Q The Conversation
Paul Amadeus Lane and Bryson Foster have teamed up to host a podcast designed to highlight assistive technology and the many great people and organizations supporting the disability community.
Guests will include nonprofit organizers, assistive technology experts and people making their unique mark in this exciting and ever-changing world.
This podcast is sponsored by Quantum Rehab. Paul and Bryson are both long-time users and advocates of Quantum power wheelchairs.
Q The Conversation
Stephanie Woodward
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An advocate, influencer, lawyer, super mom, nonprofit CEO and more. Stephanie shatters misconceptions when it comes to people living with disabilities. It is hard to conceptualize everything that Stephanie does but we try to unpack it all in this episode of Q The Conversation.
Edge 4 - the new and improved mid-wheel drive - group 3 complex rehab power wheelchair from Quantum Rehab. Uniting the best qualities of its predecessors with next-gen features, Edge 4 sets a new standard for mid-wheel drive excellence.
Quantum Rehab supports open and candid conversations between our hosts and guests. Views and opinions are theirs and do not necessarily represent the collective view of Quantum Rehab.
And I one day I asked him, I was like, how much are you getting paid for this? And he was like, Oh, I'm not. I'm getting, I'm volunteering to this. And I was like livid. I was like, you spending all of this time and you're not getting paid. We're broke. And he said, like, if you're not here to make the world a better place, then what the hell are you doing here? We want end users to have the absolute best. We create the cutting edge technology. We can't do that unless real wheelchair users are telling us what they want. And my voice isn't enough. I'm tired. I got a lot of kids, got big hair, big dreams, and I just keep going forward.
SPEAKER_05Not much. Paul, how are you doing? Glad that you've got your voice back. For those that don't know, last week we tried to record some stuff and Paul's voice was was was bad, but now he's back back to full strength. The duo is once again reunited on the mics.
SPEAKER_04You know what? I have the the stalker voice going on. You know, it's like, look out the window. What time are you home? You know, now I'm glad that that people are not scared when I call them and and talk with them. But Bryson, one thing about our voice, man, you know, you and I both use our voice professionally, and when it goes, man, it's scary.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, for sure. And you know, the week before you, Paul, I was the same way. Allergies are bad. You know that it's almost summertime, and man, pollen in the state of North Carolina is killer. It's brutal. I don't know if y'all have it out there in the big CA, but at North Carolina, it's it's bad. We're fighting for our lives right now.
SPEAKER_04Oh, we do. In California where I live, I live up in the high desert. And the pollen struggle is real. I go outside, my my eyes tear up. The bronchioles get the get the constricting and acting all weird. So as I'm getting older, Bryson, it's getting worse. You know, when I was younger, I would have a little bit problem here and there, but now it's like, man, I go outside, come at coughing and congested. But uh we keep it moving, brother. That's what we do.
SPEAKER_05You are exactly right, Paul. Can I call you Unc since you're saying you're getting older, or is that off limits? You want to stay young?
SPEAKER_04You you can call me Unk, and I and I'll call you uh Sir. So uh oh no, sorry. I am looking so forward to our guest today. I guess she's kind of like our boss. Um she's amazing, she takes no nonsense, she has triplets, she also has more kids, she has a husband, she's a lawyer, she's an activist. What doesn't she do, Bryson?
SPEAKER_05I know that's this one question I want to ask her. She wears so many different hats. Um, and in my opinion, not just saying this because she is our boss, but I truly do think, Paul, we talked about the Mount Rushmore of disability activists. Yeah. And in my opinion, I would put Stephanie up there. She's one of the goats. Just being able to work alongside her has been, I think, really encouraging for me. Getting to see all the ways that um, you know, she's making waves and really fighting for disability rights. I feel like it's been encouraging in my own journey, and seeing somebody else do that is a really great role model to have. So yeah, Paul, I'm super excited that to get to chat with her. We've got a lot to talk about because, like you said, she does so many things. And since this one is coming out near Mother's Day, we'll get to talk to her about that as well, which is gonna be really, really cool for sure.
SPEAKER_04So true. Bryson, we're like month and days away from summer. You got any big plans you're gonna be doing this summer?
SPEAKER_05Not that I know of yet, Paul, but I know we'll get into some trouble. But I will say, you you aren't really a NASCAR fan, I don't think, but for me, since I live about a half a mile from Charlotte Motor Speedway, the Coca-Cola 600 is Memorial Day weekend. You've got the Indy 500. So I'll be watching a lot of racing during that. And in my opinion, I feel like Memorial Day weekend is kind of the transition to, all right, we're in the summer days, but hopefully we'll be lounging by the pool Paul. Hopefully, we'll be doing a lot of great stuff, maybe a vacation or two in there. I'm not sure yet. But you know, with the summer coming, it'll be really nice to get back out there. And you know, it's going to be packed anywhere you go, which is always great to see so many smiling faces. I know, Bryson.
SPEAKER_04What I'm looking forward to uh the summer is playing more video games. That's what I'm gonna do. Even though the game that you and I can't wait to come out won't come out to September 15th, I think I'll take that time to catch up on some games I haven't had a chance to do because just being so busy. But that's what I'm looking forward to. The gaming, uh barbecuing, having a good time, uh fixing some vacations with the family and some friends, and you know, I'm I'm really working on my body composition now, Bryson. So I think this summer I want to go outside with my tank top on, and you know, I wanna be rolling in my wheelchair, and you know, I want people to look and say, Wow, look at them guns, sun's out, guns out. So that's kind of like what I want to do.
SPEAKER_05The next Arnold, you know, maybe he's in California. We gotta get you linked up. Absolutely.
