Discovering Your Gifts with John Dickerson, Advocate & Founder, Red Road Ventures (Hello, Self… Episode 59)
In this episode of Hello Self, host Patricia Leonard welcomed guest John Dickerson, an advocate for people with disabilities, to discuss the transformative power of self-discovery and turning dreams into actionable plans. They explored how each individual’s unique gifts can contribute to a fulfilling life and community.
John shared his extensive experience working with individuals with disabilities and emphasizes the importance of shifting perspectives, fostering curiosity, and building supportive relationships. He also discussed the apps he helped develop, Quillow and Life Course Connect, that are designed to help people realize their potential and create positive memories.
Hello, Self… is presented by Patricia Leonard & Associates and produced by Arlia Hoffman in association with the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®.
A video version of this conversation is available on Patricia’s YouTube Channel here.
John Dickerson, Advocate & Founder, Red Road Ventures
John Dickerson began his career with The Arc of South Dakota in 1973 and on his first day remembers attending a meeting to draft the first statewide rules for special education. He spent five years with The Arc of Indiana from 1974-1979; four years at The Arc of the US from 1979-1983 and returned to The Arc of Indiana as Executive Director from 1983 – 2015.
John has been an advocate for change his entire life, helping design the first Medicaid Waivers in Indiana, helping people transition from state institutions and ICF/DDs, developing solutions to the waiting list and supporting families, people with I/DD and staff see a vision of life in the community. All of this success he attributes to those who rally to support others and build a better community.
After a brief adventure in politics, John founded Red Road Ventures and led the development of two apps, Quillo Pro and Quillo Connect. Quillo Pro offers exciting new technology to increase staff retention for organizations supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Quillo Connect provides a unique communication platform that connects families and people with IDD to each other and to the IDD system. Quillo is now utilized in 15 states.
John received his BA from Huron College, Huron SD in 1973. He was recognized by the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities as one of the top 200 influencers of the last 20 years on our field.
About Hello, Self…
Hello, Self… is a biweekly podcast focused on inspiring stories of turning dreams into reality. Join coach and author Patricia Leonard and her guests as they share life-changing Hello, Self… moments.
Hello, Self… is brought to you by Patricia Leonard & Associates and is based on the new book by Patricia Leonard, Hello, Self.., available here.
The show is produced by Arlia Hoffman in association with Business RadioX®. You can find this show on all the major podcast apps. The complete show archive is here.
Patricia Leonard, Host of Hello, Self…
Patricia Leonard is President of RUNWAY TO SUCCESS, a division of Patricia Leonard & Associates located in Nashville, TN. She is a MESSAGE ARTIST speaker, career & business coach, author and magazine columnist. Patricia consults with clients on leadership, empowerment, career management, entrepreneurship and the power of language. Her work is focused on helping clients find their runway to success!
She has a professional background in management, human resources, corporate training, business consulting and talent development. Patricia has worked with companies in the service, music, banking, manufacturing, publishing, warehousing, healthcare, academic, retail and financial industries, and has taught management classes as an adjunct professor.
Patricia has a degree in Human Resource Management, is certified as a Career Coach and Consulting Hypnotist and is MBTI qualified.
Her volunteer energies are focused on Women in Film and Television-Nashville, where she is a Board Vice President; Dress for Success as the Advisory Board President; and International Coaching Federation-Nashville where she held Board roles for several years.
Patricia is the author of Wearing High Heels in a Flip Flop World, BECOMING WOMAN…a journal of personal discovery, THE NOW, HOW & WOW of Success, Happenings, a full year calendar of inspirational messages and a spoken word album titled, I AM…
She enjoys songwriting, creating poetry and has written a one-woman show and artistic speech she performs titled Hello, Self…, about a woman in midlife reinventing herself, which led to her new book by the same name, available here.
On the personal side, Patricia, describes herself as a woman, lover of life, mother, grandmother, career professional and message artist; AND in that order! Her goal is to continue inspiring others, of any age, to START NOW creating and expanding their Runway to Success.
She believes that life is a gift, the way we wrap it is our choice.
