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 happens when you survive COVID… but wake up to a completely different life? In this powerful episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland sits down with Brianna Heitzman, a certified employment specialist with Down Syndrome of Louisville, whose life was forever changed after a severe battle with COVID-19. After being placed on a ventilator and ECMO, Brianna faced an unimaginable outcome—the loss of her legs. But her story doesn’t end there. This is a conversation about resilience, identity, and rebuilding a life with purpose. Brianna’s journey is raw, real, and deeply inspiring—a reminder that even after life-changing trauma, there is still a path forward.
What happens when a story about limb loss hits the news—and suddenly everyone you know is texting you about it? If you’re part of the limb loss community, you already know. In this solo episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland dives into the experience of being “the limb loss friend”—the person others turn to when they don’t fully understand what they’re seeing but want to connect.
Stacy and Courtney Walker are proving that teamwork knows no limits. As the only known mother-daughter duo in wheelchair power soccer, they proudly represent Arizona Heat Power Soccer—competing, training, and pushing boundaries together on and off the court. Their journey is about more than just the game. It’s about resilience, family, and the power of adaptive sports to change lives. On this episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland sits down with Stacy and Courtney to share their story—how they got involved in power soccer, what it’s like competing side by side, and what being part of Arizona Heat Power Soccer truly means. Now, they’re working toward their next big goal: competing at Power Soccer Nationals.