SPEAKER_04So
Stephanie Joins the show
SPEAKER_04we welcome you to our show too. We can't forget about you know, you being a part of our show. Please like, subscribe, hit that notification bell, share these amazing episodes, and you know, without any further delay, Bryson, and invite our very special guests on. What do you think?
SPEAKER_05At this time, we want to bring on our very special guest, Miss Stephanie Woodward. Stephanie, welcome to the podcast. We're so happy to have you on. Oh, sir, thanks so much for having me, Stephanie.
SPEAKER_04Are you like my work wife now? What do you think? No, Unc. No, no. She irked me. Oh my goodness, I love it, Steph. Steph, Steph and I have a good relationship. We have a we joke around, we have a lot of fun. She irked me. She junked, she hunked me, sir. Can you believe that?
SPEAKER_05I I I feel happy I've started a trend, I think, Paul. I think uh all those times you called me Stirs, finally catching back up with you, don't you think?
SPEAKER_04It sure is, and Stephanie, we are so delighted to to talk with you to find out more just about your uh amazing life and all the things that you do. And and Stephanie, I'm I'm kind of afraid to ask this question because something tells me it's gonna be uh like a firecracker when I ask you this. So Stephanie, my dear, how do you describe yourself?
SPEAKER_03Uh tired most days. I describe myself as tired. Uh that's that's about as good as you can get. I I'm tired. I got uh a lot of kids, got big hair, big dreams, and I just keep going forward.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, you do, Stephanie. Um, how do you how do you have enough time just to to breathe sometimes? Because I, you know, your social media, you do a lot of things with the kiddos, husband, you travel a lot. How do you kind of just breathe sometimes?
SPEAKER_03Oh girl, I don't breathe, but thankfully I'm a great multitasker and like I can breathe while doing so many other things. So I mean, there's no time for that. I will say that sometimes my husband and I giggle and we go, like, remember when like we didn't have all these kids, and like on Saturdays and Sundays, my husband and I would go to coffee shops with our laptops and keep working all through the weekend because like we're we're we've always been the ADHD type of people who can't work one job. Like we have to do everything. And so we would spend all weekend just like doing work at a coffee shop, and then we genuinely believed we didn't have time, and now we like giggle and we're like, ha ha, we thought we were busy. Isn't that adorable? Now we do the same amount of work, just in a more condensed period of time, and keep five other kids alive. So, like, it's wild.
SPEAKER_04Bryson, I don't know where she gets all this energy from, but I gotta get me some, Bryce.
SPEAKER_05Uh same here, Paul. Same here. Um,
Stephanie's diagnosis
SPEAKER_05Stephanie, I know we're talking a lot about your present and all the stuff that you're involved in, and I'm excited to talk about that more with you. But I don't kind of want to go back back to the start and kind of talk about your medical diagnosis. You are a quantum wheelchair user and you're disabled yourself. Um, so if you feel comfortable, can you talk about kind of that process of you getting diagnosed and what your diagnosis is?
SPEAKER_03Oh, sure. Yeah. Um, I was uh I like, as Lady Gaga says, I was born this way. Um and I think that uh when I was younger, or when I was born born, my mom was like, something not right here. And the doctors were like, nah, everything's fine. So um very questionable medical practices happening there. Um later, a different family actually sued that doctor for another like failed diagnosis. And I remember being so upset about that because we drove by that family's house once and they had all of the blow up like Christmas decorations in their yard. And I was we just broke, like grew up broke, and I was like, mom, you could have sued them when we could have gotten blow up decorations. Um, but that didn't happen for me. So instead, I got my photobifida diagnosis later. I think I was like 18 months old, which is pretty late in the game to get your diagnosis. Um, and then I um spent most of my childhood in in a lot of hospitals for surgeries. And by the time I got to middle school, my dad was like, Hmm, you're gonna need a wheelchair. And I was like, No, I don't want people to know I'm disabled. And he's like, I got news for you, kid. Everybody knows. So you can either like live your life with what you need to be successful, or you could worry about what other people think about you, your choice. And so I got my brother's column share.
SPEAKER_05That's awesome. That's awesome. And and um, I want to stay there because you mentioned uh your dad and in a article we were doing our our research uh about you. Um, you credited your father, you know, with his uncompromising expectations for the path that you were on. And and like you said, he really pushed you into that um and really, you know, helped elevate you to the love you are today. Can you talk about how instrumental he's been to you and maybe anybody else in your life growing up that was instrumental to make you the person you are today?
SPEAKER_03Oh, well, thanks for asking about my dad. I love talking about him. Um, yeah, my dad honestly was absolutely instrumental. I think that a lot of people with disabilities have the great disservice of growing up with parents who have low expectations for them. And um, my dad had no plans of letting that happen to me. I was held to the same standard, if not a higher standard, than my non-disabled brother and sister. Um, and he was very honest with me from a very young age that, like, life's not fair. And you shouldn't have to work harder for other people to take you just as seriously. But that's what the reality is. If you want to be taken seriously by non-disabled people, you need to work harder and be smarter than them. And then maybe, just maybe, they might see you as an equal, but still probably not. Um, so I took that to heart, and I um I still see it to this day, and I don't believe that's the world I want to live in. I want to come to a world where we don't underestimate and devalue people based on disability, but working within the constructs of what we're in, that's the reality, and I can work to change that while also working to ensure that people take me seriously, and that means working harder.
SPEAKER_04And Stephanie, one thing that we admire about your personality is that you like to discuss things. At a young age, did you know you wanted to be a lawyer because you had the lawyer kind of gene in you to become a lawyer?
