Season 3, Episode 14, Part 1: Micah Fialka-Feldman & Katherine Sanderson, "Meet Micah and Katherine"

Micah Fialka- Feldman and Katherine Sanderson are interviewed together in this episode.  Katherine is a critical member of Micah's support staff. This is the first of three episodes. Micah updates listeners on his life since his episodes in season 2 of Born Fabulous Podcast.  Micah and Katherine talk about getting through the pandemic, Micah having Covid, share an update on Tori from season 2, Micah's job, Micah's new house, roommates and more. 

Micah is best known as one of the stars of the acclaimed film, "Intelligent Lives".  He is a teaching assistant at Syracuse University, a sought after keynote speaker,  and respected disability rights advocate.  Micah has an intellectual disability.  Katherine has experience in the disability and medical fields, and strongly believes in "working with" young adults instead of "for" them.  Katherine does not have a disability. 

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Transcript

Greta Harrison: 0:00

Hello, my name is Greta Harrison. Welcome to Born Fabulous Podcast season three, Episode 14. The theme of this season is young adults with intellectual disabilities living full lives of independence and interdependence. You will hear interviews with parents, support staff, and of course the young adults with intellectual disabilities. Please note that these interviews were done one to two years ago. achieving independence is a complex journey for many individuals and families. There were many stops and starts with various entities when putting together season three. Regardless, this content is very relevant, and we hope you will find it helpful. This is the first of three episodes that feature Micah Fialkov Feldman and Katherine Sanderson. Katherine is one of Micah support staff, a critical member of his team. Mica is well known as one of the stars of the claim film intelligent lives. He is a teaching assistant at Syracuse University, and a sought after keynote speaker mica has an intellectual disability. Now please enjoy the short clip of the ring. The lyrics are by Melissa regio, a young lady who had Down syndrome and was the focus of episodes one through four and season one. The music and voice are by Rachel fuller.

Rachel Fuller: 1:58

Looking at the sky

Greta Harrison: 2:10

I am so happy to be speaking with Micah Fialka - Feldman, again, I consider Micah a friend, I respect him so much. And Micah is joining us today with his friend and staff. Catherine, would you please introduce yourself? Sure. I'm Micah, I'm 38 years old. I live in Syracuse, New York. And I teach and work at the University and I go around and speak at many conferences and, and, and I and I have a house and I have a great circle. That's a great introduction, because that's all true. Okay, Katherine. I'm Katherine. And as Mike has said, and one of his staff. And

Katherine Sanderson: 3:06

I can't remember what else I'm supposed to say right now. I've worked with mica for about a year and have worked with other folks with developmental disabilities or intellectual disabilities for cumulative 20 years of my of my life.

Greta Harrison: 3:18

Okay. And I think you also have a medical background a little bit, right.

Katherine Sanderson: 3:22

That's right. Yeah. I was a practicing midwife for 12 years out in the Pacific Northwest. And now I actually am in nursing school to pursue a psychiatric mental health degree. But yeah. Mike appreciates the the health background that

Greta Harrison: 3:39

I have. All right. Well, I'm honored to speak to both of you today. And let's start with the last time we spoke on Warren fabulous mica, which was at the beginning of the pandemic. It was literally March 2020. I was filming Rico, I was finishing recording season two. And we were so unsure about everything I remember it you and Tori, were talking to me. And we made the decision that you and Tori would talk to me from different places, because you know, everybody didn't know what was going on. And so Tori was in her apartment and you were in your apartment and we just didn't know so if you can catch us up on how you kind of got through this unusual period and everybody's lives until now,

Micah Fialka-Feldman: 4:34

after after we did that broadcast with Ty I. I had a circle meeting with my circle and my parents were in. My parents are in my parents were in like on a trip and I think they were in. They were they were in like they were in like New Zealand. My sister helped me set up a meeting and it was really good of how she said up And then they, they, they like flew home and then they had to quarantine back then yeah, the county and then I had to wait like two weeks to see them. And then they like drove for like, a long time to pick me up. And then they drove all the way back to Michigan. Because they were like, very scared to like, stop anywhere. But then I spent like, from like April until, to like, the middle of June at home it. It was interesting, bringing back childhood and learning how to not have my phone when we had like, meals together and learning how to be back home and I couldn't see anyone it was higher than it was just had had like being home.

