A Valid Podcast
By Unabridged Press
Produced by Unabridged Press in partnership with Point Park University Center for Media Innovation.
A Valid PodcastJul 14, 2020
Workplace Scandal, and Job Opportunities for people with ID and autism
How do you handle a workplace scandal? On this episode of A Valid Podcast, a young woman who has autism, Clara Govachini, shares a story that traumatized her. Spoiler: she worked through it skillfully.
A Valid Podcast Season 4 is focused on employment. It's hosted by Maria Palmer.
Also on this episode, reporter Jessie Henry interviews American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities President Dan Zhang. They speak about employment initiatives Zhang's been involved with in Texas. Zhang is Professor of Special Education, Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, and Director of the Center on Disability and Development at Texas A&M University. His research interest is centered on assisting youth with disabilities to make a successful transition from high school to adulthood.
A Valid Podcast is produced by All-Abilities Media. We're brewing up more episodes on A Valid Podcast for you. Please subscribe to A Valid Podcast. That's the quickest way to get updated about new episodes. And when you rate and review the show you make sure more people learn about intellectual disability and/or autism. All-Abilities Media produces A Valid Podcast. Please sign up for our newsletter at AllAbilities Media.org. You can also find A Valid Podcast transcripts there. All-Abilities Media is supported by the FISA Foundation and by listeners like you. Donations are tax-deductible depending on how you file your income. Our fiscal sponsor is New Sun Rising. Again, please visit allabilitiesmedia.org to learn more.
Chasing Dreams and Creating Opportunities
In this episode of "A Valid Podcast," host Maria Palmer dives into the world of employment for individuals with intellectual disabilities and/or autism.
The episode begins with Thomas Hassell, who shares his experiences as a volunteer and the challenges he faced in finding a job.
The podcast then transitions to an interview with Karrie Shogren, Director of the Kansas University Center on Developmental Disabilities. Karrie highlights the importance of self-determination for people with disabilities.
Join us as we explore the stories and experiences of individuals with disabilities in the workplace, emphasizing the importance of self-determination, inclusion, and creating opportunities. Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review "A Valid Podcast" to help us spread awareness and share more stories like these. For more information, visit allabilitiesmedia.org.
The full transcripts for A Valid Podcast appear at
Hanukkah Joy, and how A Valid Podcast Began
The joyful sounds of a menorah car parade, Hanukkah music, and personal stories light up this second holiday episode of 2022. Recorded live in Pittsburgh at a disability services organization's Hanukkah celebration. Plus, show producer Jennifer Szweda Jordan walks up on a stage and down memory lane to share what led to A Valid Podcast. Full transcript here.
A Valid Podcast comes to you from the All-Abilities Media Project at the Center for Media innovation at Point Park University in downtown Pittsburgh. It's a collaboration with Unabridged Press. All-Abilities Media is supported by foundations and by listeners like you. Please consider donating--more info at All-Abilities Media.
Wishing you warmth in your home and your heart this season!
Holiday Playlists, Inclusion Tips, and A Big Announcement
All-Abilities Media participants past, present, and probably future trade holiday music recommendations, tips on being inclusive, and wishes for the world. We give you something more than a sugar cookie to chew on. Click for the full transcript.
A Valid Podcast comes to you from the All-Abilities Media Project at the Center for Media innovation at Point Park University in downtown Pittsburgh. It's a collaboration with Unabridged Press. All-Abilities Media is supported by foundations and by listeners like you. With this support we've been able to offer meaningful work gigs to people with disabilities, and we can hire local producers like Jeweltone Productions in Pittsburgh, owned by Liz Reid. She mixed today'sepisode. Assisting in audio editing was Jared Braun. Please consider donating at allabilitiesmedia.org/donate Thanks for your consideration.
Wishing you warmth in your home and your heart this season!
Loving a Brother: Filmmaker Documents Down syndrome and Dementia Connection
FULL TRANSCRIPT AND IMAGES HERE
When she loses a brother to dementia, filmmaker and caregiver Diane Sunderlin begins to document on film the need for care for people with Down syndrome and dementia.
This is a bonus episode in A Valid Podcasts' third season, which is focused on social inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities.
A Valid Podcast comes to you from the All-Abilities Media Project. And from interviews to music, and cover art for this podcast, the majority of us producing this work have one or more disabilities. Others on the team don't identify as having disabilities. Halle Stockton, of the news outlet PublicSource edited the majority of this season's episodes. PublicSource has been a great collaborator in covering the disability community, beginning with the multimedia project ADA at 30: Accessibility in Pittsburgh.