Path to becoming a Lawer
SPEAKER_03I will say I learned about um I learned about lawyers in a very interesting way. Um, I had a surgery, so this is before I was a full-time wheelchair user. Um, I had a surgery that required me to use a wheelchair when I went back to school, and my music wing was like up a ramp. It was an addition to the school, so it was up a ramp, and I wheeled up the ramp, and the music teacher came up to me and said that she didn't think that I should be able to come to music class because it was very dangerous for me to be on the ramp. Because what if I hurt another student? And I just started laughing because, like, even eight-year-old me in third grade knew that like ramps are quite literally for access. Like, what? I went home, I told my dad this. I genuinely thought he was gonna bust out laughing like it was the funniest joke in the world. He did not laugh. Um, he did not look happy at all. So the next day, instead of taking the bus to school, he took me to school and uh he went checking in and said, I want to talk to the principal. They said, he's busy. And my dad said, Okay, I guess I'll get the ADA involved. And suddenly people were jumping, like jumping. Like the principal was in a room. So many other people were in this room, and my dad made sure that I was in the room because from a very young age, the rule was there was not a meeting to happen without me if I was not in the room. So did I always understand what was happening? No, but I understood that if it was about me, I was gonna be there. And um, my dad made it very clear that I had rights and this was not gonna happen again. People were quite literally shaking. So after we left, I was like, Dad, what's the ADA? Because like I saw the power in that. And he was like, um, thinking about it, like a bunch of lawyers in wheelchairs who don't take anything from anybody. And uh, he might have added some profanity in there as well. Um, damn, let's say don't take any crap from anybody. And I was like, oh wow, I want to be the ADA. Now that's not at all what the ADA is. The ADA is disability rights law, but like that's how he was able to help me conceptualize that as a third grader. And from that day on, I was like, that's gonna be me. I'm doing that.
SPEAKER_04So that's awesome. We hear the origin story of you being being the best lawyer out there fighting for our cause. We really appreciate that. And did that experience kind of shape your view that it's helped you to fight for ones like ourselves with disabilities?
SPEAKER_03No, I think I've had a lot of experiences um fighting for disability rights. I do think that for a very long time I was kept separated from other disabled people, which I think was also a disservice for me, but my parents didn't know that at the time. They thought that, like, if I was treated as a quote unquote regular kid, then I would be more successful. So like I did not get integrated with any of the kids with disabilities who were perhaps in, you know, the segregated classrooms, things like that. Um, and it wasn't until I was older I went to Ireland and people kept asking me, like, how did you get here? Because I was studying abroad and I was like, oh, airplane. And they're like, no, no, but you're in a wheelchair, so how did you get here? And I was like, airplane. And they're like, no, but you're in a wheelchair. And I was like, mm-hmm, still airplane. And I didn't like understand what the issue was. So um I came back to the United States and I started volunteering for a disability rights organization. And that's when I got to see disability issues in a scale that was larger than myself and see injustices that other disabled people were experiencing that I never experienced and get pissed off about that too. Like if you're pissed off about your own injustices you're experiencing, and then there's more that other people are experiencing. I will say it's sometimes a lot easier to advocate for someone else than it is to advocate for yourself. And I was eager to jump in and fight for everybody.
SPEAKER_04Go get Stephanie mad, Bryson. Go get her mad.
SPEAKER_05I know she's always fired up, but that's the, but but that's something I admire about you as well, Stephanie. And I think that this question might fire you up as well, but it's one that I was really interested when writing. I was like, I really want to hear her opinion because Paul and I have talked about some of the issues and problems that are facing um the community of disabled people. Um, but what issue do you think is the most pressing one that people with disabilities are facing currently today?
SPEAKER_03Oh, God, there's so many. The first one that will always come to mind for me, first and foremost, always at my heart, is um the unnecessary institutionalization of people with disabilities. There are people like me and you two right now stuck in nursing facilities and other institutions for no other reason but because they have disabilities. Like they there's no reason that they cannot and should not be living in the community, but we have created a system that says if you are disabled, default is living in the nursing home. Living in the community is a privilege, a privilege that so many of us do not recognize because it seems so obvious, so inherent to like the American way, right? You get to choose where you live unless you're disabled, in which case you can be forced against your will into a nursing facility or an institution. And I think that that is outrageous. Um, I hate the thought that there is someone in a facility somewhere that is just like me. But because they didn't have the same supports that I had in my life, they ended up on a different track. And that's not okay. Um, so there are a lot of other issues beyond that education, employment, like pay, wages, so much, accessible housing. But if we can't even get to the community to have the privilege of experiencing those other issues, there's a serious problem.
SPEAKER_04And Stephanie, here's the um it it's like we've been invited to a poker game and given a fixed deck. And the reason why I say that is okay, they uh want to put us in in nursing facilities, managed care, and they talk about how much money they have to spend on us. But then when we want to be out in the community, get a job, do something, they want to say, Oh, you can only make so much because of this and that. And and Stephanie, where is the disconnect with reality, with people who make these decisions to see that it's not like a one-size-fit-all when it comes to us in the community and trying to work and trying to live?
SPEAKER_03I mean, I think that there are so many layers to this and so many stigmas and stereotypes that feed into this perception. Um, so first of all, studies have shown over and over and over again that it is actually cheaper to support a disabled person to live in the community than it is to ever provide them with institutionalization. So, like, step one, like beyond like any general reason of like basic human rights, humanity, things like that, if we're just talking numbers and all your you just care about saving money, disabled people in the community is cheaper. Period. Like, period. And then if you like, I don't know, have a conscience or a soul, think about you being trapped in a room watching Judge Judy episodes over and over again and eating crappy tilapia. That is what life is in a facility. Like, does anybody deserve that? Like, shout out to Judge Judy, but you can only handle so many episodes. My goodness. Like, so no, like, and I think that like there's a lot of disconnects. This idea that people with disabilities are not capable. Um, non-disabled people creating these laws, not looking at other laws, not finding the conflicts. Like, you can live in the community, but you can't make more than this amount of money, otherwise, you're losing your attendant support. But if you had to pay for your attendant support out of pocket, there's no way you could afford to live in the community. It is wild. And it is just so much better for our entire community financially and just, I don't know, human humanity to support disabled people living in the community. And so many disabled people honestly don't even need support. They just need you to create the access.
