Boldly Challenging Ableism
Sundays 2-2:30 PM
Boldly Challenging Ableism exposes ableism and dismantles myths that marginalize people with disabilities. Host Katrina Simons uses her life-long disability and her experiences in advocacy at the University of Minnesota's Institute on Community Integration to boldly, irreverently go where everyone has gone before -- to issues like employment, housing, justice, education and culture -- but she brings along enough humor and an approachable style that you'll be thinking anew about what community inclusion really means.
This episode originally aired June 8, 2025: Mary Hauff, Director, Minnesota Inclusive Higher Education Consortium, Institute on Community Integration, and Dupree Edwards, Lead State Advisor on Systems Change, Institute on Community Integration. Minnesota Inclusive Higher Education Consortium director Mary Hauff and Lead State Advisor on Systems Change Dupree Edwards talk about the Minnesota Inclusive Higher…
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This episode originally aired May 18, 2025: Jillian Nelson, Policy Director, Autism Society of Minnesota. Lobbyist Jillian Nelson talks to us about her life working at the legislative level for the Autism Society of MN. She also shares what it’s like living with multiple disabilities. Nick Wilke from MCIL joins us as guest co-host.
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This episode originally aired October 12, 2025: Michael Sack talks to us about his work with the city of Minneapolis in getting and keeping the community accessible. Then a conversation with disability advocate Ed Bartz.
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This episode originally aired October 5, 2026: On this episode of Boldly Challenging Ableism, host Katrina Simons speaks with artist and self-advocate Thomas Robinson. Thomas shares his journey as a leader in disability advocacy and how art plays a role in amplifying his voice. Their conversation highlights the power of self-advocacy and the importance of…
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This episode originally aired September 28, 2025: Renata Ticha is a research associate at the Institute on Community Integration at the University of Minnesota. Renata talks with Katrina about her research work around transitioning to adult services from the pediatric space.
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This episode originally aired September 21, 2025: Episode Description: BJ Stasio, Advocate for the New York Office for People with Developmental Disabilities. Activist BJ talks to us about his life of advocacy work- and about being a rebel.
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This episode originally aired September 14, 2025: Amy Hewitt joins us to discuss the direct support care crisis and why it’s an “everyone” problem.
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This episode originally aired August 24, 2025: Katrina is joined by Jen Sommerness, a research associate at the TIES Center at the Institute on Community Integration. She discusses ableism in schools and making education meaningful for every student.
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This episode originally aired August 17, 2025: Katherine McLaughlin joins us to talk about sex and disability. She also shares why involving people living with disabilities in Sex Education is important.
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This episode originally aired August 10, 2025: Jake Hamilton joins Katrina to talk about his family, growing up, what he does for work and what he does in his leisure time.
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