What happens when a 45 mph collision meets an unbreakable spirit and a blue-haired comic with a power chair? We sat down with Diamond Debbie to trace a life rebuilt through mobility, stand-up, and stubborn joy. She walks us through the moments that shaped her—childhood illness, a horseback accident in the Superstition Mountains, and the day a car hit her chair and she kept rolling—and shows how advocacy and humor turned survival into momentum.

We explore the real mechanics of accessibility: why taking a power chair off a sidewalk can void a warranty, how paratransit rules shape daily freedom, and the small hacks that make outdoor life possible, from portable ramps to finding a plug before the battery dips. Debbie shares how performing comedy became a lifeline, including her punchy one-minute Kill Tony set and the ritual of showing up early, staying late, and keeping her name in the bucket. The conversation grounds big ideas—mobility rights, disability advocacy, urban design—in concrete details that any listener can use.

Austin plays a starring role. Debbie maps out the city’s smoother sidewalks, widened paths, and a community that steps up when a wheel sinks in the mud. She’s candid about the gaps too: historic stairs that still block stages, and the DIY ways she raised money for ramps. Along the way, we talk about the healing power of sunshine and wind, why she goes outside 365 days a year, and how a hammock clipped to a chair can change a day. It’s a story of persistence, creativity, and the belief that public space and a microphone can restore something essential.

If you’re chasing a stage, fighting for access, or just need proof that courage can be practical, this one’s for you. Listen, share with a friend who needs a nudge, and if it moved you, subscribe and leave a review so more people can find the show.

At the Abilities Expo 2025 in Chicago, we enjoy the bustling noise of a community built on independence, resourcefulness, and zero tolerance for pity. With Katy Roberts as our guide, we explore how this decades-strong event turns accessibility from a checkbox into a living, breathing experience where disabled people don’t blend in—they lead.

Katy Roberts walks us through what makes the Expo different: hundreds of vendors you can actually touch and test, adaptive sports and mobility demos that invite participation, and a layout designed around dignity. We trace the event’s roots back to 1979 and its growth across seven cities, then dig into the mindset shift that happens when disability is the majority in the room. That shift unlocks confidence, connection, and a practical swagger that says help is welcome but condescension isn’t. Along the way, we challenge the tired narrative that a disability event is “sad” and show why it’s a celebration of agency and problem-solving.

Katy shares how her background in exhibitions, her UK perspective on the Disability Act, and her mom’s MS inform the small details that matter—clear signage, rest spaces, trained staff, and access that goes beyond legal minimums. We talk about ADA compliance as a starting point, not a finish line, and why better design grows markets and reduces friction for everyone. You’ll hear about standout guests—from a traveler who’s visited 53 countries to a Boston Marathon bombing survivor—whose stories center curiosity, resilience, and community, not clichés.

If you’re near LA, New York, Chicago, Houston, Phoenix, Fort Lauderdale, or Dallas, check abilities.com for dates and resources, including product demos you can watch from home. If this conversation moved you, subscribe, share it with someone who needs a boost, and leave a quick review to help more listeners find the show. Your voice helps this community stay loud.

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Skip the stress and bring back the wonder. From the floor of the Abilities Expo in Chicago, we sit down with Julian, a Barcelona-based traveler and tour operator who turned a life-altering accident into a blueprint for joyful, accessible journeys across Spain and Portugal. His philosophy is disarmingly simple: when accessibility is done right, you stop thinking about it and start savoring your trip.

Julian opens the hood on his travel packages that stitch together Barcelona, Madrid, and Lisbon using fast trains, accessible vans, and verified hotels. He goes beyond labels to talk measurements that matter: doorway widths, bed heights, ramp gradients, and bathroom layouts that make or break a day.

Julian’s incomplete C7 injury taught him to design routes with no weak links, from station entry to dinner seating. We also share a little football joy—FC Barcelona pride and a love for the NFL—because travel should feel like a good game day: immersive, exciting, and free of needless friction.

If you care about accessible travel, urban design, or simply want to explore Spain and Portugal without worrying about what might go wrong, this conversation delivers practical tips and fresh perspective. Hit play, then share it with someone planning their next adventure. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us: what’s the one barrier you wish the travel industry would fix next?