It’s one of the trendiest ways to communicate and a prominent regional organization is now in its third year of providing its clients a chance to ask questions and emphasize their abilities.
According to The Arc Southern Maryland’s Lyndee Waldbauer, the organization “started a podcast in 2023 for people with disabilities, cohosted by people with disabilities.”
As a sign the initiative is gaining momentum, Waldbauer told Southern Maryland News, The Arc is now collaborating with Calvert Country School and Twin Beaches Library to host classes on podcasting.
The Arc hired Rita Rich, a Montgomery County-based consultant and teacher, to create the podcast, host it and instruct the participants.
Rita Rich explains how details are key to a successful podcast.
Rich said podcasts are “the next wave of media, the next generation of journalism.”
What would be the ideal topic for this podcast?
“We like to talk to people who can help us better,” Rich said.
The Arc’s podcast is titled, “See Me, See My Ability” (in the logo on The Arc’s website the letters “D, I and S” before "ability" are crossed out).
Rich said about 44 episodes have been produced.
“It kind of like building that connection,” Racheal Lindauer, Calvert County School principal, said about the experience for students learning how a podcast comes together and what can be learned from the content.
The four Calvert Country School students who participated in the Jan. 28 class at the library range in age from 18 to 22.
“The experience will prepare them for the workforce,” Brianne Grzywalz, vocational support professional at The Arc, said.
The developing podcast on Jan. 28 was an interview with Kathleen and Benjie Porecki, parents of Connor, their only child.
Connor, according to his parents, is non-verbal. However, with the aid of technology, he is a great communicator. Benjie Porecki pointed out that Connor was spelling by age 3.
He uses a speech generation device and enjoys playing games on cellphones and tablets.
The devices have made a difference.
“It opens up a whole new world,” Kathleen Porecki said. “He’s always had a love of words.”
Of his son and others who are non-verbal, Benjie Porecki advised, “Don’t assume they don’t have anything to say.”
The eight participants in the podcast class had plenty of questions to ask, especially about cellphones.
“They learn the rules of engagement,” Rich said about the creation of a podcast, as the students learn the importance of listening as others talk. Rich used the voice memo application on her phone to record the segments that will subsequently provide the content for a podcast episode.
“I’m going to be helping do the editing,” Andrew, one of the participating students, said.
“Our podcast episode that launches Feb. 11 will also be featuring one of the podcast students, Ashley, who offers a service at Calvert Country called ‘Ash Dash,’” Waldbauer said. “She picks up pre-ordered meals each day from a different location and delivers them to teachers and staff, and in turn, receives tips.
Rich said in addition to being able to access the podcast from The Arc’s website, it’s also available on Spotify, Apple and Podbean.
To learn more about The Arc of Southern Maryland, go to www.arcsomd.org.
