industrial engineer and dedicated advocate for spinal cord injury research. Rob joins Katrina Simon to share the frustrating reality of air travel for wheelchair users, from the nightmare of having a custom chair mangled by an airline to the constant battle for better accessibility standards. It’s a candid…

The post Boldly Challenging Ableism – S2 E2: Fighting for Better Air Travel Standards with Rob Wudlick first appeared on AM 950.

Starting off season two, Katrina chats with her friend Haley Brunelle about her journey as a “medical mom” to her incredible eight-year-old son, Felix. They dive into the world of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), the daily hurdles of navigating healthcare systems, and why Haley is so passionate about giving Felix the best shot at…

The post Boldly Challenging Ableism – S2 E1: Raising Team Felix with Haley Brunelle and the Magic of AAC first appeared on AM 950.