Mick Fisher, with Creative Citizen Studios, created our cover art.
The All-Abilities Media Project is based at the Center for Media Innovation at Point Park University. CMI director Dr. Andrew Conte is a co-executive of the podcast, along with Jennifer Szweda Jordan. Jennifer publishes Unabridged Press and manages All-Abilities Media. Learn more at allabilitiesmedia.org
Community Helps Weather Loss with People with Intellectual Disabilities (Updated 1/21/22)
*CORRECTION: An earlier version of this podcast included an erroneous statistic about the projected population of people with Down syndrome. In 2030, there will be 1.2 million people with intellectual disabilities in their 60s. The most common cause of intellectual disability is Down syndrome. Unabridged Press apologizes for this error.
After a group home resident loses her fun-loving housemate, the community she’s part of works through their shared grief. Plus, what prompted the creation of group homes? We’ve got some history. Jennifer Szweda Jordan hosts this episode which includes interviews by podcasters Erin Gannon and Liz Reid. We’ll also premiere bonus episodes including an interview with a woman who leads bereavement support groups for people with intellectual disabilities.
A Valid Podcast is produced by All-Abilities Media at the Center for Media Innovation at Point Park University. Episodes are published via Unabridged Press podcast channels on Apple Podcasts, Anchor.fm, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and others. Images and transcripts appear in PublicSource's Equity section.
Liz Reid, of Jeweltone Productions interviewed guests, and engineered and mixed audio. PublicSource Managing Editor Halle Stockton edited scripts. Cover art was made by Mick Fisher, with assistance from Creative Citizen Studios. This episode includes original music and vocals by George Casselberry
The transcript for this episode is here.
GUESTS:
Karen Jacobsen
Pennie Wilson
Diane Wojdowski
Lauren Zak
(All from Emmaus Community of Pittsburgh)
Walking Through Grief with People with Intellectual Disabilities
FULL TRANSCRIPT AND IMAGE OF IRENE TUFFREY-WIJNE WITH THOSE SHE WORKS WITH HERE
Everyone grieves differently. A professor who started her career in group homes now uses video chat to support people with intellectual disabilities face grief. We had to go from Pittsburgh all the way to the U-K to find Irene Tuffrey-Wijne–there just aren’t a lot of people working around grief and intellectual disability!
This is a bonus episode in A Valid Podcasts' third season, which is focused on social inclusion.
Note that Irene mentions the term learning disability at the end of her talk with disability advocate Alisa Grishman. I’d just like to point out that this term is equivalent to what are called intellectual disabilities in the U-S.
A Valid Podcast comes to you from the All-Abilities Media Project. And from interviews to music, and cover art for this podcast, the majority of us producing this work have one or more disabilities. Others on the team don't identify as having disabilities. Halle Stockton, of the news outlet PublicSource edited several episodes this season. PublicSource has been a great collaborator in covering the disability community, beginning with the multimedia project ADA at 30: Accessibility in Pittsburgh.
Liz Reid of Jeweltone Productions is our audio engineer and sound designer. Disability advocates Dr. Rachel Kallem Whitman and Erin Gannon consulted on the content of this podcast.
Mick Fisher, with Creative Citizen Studios, created our cover art.
The All-Abilities Media Project is based at the Center for Media Innovation at Point Park University. CMI director Dr. Andrew Conte is a co-executive of the podcast, along with Jennifer Szweda Jordan. Jennifer publishes Unabridged Press and manages All-Abilities Media. Learn more at allabilitiesmedia.org
Keeping People with Intellectual Disabilities from Sex Crimes
FULL TRANSCRIPT AND IMAGE OF MCGILL HERE
On today’s episode we’re talking about a tough problem.
And, trigger warning, it contains general information about sexual assault by and against people with intellectual disabilities.
While people with intellectual disabilities are seven times more likely to be sexually assaulted as the general population, at times they commit sexual crimes as well. So we’re talking with a passionate and experienced Pittsburgh social worker who’s helping people learn how to avoid committing sex crimes, how to avoid being victimized themselves, and how to thrive in their relationships. It’s a job few others are doing.
This season of A Valid Podcast we’re looking at how to support people with intellectual disabilities to live with greater safety and inclusion in the community. Obviously when people commit crimes, it’s a strike against social inclusion.
