Health insurer Highmark sponsors “Disability Matters” on the VoiceAmerica Radio Network.

Tempe, AZ -- (SBWire) -- 02/04/2014 --Voice America Talk Radio Network, the Internet broadcasting pioneer that produces and syndicates online audio and video, today announced that the show Disability Matters with Joyce Bender entered into an agreement with health insurer Highmark Inc. , based in Pittsburgh, to sponsor the show during 2014 on the VoiceAmerica Variety Channel.

Disability Matters with Joyce Bender focuses on the employment and empowerment of people with disabilities and airs every Tuesday from 11:00 pm to noon, Pacific. It is one of the first international talk radio shows with real-time captioning. The show can be accessed live or on demand at http://www.voiceamerica.com/show/1315/disability-matters.

Highmark has long regarded diversity and inclusion as essential to its business and its culture. Forging a partnership with Disability Matters fit well with the company’s commitment to create an inclusive organization that reflects, embraces and leverages the diversity of its workplace, marketplace and community. Said Mary Anne Papale, Highmark’s Director of Community Affairs, “Our company’s mission is to make health care easily accessible, understandable and affordable. Partnering with organizations like Bender Consulting allows us to raise awareness of the importance of promoting diversity in the workplace as well as meeting our overall health care mission around accessibility.”

Ms. Bender said, “It was Highmark who first partnered with me when I founded Bender Consulting Services in 1995. Highmark doesn’t just talk about hiring people with disabilities, they do it. Highmark sets the ‘high mark’ for other employers, as it relates to employing Americans with disabilities.”

The VoiceAmericaTM Network offers the latest conversations in a talk radio format, providing education, interaction, and advice on key issues live, on demand as well as through pod cast download. If interested in hosting a talk radio show on VoiceAmerica Network, contact Jeff Spenard, President of Internet Radio at 480-294-6417 or at jeff.spenard @ voiceamerica.com.
Contact Executive Producer Tacy Trump at tacy.trump@voiceamerica.com for advertising / sponsorship information or other show details.

About Joyce Bender
Joyce A. Bender is the CEO and president of Bender Consulting Services, Inc. Bender Consulting recruits and hires individuals with disabilities, across the United States and Canada for competitive career opportunities in the public and private sectors. In 1985, Joyce survived a life-threatening accident caused by a misdiagnosis of epilepsy. Due to her personal experience living with both epilepsy and a hearing disability, she founded Bender Consulting Services, Inc. in 1995.

Joyce is the past-chair of both the board of the American Association of People with Disabilities and the national Epilepsy Foundation. She has received awards from both the Bush and Clinton administrations.

About Highmark Inc.
Highmark Inc. is among the largest health insurers in the United States and the fourth-largest Blue Cross and Blue Shield-affiliated company. Highmark and its diversified businesses and affiliates operate health insurance plans in Pennsylvania, Delaware and West Virginia that serve 5.2 million members. Its diversified health businesses serve group customer and individual health needs across the United States through dental insurance, vision care and other related health businesses. Highmark is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. For more information, visit www.highmark.com.

About VoiceAmerica/World Talk Radio, LLC
World Talk Radio, LLC is the world leader in online media broadcasting and the largest producer and distributor of live internet based talk radio and TV, delivering over 1,000 hours of programming weekly on its VoiceAmerica™ Network (http://www.voiceamerica.com) and WorldTalk Radio Network (http://www.worldtalkradio.com) as well as live and on-demand video content on VoiceAmerica.TV (http://www.voiceamerica.tv). Featuring more than 200 hosts broadcasting to eight niche community based channels: its flagship VoiceAmerica™ Variety Channel, VoiceAmerica™ Health & Wellness Channel, VoiceAmerica™ Business Channel, VoiceAmerica Sports, 7th Wave Channel, Empowerment Channel, VoiceAmerica Kids Channel and World Talk Radio Variety Channel. VoiceAmerica™ TV offers targeted and exclusive video programming channels. World Talk Radio, LLC is one of the pioneers in internet broadcasting, producing and syndicating online audio and video, offering an innovative, effective and comprehensive digital broadcast platform. Digital Publishing through its 10 years of broadcast and media experience along with our seasoned staff of Executive Producers, Production and Host Services Group, World Talk Radio, LLC provides an internet radio and video platform for new, emerging and veteran media personalities to expand and monetize their business and brand in an online digital medium.