Highlights Archive

PBS KIDS Programming for Dialogue on Disability Week • WXXI-TV + WXXI-KIDS 24/7

All week long, WXXI will air special PBS Kids programs that deal with disability issues. Here are a few highlights.

Arthur “When Carl Met George“
Monday, January 12 at 6 a.m. on WXXI-TV
George learns about his friend Carl’s Asperger’s Syndrome.

Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood “Snowflake Day”
Monday, January 12 at 9 a.m. on WXXI-TV
“Snowflake Day” brings everyone to the Enchanted Garden for music, food, and fun. Daniel learns each snowflake is unique — just like people, each one special.

Donkey Hodie
Monday, January 12 at 11 a.m. + Friday, January 16 at 11 a.m. on WXXI-TV + Tuesday, January 13 at 12:30 p.m. + Saturday, January 17 at 12 p.m. on WXXI-KIDS 24/7
Jeff Mouse, Donkey, and Panda search for a hard-to-find moth all over Someplace Else. Will Jeff get a photo of it to add to his scrapbook? Inspired by Jeff Erlanger’s iconic visit to Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood in 1981, Jeff Mouse is an intrepid explorer, lover of nature, always resourceful, and prepared for an adventure.

Sesame Street “The Sign Language ABCs”
Tuesday, January 13 at 10 a.m. on WXXI-TV
At Alphabet Day, Elmo sings the ABC song, and his friend Mathis signs the alphabet using American Sign Language.

Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum “I Am Helen Keller”
Tuesday, January 13 at 1:30 p.m. on WXXI-TV
Xavier, Yadina and Brad see how Helen Keller learned to communicate with other people!

Elinor Wonders Why
Thursday, January 15 at 1 p.m. on WXXI-KIDS 24/7
Elinor and her friends set out to return Ms. Mole’s glasses to her after she forgets them at school. Ms. Mole can’t see anything without her glasses!

Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum “I Am Temple Grandin”
Friday, January 16 at 1:30 p.m. on WXXI-TV
Brad meets the innovative scientist and advocate for autism awareness and learns how to understand different perspectives, especially about sensory issues.

Here’s the full schedule:

On WXXI-TV

1/12/26 6am Arthur #1306

1/12/26 9am Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood #133

1/12/26 11am Donkey Hodie #222

1/13/26 6am Arthur #2005

1/13/26 9am Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood #140

1/13/26 10am Sesame Street #5423

1/13/26 1:30pm Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum #103

1/14/26 6am Arthur #1305

1/14/26 9am Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood #514

1/14/26 11:30am Pinkalicious & Peterrific #703

1/15/26 6am Arthur #1009

1/15/26 9am Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood #515

1/16/26 6am Arthur #2003

1/16/26 9am Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood #707

1/16/26 11am Donkey Hodie #222

1/16/26 1:30pm Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum #129

1/17/26 6:30am Arthur #1306

1/17/26 9am Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood #133

1/18/26 6am Mister Rogers Neighborhood #1478

1/18/26 6:30am Arthur #2005

1/18/26 9am Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood #514

1/18/26 10am Sesame Street #5422

On WXXI-KIDS 24/7

1/12/26 7am Pinkalicious #703

1/12/26 10am Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood #133

1/12/26 2:30pm Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum #103

1/12/26 7:30pm Arthur #1306

1/13/26 3:30am Arthur #1306

1/13/26 10:30am Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood #140

1/13/26 12:30pm Donkey Hodie #222

1/13/26 7:30pm Arthur #2005

1/14/26 3:30am Arthur #2005

1/14/26 10am Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood #514

1/14/26 7:30pm Arthur #1305

1/14/26 8:30pm Hero Elementary #137

1/15/26 3:30am Arthur #1305

1/15/26 10:30am Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood #515

1/15/26 1pm Elinor Wonders Why #108

1/15/26 2:30pm Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum #129

1/15/26 7:30pm Arthur #2003

1/16/26 3:30am Arthur #2003

1/16/26 8am Sesame Street #5422

1/16/26 10am Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood #707

1/16/26 7:30pm Arthur #1009

1/17/26 3:30am Arthur #1009

1/17/26 7:30am Peg + Cat #120

1/17/26 10am Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood #133

1/17/26 12pm Donkie Hodie #222

1/17/26 2:30pm Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum #103

1/18/26 7am Pinkalicious & Peterrific #703

1/18/26 7:30am Peg + Cat #201

1/18/26 10:30am Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood #140

1/18/26 2:30pm Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum #129

Dialogue on Disability, a partnership between WXXI and Al Sigl Community of Agencies – in conjunction with the Herman and Margaret Schwartz Community Series aims to change that by showcasing stories of people with disabilities and sparking conversations about inclusion. Dialogue on Disability is supported by the Fred L. Emerson Foundation with additional support from The Golisano Foundation. The weeklong initiative runs January 12-18, 2026.