SPEAKER_04So true, Bryce, and that's why you don't mess with Steph. She will put you in your place. That's what I'm talking about, Bryce.
SPEAKER_03I feel like I'm being very gentle, honestly.
SPEAKER_04You know, you are, you are, you are, but but but but not everybody knows you like that, Steph.
SPEAKER_03You can't be mad at a girl for being passionate. If I was a boy, you'd call me a boss, but suddenly because I'm a girl, I'm bossy.
SPEAKER_04No, no, no. You know, I I I you know I'm a big advocate for for women in power because I mean it's true, you know, people men get passionate about they say women, women are losing their mind, and that's wrong. You know, it's like passion is passion. No matter if it's a man or a woman, Stephanie, we need more of that. We need more of that passion. So keep on speaking up and and giving that passion to us.
SPEAKER_03You gotta recruit more people to join.
SPEAKER_04Absolutely. Bryant, where's your passion?
SPEAKER_05Everywhere, Paul, everywhere. But Stephanie, I'm I want to continue kind of with this a little bit to I know that we've talked a lot of issues, but you give back in a lot of ways to other people. We talked about your
Disability EmpowHer Network
SPEAKER_05experience as a lawyer, how you're fighting for people, but there's a sign right behind you the Disability Empower Her Network. So can you talk to us about that? What do you all do, and why was this so important for you to create this organization?
SPEAKER_03Oh well, thanks for asking. That's really kind of you. All right. So um I mean, my entire life has been about giving back. So just to back us up, um one time my dad, uh, I was very upset for him for like spending a long time fixing like hot boxes. That's what we call them, like these little metal boxes um that were used to deliver meals on wheels to people. And I one day I asked him, I was like, how much are you getting paid for this? And he was like, Oh, I'm not. I'm getting I'm volunteering to this. And I was like livid. I was like, You spending all of this time and you're not getting paid. We're broke. Like I grew up, when I say we grew up broke, like we grew up broke. Um and he sat me down and like went through a lot of um visual lessons with me to show me like that I have a lot of time left on my life. And he said, like, if you're not here to make the world a better place, then what the hell are you doing here? And I keep that in mind in absolutely everything that I do because um very much like I don't want to leave a room unless I'm leaving it better than which I found it. I don't want to leave this world unless I'm leaving it better than the way I found it. Um, so disability and power network is part of that. Um, I think that Paul and I touched on a little bit, like girls and women with disabilities experience different discrimination, different stereotypes, different barriers than men with disabilities or women without disabilities. So Disability and Power Network is an organization run by and for girls and women with disabilities to help disabled girls and women gain the confidence and the skill sets that they need to become leaders. Um, and I started this, I lovingly referred to it as my pandemic baby. Um, so uh when the pandemic came, the courts didn't really know how to function for a while. So uh me being a lawyer, like, I couldn't do much if the courts weren't functioning. Um, and I had always thought about starting a not-for-profit, but I had like imposter syndrome and I was like, I'm never gonna do this. But I had the time, so I ordered some books on how to start a not-for-profit, non-for-profits for like dummies or beginners or whatever. Um, and here I am now. Uh, we are five years in, going on six years at the end of this year. Um, we welcome an all uh volunteer organization with no budget, and now we are going strong. We have, I want to say, 10 staff now. Um, and we're providing programs for disabled girls and women across the country to help them be confident leaders.
SPEAKER_04Wow. Can can we get a job with you, Stephanie?
SPEAKER_03Well, Paul, as long as you identify as a woman or a non-binary person that likes women programming, so you tell me if you feel like you're our demographic, because I'm not gonna tell you who you are.
SPEAKER_04Well, we'll we'll we'll see what we can do about that. But so, Steph, you also are um pretty instrumental when it comes to the quantum uh brand ambassador program. And the growth that we've had over years has been amazing. Steph, do you remember the first conversation you and I had when I was brought on as an ambassador? Bryson, I don't think she's she's never told anybody this. So Stephanie and I had our interaction, and I was like, Well, what's social media? I I don't I don't post on social media. What's that? And she was like, Oh, I don't know why we brought you on there. I was just I was just messing with her because uh I want her to to just just not like me right away, but she uh she actually liked me, so we were all cool. But Stephanie, you remember that the conversation we had?
SPEAKER_03I mean, I don't remember it word for word. I do remember that you like to play from the jump, and um I guess the jury's still out on if I really like you.
SPEAKER_04I know, I know, I know. Bryson, you gotta you gotta do the uh the tiebreaker vote, Bryson. So but uh but uh but Bri uh but uh but Stephanie, how rewarding has that been for you? Because Bryson and I see you in a different light than what other people see you as, especially in that
Quantum Ambassador Team
SPEAKER_04in that role. And how rewarding is that for you? We see it, but please explain that to others.