The most significant factor for someone with an intellectual disability to commit such a crime is if they themselves were previously abused. from the U.S. Justice Department found that nearly a quarter of all prisoners–not just those committing sex offenses–may have intellectual, cognitive or learning disabilities. This figure represents the number of prisoners who said they took special education classes.
A Valid Podcast comes to you from the All-Abilities Media Project. And from interviews to music, and cover art for this podcast, the majority of us producing this work have one or more disabilities. Others on the team don't identify as having disabilities. Halle Stockton, of the news outlet PublicSource edited for this podcast. You can also find full transcripts and great photos of A Valid Podcast’s subjects at publicsource.org. PublicSource has been a great collaborator in covering the disability community, beginning with the multimedia project ADA at 30: Accessibility in Pittsburgh.
Liz Reid of Jeweltone Productions is our audio engineer and sound designer. Disability advocates Dr. Rachel Kallem Whitman and Erin Gannon consulted on the content of this podcast.
Mick Fisher, with Creative Citizen Studios, created our cover art. George Casselberry shared some of his original harmonica and other music with us. Jane Ondrusek, accompanist with the Woodlands Foundation played piano.
The All-Abilities Media Project is based at the Center for Media Innovation at Point Park University. CMI director Dr. Andrew Conte is a co-executive of the podcast, along with Jennifer Szweda Jordan. Jennifer publishes Unabridged Press and manages All-Abilities Media. Learn more at allabilitiesmedia.org
Romantic partnerships, and the single lady: adults with intellectual disabilities choose their best lives
When Mike asked Laura to marry him, he didn’t know that a “yes” would mean a cut in benefits–that Laura would get less than $20 in food stamps a month. Would that keep them from tying the knot? In this episode of A Valid Podcast, Laura responds to Mike’s proposal. Plus, more about what this couple–who have learning and psychiatric disabilities–have faced, and where they’ve found support.
In the second half of the show, 27-year-old Hannah Dibble works full-time at a nursing home, attends weekly activities for people with disabilities and loves living alone in her new apartment. She has cognitive disabilities caused by her mother’s drinking during pregnancy. Hannah has lots of support in place to keep herself safe, but one of her favorite activities–online gaming, worries her aide.
The third season of A Valid Podcast brings listeners into the lives of people with intellectual disabilities and asks what society could do better to support what’s called “social inclusion.” The American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities says: “Social inclusion goes far beyond just being present in the community. It’s about the roles we take in civic life, who we love, and how we build fulfilling relationships with others.”
The podcast is produced by All-Abilities Media at the Center for Media Innovation at Point Park University. The podcast is published via Unabridged Press podcast channels on Apple Podcasts, Anchor.fm Spotify, Google Podcasts and others. Images and written material appear on PublicSource.
Liz Reid, of Jeweltone Productions, interviewed Laura and Mike for this episode, in addition to engineering and mixing audio. She was assisted by Point Park University sophomore Claire Lindsey, thanks to support from the Pittsburgh Media Partnership. Jennifer Szweda Jordan hosts this season with commentary from award-winning podcaster Erin Gannon. PublicSource Managing Editor Halle Stockton provided editorial advice. Cover art was created by Mick Fisher, with assistance from Creative Citizen Studios. Music on this series performed by Lilly Abreu (guitar), George Casselberry (harmonica) and Jane Ondrusek (piano) from the Woodlands Foundation.
'I'm strong:' Adriana moves on. And L'Chaim! A romance begins.
Adriana Quinones moves beyond a crippling car accident — finding her voice and identifying what kind of relationship she wants.
Laura and Mike were seeking mental health rehabilitation when they went to the Sally and Howard Levin Clubhouse in Pittsburgh. They got a lot more than they bargained for — each other.
“Social inclusion is the ‘next frontier’ issue in intellectual and developmental (IDD) research, policy, and practice,” says the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. People with intellectual disabilities are our classmates, coworkers, and neighbors. But the AAIDD says: “Social inclusion goes far beyond just being present in the community. It’s about the roles we take in civic life, who we love, and how we build fulfilling relationships with others.” The third season of A Valid Podcast brings listeners into the lives of people with intellectual disabilities and asks what society could do better to support social inclusion.
The podcast is produced by All-Abilities Media at the Center for Media Innovation at Point Park University, published on Unabridged Press podcast channels. Images and full transcript at PublicSource.
