Civil rights advocate Marc Fishman joins host Mike Bolland to expose a deeply overlooked issue: the routine denial of disability accommodations in America’s family court system. After surviving a devastating car accident that left him with long-term disabilities and communication challenges, Marc found himself battling not only for his parental rights—but also for his basic ADA protections.
In this powerful conversation, Marc shares:
• How New York family courts repeatedly denied him accommodations like real-time transcription
• His federal ADA victories and how Tennessee v. Lane played a role
• The 49-month legal battle that forced the court to act
• Retaliation he faced from judges and public officials
• His advocacy success during COVID, helping disabled tenants secure rent grants
• The urgent need for reform and accountability in family courts nationwide
• Recent legislative wins and what they mean for disabled parents
Marc’s story is one of resilience, activism, and a fight for justice that impacts millions of disabled Americans.
👉 Follow his updates at NewRochellePoliceAbuse.com
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Everyone has a story worth sharing—and at the 2027 Amputee Coalition National Conference, those stories will take center stage. It’s an honor for We're Not Stumped host Mike Bolland to serve as host and help create a welcoming space for the community’s voices. “Story Slam: Where Every Story Finds Its Light” brings the community together for an evening of laughter, connection, and five-minute stories. Twenty storytellers will be selected at random to share a moment from their lives. There’s no competition, no judging, and no expectation that a story must be inspirational or about limb loss or limb difference. In this episode of We’re Not Stumped, Mike Bolland introduces the event and shares what attendees can look forward to.
Dr. Carmen Elliott, the new President and CEO of the Amputee Coalition, joins Mike Bolland for a conversation about community, advocacy, and helping people with limb loss and limb difference find the support they need. Carmen shares how her family’s experiences with healthcare access and limb loss shaped her commitment to this work. Together, they explore the value of peer support, access to prosthetics, and including families and caregivers in the conversation. They also discuss support groups, certified peer visitors, AC Connect, and the upcoming “Fireside Connections” conference.
How do you move forward when vision loss changes your career, independence, and plans for the future? In this episode of We’re Not Stumped, Mike Bolland speaks with Jennifer Frederick about living with permanent vision loss and learning to advocate for herself along the way. Jennifer explains how changes in her vision eventually forced her to leave a career in crisis management. She also discusses the challenges she now faces while looking for work, including interview practices that have left her questioning whether she is being treated fairly as a person with a disability. The conversation explores Jenn’s decision not to undergo surgery for her detached retinas, the importance of seeking medical attention when your vision changes, and the need to take ownership of your healthcare.