SPEAKER_03I mean, I guess no one ever asks me about this. This is so exciting. Y'all are asking me such kind questions. Um, this is something I I take a lot of joy in um because it's behind the scenes, and a lot of people don't get to see the effort, the thought, and the love that goes into this. Um, so I joined Quantum as an ambassador when I was still in law school. Um, and I was like just doing my faithful duty, uh, contributing to quantum. And quantum is an incredible family. So when I asked for an opportunity to grow, they were like, yes, girl, let's go. Um, and they gave me the privilege of being able to help continue to develop this team. And when I came and I said, I really want to show that quantum is for everybody and for all bodies, they were completely on board. So we were able to really start bringing in even more ambassadors, more uh Q role models that um really demonstrate that, like diversity in geography, in disability, in body types, in careers. Um, and I love that because I firmly believe that quantum chairs are for everybody and for everybody. Um, and I love the ways that we've been able to bring in more people in equitable ways. So not only do like we identify people with it, we think, like, hey, you should join the team, but we've had the Q role model contest for so many years, um, where people are able to just post on social media saying, This is why you should pick me. And like it is so cool to see the amount of people who participate in that, the people who come from that who win the contest and how much they contribute to our team. Like it it brings a lot of joy to me to see how our team has grown, how our team has evolved and and our leadership's commitment to authenticity, the fact that they care so much about ensuring that our chairs are represented by authentic wheelchair users, and they trust me as an authentic quantum wheelchair user to oversee this team. Like it's a huge honor that I don't get to talk about very often.
SPEAKER_04No, it's an honor to have you lead us, Steph, because you you are amazing. And I remember when I first became uh um an ambassador, well, I was a friend of quantum first. Um, they wanted to test the waters out first, y'all. They was like, are we gonna like this dude or what? So uh the I remember looking at all the ambassadors, and I remember this cute little kid with the squeaky voice who had these cheeks. And I was like, he is so cute. And I didn't realize Bryson was like 18 years old. I thought he was like, you know, so and and and and it's great now to be working with Bryson closely on his podcast, but uh, but but but thank you, you know, for all that you do for us.
SPEAKER_03Uh, you're such a sweet hype girl. Like, honestly, I do it for the community. I don't do it for you as much as you'd like to think. Uh, but genuinely, I want I want people to look at our team and see themselves in us. Like that is my goal. And if you can't look at our team and see someone that you can relate to, that you could say they're like me, then I have not done my job. And I'm gonna continue to work to do my job and do it well because quantum really is for everybody.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, so true. Real talk, Bryson. Real talk.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, for sure. And then and Stephanie, too, with with me coming in. I know I had been a part of quantum for a while in a different capacity. And then you helped me kind of come in to be a friend of quantum and now a brand new bastard, and now a podcast host. So I thank you for for that because I feel like in a lot of ways, I can speak for myself, but probably for a lot of others. You've helped put us on this trajectory where we're able to be activists in our own right. So I really appreciate that and all you've done for me as well. And talking about the future and the next step. You talk, we talked about, you know, the friend of quantum, the brand ambassador, the Q role model, all those great programs. But I think the next phase for Quantum is coming with the Wheelhouse Council. So can you talk a little bit about what that is and what purpose
Wheelhouse Consumer Council
SPEAKER_05uh will it serve and what will y'all be getting into?
SPEAKER_03Oh my God, I am so delighted to talk about this. I'm really excited. It is like right on the cusp of getting started. Um, so the wheelhouse council is going to be composed of 24 actual wheelchair users. So CRT complex, rehab technology, wheelchair users. So the power chairs that are really fit to make our body. Um, and of those 24, we've made it a guideline for us that at all times, one third of them have to be non-quantum wheelchair users. Because when I say like we want the perspectives of everybody, I'm not joking around. I don't want to just sit and talk to the choir here, right? So we are bringing in 24 different people, different diagnoses, different backgrounds, different experiences to come and talk to us. Talk to us about absolutely everything. What is going well with wheelchairs? What needs to change about the industry? What needs to be in the future of the next chairs? We're going to get down to the nitty-gritty, like what kind of joysticks, what's your cushion life like? What are the barriers to getting a chair? Like policies versus like practicalities, everything in between, because we want end users to have the absolute best. We create the cutting edge technology. We can't do that unless real wheelchair users are telling us what they want. And my voice isn't a knob. Like, I can tell you what I think, but I don't live in Arizona in the heat. Maybe the chairs need something different there. Like my body, like I have two legs. What do amputees need? Like, I really want to know perspectives from everybody. And quantum wants to know. So, this wheelhouse council, people are going to serve terms of three years, which allows them to really give feedback that is meaningful. They can see the changes that we're making based on their feedback and continuously provide us more information in order to continuously improve. And what's really important to me is the equity in this. We are not asking people to do this for free. All of our wheelhouse council members are getting a stipend for their work because disabled people shouldn't work for free. Your input is valuable and we're going to show you that we are going to value you.
SPEAKER_04Now, do we know any anybody on the wheelhouse council?
SPEAKER_03Uh, you're gonna know several people on the wheelhouse council. I don't think we've announced the full lineup yet. Um, but our first wheelhouse council meeting will be in May, and so we should be announcing the lineup by then. Um, and we are so grateful to every single person for um joining us. And I will say to get us started, we are having eight of those spots for the very first year be filled by members of our brand ambassador team to help get those conversations going. Because when I say I really want to know what you think, I really want to know what you think. And I don't want anyone to feel like they have to hold back. So our brand ambassadors are gonna give us just as much information and be just as direct and real with us as everyone else so that everyone can get the five, but like there are no wrong answers here, and you don't have to censor yourself for me. If something sucks, tell me it sucks because we can't change it if you don't say it.
SPEAKER_04I love that. And you know, our our producer Keith is in the back. See, Keith, I I thought you were the only one that didn't love me. Not not getting my edge for, but but but but me not being a part of the council, a brother's hurt. A brother's hurt. I I really am, I really am.
SPEAKER_05Have you ever heard of that song, Paul, by Chelsea Timberlake, Crimea River?
SPEAKER_04That's a yes crying river, yes. If Stephanie's eyes had lasers in them, she would cut through me right now. You should see her eyes right now.
SPEAKER_03Mostly because you didn't read your email, Paul. You received an invitation.
