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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Is your website really accessible to everyone? In this powerful episode of *We’re Not Stumped*, host Mike Bolland welcomes web accessibility expert Maigen Thomas to perform a live audit of the podcast’s website—and the results are eye-opening! Accessibility isn’t just about compliance—it’s about empathy, inclusion, and making sure your digital experience works for everyone. Maigen shares her personal connection to accessibility, including how her grandfather’s vision loss shaped her perspective on designing with intention. Whether you're a business owner, content creator, or web designer, this episode is packed with practical tips and free tools to level up your site.
Here’s the actual quote from a company called the LN4 Hand Project: "A prosthetic hand is an invaluable asset to an individual without an upper limb. An upper limb prosthesis can determine whether or not an individual is able to be employed, contribute to household duties, or provide an increased sense of independence." As a successful one-handed person—a podcaster, speaker, nonprofit founder, and former pro bowler—I have to say, that sentence overlooks the truth: people with limb differences are capable with or without a device. And it’s not just the language. Companies like Taska Prosthetics create videos that show one-handed people doing things like washing apples, as if that’s the pinnacle of independence. While I love and appreciate prosthetics, we can do better. In this podcast, I break down the problem with this kind of messaging, share my lived experience, and challenge the assumption that a prosthesis defines your ability to succeed.
Host Mike Bolland welcomes Brittany Dejean, founder of Inclusion Jumpstart and former Airbnb accessibility leader. Brittany opens up about how her father’s spinal cord injury at age 12 inspired her lifelong passion for disability inclusion. She shares insights from her 6.5 years at Airbnb working on accessibility and diversity initiatives, her nonprofit work with Able Thrive, and her current mission as an entrepreneur and advocate. Brittany’s training programs help people overcome awkwardness around disability and build more inclusive, empathetic spaces in both personal and professional settings.
