All-Abilities Media and A Valid Podcast
Who doesn’t love a good podcast? They can be informative, uplifting, comforting, humorous, give you the “feel-good” in your heart and sometimes make you scratch your head and think “hmmm, I never thought about that!” Sometimes it is simply good company for those long drives or rides. Recently a local podcast out of Pittsburgh is getting well deserved notoriety. All-Abilities Media supports people with intellectual disabilities and/or autism in developing and producing a podcast called “Valid Podcast” and helps them to build their podcasting skills.
Founded in 2017 by the Center for Media Innovation at Point Park University in conjunction with Unabridged Press, All-Abilities Media began to onboard people with disabilities and help them further their dreams to take part in podcasting development.
The first participant was a woman with Down syndrome, Erin Gannon, who through their guidance and support learned podcasting. She went on to win two journalism awards and is the host of the podcast “Look Who’s Here!” Following, Erin down the podcasting trail with All-Abilities media, was college student Mark Steidl. He utilizes an augmentative alternative communication (AAC) device to speak. He also won a podcasting award! These two are among the thirty people with disabilities who have participated in this program.
One of All-Abilities Media Associates is Michelle Steiner. A graduate of Slippery Rock University, she has her own blog and forum and is a disability writer, speaker, and photographer. She currently works with students with disabilities in The Butler Area School District. She herself has shared on podcasts her own journey of having a learning disability.
The Valid Podcast covers a variety of topics including podcasts about disability issues, personal stories, community activities and more. Currently Season 4 of a Valid Podcast is airing, and they are talking about jobs, employment opportunities, barriers, personal stories both good and bad, as well as the need to bring awareness to employers on the benefits of hiring people with disabilities. Maria Palmer hosts this season, and Jessie Henry is the lead reporter.
You can stream Valid Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Here is the Apple link:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-valid-podcast/id1511173196
And the Spotify link: https://open.spotify.com/show/2EM1bA04aElvHjBTcKJ6oE?si=b4ca44b5d9df42d2
There is also a monthly online gathering which promotes community building and development of podcast skills the second Wednesday of the month from 6:45 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. You can register for this by filling out the form at the link here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdgptAz5LE2c8Igld2PkTPVk9qIC_2v2u8_id-hgBlab4MSbw/viewform?usp=sf_link
You can also reach out for more information by calling 412-339-0748 or emailing jennifer@unabridgedpress.com.
Who knows, maybe you, or someone you know, can be the next award-winning podcaster! Check out their website at All Abilities Media.
All images/graphic content created in Canva with a non-profit subscription.