SPEAKER_04You know, I'm kind of passive aggressive, right? So I would I I I just wanted to hear you say that, Stephanie. That's that's all I wanted to hear, but but but it's not about me, Steph. It's about you because in May it's all about honoring mothers, and and mothers is on a lot of people's minds, Stephanie. And when it comes to being a mom, that's your you're an amazing mom too, Stephanie. You you are just amazing. What can we do to focus on mothers who are making differences in the disability community? Can you um talk to us about how being a mother has has really changed your life?
SPEAKER_03Oh, God. I mean, I you did ask me how to describe myself. The
Motherhood
SPEAKER_03tired part is definitely coming from uh everything, including the kids. Um, I will say when we're talking about honoring mothers, I want us to think about mothers at a much broader capacity than we think of it right now. Um, because before I had all of these incredible kids, I was a woman trying to have kids. I wanted so bad to be a mom. My husband and I went through years of infertility and thousands upon thousands of dollars to get to the kids that we have today. Um and we had miscarriages. Our first daughter was still born, and my identity as a mom felt really shaky and unsure and invalidating when everyone was like, Well, you don't have any kids. When in fact, like I worked very hard and wanted to have kids, and I did. I had a daughter, she wasn't there anymore. Um, and then suddenly it was like when you try to press print and no, your printing doesn't come out. I was like, me and my husband, suddenly we had two foster boys and triplets all in one year. And I was like, I was trying for one kid. What happened here? Um, so now my idea of being a mom is very different because I genuinely went from trying so, so hard to being like, Lord, slow down. Like, I think you got the messages next time. Like, this is a bit more than what I was anticipating. Um, and so I see motherhood in so many different ways. And I also just see the double standards that we hold for moms with disabilities. Um, and I just talked about this today on uh my good friend TikTok, um, where um I have a nanny. I have a nanny. That's like a normal thing that parents have. Like privileged parents, like I feel very privileged that I have a nanny rather than sending my kids to daycare. Um, and that's only because I have triplets. Like it would, it would, it's cheaper to have a nanny. Let me be very clear. Uh, because three kids in daycare, yikes. But because I have a nanny, the amount of people who are like, oh, you're able to care for your children because you have a non-disabled nanny. And I'm like, first of all, very interesting that you've decided that my nanny who you've never met is non-disabled. Step one. Um, two, if any other mom has a nanny, it's considered childcare, it's considered normal, it's considered support, it's considered responsible. But because I have a nanny, I'm not raising my kids. Like, talk to me about that double standard. That doesn't make sense. Like, other kids, you get a pool in your backyard for your kids to play. Oh my god, you're the greatest parents ever. You're so much fun. My husband and I have a pool. We are unsafe. Who's watching those children in the pool? What if they drown? Nobody seems to ask, like, hey, you got any qualifications? Because um, perhaps first of all, you shouldn't have to ask about my qualifications, but if you did, you would know my husband is a dive master. A dive master is an incredibly high level of scuba diving certification. And prior to dive masker, you have to become a rescue diver. So my husband can't just save kids in the pool. He saves kids in the ocean. The fresh ocean. I think we can handle the pool that's nine feet deep in our backyard just fine. So I would say when we're talking about moms with disabilities, the first thing you can do to support us is to stop holding double standards for us.
SPEAKER_04That makes sense. Steph, what's uh we want to give a shout out to husband too? He's a he's amazing. Uh um, I I love the interaction that you have with him on social media and everything. Yes, really, really show your relationship, and it's uh it's awesome. So let's give a shout-out to your husband.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, my husband, he's the likable one in our relationship. His name is Ryan, and he's pretty fantastic. The only downside is he's very athletic and like I would rather sit on my couch.
SPEAKER_04Yeah. And and Steph, I just was one thing you brought up. And and Bryson, I'll throw it back to you. And I remember Steph when when you had your daughter. And Steph, your strength after that. I I've never seen nothing like that before. And I remember reaching out to you, sending you a text message and everything, and I was that that that that's when I realized, Stephanie, that you you're something special. I mean, not just a cool person. I mean, you are something special. There's people out there that do some pretty cool things and have some pretty amazing abilities, you know, their character and everything. But no, Stephanie, you are one of the few who are just different. You're special and your your resilient attitude, the way that you just keep it moving, the way you empower these other women. Ryson talked about the Mount Rushmore. I mean, you're on that Mount Rushmore of the disabled community because not only do you talk about it, Steph, you be about it too. So I just want to give you flowers when it comes to that. So thank you for being you.
SPEAKER_03Y'all, I should come here more often. I have not gotten this much hype energy in a long time. Um, but I appreciate you saying that, and I appreciate you acknowledging Joe, that's our daughter. Um, I think it's really important because a lot of people who experience stillbirth, they get uh post-traumatic stress disorder because society tells us not to talk about it. It makes everyone else uncomfortable, so we don't talk about it. And then parents are living with that grief for the rest of their lives on their own and in silence. So for me to talk about it is really important. But for people who are not parents to acknowledge it and see the importance and talk about it, I think not only helps me, but it helps every other parent who has experienced this um to just feel that lightness that like there's someone else in this world that knows and supports us. So thank you.
SPEAKER_04Yeah. I'm sorry, I I didn't mean to I mean to damper the mood. I'm sorry, but uh no, no, you're good, Paul.
SPEAKER_05And you know, I think Stephanie, like Paul said, I second every everything you said. See, and the way that you've come through, and I think um, you know, from a religious standpoint, Paul and I are both, you know, uh men of faith. I really think that, you know, God has given you a lot of blessings as well. And I know we got to go through the hard times. And it's so great to see um, you know, you as a as a mom now, but five kids, I'll tell you what, like I don't know how you do it, you know, uh, but you know, I think I think it's so great to see um that. And I think kind of staying on this point, I want to talk to you a little bit more. Um, I feel like we see a lot um with different activist groups or in in interabled relationships. We see a lot of stereotypes or these um ableist thought processes. And I think you touched on it a little bit, even as a mother, I'm sure that people go, well, how do they care for them? They're they're in a wheel, they're in wheelchairs, which just doesn't make any sense because I don't think um being disabled or not makes you a good parent. That's just not what it is. So um when people want to write those comments on maybe your Instagram or other accounts, I mean you kind of touched on it. What would you say to people who want to come out with these maybe insensitive comments? How would you advise them maybe to take a take a step back and to change the way um that they view motherhood and also marriage in general?
