Search Interviews

Inspiring others

In multiple schools, Colleen Bowen has helped many children with both mental and physical disabilities. In this interview she explains how she got involved, the patience it takes, and the lessons she’s learned though her former job.

Cliff Poetz, 51, talks with is good friend Charlie Lakin, 64, about his life as a disability activist.

Siblings Maya Hale (24) and Christopher Mason-Hale (29) discuss Chris's quadriplegia, and how the accident that caused it has affected their lives.

Debbie King (42) shares a conversation with her friend, El Campbell (31), about gender fluidity, coming out, community, capitalism, and living with a chronic illness.

In this interview, conducted on November 26, 2017 in Middletown, New Jersey, Sophie Dalfonzo (14) interviews her grandmother Pearl Siegel (70) about her life story. Ms. Siegel talks about how her family traveled from Poland to Germany to America and...

What life was like having a sibling with Down Syndrome in 1939.

One Small Step partners Ellen Murphey (63) and Elizabeth Denehie (48) discuss their upbringing, their families, and their partners. Ellen talks about their experience as a queer person. Elizabeth talks about her experience as a disabled person and a caretaker.

My dad and I talk about his disability, and how his life is since becoming disabled.

"Twins" and friends Jeiri Flores (31) and Luticha Doucette (38) share a conversation about disability rights, activism, and representation in the United States, and reflect on their own experiences as people with disabilities.

Spouses Stephani Victor (51) and Marcel Kuonen [no age given] share the story of how Marcel came to be Stephani's skiing coach after an accident that caused her to lose her legs. The two remember how their relationship went from...

Luke Alvarez is a science teacher at Carusi Middle School in Cherry Hill, surfer and board shaper. Local to Tuckerton, NJ, Luke also runs a small business where he creates surf boards. Luke makes adaptable surf boards for people with...

Beyond the diagnosis

daniel the Russian the ballroom dancer

Friends Annie Stafford (72) and Michael Hentges (73) recall their time together at Innisfree Village and reflect on the lessons and values they gained from their experience.

Our family, Jean’s childhood and her siblings, life in UK and Aotearoa New Zealand

Addison Ellis talks to her grandma Lo Lo, Laury Ellis about her life. Addie used AAC to communicate.

Sofie LaFratta interviewed Gail Orzechowski about how growing up with a sister with severe autism translated into her future career as an elementary school teacher. She opens up about the importance of vulnerability and how being vulnerable created a lot...

Husband and wife Henry Griffin (70) and Pam Wintle (75) and their daughters Alice Griffin (29) and Elizabeth Griffin (37) speak about their connection to and favorite memories of Innisfree Village and how it as changed their lives by creating...

Colleagues Jenny Stiles (33) and Jean Munson (32) discuss their connection, the work that they do in leadership and transforming language and conversations around disability.

Edward "Ed" Walsh (59) shares a conversation with his colleague Glenn Wells (66) about Glenn's experiences as board member and president of Cape Fear Group Homes Inc., and what drives his advocacy work.

Cheryl Hewitt (58), a Stanford Health Care patient, talks with David Grady (59) about her struggles and triumphs in navigating school and health care with a lifelong disability.

Marci describes her experience with polio at 7 years old as well as the ways in which it has affected her life.

Margaret Sturgill interviews her friend and coworker Dennis Horton (60) about his childhood diagnosis of polio and how it changed his life.

Amber DiPietra, 29, and Jessie Lorenz, 31, talk about their visual impairments, and how they navigate the world.