In this episode of The Wheelchair Round Table, we sit down with Kyzia Wunderlich, Executive Director of The Heart of Texas, for a conversation about disability, accessibility, advocacy, and the journey that brought her to where she is today.

Kyzia shares the story behind her path to becoming Executive Director of The Heart of Texas and the mission that drives her work: helping wheelchair users discover fun, accessible events and adventures they can enjoy with family and friends—while also helping businesses understand what real accessibility looks like.

We talk about her work with Heart of Texas TV, Monkey Business with the Wunderlichs, and the Houston Accessibility Guide, along with her experiences exploring accessibility throughout Houston.

Kyzia also takes us behind the scenes of what it means to become Mrs. Heart of Texas—including the requirement that contestants have a disability platform and use their voice to create awareness and positive change.

But the conversation goes deeper.

WcRT and Kyzia tackle a question that affects all of us:

Why are people uncomfortable around people with disabilities?

Is it fear? Lack of exposure? Not knowing what to say? Or simply the way society has traditionally portrayed disability?

This episode challenges listeners to look beyond the wheelchair, move past the awkwardness, and start seeing the person first.

Because accessibility isn't just about ramps, doors, or parking spaces.

It's about creating a world where everyone feels welcome, included, and free to participate.

🎙️ The Wheelchair Round Table — Crushing Stigmas, One Episode at a Time.

Contact us at: host@wcroundtable.com

Kyzia Social Media

IG: wunderlichmonkies

Facebook: Kyzia Wunderlich

www.theheartoftexas.com

www.msheartoftexaspageant.com

msheartoftexaspageant@gmail.com

What happens when you stop trying to make disability look inspirational—and start calling out the BS?

The Wheelchair Round Table, sits down with professional keynote speaker, author of The Squeaky Wheelchair, and disability advocate Thomas Moon for a conversation about self-advocacy, independence, and refusing to quietly accept barriers that shouldn’t exist in the first place.

Living with cerebral palsy, Thomas brings a refreshingly unapologetic perspective to disability. He talks about his philosophy of “Pain in the Butt Syndrome,” why sometimes you have to make some noise to get heard, and the importance of challenging systems built around compliance rather than people.

We dig into institutional barriers, accessibility, self-advocacy, and the problem with what Thomas calls “inspiration porn.” This isn't a conversation about feeling sorry for yourself—or pretending every challenge is a beautiful journey.

It’s about speaking up, pushing back, demanding better, and knowing when being a pain in the butt is exactly what the situation requires.

Because sometimes the squeaky wheel isn't broken.

It just wants to be heard.

🎙️ The Wheelchair Round Table — Real People. Real Stories. Crushing Stigmas. One Episode at a Time.

Facebook: TJ Moon

IG: tj.wheelchair

Youtube: @tjwheelchair

www.disabilityspeaker.org

Spencer Blomquist has spent nearly 18 years navigating life as a quadriplegic and he has learned that independence isn't something you simply receive. Sometimes, you have to fight for it.

On this episode of The Wheelchair Round Table, Rico, SJ, Jody, and Spencer dive into the real-world battles that come with disability, from healthcare and caregiving to accessible travel and financial independence.

Spencer opens up about his fight with Humana to protect the 24-hour care and caregivers he depends on, and why losing those services isn't simply an inconvenience—it can directly impact a person's ability to live independently.

We also talk about ABLE United savings programs and how people with disabilities can use financial tools to plan for their futures without giving up the independence they've worked so hard to build.

Then things take a turn toward adventure.

Spencer is an accessible travel specialist and travel agent who helps people with disabilities navigate the complicated world of accessible cruising. With that expertise, Rico and Spencer start planning a Wheelchair Round Table cruise for Jody—because apparently putting a wheelchair user and a travel agent on a cruise ship sounded like a good idea.

And of course, the conversation doesn't stop there.

We get into disability advocacy, peer mentoring, accessible travel, independence, and the importance of making sure people with disabilities have a seat at the table when decisions affecting their lives are being made.

Jody also opens up about the possibility of running for Congress, leading to a bigger conversation about disability representation, advocacy, and what it means when people with lived experience decide to step into the political arena.

This is a conversation about fighting for your independence, knowing your rights, planning your next adventure—and having a damn good time along the way.

Real people. Real stories. Real advocacy.

Welcome to another conversation on The Wheelchair Round Table.

Facebook: Spencer Blomquist

Youtube: @WheelieAwesomeAdventures

expediacrusises.com/en-US/SpencerBlomquist

*******🎥 Technical Note: We lost Spencer and SJ’s video feeds halfway through the episode—but the conversation kept rolling! Technology happens. 😂*******