WXXI and Al Sigl have been hosting Dialogue on Disability since 2005. In 2014, with the support of businessman and philanthropist Tom Golisano and the Golisano Foundation, Move to Include™ was formed. This initiative enables WXXI to present and develop programming that promotes inclusion year round.

All Creatures Great and Small, Season 6 • WXXI-TV

The Dales are calling! Season 6 is finally here!

All Creatures Great and Small, Season 6 premieres Sunday, January 11 at 9 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streaming live on the WXXI and PBS apps.

Season 6 of All Creatures Great and Small takes us back to the rolling hills of the Yorkshire Dales, where life in Darrowby is starting to find its rhythm again as the war in Europe winds down. It’s 1945, and the Skeldale family is stepping into a new chapter—one shaped by change, hope, and the opportunities that come with a more peaceful future.

There are new veterinary cases to tackle, growing families, and a few new faces around town. But at its core, the show continues to celebrate what it always has: community, compassion, and connection. The war may have left its mark, but the people of Darrowby keep showing up for each other—and their creatures.

Seven episodes – airing Sundays, January 11 through February 22 at 9 p.m.

Episode 1: Gathering the Flock Change comes to Skeldale House, and James struggles to keep up with Siegfried’s unpredictable ways.

Episode 2: Old Dogs, New Tricks James and Siegfried clash over new technology at the vet practice.

Episode 3: Captain Farnon? Tristan and Siegfried compete for the case of a wealthy family’s prized horse.

Episode 4: Jenny Wren Helen struggles when Jenny gets some exciting news.

Episode 5: Fixes James encounters challenges when he takes on the role of attending vet at the dog track.

Episode 6: Our Hearts are Full VJ Day sparks celebration for Mrs. Hall, reflection for Tristan, and a mystery for James.

Episode 7: Comfort and Joy Siegfried has another run-in with Hilda the goat, and an old flame returns to Darrowby. With Helen unwell, James juggles running the village Nativity with a growing to-do list. Tristan realises he’s forgotten something important.

Photo: Shown L-R: James Herriot (Nicholas Ralph), Helen Herriot (Rachel Shenton)
Credit: Playground Entertainment and MASTERPIECE / Photographer: Helen Williams

Public Defender • WXXI-TV

At a critical juncture in our nation’s history, Public Defender, an award-winning documentary film, examines the fault lines of American democracy through the lens of Heather Shaner, a seasoned and fiercely compassionate public defender in Washington, DC.

Public Defender airs Tuesday, January 6 at 10:30 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streaming live on the WXXI and PBS Apps.

Heather Shaner, a feisty, blue-haired defense attorney in Washington, DC, has spent over 45 years representing people who can’t afford a lawyer. But her empathy is tested when a violent mob supporting outgoing President Donald Trump storms the U.S. Capitol.

She is assigned to represent Jack Griffith, a social media influencer, and Annie Howell, a single mother and painter. As Heather gets to know her clients, she discovers Jack and Annie were deceived by misinformation and thought they’d joined a righteous defense of democracy, not an authoritarian wave.

Public Defender explores the delicate state of U.S. democracy, the forces threatening to tear it apart, and the people dedicated to protecting it. When trust is lost amidst a growing political divide, the unlikely bonds between Heather and her clients reveal how people can rise above the fray to find each other’s humanity.

RIT Shorts, Pt. 4 • WXXI-TV

WXXI continues to put a spotlight on the work of Rochester Institute of Technology film and animation students by presenting a series of shorts biannually.

RIT Shorts, Pt. 4 premieres Thursday, January 15 at 8 p.m. on WXXI-TV and the WXXI-TV Live Stream. Repeats Saturday, January 17 at 1 p.m. on WXXI-WORLD and at 5:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. on WXXI-TV, and Sunday, January 18 at 3:00 p.m. on WXXI-TV.

This edition features four pieces — three animated and one live-action — all centered on disability themes. RIT Shorts, Pt. 4 is part of Dialogue on Disability, WXXI’s annual initiative with Al Sigl Community of Agencies, which features a week of programming that showcases people with disabilities and sparks conversations about inclusion.

