What happens when people underestimate your potential your entire life—and you refuse to let them define your future?
In this episode of the We’re Not Stumped podcast, I sit down with Denny Burke, a licensed master social worker, disability advocate, and speaker who has spent his life proving that disability does not determine what someone can achieve.
Growing up legally blind and facing additional disabilities, Denny endured bullying, low expectations, and barriers that could have shaped the rest of his life. Instead, with the encouragement of mentors and his own determination, he became the first person in his immediate family to graduate from college and is now dedicated to helping others find their voice through self-advocacy and social work.
In this episode, we discuss:
👁️ Growing up legally blind and overcoming childhood adversity
🎓 Becoming the first in his family to graduate from college
💙 Why self-advocacy is one of the most important life skills
🧒 His passion for helping children and families through social work
♿ Challenging misconceptions about people with disabilities
💼 Creating more inclusive workplaces and communities
✈️ Accessible travel and advocating for disabled travelers
❤️ Family, mentoring, volunteering, and giving back
Denny’s story is a powerful reminder that disability is one part of who someone is—not a limit on what they can accomplish. Whether you’re living with a disability, supporting someone who is, or simply looking for an inspiring conversation about resilience and inclusion, this episode is for you.
🎙️ Subscribe to We’re Not Stumped for more conversations highlighting resilience, advocacy, adaptive living, and the people making a difference in the disability community.
#DisabilityAdvocacy #SelfAdvocacy #DisabilityInclusion #SocialWork #LegalBlindness #AdaptiveLiving #Accessibility #Inclusion #WereNotStumped #DisabilityPodcast
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Today, I’m honored to sit down once again with Brooke Brown — an “ink weaver of life, faith, and fiction,” an honors graduate of ASU’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism, Ms. Wheelchair Arizona 2022, and founder of Brooke’s Butterfly Touch, a ministry that helps individuals discover the power and purpose of their own stories. Brooke is also the author of Rolling in Grace: Volume 1 — A Foundation of Faith and Imagination, now available in audio format. Having read it myself, I can promise you: it’s full of relatable, uplifting, and beautifully practical stories. Living with cerebral palsy and using an augmentative communication app, Brooke demonstrates that every voice — every single one — can inspire hope, healing, and opportunity. This is her second appearance on the show, so after watching, don’t forget to visit WereNotStumped.com to catch her first episode.
In this inspiring episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland sits down with Caitlin Conner, founder of Be More Adaptive, to explore how she’s building a global hub for disability resources designed to empower people with disabilities to live fulfilling, confident, and sustainable lives. Caitlin shares her powerful journey — from surviving a life-changing motorcycle accident while pregnant to becoming a Paralympic-level athlete, model, and outspoken disability advocate. She talks candidly about adapting to life as an amputee, the importance of self-advocacy, and how adaptive sports helped her rebuild her identity, purpose, and strength.
When Drew Ann Long, a stay-at-home mom from Birmingham, Alabama, discovered there were no shopping carts designed for her daughter Caroline — who has Rett syndrome and cannot walk or talk — she decided to create one herself. In this inspiring episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland sits down with Drew Ann to discuss her journey from frustrated mom to inventor of Caroline’s Cart, an adaptive shopping cart now featured in over 15,000 stores across eight countries, including Walmart, Target, Kroger, and Lowe’s. Drew Ann opens up about overcoming rejection, financial struggles, and even a hacked social media page — all while pursuing her mission to bring dignity and inclusion to families with disabilities.
