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Episode 93

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Published on:

12th Nov 2021

How to Connect with & Respect People with Disabilities

In this episode, I talk with Barb Zablotney, who sustained a spinal cord injury when she was just 21-years-old. She spent a decade in a very dark place. Her mother passed away and she lost her relationship with her fiance, but then she became Miss Wheelchair Pennsylvania. This wasn't a beauty pageant, although Barb is certainly beautiful. It was an honor bestowed on her for her ideas, ability to articulate those ideas and her dedication to advocacy for the community she finds herself a part of--the disability community. Barb is a model for Team Torrid, was featured in a commercial for the UPMC Health Plan, lobbied politicians in Harrisburg and D.C. and much more! 

In this podcast, Barb reveals her goal of independence and how she wishes people would treat her. She also talked with me about what she wants abled-bodied people to know about the disabilities community. She has written an article on accessible parking here and recommended the book, Demystifying Disability by Emily Ladau for people interested in knowing more than we could possibly cover in a 30-minute podcast.

If you would like to learn more from Barb, you can follow her on social media: Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. 
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About the Podcast

Life = Choices; Choices = Life
Practical Conversations About Leadership, Relationships, and Personal Responsibility Through Mental Freedom
Hosted by author, speaker, and coach Kim Olver, Life = Choices; Choices = Life explores how personal responsibility, emotional awareness, and intentional decision-making shape our relationships, leadership, and everyday lives.

Drawing on the principles of Choice Theory® and the framework of Mental Freedom®, Kim has thoughtful conversations with experts, educators, coaches, and leaders about how people can respond to life with greater clarity, connection, and purpose.

Kim Olver is the author of several books on relationships and personal growth, including Mental Freedom®: You Hold the Key, Choosing Me Now, and Secrets of Happy Couples.

Each episode offers practical insights on topics such as:

• Relationships and couples
• Parenting and family dynamics
• Leadership and workplace culture
• coaching and personal development
• Education and human behavior
• Emotional resilience and mental health
• Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging

Through interviews and occasional solo reflections, Kim helps listeners understand how our thinking shapes our actions—and how choosing responsibility over blame can lead to healthier relationships, stronger leadership, and a greater sense of freedom.

If you're interested in personal growth, meaningful conversations, and learning how to respond to life with intention rather than reaction, this podcast offers ideas, tools, and perspectives you can apply right away.

Because ultimately,

Life equals choices… and choices equal life.

About your host

Profile picture for Kim Olver

Kim Olver

Kim Olver's mission is to help people make better choices for a better life. She is a licensed clinical professional counselor, a nationally certified counselor and a board certified coach. She is a world renowned expert in Choice Theory™ , a highly sought after international speaker and an award-winning author. Her books include: Leveraging Diversity at Work with Sylvester Baugh (2006), Secrets of Happy Couples (2010), Choosing Me Now (2019) and A Choice Theory Guide to Relationships (2019). Kim is currently working on the forthcoming books, The Definitive Guide to Coaching and Radical Responsibility and Appreciation. Kim is the author of The Relationship Center blog; creator of Empowerment Parenting, a 25-hour parenting curriculum for court-mandated parents; and owner of Academy of Choice, a BCC (Board Certified Coach) Coaching Program. Kim worked five years as a counselor for schizophrenics in a community-based residential program, 17 years holding various positions with a specialized foster care agency, was Executive Director of Glasser Institute for Choice Theory for nine years and the Executive Director for William Glasser International for eight; and began her own company, Coaching for Excellence, in 2005. She is a model of what she teaches about taking responsibility for the things she can influence and control and finding appreciation for those things she can't. Kim believes radical responsibility and appreciation are the keys to a happy, peaceful, satisfying life.