Point Park University’s Claire Lindsey interviewed Adriana Quinones and Monica Ruiz, thanks to support from the Pittsburgh Media Partnership. Jennifer Szweda Jordan hosts this season with commentary from award-winning podcaster Erin Gannon. PublicSource Managing Editor Halle Stockton provided editorial advice. Jeweltone Production’s Liz Reid mixed audio and interviewed guests. Cover art was created by Mick Fisher, with assistance from Creative Citizen Studios. Music on this series was performed by Lilly Abreu (guitar), George Casselberry (harmonica) and Jane Ondrusek (piano) from the Woodlands Foundation.
Guests:
Adriana Quinones
Monica Ruiz
Shawn McGill, Shawn McGill Counseling
Joe Herbick, Sally and Howard Levin Clubhouse, Jewish Residential Services
Laura and Mike (last names withheld)
One Thing Missing: Social inclusion
Adriana Quinones is happy caring for three children, painting with colorful plastic diamonds, and hanging out with her mom. But something else she'd like in her life--a good man--has proven hard to find. She has intellectual and learning disabilities--compounded by English being her second language. Adriana doesn’t always recognize red flags, and has been abused in many ways by love interests. People with intellectual disabilities are at a higher risk of abuse than the general population. Society doesn't always set up adults with intellectual disabilities to succeed in relationships.
"Social inclusion is the 'next frontier' issue in intellectual and developmental (IDD) research, policy, and practice," says the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. People with intellectual disabilities are our classmates, coworkers, and neighbors. But the AAIDD says: “Social inclusion goes far beyond just being present in the community. It’s about the roles we take in civic life, who we love, and how we build fulfilling relationships with others.” The third season of A Valid Podcast brings listeners into the lives of people with intellectual disabilities and asks what society could do better to support social inclusion.
Guests:
Adriana Quinones
Monica Ruiz
Dr. Beverly Frantz, Temple Institute on Disabilities.
The podcast is produced by All-Abilities Media at the Center for Media Innovation at Point Park University. The podcast will be published via Unabridged Press podcast channels. Images and written material will appear on PublicSource. A Valid Podcast is on Apple Podcasts, Anchor.fm Spotify, Google Podcasts, and others.
Point Park University's Claire Lindsey interviewed Adriana Quinones and Monica Ruiz, thanks to support from the Pittsburgh Media Partnership. Jennifer Szweda Jordan hosts this season with commentary from award-winning podcaster Erin Gannon. PublicSource Managing Editor Halle Stockton provided editorial advice. Jeweltone Production's Liz Reid mixed audio and interviewed guests. Portions of this podcast were recorded at Rain Cat Recording Studio in Jensen Beach, FL. Cover art was created by Mick Fisher, with assistance from Creative Citizen Studios. George Casselberry and Jane Ondrusek, from the Woodlands Foundation, provided music for this season.
We All Need Somebody: Love, Friendship, & Other Bonds Among People with Intellectual Disabilities
People with intellectual disabilities are part of our world more than ever before--in schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods. But we have a lot of work to do in preparing people with intellectual disabilities to navigate romance and friendships.
A Valid Podcast, season 3, launching Wednesday, Dec. 8, features people with intellectual disabilities sharing their joy and challenges in relationships. It explores how we support and where we fail to support adults with intellectual disabilities. The podcast is produced by All-Abilities Media at the Center for Media Innovation at Point Park University. The podcast will be published via Unabridged Press podcast channels. Images and written material will appear on PublicSource. A Valid Podcast is on Apple Podcasts, Anchor.fm Spotify, Google Podcasts, and others.
Jennifer Szweda Jordan hosts this season with commentary from award-winning podcaster Erin Gannon. Halle Stockton provided editorial advice. Liz Reid mixed audio. Cover art was created by Mick Fisher, with assistance from Creative Citizen Studios. George Casselberry and Jane Ondrusek, from the Woodlands Foundation, provided music for this season.
Improv and Other Hacks for Learning Disabilities
Learning Disabilities Association of Pennsylvania president Collin Diedrich says he was able to earn a Ph.D. in medicine both despite--and because of--his learning disabilities. Diedrich is an advocate, author, and professional speaker for students who have learning disabilities. He discusses the importance of finding allies and techniques to overcome barriers in life--including improv comedy. In this episode of A Valid Podcast, he speaks with autism advocate James Shirley.