Greta Harrison: 5:54

You know, you brought up so many good things in that that little summary there. Because first thing you mentioned was your circle of support. And it shows how important that you I always tell people that you out of all the wonderful self advocates I know have the strongest circle of support. You've been doing it for most of your life. And we'll go into that more later. But it was important for you at this time here was an unusual time. You all decided you made a plan. Your parents came and got you you went back home. And because I consider us to be friends and we were in touch so to speak, have been in touch all these years. I can I can add that your independence was showing through because you were home. You like being with your family, but then you were kind of itching to get back on your own again, right.

Micah Fialka-Feldman: 6:43

I did. I I I wasn't planning on being there. Like all all all that time. I wasn't.

Greta Harrison: 6:53

You didn't know nobody knew. Right? No. So you were ready to get back on your own when you got on your own? Yeah, I did. Yeah. And and no offense to your family because you have an amazing family, a wonderful family, your sister, your parents. They're amazing. So yeah, I remember that your mom was speaking in New Zealand, I believe or she was Yeah, speaking engagement there. And so yeah, I mean, was very unusual for all of you. Okay, and you are just for everybody's knowledge, you are vast and fully boosted against COVID. Correct.

Micah Fialka-Feldman: 7:30

Oh, yeah. And I and I, over the December holiday break, I would just go to Hawaii to meet my sister's fiance. And I was asked to pack and go. And then the evening before I was going to take the chain the day after day. I tested and I got a very mild thing that COVID But But I had covered and in like in like December.

Katherine Sanderson: 7:54

Yeah. It was one of those cases where he never would have known that he had COVID testing out of safety for the upcoming travel. And that was a big

Greta Harrison: 8:05

bummer. There were no there were there were no signs at all. You thought when you took the test, it was gonna be negative. Right? Yeah. So that so because you were fully vaccine boosted and all those things you had you had a mild case. But it was a great example. I was watching. You know, as one of your friends. It was a great example, again of you taking care of yourself following everybody's advice, doctor's orders, quarantining, doing everything that you needed to do and your parents didn't rush home or to your place. You got through it with your amazing staff. Right. Yeah. And, and you were really glad when you tested negative again, weren't you?

Micah Fialka-Feldman: 8:49

I was.

Greta Harrison: 8:51

But that did kind of mess up your holiday break? It did. Yeah. Yeah. But you guys will make up for it. I know you will. Well, yeah. And before we move on, I neglected to ask for an update on Tori, because for those people who know you from season two with Tori, there is an amazing update with Tori isn't there? Yeah,

Micah Fialka-Feldman: 9:16

she got married this past fall and it was very fun and exciting.

Greta Harrison: 9:22

We are very happy for her, aren't we? Yes. Is Tori still in school?

Micah Fialka-Feldman: 9:28

Ah, yeah. She has a big test coming this month. But yeah, she's in school. Still.

Greta Harrison: 9:33

She still Tory's working on her PhD.

Micah Fialka-Feldman: 9:35

Yeah. Okay.

Greta Harrison: 9:37

Do we know when she estimates to be done?

Micah Fialka-Feldman: 9:40

I don't like she doesn't. She just has to do a test and then she'll be certified as a psychologist, I think. Yeah.

Greta Harrison: 9:50

Okay. It's a tinker board. Do you think? Yeah. Okay, so she's close to being done. Yeah. Okay. And that's Well, that's great. That's the update on Tory Tory congratulations we, we send you and what is her husband's name?

Micah Fialka-Feldman: 10:08

Ah, Colin.

Greta Harrison: 10:10

Colin. That's right. We send you and Colin, our congratulations. We're very, very happy for you. Because I remember in season two when you talked about being at each other's weddings, and then it happened, right? Did she get married on a beach? He did. Okay, great. That's, that's wonderful. Okay, so you've gotten through, you've kind of gone full circle with COVID You've gone through the time when everybody was scared and wasn't sure and was extremely, extremely cautious to being vaccinated and getting back out into the world more and then getting a very mild case in December. I think it's important to state you wouldn't have even known if you hadn't tested so, yeah. Okay, that's, that's a great update. So thank you for that. Katherine. Do you have any input on Oh, you saw Oh, I'm

Katherine Sanderson: 11:04

sorry. Go ahead.