SPEAKER_03Well, I think that um the best way to address your own biases and stereotypes when it comes to different issues or communities is to follow them, right? Like I you have bias against disabled people, follow disabled people, follow disabled-led organizations, follow creators, not one, like 50. Immerse yourself with this information so that you can see that perhaps your beliefs that you have held on to for so long are not exactly true whatsoever. There is nothing that can pin those beliefs down when and some people get really frustrated by that. And I think that that's what they see when sometimes when they see my husband and I do something that is very mundane, average, normal that a non-disabled person could do, but usually they're too lazy. I think there's this base of like insecurity of like, how are you disabled, but you are just as able as I am? And like life's not a competition, my friend. Like, it doesn't matter. Like when my husband, like there was a video of him like removing snow from our driveway. That's a pretty standard thing that we do here in upstate New York. We remove snow from our driveways, and everyone was up in arms, like, oh my God, the man in the wheelchair, oh, how could he possibly do this? And I'm like, listen, Chad, you can do it too. Grab your shovel, go outside, but don't be upset that my husband had the energy to go do it, and you're just got the energy to comment about how terrible it is. Like, get a life. Um, so my second, I guess, uh piece of advice is get a life. Um, but truly, like, if you wouldn't say it to my face, like let's be serious. Could you stop typing? But there are so many things that people say to my face that it honestly doesn't surprise me what they type. So sometimes I genuinely try to frame this as what if someone actually is asking because this is genuine? Like, I will laugh at a question like, how do you change a baby's diaper? But what if they're not asking to be a jerk? What if it's another wheelchair user who wants to have a kid someday who wants to know how to change a diaper? Whether or not that's true, that's the way I'm gonna frame it in my mind. And I'm gonna answer that question for you. Because if I answer that question for you, then maybe, just maybe, you will give the next disabled person less hard of a time. Maybe you'll just assume that they're competent and they can do it. Um, and that's my goal because honestly, my husband and I didn't start making TikToks because we wanted to be TikTok famous. We did it because, as I said, like we went through a lot of infertility. And when we were finally pregnant with the triplets, um we wanted a space that we could share that joy that wouldn't cause pain to some of our friends who are still going through infertility. So we created a separate space on TikTok and said, like, if you want to follow our journey, like this is where it's gonna be. If you don't, we're not gonna put it on our personal pages because we don't want to inadvertently hurt somebody. Um, and from that, the amount of strangers who had a lot of opinions about the fact that I was pregnant um wrote a lot of hateful things. And that's when my husband and I were like, we need to keep doing this. Like, we have to keep doing this to educate people because if people are being like this wild to us, and like we're very confident people who genuinely laugh at a lot of these comments. Um what if someone else isn't posting, but they're experiencing this in their own lives? And what if we can help change perspectives so that the next generation of disabled people don't have to deal with the same crap?
SPEAKER_05Really well said. Really well said. I I was kind of wondering because I know that you see those comments on everybody's page who's trying to be display activists. I think that's really, really great advice. Um, staying on this uh of you being a mother, um, my next question before you is what is the part, what is the best part of being a mom to you? I know that there's probably a lot of things you can list, but what is the best part of being a mom?
SPEAKER_03Oh, there's like there's literally so many good parts. Um I think the first thing that comes to mind is I love watching my kids discover something for the first time. Like, and the joy that it brings them. Like my two boys joined our family through foster care. Um, and one day, like, I don't know, like the Mario movie or something was out. And I was like, let's go see a movie. It never occurred to me that they had never been to a movie theater before. And like the joy and amazement that they experienced of like popcorn, like popcorn from a bending, like the machine with the butter, and you could have as much butter as you want. Oh my god. The theater, they asked if they could run up and down the aisle, like there was no one else there. And I'm like, yeah, bro, like go touch every seat, like do it. Like it was so much fun for them to just have that joy. My my uh eight-year-old recently discovered binders, like, and you would think that like he went to Disneyland. I'm gonna take him to Staples next because the amount of office supplies that are gonna blow him away. Like, he's so excited. And uh my triplets are just now discovering blowing kisses, so like they're like, and I just think it's the cutest thing ever. I love just seeing our kids discover new things and bringing their personalities to it is just so much fun.
SPEAKER_05Well, you talked about Joel. Well, hearing you talk about it, I think brings Paul and I a lot of joy. It's that's wonderful. And I tell you what, I get that excited at movie theaters too. So I get it, I get it.
SPEAKER_03Right, but Lisa.
SPEAKER_04Steph, did you call the guy Chad?
SPEAKER_03Chad's brands, they're just like Karen's.
SPEAKER_04I love I love that. I love that. You know, one thing about it, you and your husband are really our dynamic jewel, and we uh we appreciate what you all have. Stephanie, who has been instrumental to you? Because you've been instrumental to a lot of us in the disabled community now. Who has been instrumental to you?
