“Move To Include” People with Disabilities

Move to Include is a national initiative using the power of public media to promote inclusion.

Move To Include is a multimedia initiative that was founded in 2014 as a partnership between WXXI Public Media in Rochester, NY ( a PBS member) and the Golisano Foundation, the nation’s largest private foundation devoted to supporting programs for people with intellectual disabilities.

Move to Include was designed to promote inclusion in all facets of life for people with intellectual and physical disabilities. Through programming and special events, WXXI and the Golisano Foundation are building a more inclusive community by inspiring and motivating people to embrace different abilities and include all people in every aspect of community life.

The Foundation has provided more than $2.1 million in funding to date for Move to Include.


National Expansion of Move to Include

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting recognized the importance of the Move to Include model and awarded WXXI Public Media a grant to expand efforts to five additional public media stations. WXXI Public Media is leading the expansion of the successful six-year initiative.  Move to Include PBS affiliate stations include: WFYI (Indianapolis), OPB (Oregon), WGCU (Southwest Florida), WCNY (Syracuse, NY), and Iowa Public Television. Each station organizes its own community partnerships, acquire and create content, and provide outreach, engagement, and promotion for the initiative. The expansion kicked off in July 2020 in commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA is the civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public.

Move to Include PBS Learning Media

This collection of videos and activities, targeting Grades 5-12, comes from Move to Include, the multi-platform public media initiative designed to promote inclusion for people with intellectual and physical disabilities. The initiative looks to inspire and motivate people to embrace different abilities and include all people in every aspect of community life. Move to Include also seeks to elevate the voices of people with different abilities in telling their own stories.

Each segment has been carefully selected to engage students in concepts of inclusion across the curriculum, and incorporates activities, online resources, and videos to address topics and standards across science, technology, engineering, English language arts, health and physical education, the arts and more. Topics include: Assistive Technologies, Education, Careers, Disabilities & Different Abilities, The Arts & Music, and Sports & Recreation.

Move to Include On-Demand Video from PBS and your partner stations

See programing on demand.

Exited Podcast Series

ExitedBannerSmallExited explores this moment through the experiences of eight young people and their families. It's about growing up and trying to find a place where you belong -- when you've been told your whole life that you're different.

See Programs

See Transition Resources for Youth & Young Adults


 

Inclusion Desk

InclusionDeskBannerThe Inclusion Desk is a multi-platform reporting effort by WXXI News 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.

 

Transition Resources for Youth & Young Adults

Here's a list of resources available for young people with disabilities transitioning into adulthood.

 

 

 

Best Buddies Conversations

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These videos share conversation with Best Buddies, special friendships happening across New York State. Best Buddies has strong programs that enrich the lives of youth and adults with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).  Its friendship programs are supported by local special events as well as private and corporate contributions.  The Golisano Foundation provides support to Best Buddies programs in Southwest Florida and Western NY.

 

 


Awards and Honors

2023

WXXI and Golisano Foundation Honored for Move to Include by Starbridge
Rochester, NY – October 18, 2023 Starbridge honored WXXI and the Golisano Foundation’s Move to Include™ initiative as a “Community Champion" at its Cause for Celebration fundraising event. Move to Include™ is a multimedia initiative founded in 2014 by WXXI and the Golisano Foundation. Through WXXI's power of public media, the initiative ensures that a diverse set of voices is heard on the air, online, and in digital and community spaces. The Foundation has provided more than $2.1 million in funding to date for Move to Include™. Read more

2022

WXXI Recieves Public Media Award for Move to Include National Initiative from the National Educational Telecommunications Association
January 27, 2022 – WXXI was honored with a Public Media Award from the National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA) for its Move to Include national initiative. In the Community Engagement category, WXXI received the National Project Award for the work that Move to Include accomplished by expanding the multi-faceted approach to public awareness of issues surrounding disability across the country. The award was presented at NETA’s 53rd Annual Public Media Awards Gala held virtually on January 26 at the 2022 NETA Conference and CPB Public Media Thought Leader Forum. Move to Include was launched in 2014 as a partnership between WXXI and the Golisano Foundation, the nation’s largest private foundation devoted to supporting programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Foundation has provided more than $1.45 million in funding to date for Move to Include.

2021

WXXI Named a Finalist in Neta’s Annual Public Media Awards for Move to Include
WXXI was named a finalist in the 53rd Annual Public Media Awards from the National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA) for its Move to Include national initiative. Nominated in December for the Community Engagement category, Move to Include uses the power of public media to promote inclusion. The Public Media Awards celebrate NETA members' finest work in community engagement, content, education, and marketing/ communications. Award winners will be announced on January 25, 2022.

New York Emmy® Award nomination

Arts InFocus: Move to Include Special, a half-hour episode that looks back on some of Arts InFocus’ best stories, featuring the work of artists with disabilities was nominated in the Arts/Entertainment – Long Form Content category. The special is part of Move to Include, a partnership between WXXI and the Golisano Foundation designed to promote inclusion for people with intellectual, physical, and developmental disabilities. Production team included: Erin McCormack, Executive Producer; and Todd McCammon, Tom Dooley, Katie Epner and Jason Milton, Producers. 

