Youth Transitions to Host First Media for All Program

Smartphones, digital editing tools and social media platforms like TikTok have transformed the way content is created and made it easier for people with disabilities to share their stories and connect with people around the world. The popularity of influencers like Milly Pickles, Lolo Spencer, and Ellie Goldstein has proven that audiences are eager to hear from creators in the disability community.

But the representation of people with disabilities in the media is still lacking. According to USC’s Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, only 2.2% of film characters with speaking roles have a disability, and only 2.3% of employees in mainstream newsrooms identify as having a disability.

This summer, The Chicago Lighthouse aims to change that trend by helping the next generation learn about media opportunities as part of its Youth Transition Program. The new Media for All program, a collaboration between The Lighthouse and One Summer Chicago, will teach high-school students who are blind or visually impaired about print and broadcast journalism, as well as other types of media, including social media and blogging.

During the six-week program, students will visit a variety of media companies, including a newspaper, TV station, and radio station. Each week, they will hear from guest speakers in the journalism and communications fields, both with and without disabilities. Students will also work closely with The Chicago Lighthouse media team, which creates original audio content centered around the disability experience, to create their own audio segments.

Kalari Girtley-Jackson, Assistant Manager of The Lighthouse’s Youth Transition program (who also has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Illinois and a master’s in media management from Columbia College in Chicago) hopes that the Media for All participants will take their experiences with them and put them to use beyond the program to create a space of their own in the media field.

“I want them to see that no matter your disability, you can thrive in the media field. It’s not always easy when you’re disabled, but as long as you have your accommodations and you have a passion for media, you can make it work,” Kalari says.

The Chicago Lighthouse’s Media for All program is open to 14- or 15-year-olds with disabilities. Those interested in the program can register here. You must also register through One Summer Chicago and select The Chicago Lighthouse as your preferred agency provider. This program is restricted to Chicago residents only.