All-Abilities Media

09/19/2024

Pittsburghers, please vote 9/27 for journalism about disability. Jennifer Szweda Jordan-Media is pitching to a live audience to support reporting about what accommodations area faith communities offer worshippers. The contest goes down at 5 pm next Friday at Newsapalooza. It’s part of a celebration of local news Sept. 26-28. The contest and several other events will take place at the Pittsburgh Playhouse.

Shoutout to Deaf Pittsburgh Events & News, Pittsburgh Deaf News, Catholic Deaf Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Deaf Connection, Deaf Women of Pittsburgh, Deafpittsburgh Happyhour, Pittsburgh Association of the Deaf

NEWSAPALOOZA - Pittsburgh | Official Ticket Source | Pittsburgh Playhouse | Fri, Sep 27, 2024, 9:00am | | Pittsburgh Playhouse

09/05/2024

In addition to the disability-related films in this week's ReelAbilities Pittsburgh, another compelling showing approaches.

The Branch’s Family Forum is hosting a free in-person screening of “Unseen: How We’re Failing Parent Caregivers & Why It Matters,” billed as "a documentary that takes a candid look at the challenges faced by parent caregivers of children with disabilities."

Date: September 17, 2024
Time: Doors open at 6:30 PM, Film begins at 7:00 PM
Location: Levinson Hall, JCC Pittsburgh.
5738 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15217

https://caregiverdoc.com

RSVP: https://secure.everyaction.com/mFaf5z8By0mJn057T8-erQ2?emci=9672bdd5-136a-ef11-991a-6045bdd9e096&emdi=e06378ac-176a-ef11-991a-6045bdd9e096&ceid=2001569

09/05/2024

Some fantastic films coming your way starting today.

ReelAbilities Pittsburgh kicks off tonight with Super/Man the Christopher Reeve Story at Carnegie Science Center. Film Pittsburgh is also making films available online with a virtual pass for those in PA, OH, and WV.

Tomorrow's showing of shorts will be Point Park University's Pittsburgh Playhouse. When buying a ticket, you might check the schedule carefully to make sure you're in the right place, whether virtual or in person!

ReelAbilities Pittsburgh showcases films that explore the lives, stories, and artistic expressions of people living with disabilities. Experience a weekend of thought-provoking cinema along with after-parties, special guests, and an artist market.

04/26/2024

“I want you to take chances so big that the lessons are even bigger.”

-Anna King Skeels, ‘24

Another student who played a big role in All-Abilities Media graduated from Point Park University today. Anna was named outstanding graduating senior and delivered an address to 560+ classmates. And wore high heeled chartreuse glitter and floral shoes.

While working with AAM Anna’s essay about why stage fright should not be easily dismissed was published in PublicSource. They also created a video performance for our Loving Our Minds event about mental health among people who are LGBTQIA+. And Anna emceed our “Who Cares?” event.

For their next act, Pittsburghers can see Anna performing their show “unstitch” next Friday and Saturday!

https://kelly-strayhorn.org/events/ws24-freshworks-anna-king-skeels/

Kelly Strayhorn Theater

04/26/2024

"At the heart of the Passover story is the concept of freedom—the freedom to live without oppression, discrimination, or limitation."

These are the words of Chicago disability advocate Michelle Friedman in Jewish Disability Inclusion News. She's with Keshet Disabilities & Inclusion and Disability Lead

All-Abilities Media wishes the Jewish community a meaningful and blessed Passover.

Note also that RespectAbility has a guide for congregational inclusion year-round.

https://open.substack.com/pub/jewishdisabilityinclusionnews/p/the-passover-story-a-symbol-of-freedom?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email

https://www.respectability.org/high-holidays/

by Michelle Friedman

04/25/2024

Tomorrow a young woman whose work was critical to All-Abilites Media graduates Point Park University

In her first year, Claire Lindsey reported for our National Center on Disability and Journalism award-winning A Valid Podcast. This work was in conjunction with Center for Media Innovation at Point Park University.

Her writing about mental health appeared in partnership with publications PublicSource and Pittsburgh City Paper.

She created a video featuring another student’s artwork for our Loving Our Minds mental health event.

Claire was a researcher for our documentary "Unthinkable. "

And she was a key assistant for our ‘Who Cares?’ event and media content last spring.

Claire’s capstone project is an art exhibit she curated. It's at the Wick Monet gallery in Pittsburgh. (She regretfully told us that it's not located in a physical space but as of this writing was looking for opportunities to bring some of the art to street level.)