Look Who's Here! - PA Connecting Communities
Look Who's Here! - The Miracle League of the South Hills
Look Who's Here! - DJ Big Ed
Race and unfair healthcare with Myelin and Melanin
Don’t forget to listen to A Valid Podcast when it drops on Friday for an exclusive news segment with reporter John Miller as he interviews journalist Meghan Holohan about her story for Today’s “Denied” series about systemic racism and its effect of Black women’s access to quality health care.
Work-From-Home: Resilience & Loss
Hosts Darah Thompson and Alana Gibbs bring disability analysts Chaz Kallem and Josie Badger into the conversation to discuss their experiences with employment, what it means to be “too sick to be successful,” and other challenges facing the community.
Get to Know Us! Disability: Give and Take
Content Warning: This episode does contain brief talk of self harm.
Icons of the ADA: Judy Heumann and Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins
A Valid Podcast's guests have done both. In doing so, they've successfully pushed for disability rights for the world over the last several decades.
Disability rights titans Judy Heumann and Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins join A Valid Podcast for the week of the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Heumann was in her twenties when she led the longest non-violent occupation of a federal building in the U.S. where more than 150 people with disabilities put their bodies on the line -- many for 25 days. Heumann’s passionate words and stare sliced through red tape in Washington and made real the commitments that the nation had promised people with disabilities. She helped lay the groundwork for the ADA.
In 1990, an 8-year-old Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins abandoned her wheelchair and climbed the 83 stone steps of the U.S. Capitol Building with 60 other protesters in what was known as the Capitol Crawl. The image of Jennifer's climb became an icon for the disability rights movement in America, and it was among the final acts that led to the passage of the ADA.
Hosts Alana Gibbs and Darah Thompson lead the conversation as John Miller reports, and disability analysts Alisa Grishman and Josie Badger give their perspectives on what comes next for disability activism.
Plus, Erin Gannon of Look Who's Here! stops by.
Look Who's Here! - Special Olympics Allegheny County
Intersectionality: Where do the needs of minority communities intersect?
AVP Season 2: LIVE Tuesday July 21!
A Valid Podcast reporters and analysts drop deep questions and sharp wit as they explore beauty standards in the disability community, protesting (or not) with a disability, and pride across the margins. You’re invited to live recordings of the second season 7 pm Tuesdays July 21-August 25. The podcast appears here on Fridays. Join us as we get riled up and somehow laugh with resilience along the winding road of inclusion.
AVALIDPODCAST.COM
A Valid Podcast is produced by Unabridged Press and the Center for Media Innovation at Point Park University. The CMI hosts the All-Abilities Media Project (allabilitiesmedia.org) supported by The FISA Foundation and other funders.
FEATURING:
Alana Gibbs, host
Darah Thompson, host
Francesca Dabecco, reporter
Nick Tommarello, reporter
Alisa Grishman, analyst
Josie Badger, analyst
Rachel Kallem-Whitman, analyst
Jennifer Szweda Jordan, commentator
Disability Pride Philly is moving online, statewide: Vicki Landers, President and CEO
Crip Camp: directors talk about Camp Jened, disability and more
Crip Camp inspires other online gatherings: Camp Access
How we've failed nursing homes: U.S. Sen. Bob Casey
THIS PROGRAM IS PRODUCED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CENTER FOR MEDIA INNOVATION AT POINT PARK UNIVERSITY THROUGH THE ALL-ABILITIES MEDIA PROJECT WITH SUPPORT FROM THE FISA FOUNDATION. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT ALLABILITIESMEDIA.ORG
#DISABILITY #COVID #NURSINGHOMES #AGING
Nursing Homes and COVID: A Natural Disaster?
Food stamps can buy delivered groceries in several states
"Hey, I love your mask:" Disability in Pittsburgh's yellow phase
"Instability in Six Colors" author on shacking up with bipolar disorder
May is mental health month.
Medical Marijuana, Disabilties, and COVID-19
Lights (and cameras) still on for Arts for Autism summer camp
How can we help? Disability advocates on mutual aid
Can you Cha Cha Slide in a wheelchair?
Deaf in a Masked World
Don't Forget Us: Disabled in a Disaster
Of Mental Illness, Bidets, & Extroverts in Quarantine
A Valid Podcast is co-produced by Unabridged Press and the Center for Media Innovation at Point Park University with support from The FISA Foundation.