Julie Sowash chats with Impact Managing Editor Janet Stewart about her work with employers to hire people with disabilities. Her company, Disability Solutions, has found jobs for more than 8,000 workers to date.

Issue editors talk about the end of subminimum wages for people with disabilities, and about what will take the place of sheltered workshops. A concerning lack of migration from these workshops to competitive, integrated employment means service providers must find new ways to connect people with disabilities to jobs that will keep them out of poverty.

A noted expert on substance use disorder within the disability community, Elspeth Slayter joins The Conversation to talk about best practices and emerging questions. Her Impact article discusses how treatment systems often fail to serve people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities despite evidence that they may experience more profound consequences. On the show, she shares her enthusiasm that the topic seems to be gaining traction in the addiction and disability fields.

Nathan Perry started drinking in his 30s to mask problems in his relationship with his parents. Eventually, he realized he didn't have control over his alcohol use and he started a long road to recovery. With a lot of support from his family, Nathan has now been sober for 8 years. In this very personal episode, Nathan, his brother, Brad, and his sister-in-law, ICI Director Amy Hewitt, talk about their journey. We also hear from Mark Olson, a former supervisor of Nathan's. The family and Nathan candidly share the false starts and early mistakes made when navigating the intersection of substance use disorder and disability, as well as the lessons learned and the successes celebrated. Their articles in the latest issue of Impact are available here and here.

• Nikki Villavicencio of Advocating Change Together in Minnesota, joins Impact managing editor Janet Stewart in the ICI studio for a discussion about disability justice and solidarity in advocating for disability rights. Nikki served as an issue editor for the Disability Rights, Disability Justice issue of Impact.
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Impact goes on the road to Chicago to talk with self-advocate, activist, and writer T.J. Gordon, who created a story map to highlight people with disabilities living in different neighborhoods of Chicago. T.J. introduces us to Jaime Cornejo, a fellow activist and a participant in Gordon's storytelling project.

• See T.J.'s article here
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Leigh Anne McKingsley, senior director at The Arc's National Center on Criminal Justice and Disability, talks with Janet Stewart, Impact's managing editor, about intersectional issues involving people with disabilities in the criminal justice system.

Editor's note: This conversation includes language describing an act of police violence that could be distressing for some readers.

Pauline Bosma, founder of the Rainbow Support Groups of Massachusetts, and Oscar Hughes, then a Boston University doctoral candidate, share how they worked with others to create a resource guide for understanding the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are also part of the LGBTQ+ community.

View their article here

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