This week we kick off Dialogue on Disability, one of our annual initiatives of which I am most proud. For more than a decade we have partnered with Al Sigl Community of Agencies to provide special programs that spotlight "the abilities of people with disabilities”.  The initiative was designed to encourage dialogue about the vital role inclusion plays in our community. In the first year, Dialogue on Disability reached 30,000 people, and today the initiative reaches nearly 1 million. We hope you’ll tune in to WXXI January 19-23 for special TV and radio programs, as well as news reports and community conversations on Connections with Evan Dawson.

As part of the initiative we'll also be hosting a special screening of On the Other Side of the Fence Tuesday, January 20 at 6:30 p.m. at the Little Theatre. The documentary spotlights a 30-year partnership between two Philadelphia schools, whose students learn the values of tolerance, acceptance, and unity by producing and performing in an original musical. It will be followed by a panel discussion with the producer of the film, Henry Nevinson, and guests from CP Rocehster. 

The vital work of Dialogue on Disabilities served as a model to secure a two-year contract with the Golisano Foundation for our MOVE TO INCLUDE project. This initiative enables us to continue to bring our community special TV and radio programming, news features, film screenings with panel discussions, and other special offerings that spotlight the abilities of people with disabilities throughout the year. While Dialogue on Disabilities now falls under our MOVE TO INCLUDE initiative, January will always be dedicated to our good friends at Al Sigl. 

For a complete list of of Dialogue on Disability programming, click here.