Thank you and congratulations, Claire!

https://www.wickmo.net/bodies

04/04/2024

Do you know about the Disability Access and Information Line?

"Launched in 2021 to help disabled people access COVID-19 vaccinations, Disability Information and Access Line - DIAL also provides information about essential services such as transportation, housing support, disability rights, and more," their website says.

https://www.facebook.com/DIALConnect/posts/pfbid02fwFaPmQuvZmMNY8kz7g8yfzo5Dw1JPgtVh88ha1Wz6AK2GZDEEdvZQjr3n2W9fK5l

Connect with DIAL staff to learn about local support services including independent living, transportation, peer counseling, education, employment, disability rights and more. Call or text us at 888-677-1199 from 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM ET | [email protected] | Online chat/ASL at dial.acl.gov

04/03/2024

The large crowds at mosques and fasting during can pose challenges for Muslims with disabilities. Feryaal Tahir of Muhsen explains in this video from RespectAbility

RespectAbility's Faith Inclusion Associate Ben Bond spoke with Feryaal Tahir of Muhsen about disability inclusion and Ramadan.

03/29/2024

The first major financial backer of All-Abilities Media were these women at FISA Foundation. FISA was started by women and continues to be led by women who are committed to people with disabilities. The organization has been a critical financial as well as moral support. Thank you and happy .

Image descriptions:
On the left is a black and white photo from 1935 of eight white women in dress clothes and hats writing invitations at a hotel table. At right is a 2023 color photo of 21 women in business dress standing together wearing name tags and smiling. They are standing in front of a large curtain on an ornate filigree print carpet.

03/28/2024

Well this could be amazing....

A concert featuring themes of hope, acceptance, and inclusion takes place this weekend in Pittsburgh. The Point Park University's Conservatory of Performing Arts students will sing, dance, perform poetry, and more in "ARTfully UPlifting." The show takes place at 2pm Saturday at Point Park University's Pittsburgh Playhouse.

Pittsburgh KDKA has a preview
https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/video/learning-more-about-artfully-uplifting-at-point-park-university/

https://playhouse.pointpark.edu/shows-events/special-events/artup?fbclid=IwAR3UJER0ltIsjXZvfCghQhIatJdk2gDiLhWgfU_oU31YCKrYaGorleJx_ew_aem_AWVwk-S0QvroLoFY5phJTiXcNBVtjiA2ALSL1DeQjltc4vLbdkh3AHXPyjBLb1fehVcDEXZ203FfeiXuap5vCzgW

"Artfully Uplifting" is a labor of love from the heart of Point Park University, uniting themes of hope, acceptance and inclusion for a sensory-friendly audience.

03/27/2024

As Christians celebrate Holy Week and Easter, and Muslims celebrate Ramadan, RespectAbility offers reflections and conversations on faith and disability.

“Jesus rose in a disabled body, marked by the trauma of imperial ex*****on. He stood alongside disabled and otherwise marginalized people throughout his ministry and, in his disabled resurrected form, was accepted by his friends.”

From RespectAbility Faith Inclusion and Belonging Fellow Angela Molloy:
https://www.respectability.org/2024/03/the-disabled-god-anniversary/

Ramadan Interview with Feryaal Tahir of Muhsen: https://vimeo.com/813190615

Image description: Photo 1: Book Cover image of Nancy Eiesland’s book “The Disabled God” features colorful art with abstract images of human bodies.

Image description: Photo 2: Zoom frames of, on left, a woman of South Asian descent wearing a black head scarf and a beige shirt. Her name on the screen is Feryaal Tahir. To her right is a white man with brown hair and a full beard wearing a pink shirt. His name on the screen is Rev. Ben Bond.

03/15/2024

Although our podcasts and videos amplify the voices and images of people with intellectual disabilities and/or autism, it’s next level joy when we’re honored at a live event.

We got that chance recently when the All-Abilities Media team received a Vibrancy award from our fiscal sponsor New Sun Rising. It was for our work to create opportunities.

“I love sharing important information with people about fun things,” said A Valid Podcast host Maria Palmer. “I always wanted to be a performer… Podcasting is a perfect fit.”

We all spoke to the audience, we danced like no one was watching, and we walked away with an attractive award.

Pictured from left are Sharay Bolden, Erin Gannon, and Maria Palmer. All have appeared on A Valid Podcast.