Darryl E. Owens on season two set of “A World of Difference”
After an award-winning inaugural season on public access TV, what could Beacon College’s neurodiversity television show “A World of Difference” do in season two for an encore?
How about leveling up to cable and vying for a PBS stamp of approval?
In its second season, “A World of Difference,” the monthly program that examines neurodiversity issues related to learning differences, jumped from Lakefront TV to SuperChannel WACX-DT55.1. Lakefront TV is a Leesburg public, educational, and governmental (PEG) channel. SuperChannel is a full-power commercial broadcast television station reaching more than 1 million Florida cable subscribers.
“When the opportunity presented itself, we realized moving to cable would further our objective of sharing with a wider audience Beacon’s expertise in the learning differences space,” said Darryl E. Owens, Beacon communications director and creator/host of “A World of Difference.”
The move, Owens added, also, “advances our goal of educating, supporting, and celebrating neurodiverse families with informational, inspirational, and aspirational content.”
Season two kicked off with an in-depth interview with “The People’s Shark,” Daymond John, CEO of FUBU and star of ABC’s “Shark Tank.” He discussed being an uber-successful entrepreneur and living with dyslexia. “A World of Difference” airs Tuesdays at 9:30 p.m. on WACX.
Meanwhile, on Oct. 19, WUCF-TV, a PBS member television station managed by the University of Central Florida, gave “A World of Difference” its first PBS test drive.
The special, “Ensuring Workforce Diversity Includes Neurodiversity” — a season one episode — was aired in honor of National Disability Employment Awareness Month. One in five U.S. children has a learning or attention issue such as ADHD or dyslexia and an estimated 85% of college graduates affected by autism are unemployed.
The show supports and celebrates their journeys to independence from kindergarten to college using compelling storytelling, conversations with experts, viewer Q&As and interviews with successful individuals with learning differences of their own. The program has earned multiple awards, including PR News’ CSR Diversity Award.
“A World of Difference” has featured successful people with learning differences including John, retired Stanley Cup champion Brent Sopel, and Dr. Temple Grandin, a world-renowned scientist and autism activist.
Episodes also are available at AWODTV.org