2017

Media Award
Name of Organization: Self-Advocacy Association of New York, Western New York Chapter
Recipient: WXXI (Elissa Orlando, VP of TV & News accepted the award)
Description: In recognition of the WXXI’s efforts in fostering inclusion and creating social change

Adele Carlson Advocacy Award 
Center for Disability Rights 
Recipient: Need to Know Host Hélène Biandudi Hofer 
Description: Helene was given the award in recognition of her extensive coverage on disability issues

Bronze Telly Award 
Telly Awards 
Recipient: Arts InFocus, Move to Include: NTID Dyer Arts Center (Todd McCammon, Exec Prod. accepted the award) 
Description: Honoring excellence in video and television, TV Shows/Segments – cultural category

2016

Bronze Telly Award 
Telly Awards 
Recipient: Move to Include: Positive Exposure (Todd McCammon, Exec Prod. accepted the award) 
Description: Honoring excellence in video and television, Best documentary category

New York Emmy 
The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, New York Chapter 
Recipient: Homework Hotline’s Move to Include: 3D Printed Prosthetics(Todd McCammon, Exec Prod. accepted the award) 
Description: Honoring excellence in video and television, Best Health/Science: Program Features/Segment category

New York Emmy Award
The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, New York Chapter
Recipient: Move to Include: Homework Hotline’s Move to Include: 3D Printed Prosthetics
(Todd McCammon, Exec Prod. accepted the award) 
Description: Health/Science: Program Features/Segment category

2014

New York Emmy
The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, New York Chapter
Recipient: Move to Include: Positive Exposure (Todd McCammon, Exec Prod. accepted the award) 
Description: Human Interest: Program Feature category


NEWS


WXXI Named a Finalist in Neta’s Annual Public Media Awards for Move to Include

Rochester, NY – December 6, 2021 – WXXI has been named a finalist in the 53rd Annual Public Media Awards from the National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA) for its Move to Include national initiative. Nominated in the Community Engagement category, Move to Include uses the power of public media to promote inclusion. The Public Media Awards celebrate NETA members' finest work in community engagement, content, education, and marketing/ communications. Award winners will be announced on January 25, 2022, as part of the NETA Conference and CPB Public Media Thought Leader Forum. Read more


Move to Include Celebrates the 30th Anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act with Special Programming

Rochester, NY –July 17, 2020 –July 26, 2020 marks the 30th anniversary of President George H. W. Bush’ssigning into law the Americans with Disabilities Act. To commemorate this landmark law, WXXI and the Golisano Foundation will present special programming, virtual screenings, and news features. The programming is part of Move to Include, a national initiative founded in Rochester by WXXI and the Golisano Foundation that has been expanded to five other communities thanks to a grant from Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Read more


Move To Include Expanding to Indianapolis, Oregon, Southwest Florida, Syracuse and Iowa

Rochester, NY--September 20, 2019 – Public television station WXXI announced today that it will lead a pilot project to expand its innovative Move to Include project to promote inclusion in five new communities across the country. Funded by a $645,000 grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), this 16-month project will scale up the multimedia initiative, developed by WXXI and the Golisano Foundation that combines content production, curation, and engagement to encourage dialogue about disability issues. Read more


WXXI and the Golisano Foundation Launch Initiative to “Move To Include” People with Disabilities

Rochester, NY – April 2014 – "MOVE TO INCLUDE will help people better understand what it means to be someone who lives with an intellectual or other disability," said Ann Costello, Director of the Golisano Foundation, which will provide $280,000 to WXXI for the initiative over the next two years. The Foundation is one of the largest private foundations in the United States devoted exclusively to supporting programs for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

"We want to build a community that leads the way in celebrating abilities and fostering inclusion," said Costello. "We want to move beyond discussion and into action, encouraging people and showing people how they can put their good intentions to work, and lead the charge to leave no one out in our community. By working with WXXI we look forward to reaching out to people through TV, radio, films and online, building the momentum for this movement throughout the year."

From Dialogue on Disability with Al Sigl Community of Agencies, which debuted in 2003, to other programming, WXXI has reached nearly one million people to help break the ingrained stereotypes about individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities.

The Address FilmThe initiative kicks off Monday, April 14th at 7 p.m. with a free screening of Ken Burns’ new documentary The Address at the Little Theatre. The film tells the story of Greenwood School, where each year the students are encouraged to memorize, practice, and recite the Gettysburg Address. The students, boys ages 11-17, all face a range of complex learning differences that make their personal, academic, and social progress challenging. The Address will also air on WXXI-TV Tuesday, April 15 at 9 p.m.

"WXXI and the Golisano Foundation hope these films, television programs and news stories will motivate individuals to take action and to include more people with disabilities in the workplace, in schools, neighborhoods and in all aspects of society," said Norm Silverstein, WXXI President. "People with disabilities have many extraordinary talents and, given the chance, can make important contributions to the quality of life in our community," he added.

In addition to primetime programming, WXXI-TV will present children’s programs that spotlight kids with disabilities. April programming includes an episode of Arthur, airing Sunday, April 27 at 9 a.m., which deals with a newly made friend who has Asperger's Syndrome. A complete list of programs can be found at WXXI.org/include. The web page is updated monthly with upcoming programs.

WXXI is the essential, life-long educational media resource for the Greater Rochester area. WXXI puts the community first with programming that stimulates and expands thought, inspires the spirit, opens cultural horizons and promotes understanding of diverse community issues. Log on to wxxi.org for more information about our services and program.

Updated Nov 3, 2023


Related News & Resources

Move to Include Initiative

Move to Include

Move to Include WXXI - Rochester, NY

Move to Include Iowa PBS

Move to Include Oregon PBS

Move to Include WCNY Central NY

Move to Include WGCU - Southwest Florida

Move to Include WFYI - Indianapolis Indiana

WXXI Inclusion Desk

Arts in Focus

World WXXI Channel

Move to Include Overview (PDF)

WXXI Move to Include Web site

Exited Stories

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