Greta Harrison: 11:05

No, go do you have any input as to you know, from a staff person's point of view during when he had COVID

Katherine Sanderson: 11:12

Oh, from when you had COVID Not not so much just kind of getting when the first test was done when I was here with with Micah, and he said, Oh, it's negative and I said well, it's not quite negative it's not positive but it's not quite negative. Maybe you should test again later so then you did another test with ash right? Yeah, person. And he sent me a picture and said negative and I said, No, not quite, maybe do one more test. And then the next test was clearly positive. So other than just kind of trying to then arrange for Mike to be supported during that time since technic you know, we wanted to still not spread further and I didn't end up testing positive nor did ash end up testing positive from there. But we were supporting you on FaceTime and cooking. I think ash cooked the meals at their place. And they did brought them to you that way usually mica does cooking with with staff at home, but, um, but it was okay. And then you it was a short short lived wasn't a we weren't in the days of you know, 10 days a full quarantine and, and thankfully, you are able to still do your do your stuff, go for your walks and things. And I also wanted to say that mica is I believe the only person in his classrooms on campus that continues to wear masks during Yes. That's

Greta Harrison: 12:40

good to know. I'm glad you mentioned that. And I'm gonna guess that when you get on an airplane or public transportation or crowded situations, you'll wear a mask, correct? Yeah. Okay, that's good. I'm in that same camp. So I know not everybody is, but just just want to show that that's great. And by him, I'm sure when he got when he tested positive. Everybody was masking, I'm sure. And okay.

Micah Fialka-Feldman: 13:08

Yeah.

Greta Harrison: 13:09

Okay.

Katherine Sanderson: 13:10

When we were Yeah.

Greta Harrison: 13:12

Now, let's talk about your job. Mica. I know that you mentioned in your introduction, that you are at the university. But you're at Syracuse University as a teaching assistant, could you talk a little bit about that? Yeah,

Micah Fialka-Feldman: 13:26

I'm, I'm a, I'm a teaching assistant. And I, what, I teach two classes, and I, and I like to talk to students. I, I agree, papers and, and, and I, I like have been teaching since 2012.

Greta Harrison: 13:49

Okay. And you have you have a contract. I

Micah Fialka-Feldman: 13:52

mean, I do yeah, my, my contract expires at the end of this year, but I'm hoping that when I send them an email, it will get it will get we knew next fall. But that's, that's in their hands, but hopefully,

Greta Harrison: 14:10

oh, I'm sure you'll be I think you're an integral part of, of Syracuse University and inclusive view, which is their inclusion program there. So and I also want to point out in case people don't know you from season two or know you from anything before that you were in intelligent lives, Dan Habib's amazing movie, which is when I first met you, and I met you in Washington, DC when it was being shown at the Associated Press function. Yeah. And you know, you don't remember me because you were whirling around. But I remember you and I wanted to shake your hand and get a picture and you were too busy. Mike was just far too busy. So I hope that Next time I get to see you in person, it'll be a different thing. But that was a great night, there were hundreds and hundreds of people there. And being at the Press Club, it was very, very cool. And that was in 2018, when I first met you, and that movie has been out since that time. So if people haven't seen it, it's available in various streaming sources, and I highly recommend it. It's an important film. And it shows a lot of your journey. It's yeah, that at Syracuse and shows when you graduated, and you got your job. So yeah, it shows your journey. So your job is going well is what you're saying. And your speaking engagements, you're back to doing them? Um,

Micah Fialka-Feldman: 15:43

yeah, I am. I have a speaking engagement in Colorado and June, but I don't have too many lined up. But I do have one in June. Yeah.

Greta Harrison: 15:52

So it's slowly but surely going to start picking up. One thing I want to mention that again, I know just from being your friend is one thing you do, Mike, as you you pitch certain ideas. You're very creative and forward thinking and you think of out of the box ideas for conferences to focus on, don't you? You like to do that, don't you?

Micah Fialka-Feldman: 16:15

Sometimes I do. Like, like 100 Get Titus speaking. But sometimes I have had my parents know Jimmy and say, do it. But they? And I say yes, I'll try it this time and to learn

Katherine Sanderson: 16:32

you are right going to be in the process of sort of revamping your, your PowerPoint. Yeah. In your in your speech? Shoot. I've gotten a little tired of the of the same sort of words. But yeah, revamping it and giving giving it some more life would be make it more exciting again. Yeah.

