Alycia features Mindy Scheier, founder of Runway of Dreams and Gamut Management. Inspired by her son’s challenges, Mindy transitioned from a fashion designer to an advocate for inclusive fashion. Her mission led to collaborations with brands like Tommy Hilfiger, promoting adaptive fashion and emphasizing clothing’s role in fostering confidence and personal identity.
In this podcast episode, Alycia Anderson interviews Mindy Scheier, founder of Runway of Dreams and Gamut Management, organizations dedicated to promoting adaptive fashion and disability representation in media and brands. Scheier shares how her son’s muscular dystrophy led her to create inclusive clothing and open doors for others with disabilities in the fashion industry. She discusses the growth of adaptive fashion, her partnerships with major brands like Tommy Hilfiger and Victoria’s Secret, and the importance of disability representation at every step of the value chain.
Alycia welcomes Mike Box, the mastermind behind Box Wheelchairs. Mike’s innovative, personalized wheelchair design approach has significantly improved lives. He advocates for personal need solutions over standard custom ones, emphasizing listening to people’s requirements. Mike’s work, particularly with extreme wheelchair athlete Aaron “Wheelz” Fotheringham, indicates his dedication to change lives through design and innovation. Mike’s main goal is to share and live by his mantra of, people helping people. Listen to Mike share his stroy in this latest episode of the “Pushing Forward with Alycia” podcast.
Title:Mike Box: Founder of Box Wheelchairs Subtitle:Customizing Mobility with Heart: Mike Box Transcript: Alycia Anderson: Welcome to Pushing Forward with Alycia, a podcast that gives disability a voice. Each week we will explore topics like confidence, ambition, resilience and finding success against all odds. We are creating a collective community that believes that all things … read more… Episode 23 Transcript
In this episode, military veteran Dez Del Barba shares his story of surviving medical malpractice during basic training where he contracted streptococcus A that evolved into necrotizing fasciitis, leading to the amputation of his left leg. Despite enduring 43 surgeries and grueling therapy, Dez transformed his ordeal into a mission to advocate change in military healthcare and give back through his non-profit, Operation Dez Strong, aiding children facing amputations.
Transcript of episode 22 of The Pushing Forward with Alycia podcast, featuring Dez Del Barba, a military veteran and survivor of army medical malpractice, who shared his harrowing tale of overcoming life-threatening infections and multiple surgeries. Dez’s medical nightmare originated from an untreated strep throat, which eventually led to a flesh-eating disease during his time at basic training. Since then, Dez has become an influential advocate against military medical malpractice and established a foundation called ‘Operation Dez Strong’ to support others, particularly children, facing similar situations. Additionally, Dez has excelled in wheelchair tennis and hopes to compete in the Paralympics.
Alycia interviews personal trainer Nikki Walsh, a wheelchair user who promotes fitness and nutrition accessibility for everyone. Nikki underscores the importance of strength training for wheelchair users and dispels nutrition myths. Furthermore, she emphasizes the need for gym facilities to be adaptive and create an inclusive environment for the wheelchair community. Lastly, both highlight how a shift in perspective can spark significant change and help individuals achieve their fitness goals.
Title:Adaptive Fitness and Nutrition with Nikki Walsh Subtitle:Empowering Wheelchair Users to Achieve Their Fitness Goals Transcript: Alycia Anderson: Welcome to Pushing Forward with Alycia, a podcast that gives disability a voice. Each week we will explore topics like confidence, ambition, resilience and finding success against all odds. We are creating a collective community that believes … read more… Episode 21 Transcript
This week Brian McComak joins Alycia Anderson on her podcast, Pushing Forward with Alycia, to talk about disability in the workplace and finding a place of belonging in DEI. He is the CEO of Hummingbird Humanity, an expert in DEI, HR culture change and employee experience, and an openly gay man with a disability. Brian shares his experiences with mental health, depression, anxiety and the challenges of living with HIV, emphasizing the need to break free from outdated stigmas surrounding HIV, and how ultimately learning to live with his disabilities has enriched his ability to help corporations create workplace environments where all humans thrive.
Transcript of episode 20 of “Pushing Forward with Alycia,” Alycia Anderson talks with Brian McComak, founder of Hummingbird Humanity. They discuss the importance of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in the workplace, mental health awareness, and fostering environments where people can thrive. McComak, a gay man and person living with disabilities, shares his experiences advocating for more human-centered workplaces. He emphasizes the significance of considering employees’ unique needs when crafting well-being programs.