Featured shorts include:

An animation of the back of a young girl wearing a dress and looking up at a starburst of red and blue with words in white that read I WANT TO BE ALONE

I Want to Be Alone by Piper Charron
Follows Lisa as she struggles to complete a late-night commute after her headphones run out of battery. Each area of the city brings new and increasingly chaotic stimuli that she must cope with to reach her rooftop garden sanctuary. These stimuli manifest increasingly abstractly, building in visual and sonic texture and intensity as she traverses the city.

About Piper Charron: Piper is an internationally recognized 2D animator who works in both industry pipelines and experimental fine art animation. He specializes in highly technical character rigs and multimedia experimental animation. He worked as the senior animator and Harmony rigs specialist at MAGIC Spell Studios for two and a half years. In the spring of 2023, he worked with Christine Banna to create live projections for Stories From The Living Tree, a multimedia choir production. His film Sea Smoke was selected as the Rochester Institute of Technology’s animation submission for the 2023 CILECT prize competition. In 2024, he was awarded the Irene Pfizenmaier Award for Academic Excellence in Graphic Expression and the Outstanding Undergraduate Scholar Award from RIT. Piper grew up on an island off the coast of Downeast Maine. His proximity to the ocean in a tight-knit artistic community while growing up still informs his work today. In his multimedia work, he explores themes of connection and community, evoking emotions through non-traditional narratives. He aims to pursue a career in television animation in Canada while working on his personal craft. He earned his Bachelor in Fine Arts from the Rochester Institute of Technology in 2024. He currently resides in Maine, enjoying the ocean while searching for the next step in his artistic career.

Ghost Sandwich by Lymon Thorn

When a deaf woman drops and shatters her phone, her one accessibility aid, she uses different means of visual communication. Unfortunately, everyone else happens to be haunted by specters that she will never perceive – and to make matters worse, they won’t listen to anyone who can’t use a ghost to talk.

About Lymon Thorn: Lymon is a deaf queer animator who goes by they/them and enjoys animating in their own language, ASL.

An animation of a girl in a white dress with copy in white on a balck background that read: Ghost Sandwich.

Light purple background with a the word xobrettahc - all the letters are in different colors.

Xobrettahc by Robert Welton
Taking place in an animation class, students are asked to propose ideas for story pitches. They each blurt a series of words pertaining to their main concept as Trebora, a student who isn’t prepared to share, moves shapes inside her imagination in an effort to visualize their plans. She lucks out when time runs out before her turn but continues to struggle at home. Finally, after a fit of frustration, she draws an expressionistic but solid creature. As Trebora describes her idea in the following class, we see the other students’ concepts fleshed out as their own animals.

About Robert Welton: Robert is a Film and Animation major at Rochester Institute of Technology pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. He is currently a junior and his passion centers mainly around Stop Motion animation.

Oneness by Kaela Mangiaracina
This film is about being in the process of making one of the biggest decisions of her life, a deaf girl attempts to figure out where she fits among the hearing and deaf worlds. Fun fact: The lead actress in this 2015 film Jacqueline Pransky, who is now a teacher at Rochester School for the Deaf.

About Kaela Mangiaracina: “I was born and raised in New Jersey in a crazy Italian family. They always have been a big advocate for me and supported me in anything I wanted and needed. I was born deaf, and am the last baby of the family. I have two older brothers, one is deaf, so my parents already knew sign language when I was first born. I never wanted a cochlear implant, but because of the pressures I got from school I went to – I wanted to be a video editor, and I felt like I could not succeed as a video editor if I am deaf. So, I forced myself to get a cochlear implant, and that experience was actually traumatic, what Kristen experienced in the movie is not what I experienced, I changed the story a bit for visibility, what I experienced was more of physical intense pain shooting up in my arm and my face. I experienced a lot of vertigo and severe tinnitus. It gave me a new perspective on life itself, just have to keep on pushing through things. In some cases, cochlear implant works for some people, in some other cases, it does not, and in some other cases, people wonder what it is like if they got it. I had a taste of all of that. I actually got a cochlear implant replacement, it works better, but I am very cautious about it because the first experience was really, really traumatic. I don’t understand words or environmental sounds. I just hear weird sounds.”

An xray of a skull and beside it a white woman with long black hair standing in front of a brick wall.

RIT Shorts is a bi-annual series that showcases the work of some of RIT’s most impressive student filmmakers, offering these young producers a platform to share their films to a broader audience while offering WXXI viewers the chance to see the incredible talent that RIT is cultivating.

ASL Video Podcast: Breakdown • On-Demand

FRONTLINE, the Portland Press Herald and Maine Public investigate the deadliest mass shooting in Maine history and the missed opportunities to prevent it.

