
ABLE TODAY SHOW
Mark Raymond Jr and Sara Hart Weir, two disability advocates for ABLEtoday.org discuss the ABLE Act and how it's helping thousands of people with disabilities across the country. Mark and Sara interview leaders in the disability community weekly.
Episodes
29 episodes
Hannah Olson
Hannah Olson had just graduated from college and she thought she had her “dream job.” But the dream quickly became a nightmare when her new employer refused to understand or make any accommod...
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26:59

Alabama Treasurer Young Boozer & Anita Kelley
Alabama Treasurer Young Boozer is one of the most experienced financial minds you will find and he joins Sara and Mark, and Anita Kelley, Director of Savings Division at State of Alabama Treasurer’s Office for this week’s episode.
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29:10

Anne Gerhardt - the First ABLE Account Holder in the Country
There are more than 180,000 ABLE account holders, but somebody had to be first. Mark and Sara chat today with Anne Gerhardt - the first ABLE account holder in the world. Along with Anne is her dad Chip and Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague.
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37:19

John's Crazy Socks
John Cronin, a young man with Down syndrome, was about to graduate high school and he didn’t like his job prospects. But he knew who he wanted to work with. His dad, Mark Cronin. After throwing out a few ideas, they landed on John’s Crazy So...
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43:12

Laura Castillo, Executive Director of 5 Minus P Society
Like most parents and caregivers, Laura Castillo had never heard of the rare neurological condition, 5 Minus P, until her daughter, Katie, was diagnosed with it. The news from the doctor overwhelmed her at first, but since then, Laura has gone ...
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26:48

Daniel Garcia - Buying His First Home With an ABLE Account
In episode 22, Mark and Sara talk to Daniel Garcia, a blind ABLE account holder. Daniel discusses how he used his ABLE account to save up and buy a house.
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22:31

Shaun Snyder of NAST
In episode 21, we have Shaun Snyder, CEO of the National Association of State Treasurers, discussing the importance of financial education and the role of NAST and ABLE Accounts. Shaun shares insights on leadership, relationships, and his effor...
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Season 1
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Episode 21
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35:09

Senator Schmitt
Senator Schmitt recently sat down with our hosts Mark and Sara to talk about how his family’s experience pushed him to become a disability advocate and a legislative champion for ABLE accounts. When his infant son, Stephen, w...
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21:31

Sandy Swift Parrino - Part 2
Part 2 of our living history with the unstoppable Sandy Swift Parrino and how the Disabilities Act ♿ (ADA) came to be. Through Sandy’s leadership as Chair of the National Council on Disability [IG @ncdgov] (NCD), the group had written the repor...
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40:04

Sandy Swift Parrino - Part 1
In this two part episode, Mark and Sara get in depth with Sandy Swift Parrino, founder of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ♿. As a parent with a disabled child, Sandy was already very familiar with the frustrations and senseless roadbl...
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Season 1
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Episode 19
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47:26

US Women’s Wheelchair Basketball
In episode 18, Mark and Sara chat with Lindsey Zurbrugg and Becca Murray – two outstanding players on the US 🇺🇸 Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Team who will be competing in the 2024 Paralympics in Paris this year.
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Season 1
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Episode 18
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31:26

Mary McDirmid - ChSNC
In episode 17, mark and Sara have a great conversation with Mary McDirmid. Growing up with a dad, who had Parkinson’s, Mary was already familiar with caretaking, but when her daughter Ruth was born, she decided to become a Chartered Special Nee...
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37:43

Stacy Pfiefer - Nebraska ENABLE
In episode 16, we chat with Nebraska’s Assistant State Treasurer Stacy Pfeifer. When she became assistant treasurer, she also became the state’s Director of the Enable Savings Plan. Stacy is an ABLE expert, making connections across her s...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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27:23

Faye Simon - Exceptional Parent Magazine
In episode 15, Mark and Sara chat with the Editor in Chief of Exceptional Parent Magazine, Faye Simon. Faye has been working in disability journalism for many years and the magazine, which is available online or in print, has proven to be a str...
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22:30

Theo Braddy - National Council on Independent Living
In episode 14, Mark & Sara have their longest conversation yet with Theo Braddy, who is Executive Director of the National Council on Independent Living. <...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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53:02

Hannah Cvancara
In episode 13, Mark and Sara chat with Hannah Cvancara - a dedicated nurse, superior athlete, and unstoppable Disability Advocate. Hannah has lived with a prosthetic leg almost her entire life and it hasn’t limited her at all.
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37:25

New Mexico State Treasurer
In episode 12, Sara and Mark are honored to speak with New Mexico’s State Treasurer Laura M. Montoya. Laura has broken her share of glass ceilings: she’s the first female state treasurer in New Mexico and the nation’s first Latina state treasur...
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27:56

Washington + Sound Transit
In episode 11 we feature an incredible partnership between Washington State’s ABLE Program and the the Sound Transit. Sara and Mark have a great conversation with Kari Sample, from Washington’s Disabilities Workgroup Program, and Lorena J...
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25:28

Texas ABLE
Joining Mark and Sara in episode 10 is Linda Fernandez, the Director of the Texas Comptroller’s Educational Opportunities and Investments Division and Ashley Melero, who works with The Arc of Texas, serving to provide financial security t...
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31:59

Job One
In episode 9, Mark and Sara have a great conversation with the leadership at Job One, a forward-thinking leader in providing employment and community support services for individuals with disabilities in the Kansas City area. On today's episode...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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28:22

Wells Fargo Foundation
In episode 8, Mark and Sara were honored to have the new Chief Accessibility Officer of WellsFargo - Andrew Holbrook on the latest episode! Andrew has his own story behind his passion for workplace inclusion.
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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32:37

Autism Speaks
In episode 7, we had a great conversation with leaders from Autism Speaks. Stuart Spielman, Senior Vice President of Advocacy and Josh Cobbs, Senior Manager of Employment Initiatives.
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28:30

Louisiana Disability Advocates
In episode 6, we did a live podcast recording with Lousiana Disability advocates: Bambi Polotzola - the Executive Director of Governor's Office of Disability Affairs, Kelly Monroe - Executive Director of The Arc of Louisiana and Terri Underwood...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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24:49
