12:00: How are local senior citizens and people with disabilities affected by barriers to transportation?
1:00: How “Wicked” has renewed efforts to improve inclusion in the arts
WXXI’s Sarah Abbamonte is back in the host chair as we continue our conversations about transportation in the Rochester region. This hour, our guests discuss barriers to access – including cost, driver availability and staffing shortages, and rider location – and their impact on health care, levels of social isolation, and employment opportunities for people with disabilities and senior citizens. Our guests:
- New York State Senator Jeremy Cooney, District 56
- Tom Brede, public information officer for Regional Transit Service
- Tim Kohlmeier, executive director of Medical Motor Services
- Nate Zelesnikar, director of programs and services at Holy Childhood
Then in our second, the recent release of “Wicked” has shone a renewed light on efforts to improve inclusion and accessibility for people with disabilities in the arts – as performers, creators, and audiences. We discuss recent efforts to address this disparity in our community, and we preview some local inclusive arts events happening this month, including a new adaptation of "A Christmas Carol" at Geva Theatre and special film screenings at the Little Theatre. Our guests:
- Sommer Carbuccia, actor currently appearing in Geva Theatre's "A Christmas Carol"
- Danielle Demchick, casting director with DPD Casting
- Sally Lobel, dramaturg and disability justice advocate
- Matt DeTurck, artistic director for the Little Theatre
- Markus Essien, director and producer of "Brad Lomax: Creating Communities of Care"