There were 656 mass shootings in the U.S in 2023. The one in Lewiston, Maine on Oct. 25, 2023 was the year’s deadliest — and quite possibly preventable.

Over six episodes, Breakdown explores the missed opportunities to prevent the shooting, the role of guns and hunting in Maine’s politics, and the aftermath for shooting victims, some of whom were deaf and hard of hearing.

Each episode includes American Sign Language (ASL)-interpreted videos.

Click here to watch the ASL Video Podcast: Breakdown

You can also listen to the podcast on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Call The Midwife Holiday Special 2025 • WXXI-TV

Senior members of the convent embark on a mercy mission, swapping the snowy East End of London for the sun-drenched terrain of Hong Kong.

Call The Midwife Holiday Special 2025 airs Thursday, December 25 at 8 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streaming live on the WXXI and PBS apps.

The rise in hospital births, and wider changes in the NHS, have clipped their wings. But their mission to the Far East is a chance to take flight and work out what really matters. For her part, Sister Julienne suddenly finds herself excited about the Order’s future. After years of battling change, she decides to embrace it and see what love can do.

Picture Shows: Joyce Highland (RENEE BAILEY) Trixie Franklin (HELEN GEORGE) Sister Julienne (JENNY AGUTTER)
Credit: © Neal Street Productions/Olly Courtney

Move to Include Podcast • On-Demand

From WXXI News “Inclusion Desk” comes a six-episode audio and video podcast exploring self advocacy for people with disabilities. Hosted by WXXI News reporter Noelle E.C. Evans, each episode delves into a core aspect of everyday life for people with disabilities — education, employment, housing, relationships, healthcare, and transportation — told through the lens of the self-advocacy movement.

Through one-on-one interviews and panel discussions, the show empowers people with disabilities, caregivers, and allies with practical knowledge, resources, and inspiration to advocate for themselves and build stronger communities.

FIRST EPISODE DROPS MONDAY, JANUARY 12

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts here.

Watch it on WXXI News YouTube channel.

Distribution: One episode drops each month from January to June 2026. Audio & video episodes with text recaps and transcripts will be available on all podcast platforms, YouTube, and WXXINews.org.

Accessibility: All episodes will be fully captioned. The video version of the podcast will include an on-screen ASL interpreter. Full episode transcripts and summaries will be available.

This podcast is from WXXI’s Inclusion Desk, a multi-platform reporting effort to inform and transform attitudes and behavior about inclusion. The Inclusion Desk grew from the Move to Include partnership between WXXI and the Golisano Foundation. Through programming and special events, WXXI and the Golisano Foundation look to build a more inclusive community by inspiring and motivating people to embrace different abilities and include all people in every aspect of community life.

Exited Podcast • On-Demand

Leaving the world of adolescence and entering the adult world — the real world — can be a confusing time for anyone. But for young people with disabilities, it can feel like arriving at a cliff as they leave behind the cocoon of school and sometimes struggle to find a place where they belong. Exited is a podcast that brings you the stories of eight young people, ranging in age from 17 to 26, as they navigate transitions in various settings – high school, higher education, sheltered workshops, day programs, and home life.

Click the links below to hear each of the five episodes. Or subscribe to the podcast where ever you get your podcasts, including Apple, Spotify, Amazon.

Episode 1

“Want a diploma? Go through this maze first” In the first episode of Exited, explore an early factor in transition – graduation tracks – through the experience of 17-year-old Nate, a student who doesn’t quite fit on any one track.

Episode 2

“Leaving college with lots of benefits — but no degree” Going to college can be a key experience in a young person’s life, leading to friendships, personal growth, a degree — and, of course, future employment.

Episode 3

“The uncertain future of segregated workshopsThe uncertain future of segregated workshops” Sheltered workshops, where many people with disabilities go to work, have been around for decades. But they’re controversial for a few reasons

Episode 4

“How disabled is too disabled to work?” When Akin Johnson was nearing the end of high school, he was clear about what he wanted to do next. He wanted to get a job.

Episode 5

“Imagining the future and ‘other people caring for him'” People like Jonathan Jackson tend to have an entourage. An entourage can consist of professionals and family members who support someone with disabilities in all kinds of ways.

This podcast, produced in 2017, is from WXXI’s Inclusion Desk, a multi-platform reporting effort to inform and transform attitudes and behavior about inclusion. The Inclusion Desk grew from the Move to Include partnership between WXXI and the Golisano Foundation. Through programming and special events, WXXI and the Golisano Foundation look to build a more inclusive community by inspiring and motivating people to embrace different abilities and include all people in every aspect of community life.