Hello again; As I write this I’m mindful of all the terrible things are going on in the world.
At times like these I feel an even stronger obligation to do what I can to educate, entertain, and inspire you.
And wow do I have some great news.
As an author, blogger, podcaster, etc I don’t often get to hear about the people I have effected.
Like many other creative entrepreneurs I have to keep showing up and trust that people are benefitting from my work.
So, it’s very gratifying and encouraging to me when someone or when an organization does reach out and say Max you are doing a great job.
That happened a couple of weeks ago when I received an email from Sherron Lumley on behalf of Portland State University and this year’s Mobility Matters Conference.
She was given the task of reaching out to top bloggers, podcasters, and YouTubers to get their help promoting this year’s event which will be virtual.
She mentioned finding my site in a google search and being very impressed with my work.
She pointed out my experience writing and talking about people with disabilities as well as the fact that I have a loyal following online.
In fact she explained to me that I am much more than a podcaster. She said that I’m actually a broadcast journalist. Furthermore, she pointed out that I could also consider myself a disability journalist a new category of journalism
She asked me if I would be interested in helping them out and if I would be willing to meet with her and the Director of the program and their event Amy Parker.
We were able to schedule some time on zoom right away, and we had a great conversation.
They asked me if I would consider interviewing the main speaker for the conference on my podcast What’s Your Excuse.
They knew enough about podcasting to realize that it was very unlikely that people would hear most of these conversations with the event speakers until after the conference was over.
But we originally agreed that this would still benefit the conference and their department.
People would be able to hear these episodes at any time, and there would be links for them to subscribe to the Mobility Matters email list. And that could all be very helpful next year.
I started scheduling the interviews with wonderful support from Sherron.
And it turned out that three of the speakers ended up requesting the same day to record.
And that gave me a crazy idea.
Yes, true believers, Max saying he has a crazy idea is very redundant. lol
I decided why not honor this occasion by doing something I’ve never done before.
That is why for Mobility Matters I will be releasing five podcast interviews in five days.
Thankfully, all but one has already been recorded. 🙂
Besides allowing you to hear from all of their major speakers prior to the event going live, this will give me a chance to stretch myself.
And I’m hoping I will improve my system for publishing new episodes because of being under this pressure.
I’m choosing to see this as a big adventure. It won’t all go perfectly or smoothly.
But we are going to have a lot of fun, and we are going to learn a lot.
Below you will find the event description along with some important links.
And each day I will update this post with direct links to the next episode.
This is a big opportunity both for me and Portland State.
But to me it symbolizes that The Blind Blogger and the What’s Your Excuse? Brand have arrived.
Conference Details
The 2022 Mobility Matters Summit
https://www.pdx.edu/education/om
Transportation experts Jesse Stemmler of TriMet, Walter Marchbanks of PDX Airport, Derek Abe of Alta Planning + Design, and Jim Elliott of Toole Design Group will discuss contemporary projects in Portland transit.
The latest innovations include mutual learning through visioning meetings, workshops, role play, models and discussion in a participatory and constructivist approach, one that Mobility Matters advocates.
“At Portland State our goal is to let knowledge serve the city, and through our U.S. DOT nationally funded center NITC we’re able to support applied research in inclusive design so that all community members of our city can benefit from better access to transportation options,” shared Jennifer Dill, Director of the Transportation Research and Education Center (TREC) at PSU.
Additionally, former Paralympian, downhill skiing gold medalist Mike May of GoodMaps, will speak about the recent mapping of PSU’s Smith Memorial Student Union building to increase access to wayfinding technology for visitors.
First held five years ago, Mobility Matters welcomes professionals, educators, students and community members from throughout the U.S. to join the conversation by attending.
This year the Mobility Matters Summit keynote address will focus on maximizing accessibility while maintaining sustainable development.
Purchase tickets to Mobility Matters 2022 here: https://sites.google.com/pdx.edu/mobilitymatters2022
About Áine Kelly-Costello, keynote speaker Áine Kelly-Costello
She is a blind and chronically-ill person with a background in disability and climate justice campaigning, and journalism.
She mainly grew up in Aotearoa, New Zealand and are currently based in Norway.
She holds degrees from the University of Auckland (NZ) and a Masters in Investigative Journalism from Gothenburg University in Sweden.
She has worked with climate campaigning organizations to educate about understanding disability justice as a part of climate justice, and taking steps towards making climate campaigning accessible and inclusive for disabled people.
Her conference keynote will draw on these themes, with a focus on transport justice and inclusive urban design, from a disability perspective.
Watch a promotional video featuring Áine here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RK0eXKXKJfo
Visit the Mobility Matters 2022 Summit site: https://sites.google.com/pdx.edu/mobilitymatters2022
Send your questions or comments to: omsummit@pdx.edu
Follow PSU’s Visually Impaired Learner (VIL) program on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PSUVIL
Sign up for the Mobility Matters Summit mailing list here: https://www.forms.gle/iJkU6aMzphiRvK1A8
It promises to be an important event providing lots of great information in the area of universal design.
It promises to be the kind of event that will cause you to think about how things are designed and how they effect the lives of everyone who will use them.
This includes people with disabilities who simply want to be a part of their community like everyone else.
Aine Kelly-Costello
Mike May
Walt Marchbanks
Samantha Stephan
I can’t leave without thanking you for your continued support.
Knowing you are out there watching and depending on me to keep showing up is a big help.
So, I want you to celebrate this honor right along with me. I couldn’t have come to the attention of a major conference organized by a prestigious program without your help.
Please help me celebrate by sharing the post or the links within it.
Thanks so much and take care out there, Max