"Unthinkable:" Mourning People with Disabilities Killed by Family/Caregivers
TRIGGER WARNING: This work described includes mention of the murders of people with disabilities.
The 13-minute video covers efforts to commemorate people with disabilities killed by family and caregivers. It is dedicated to two McCandless, Penn. brothers, Daniel Schlemmer, who was 6 when he died, and Luke Schlemmer, who was 3. They were drowned in 2014 by their mother, who thought they were autistic.
Law enforcement does not specifically track murders of people with disabilities. But the Washington, D.C.-based Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) collects news accounts of crimes that it calls “filicide” of people with all types of disabilities. ASAN’s research dating back to 1979 found what it deemed to be over 1,500 accounts of filicide worldwide.
“There's so many names on the list,” says Zoe Gross, ASAN’s director of advocacy. “It's staggering.”
ASAN and other advocacy organizations say that media coverage of these deaths are often sympathetic to the perpetrator, and that memorial vigils counter that by respectfully commemorating the deceased. “Unthinkable” includes interviews with Gross and Glenshaw, Penn.-based disability advocate Jay Shirley.
“Unthinkable” was produced largely by people with disabilities. All-Abilities Media is a fiscally-sponsored project of
New Sun Rising that was developed and directed by Unabridged Press, LLC. The documentary was started during the project’s incubation at the Center for Media Innovation at Point Park University. It was supported by funding from The FISA Foundation and The Heinz Endowments, an anonymous philanthropy, and New Sun Rising.
Corrections The name of the first speaker is spelled Jennifer L. Frymiare. This is a different spelling from the video but the video is left up here because of the history of people watching and sharing this link. Additionally, note in the captions that Frymiare's speaking segments are incorrectly attributed to Sophie Louis. Louis is a student who appear
Christmas with A Valid Podcast
What's your favorite Christmas movie? What do you do when you don't like a gift? This is what we're talking about in this episode of A Valid Podcast. We also tackle how to better include people who are neurodiverse. Host Maria Palmer recommends a children's book about that.
Podcasters include: Thomas Hassell, an advisor with Self Advocates United as 1 (SAU1) who blogs at ASERT ASDNext, and posts at Thomas Hassell's Autism journey; Maria Palmer who blogs at Together Individual Entertainment Blog- T.I.E Blog; Erin Gannon who works with Achieva, is shown with Jennifer Szweda Jordan where she lives and Jennifer works at Emmaus Community of Pittsburgh; Heather McGreevy, with Heather's Creative Canvas and Studio Forget-Me-Not; Michelle Steiner with Michelle's Mission; and puppeteer Kris Rhood.
The thumbnail image for this video features six images of people in Zoom squares and one person with just a name up, Kris Rhood. All shown are whitel There are six women, including Kris, and one male. They include their own image descriptions in the video.
It's About Accomplishment
The ways people with intellectual disabilities and/or autism contribute to the work world may surprise you. Hear Maria Palmer, Sharay Bolden, and Matthew Schwab Speaks talk about their hustles.
#NationalDisabilityEmploymentAwarenessMonth #nationaldisabilityemploymentawarenessmonth #NDEAM Kennywood Park Gabe's Stores Emmaus Community of Pittsburgh Together Individual Entertainment Blog- T.I.E Blog Center for Media Innovation at Point Park University
Get your program heeeeere!
Frontline workers and people with intellectual disabilities they serve share their stories next week Who Cares: Direct support stories (online).
But your program is here online early!
Thanks to silver sponsors Emmaus Community of Pittsburgh and Mainstay Life Services, and bronze sponsors Partners For Quality and The Woodlands!
Media sponsors PublicSource and Storyburgh. Cohosted by Center for Media Innovation at Point Park University
RACE AND UNFAIR HEALTHCARE WITH MYELIN AND MELANIN
Resilience & loss: internships in the pandemic
Kennywood, Broadway, and Warhol: Dis/Ability in Arts and Entertainment
Did you know Kennywood Park is now especially welcoming to people on the autism spectrum?
It's a Certified Autism Center, according to employee and @Point Park University education student Jade Steele (who also plays a scary person in the park's Phantom Fright Nights). Jade is one of several compelling speakers about inclusion in arts and entertainment at our recent "show and tell" symposium.
This captioned version allows those with hearing impairments to get the most out of the show. Sign language interpreters are also included at this event hosted by Point Park University Center for Media Innovation. Please consider sharing this post to spread the word!
This event was produced with the support of The FISA Foundation. Video editing: Alva Media Company.
"It's mocking people, not acting"
As Rianne Lindsey pursues a degree and work in theater, she explores how she'll find her place in this career as a person with a disability. She looks to how theater has--and has not--embraced people with disabilities. She spoke at a Dis/Ability Symposium at the Center for Media Innovation at Point Park University in downtown Pittsburgh, PA. The Center collaborates with Unabridged Press on the All-Abilities Media Project. The project trains people with and without disabilities to host and produce professional videos, podcasts, and other media. Funded in large part by The FISA Foundation.
Around the World in ADA: Americans With Disabilities Act and Restaurants
Can Pittsburgh's Oakland restaurant scene be as accessible as it is vibrant?
It's the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and many restaurants still have steps blocking wheelchair entry. Disability advocates Josie Badger and Alisa Grishman host our new Around the World with ADA podcast. Their full conversations are at soundcloud.com/unabridgedpress
Recorded at Point Park University Center for Media Innovation
#disabilityinclusionpgh @Access Mob Pittsburgh FISA Foundation The Heinz Endowments
Belonging is the legacy of two Tree of Life victims: Rabbi Mordy Rudolph
"The outliers of their day"
Cecil and David Rosenthal were among the worshippers murdered at the Tree Of Life - Or L'Simcha Congregation a year ago this weekend. The Friendship Circle of Pittsburgh's Rabbi Mordy Rudolph remembers their legacy.
Excerpted from an interview by Jim Shirley from the Point Park University Center for Media Innovation's All-Abilities Media Project. The full interview is at UnabridgedPress.com
"The outliers of their day"
Cecil and David Rosenthal were among the worshippers murdered at the Tree Of Life - Or L'Simcha Congregation a year ago this weekend. The Friendship Circle of Pittsburgh's Rabbi Mordy Rudolph remembers their legacy.
The roadkill on the road to sainthood
The Franciscan Sisters, T.O.R. of Penance of the Sorrowful Mother's Agnes Therese Davis is kind of a crunchy New Hampshire native. So she developed a rep for saving all kinds of food in the convent. And she hopes saving food is impacting her spiritual life, too. Listen to how in this video produced with support from National Catholic Sisters Week.
Editing by Midnight Zone Productions LLC.
From orphan child to environmental advocate...
Sloppy dog kisses, dandelions and stargazing in the American West shaped Sr. Elise Mora. She had a tough upbringing as an orphan. She lived with six different families, often wondering why no one wanted to keep her, and why people abused animals. But connecting with pets and the outdoors led to her lifetime of environmental advocacy as one of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Providence of God.
As Women's History Month wraps up, we have this story of an inspiring woman of faith. It was filmed as part of National Catholic Sisters Week. And we're pretty stoked about our new little logo animation at the beginning of the piece by Midnight Zone Productions LLC's Ashlyn Taylor!
Our good friend, Yankee Neil Walker (formerly Pirate)
Baseball season is here, and so is a home run episode of Look Who's Here!
New York Yankees' Neil Walker is interviewed by Miracle League of the South Hills, PA player and Look Who's Here! host Erin Gannon. They talk about #coping with #disability and Neil gives Erin some batting and catching tips.
