WISCONSIN IS READY: FINAL WEEKS OF ACA OPEN ENROLLMENT

Guest:  Lauren Seno, Project specialist and Technical Assistant for the Regional Enrollment Network, Wisconsin Primary Health Care Association

On February 15, the second year of the Affordable Care Act’s Open Enrollment period will come to an end. Thousands have already enrolled in a health insurance plan, but for those who still need help, are confused, or don’t think that the Health Marketplace has anything to offer them, assistance will be available throughout Wisconsin as this year’s Open Enrollment period winds down.  Look for Super Saturday special sign-up events on January 31st!

On this program, Lauren Seno gives us the details we need to know to obtain insurance coverage, understand eligibility levels and how to determine our shared responsibility.  For immediate help, go to EnrollWI.org.  To enroll online, go to healthcare.gov.

COMING TOGETHER WITH COMMUNITIES OF COLOR

Guest: Nino Amato, President/CEO - CWAG, Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups

As a founder of Dane County’s newly created NAACP and chair of Mayor Sue Bauman’s "Task Force on Race Relations & Racial Profiling" in 1999, Nino Amato, President/CEO of CWAG, shares his views on last year’s “Race to Equity” report which stated Dane County has the worse racial disparities in America when it comes to the: (1) K-12 Education Achievement Gap; (2) Income Inequality and Unemployment of citizens of color; (3) More African American Males imprisoned than in any other county in the nation.

For information on how to get involved including joining the open-to-everyone, newly-created NAACP of Dane County, contact Nino Amato at namato@cwag.org.

THE JOURNEY OF AGING

Guest:  Mary O'Gara, owner and publisher - O'Gara Publishing

For years, Pat O’Gara headed O’Gara Publishing, a locally-owned family company started by his father, Tom, that has been publishing niche publications in Dane County since 1994 and also presented the annual Lifestyles Expo for seniors.  Four years ago, Pat called his sister Mary asking her to come to Madison.  He needed her help.  Pat had just been diagnosed with ALS.  Mary moved to Madison, cared for Pat and moved into the leadership role at O’Gara Publishing.  Pat died a little over a year ago.

Mary is now owner of O’Gara Publishing and has published a new resource guide on aging - renamed The Journey of Aging.

On this program, Mary O’Gara talks about what it was like to have her brother diagnosed with ALS while at the same time her father was suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease. She shares how she used her personal family experience to add more content to The Journey of Aging - dealing editorially with the critical issues of housing options, home care, alzheimer’s, advance directives, hospice and end of life decisions while also providing an up-to-date listing of Dane County resources. The Journey of Aging is free at locations throughout Dane County including libraries and senior centers.

For more information, go to www.journeyofaging.com.

FROM ADVERSITY COMES INVENTION: A MOTHER AND DAUGHTER'S STORY

Lina Trivedi, mom, inventor and entrepreneur

On this program, Lina Trivedi shares the story of her daughter, Nikhita, now 5, who has a very rare genetic syndrome called Goltz sundrome. Nikhita was born without a leg, missing fingers and lacked muscle on one side of her face. Lina had important decisions to make.

Lina had already worked as a web developer and college educator in the areas of financial planning, professional development, marketing and e-comerce. When she worked in Chicago for Ty, Lina was credited with authoring the first 136 poems found inside the tags of Beanie Babies and helping to launch Beanie Babies as the first Internet sensation. Now, she needed to use her entrepreneurial skills to build a life that worked well for her and Nikhita. The result: the Wisconsin-based technology firm, Blue Lotus Productions, Inc. and the launching of the patent-pending software, WordBotic, which gives people the opportunity to write their own stories in a short period of time. 

Find more information at www.wordbotic.com.

ALS WORLDWIDE: OPTIMISTIC AND PASSIONATE IN PURSUIT OF TREATMENT

Guests:  Stephen and Barbara Byer, co-founders and co-directors of ALS Worldwide;  Barry Wein, Director of Philanthropy and Communications and Sarah Byer, Outreach Counselor

We all remember the successful Ice Bucket Challenge that swept the nation this summer.  Now you can learn more about the devastating disease - ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease - the cause behind the Challenge. "It's been described as life in a glass coffin," say Barbara and Stephen Byer, co-founders and co-directors of ALS Worldwide.

On this program, the Byers, whose son, Ben, died from ALS, share their story.  They are joined by Barry Wein, Dir. of Philanthropy and Sarah Byer, Outreach Counselor.  ALS Worldwide is committed to supporting patient care in over 85 countries and is working now to accelerate research of a new and promising drug treatment for ALS.  For more information, go to www.ALSworldwide.org.