Black disabled women in America experience a three-prong punch in the doctor’s office: gender bias, racism and ableism. A Valid Podcast hosts Darah Thompson and Alana Gibbs break down this struggle with Dawn Morgan and Daana Townsend from the podcast Myelin and Melanin, who both have multiple sclerosis. They talk about the lack of Black voices in the MS community, delayed diagnosis, societal perceptions, advocacy and more.

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.

Will our new work-from-home lifestyle finally accommodate people with disabilities? People with disabilities encounter barriers in employment all the time. But with the coronavirus pandemic, these challenges are growing, not getting easier. Journalist John Miller talks with Mary Niederberger on her reported story about how internship losses within a virtual world requires resilience among people with disabilities.

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.

Hosts Alana Gibbs and Darah Thompson talk with disability analyst Alisa Grishman about what it means to be proud of your disability. Plus, what do texting, Segways and curb cuts have in common? New norms and technologies have roots in inventions for people with disabilities. Reporter John Miller talks with Associate Producer/Reporter Francesca Dabecco about her article for ADA at 30: Accessibility in Pittsburgh at adapittsburgh.com. And Erin Gannon, the founding host of AVP’s sister podcast “Look Who’s Here!” shares her special tip of the day.

Content Warning: This episode does contain brief talk of self harm.

To get to the top, sometimes you have to get out of your wheelchair and crawl steps. And sometimes you have to go days without getting your hair washed during a sit-in.

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.

In this special episode of "Look Who's Here!" Erin Gannon, founding host of LWH! interviews Shannon Clancy, the Sports Director of Special Olympics Allegheny County.

Intersectionality is the focus of the first episode of season 2. Featuring two new voices to the A Valid Podcast team, Alana Gibbs and Darah Thompson. And hear from Darren L. Whitfield assistant professor of social work and psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh's Center on Race and Social Problems, with analysis from our team and a special preview of our sister podcast, "Look Who's Here!" debuting on A Valid Podcast this Sunday!

We're going in: A Valid Podcast

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

Since 2013, Disability Pride Philadelphia has been working to create a fun and inclusive parade for disabled folks and allies. And in the age of physical distancing, Disability Pride Philly is moving online, statewide. The month-long event started June 27th, and it's a big deal because this year marks the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Vicki Landers, President and CEO of Disability Pride Philadelphia joins the AVP team.

The directors of the Netflix documentary, Crip Camp, James "Jim" Lebrecht and Nicole Newnham joined the AVP team live to talk about Camp Jened, disability and the creation of the documentary.

Mary Fashik is the founder of the #UpgradeAccessibility movement and is hosting a virtual camp for the disability community.