SPEAKER_03Oh my gosh, it is so hard to like narrow down that list. Um, let me go quick. We already talked to my dad, absolutely life-changing. Um, my husband, I will say that as much as I am for women power, like those are the two men that have come through over and over again. Um, Yoshiko Dart, if you don't know Yoshiko, y'all should Google her. Um I think there's an article called The Life and Occasionally Scandalous Times of Yoshiko Dart. Um, people don't know her name enough. So Justin Dart is often attributed as being the father of the ADA. He was a wheelchair user, he was very prominent, um, really helped get the ADA passed. Yoshiko was his wife, and that's how a lot of people describe her as Justin's wife. They don't seem to understand that like they're saying like Justin went to all 50 states to like gather stories of the disability community to serve as the foundation of the ADA. You know who was right next to Justin the whole damn time? Yoshiko. You know who got Justin in and out of bed every single day? Yoshiko! Like, let's not underestimate or undervalue the women, the women who are supporting disabled people, but also the women who supported our entire community. Yoshiko helped gather those stories just as much. And Yoshiko is so committed now to supporting young people with disabilities. It is a passion of hers. And she will go to great lengths when I was like 19 and clearly not like put together whatsoever. Like she didn't have to give me the time of day, but when I asked her for coffee, she said, let's go get dinner. And she has made space for me in her life. Um, and she doesn't have to make space for me. She has given me guidance and love um and mentorship. And I appreciate Yoshiko so much. And then on the other side, um, Sophie Poost. Sophie is our director of programs at uh Disability and Power Network. She is one of my closest friends. Um, I met her when she was out of college looking for a job, and she came in young and hungry and with a lot of energy. And I hired her, and I was like, this girl is gonna need some guidance, but like she can go. And when I um started Disability and Power Network, I always said, the moment I have money, before I ever pay for myself, I will pay to hire Sophie because she is that good. And I get to continuously learn from her. Um, and as much as she thinks I'm a mentor, she is a mentor to me. Just uh it's a two-way street. And I I feel so lucky to get to work with one of my best friends every day.
SPEAKER_04I love that. That's that's amazing. And uh Stephanie, I can't believe that our discussion is slowly coming to an end in in Bryson. Um, any any last closing questions for our dear friend Steph?
SPEAKER_05Yeah, I have I have one left for you, Stephanie. This is one we ask everybody that comes on. Um, what does the next chapter have in store for you? What's next for you?
SPEAKER_03Oh gosh, I hope not more kids. Uh um, I think I I'm gonna continue uh to grow, to continue to learn and be in community with other people. Um, I set a lot of goals. I'm one of those people that like sets 50 New Year's resolutions and works to achieve all of them. And one of my goals this year is to uh positively impact like in a very tangible way, 500 people with disabilities, and not like in a ripple effect way, but like I can point to, I can name to what did I do for you, with you to support you. Um, so that is my goal this year, and I truly hope to achieve it. So if there's anything I can be doing to help you, um, as in you two in front of me, or anyone, uh you, uh those listening in the world, please reach out to me. I when I am so genuine and I say I really want to help lift other disabled people up.
SPEAKER_04Well, Stephanie, what can we do to help you as well? Bryson and I will be there to babysit. Um, so we'll have to.
SPEAKER_03I'm sending my kids now. Don't you play with me, I'll put them on the plane.
SPEAKER_04We'll do it. They then they they can come, they come hang out with us anytime, and uh and we'll definitely have a blast. And Steph, I just want to want you to know that again, we really appreciate all that you've done for us personally, all that you've done for the community. You are one of the people that I look up to in this uh disability space because you you tell it like a TI is, but you know, you always do it with with love, you always do it with with compassion. Never lose that. Always have that that that grit about you because it's needed out here in these streets. And uh Bryce, any closing words for our good friend?
SPEAKER_05Yes, Stephanie, thank you so much for coming on. This was a really fun discussion. Um, like like Paul and I have talked about, I love your personality. I always have always loved when you would lead meetings uh for quantum, and now getting to talk to you more in depth is just really cool. So um, you're one of my goats for quantum, in my opinion. One of my goats in general, not my dad. One of the greatest of all time. Um, but thank you for taking time to speak with us, and it was definitely a lot of fun. And we have to do it again here soon.
SPEAKER_03Thank you both so much for having me. We're gonna have to make this like a monthly thing so I can get like this kind of joy and pep talk because I could use this all the time.
SPEAKER_04Let's do it, and you make sure you hug and kiss the babies for us, all right?
SPEAKER_03You got it. Thanks so much for having me, guys.
SPEAKER_04Bryce, I'm telling you, I love Steph. I think we all love Steph. I mean, she is her personality, her demeanor. I mean, she has she has helped me out so much. You know, I enjoy uh chatting with her about certain things and and and Bryson, yeah, she is she is the goat. She's the goat up there. She's like, and Bryson, you're you're the baby goat, you know, with especially with those cute little cheeks.
SPEAKER_05Well, Paul, you're the goat of all unks, in my opinion. Um, but yes, Stephanie's so great. I really think when Paul, we talked about it when you think of names that are synonymous with quantum, her name is one that comes up. I think that is true with um disability activism as well. And like I said, she's a really great role model to follow. And I think for me and you, it's been really encouraging um in our own journeys, helping us with potential activism, I think, um, and also listening to her talk about her kids. It's just such a beautiful episode. Um, this is definitely, I think, my favorite for sure. But yes, Paul, I love Stephanie as well. Hey, I think she should run for president or role because it's the wheelchair, you know. I think he deserves a bit of a reprieve. Bryson Foster, and we will see you next time when we cue the conversation once again.
SPEAKER_02Quantum rehab supports open and candid conversations between our hosts and guests. Views and opinions are theirs and do not necessarily represent the collective view of quantum rehab.
SPEAKER_00Switch-operated LED access lights are integrated into the casters for increased light projection. The Edge 4 continues to improve upon Quantum's well-known independent smooth ride suspension. It comes available in 17 colored choices, including 9 brand new quantum colors. The newest addition to Quantum's successful edge lineup, the Edge 4, is available now. Check it out at QuantumRehab.com.
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