What happens when disability advocates from across the country come together to shape the future of independent living and accessibility?
In this solo episode of We’re Not Stumped, I share my personal reflections after attending the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., where I represented Ability360 as a member of its Board of Directors.
Learn More: https://ncil.org/
From celebrating ADA36: We Won’t Go Back to hearing powerful stories from advocates, policymakers, and leaders in the disability community, the conference reinforced why protecting and advancing disability rights remains so important.
In this episode, I discuss:
- My biggest takeaways from the conference
- Why the Independent Living movement continues to make a difference
- The importance of advocacy at the local and national levels
- How each of us can help build a more accessible and inclusive future
Whether you’re a person with a disability, a family member, an advocate, or simply interested in creating more inclusive communities, I hope these reflections encourage you to stay engaged and continue moving the conversation forward.
Thanks for listening to We’re Not Stumped. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who believes everyone deserves the opportunity to live independently.
Listen on Apple Podcasts
Watch on YouTube
Listen on Spotify
What does it really take to produce a podcast? In this special solo episode of We're Not Stumped, I'm taking you behind the scenes to share how the podcast started, what happens before and after every interview, and the lessons I've learned from producing more than 200 episodes. I'll talk about: Why I decided to start the podcast My recording setup and workflow Editing What I'd do differently if I were starting today Advice for anyone thinking about launching their own podcast Whether you're interested in podcasting, storytelling, or simply curious about what goes into creating We're Not Stumped, I hope this episode gives you a new perspective—and maybe the confidence to start your own show.
In this episode of the We're Not Stumped podcast, host Mike Bolland sits down with Janne Kouri, entrepreneur, founder of NextStep, and co-founder of Lencaro Finnish Long Drink. Janne shares the incredible story of how a spinal cord injury from a swimming accident in 2006 changed the course of his life. After spending two months in the ICU battling paralysis, pneumonia, and a 104-degree fever, he traveled more than 2,000 miles to receive groundbreaking activity-based rehabilitation that wasn't covered by insurance—but changed everything. That experience inspired him to create NextStep, a nonprofit rehabilitation center that helps people living with paralysis access advanced therapy long after traditional insurance benefits end.
Access to the resources, support, and equipment needed after limb loss can change a person's life—but for many, those essentials remain out of reach. In this episode of We're Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland spotlights Amputee Aid and A Leg Forever, two organizations dedicated to helping people with limb loss reclaim independence, confidence, and hope. While each organization has its own unique mission, both are committed to removing barriers by providing financial assistance, equipment, peer support, and other critical resources that help individuals move forward after amputation. Mike discusses why a supportive community can make all the difference during recovery and beyond. Whether you're living with limb loss, supporting someone who is, or simply looking for stories of compassion, advocacy, and resilience, this episode highlights how generosity and community can create lasting change.
