Disability Matters with Gerald Homme Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Joyce welcomes Gerald Homme, chairman of the “Bender Lead On Team” and Ginny Miller, mother of the late, Sam Miller to the show. Based on Facebook, the "Bender Lead On Team" is a group of people who help Bender lead the charge to spread the news of employment and empowerment for people with disabilities. Working in high schools and on college campuses, members encourage young people with disabilities to set goals that align with competitive career opportunities. It also provides a forum for young people with disabilities to get support from their peers if they are being bullied, and provide encouragement to others who are being bullied. Gerald will discuss this group in depth, and his duties as chair. He will also share his personal experience having been bullied in high school, while living with his learning disability. Ginny Miller will reflect on her late son’s life and share his struggle with being bullied. Ginny will also share what it means to her to have Bender’s “Sam Miller Award” named after her son. The Sam Miller Award was established in 2012 by the Bender Consulting Services’ “Bender Lead-On Team” to honor the memory of Sam, who was a dedicated member of the Bender Lead-On Team; Sam was himself a victim of bullying and died by suicide in 2011. Before his death, Sam supported other young people with disabilities and fought for justice for all people who faced bullying and other forms of discrimination.