In this episode, Avery Roberts and Kelly Berger chat with Marcella Genut, a disability advocate and academic advisor at her alma mater, about living with congenital muscular dystrophy (CMD) and what it really takes to build an independent life. From navigating college with style, managing money like a boss, to balancing caregivers and career goals, Marcella keeps it real. Expect laughs, wisdom, and some solid advice on finding your path, owning your story, and why community makes all the difference.
Links Mentioned:
Medicaid: https://www.medicaid.gov
Vocational Rehabilitation (Voc Rehab): https://rsa.ed.gov/about/states
Home and Community-Based Services Waiver: https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/home-community-based-services/index.html
Accessible College: accessiblecollege.com
CarePathways: https://www.carepathways.com
Careify: https://www.careify.co
List of Statewide Independent Living Councils (SILCs) & Centers for Independent Living (CILs) by State: https://acl.gov/programs/centers-independent-living/list-cils-and-spils
National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services: https://www.nasddds.org/state-agencies/
Wheels on Campus: The First College Guide for Wheelchair Users: https://newmobility.com/college-guide-for-wheelchair-users/
Children’s Medicaid Waivers, Katie Beckett programs, and other Medicaid programs: https://www.kidswaivers.org
Connect with Marcella Genut
Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | Website
Connect with Kelly Berger
Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn
Connect with Avery Roberts
Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn
Intro/Outro music created by Andy Rusch
Image Description: Features three women engaged in a virtual conversation. On the left, Kelly, a light-skinned woman with shoulder-length brown hair, is smiling, wearing wireless earbuds and a light-colored sweater with horizontal stripes. In the middle, Avery, another light-skinned woman with shoulder-length brown hair, is wearing wireless earbuds. On the right, Marcella, a light-skinned woman with shoulder-length brown hair, has a BiPAP mask around her nose – the device is light gray. The backgrounds are light and minimal, with personal touches such as decor items in each space. Speech-to-text captions appear towards the bottom of the screen, following their conversation.