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

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

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.

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)

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.

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.

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.