Greta Harrison: 16:50

Yeah. And you have more life experience to add to it. That's, that's true. But I like I remember, recently, you were posting on social media about an idea you were maybe that's the Colorado conference, I'm not sure. But an idea that you were proposing. And I thought that's really great that that's coming from the self app advocate instead of, you know, educators or other people. So that was great. But that is one thing that you do and you like to travel mica, you are now living in a house before you were living in an apartment when I spoke to you back in 2020. Now you're living in a house. Tell us a little bit about this move and, and what you like about it? If you could? Um,

Micah Fialka-Feldman: 17:33

yeah, I mean, Karen, it's been one year of living in the house and I, I have great neighbors and I'm like, the first floor and I can, I can still like walk to campus and I can still go the coffee shop when I wonder, like, why and go to the coffee shop. I try not that much. But, um, and and i i Just like having the house I'm learning how to how to like, how to have a house and how to be how to be more responsible of the house. And I like I like guy did have a roommate. And her and I, he moved in last June and then we had a great summer together and then this, and then and then great fall and then I and then this desperate roommate we had a challenge and then it was just getting harder to Harder, harder to balance balanced living with her.

Greta Harrison: 18:53

Okay, well, you What was that Katherine? Go ahead.

Katherine Sanderson: 18:57

She was a busy student and was was doing a lot with her schoolwork and it just ended up not being quite quite the right fit. Okay,

Greta Harrison: 19:06

well, you know, it's, I'm glad you brought it up, Mike, because everybody, whether they have a disability or not, when they move out on their own, and they have they have roommates. That is a you know, that's a concern for everybody gotta have the right match. And you do go through roommates. I know my my older daughter's 35 She's on her own now. But you know, when she first got out of college, she had some roommates and of course when she was in college, she had roommates. And you know, that's just life right? So you're you've got experience with roommates. You've had several over the years, haven't you? A lot of times they have been students. So and we're gonna we're gonna go into that later in this interview about what you're looking for in a roommate but so with the house you it's based, it's a house but it's duplex, you have a family below you?

Micah Fialka-Feldman: 20:04

They're like, Nah, family, but they are like, they are like going to grad students. Right? Yeah. Okay,

Greta Harrison: 20:10

so you have grad students below you. And then you have your place above. Yeah, but, but But you, but you all own the whole thing. It's not like you're leasing from anybody anymore. You

Micah Fialka-Feldman: 20:24

know? Yeah. My, my like parents don't yeah.

Greta Harrison: 20:28

So your parents on the on the house? And it's you've got this the grad students, which maybe it feels like family let's let's word it that way below you right? And so you have consistency with that. And then you're in the process of looking for a new roommate, right? Yeah. Okay. And from your viewpoint, Catherine, what's that, like, looking for a roommate? As the staff, you're helping support him? And?

Katherine Sanderson: 20:57

Yeah, well, I think we learned a lot from this past roommate situation. Part of what was happening when I first came to work with Micah was that his roommate at that time, Dan was a graduating medical student and was going to be moving away to start his residency. And Dan had been your roommate at two different points. But it was a really great roommate. And so there was you were worried about what that was going to mean. And your parents were worried about that, too. So I was here for some of the I should say I was here for all of it. But I was I participated a little bit in the look for the last roommate. And I think we learned more about what would make an ideal roommate for Micah based on that. scenario. So yeah, now I think we get a chance to be really creative in our thinking, and really intentional about kind of putting out there, what you what you would really like and what what your circle and staff think would be the best fit for you. And you're starting to consider options that you've not considered previously. So I think it's pretty cool. I think it's a great opportunity. And yeah, I know roommate situations are definitely hit or miss for everybody. And it's, it's, you know, when you find the right, the right one, then it can last for as long as it makes sense. So that's what we're hoping to hoping to find when the next person right, yeah.

Greta Harrison: 22:32

Okay, but with your great staff and your great circle, you're okay, right, Micah, you're doing just fine. Right? And that's, that's really good. Thank you for listening to Episode 14 of Born Fabulous Podcast third season. I hope you enjoyed it and want to hear more short video clips from most episodes are available on our YouTube channel and unborn fabulous podcast.com. In Episode 15, you will hear Micah and Catherine discuss Katherine's role as support staff, the concept of paid neighbors. What makes great staff what makes an ideal roommate what Micah's parents did when he was younger to encourage his independence and more, please follow and like us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you enjoyed this episode, I'd be honored if you would leave a review wherever you heard this podcast. Now please enjoy this clip of love as a potion. The lyrics are by Melissa regio, who was the focus of season one episodes one through four. The music and voice are by Rachel fuller