On June 1st, we kicked-off PRIDE celebrations in Pittsburgh by hosting a breakfast which explored the intersectionality of LGBTQ+ and disability. At the event, Tony Coelho, former Congressman and author of the Americans with Disabilities Act, talked about his personal experiences as a gay man living with disability and led a questions and answers session […]
July is Disability PRIDE month. During this month we celebrate the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Disability Culture. Some people are ashamed to say they have a disability and want to disassociate from the Disability Community. We want to take a moment to recognize Disability Culture and actions of the Disability Community […]
In our last blog post, we talked about how goal setting can help set you up for success and begin your journey toward independence, but did you know that setting goals can help you reduce stress as well? Do you know how to recognize signs of too much stress? Trouble sleeping or feelings of fatigue. […]
At Bender Leadership Academy we know that becoming a leader and an advocate starts with taking responsibility and ownership of your life. Independence is a key life skill which builds the foundation for leadership skills. Leaders don’t wait for others to tell them what to do, they take charge and get the job done. Remember, […]
Cyberbullying happens when someone uses digital devices to bully, harass, threaten, or humiliate someone. Cyberbullying is not limited to the use of social media platforms alone. Chat rooms, online gaming, emails, text messages, and other digital forums are also included as ways that a cyberbully can interact with their victim. Cyberbullying is a real type […]
In December of 2022, Bender Consulting Services, Inc. presented Valerie Jarrett with the Tony Coelho Award. Bender Leadership Academy was honored to be a part of the event, where several guests joined the #NotAshamed campaign, including Valerie. Named for the Honorable Tony Coelho, author of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the award honors CEOs, […]
Disability is a part of the lived experience for all people, including people of the Black community. As we celebrate Black History Month, we want to acknowledge some of the many civil rights activists with disabilities from the Black community. Their contribution to the fight for equity and civil rights should never be forgotten. Fannie […]
If you are like many of our students at the Bender Leadership Academy, you are wondering what you will do after graduation from high school. For some, the next step is clear, work or college. But what job will you do? What major or program should you select? Do you enroll in a four-year program […]
Do you know what it takes to be a leader? This is one of the questions discussed in our student leaders’ program at Bender Leadership Academy. It is important to remember that leaders aren’t born, they are made. We become leaders by taking specific actions and through the choices we make every day. People with […]
Speech submitted by Connor Flinn Each year we celebrate Disability Mentoring Day (DMD) and National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) with a special kick-off event the Monday before DMD. This year we returned to an in-person event at the Heinz History Center. It was so great seeing so many of our students, educational and business […]