Young person typing braille by George Williams Why should blind children learn to read braille? Given the amazing rise of audio books and audio screen readers, is braille a technology of the past? Our guest Mike Tanner answers these questions with a resounding “No” and, in this week’s program, makes the case for braille literacy. Most people gain literacy as children, which means parents have a strong role to play in researching their children’s needs and advocating for them with their school...

Sophia Lee-Park What is a disability advocate? How does advocacy look in this day and age with the role that media and smartphones play? How does someone advocate effectively while simultaneously negotiating and managing their own unique identities? On Friday’s program of Pushing Limits, we answer all these questions and more as we take a deep dive into what it means to be a disability advocate. Joining us is Sophia Lee-Park, a disability justice advocate and accessibility educator. Sophia...

It is the height of California’s annual budget wrangle, and Governor Newsom is planning severe cuts to programs we depend on. These programs include In Home Supportive Services, CalFresh, nutrition support, housing & homeless assistance, and others. It’s pretty dire. We have until June 15, just two more weeks, to let our Sacramento representatives know how we want tax payer money spent. Scroll down for something you can do TODAY. We bring a panel of experts from San Francisco’s...

Today’s Pushing Limits is preempted by special spring fund drive programming.   The post Special Spring Fund Drive Programming appeared first on KPFA.

Today’s Making Contact is preempted by the final part of C.S. Soong’s interview of Nate Powell about his graphic adaptation of James W. Loewen’s book Lies My Teacher Told Me.   The post Special Spring Fund Drive Programming: Nate Powell on his adaptation of Lies My Teacher Told Me appeared first on KPFA.

Nina G. Tune in to a special hour-long Pushing Limits program this Friday at 2 pm. We will be talking to Nina G, comedian and author of Stutterer Interrupted and Bay Area Stand-Up Comedy: A Humorous History. In May 2023, her album debuted at #1 in Comedy on iTunes and Amazon. Her first video special, Nina G: Stutterer Interrupted, debuted in October 2023. We will also talk to comedian and professional speaker Michael Beers. For 20 years, he has been an award-winning stand-up comic, disability...

In recent years companies, nonprofits and government agencies have invested time and money to start DEI initiatives. These DEI trainings and other activities often focus on issues of race, gender and sexual orientation, while disability goes unaddressed. Jennifer Chassman Browne In this program, we talk with Jennifer Chassman Browne, a DEI consultant with a disability. Jennifer talks about her work with companies and schools throughout the U.S. and speculates why disability is overlooked in...

Join Pushing Limits as we explore the subject of harm reduction. Advocates of these practices believe that the government should provide services to assist those to do drugs in the safest way possible. These services may include needle exchange, overdose prevention sites, and the legalization of substances. These services have been shown to be effective. However, some politicians believe that people who use drugs shouldn’t have access to services like affordable housing until they stop using...

Brianna Heim watches her service dog, Emily, as she bowls Jan. 30, 2019, at the bowling event held by Exceptional Family Member Program-Family Support at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. (U.S. Air Force photo by Cynthia Griggs). Landlords still tell people with disabilities that they cannot have their service dogs or other service animals in their homes. They continue to disregard state and federal laws or — perhaps they are just plain ignorant. Michelle Uzeta joins us to talk to our resident...

A week ago, on April 5, 61-year-old Brett Estes took his own life by moving his wheelchair in front of a BART train.  He was a quadriplegic and a member of a Quad-Squad which was active in the disability movement.  Despite the kind, long-term help of a man named John, Brett had recently struggled with finding enough attendants. We don’t know all the reasons behind this tragedy but this death raises the issue of our current, very-inadequate attendant-care system.  Another member of our...

Adrion Garcia & Bella Gonzalez Love is love, whether you live with a disability or not. However, those in interabled relationships face unique challenges that stem from within the relationship as well as from outside factors. These challenges can include finding a balance between needing care and being a reliable partner, as well as dealing with the financial limitations that governmental programs such as social security place on married couples. In this program, three people with...

(Transcript below) People with mental, emotional and cognitive disabilities face significant limitations in their daily life.  They’re considered disabled under the law.  Yet, some people with mental health conditions feel their needs are ignored by those with mobility and other physical disabilities.   And, some people with mental health issues choose not to identify as disabled due the stigma of the category.   We talk to Brian Hollander from Disability Rights California, who identifies...

Amy SP Wilson Are you ready?  Ready for whatever comes at you?   No one can answer “yes” 100% of the time.  But we can take steps to be prepared.  And Pushing Limits is here to help.   This week, Amy SP Wilson brings a wealth of ideas about the perennial problem of strangers who are intrusive when they try to help people with disabilities.  Amy SP Wilson is the CEO and founder of the Safety Positive Foundation, a nonprofit in the business of solving the personal safety needs of the blind and...

Shirt by Bruno Henrique Denny Daughters interviews people from The Braille And Talking Book Library in Sacramento, Director Mike Marlin and Technology Specialist Morgan Pershing. The Braille And Talking Book Library is part of a larger national network of libraries called The National Library Service For The Blind And Print Disabled. NLS for short. Learn how can you sign up for services, how these libraries are different from commercial audio book companies, some of the devices you can...

This week’s show is preempted by special fund drive programming.   The post Special Fund Drive Programming appeared first on KPFA.

Today’s episode is preempted by special KPFA Winter Fund Drive programming.   The post Special KPFA Fund Drive Programming appeared first on KPFA.

Today’s episode is preempted by special KPFA Winter Fund Drive programming.   The post Special KPFA Fund Drive Programming appeared first on KPFA.

A half-hour radio show providing critical coverage of disability issues and bringing the insight of the grassroots disability movement to the general public.   The post Pushing Limits – February 16, 2024 appeared first on KPFA.

A half-hour radio show providing critical coverage of disability issues and bringing the insight of the grassroots disability movement to the general public. The show alternates weekly and airs on even weeks Friday 2:30pm. The post Pushing Limits – February 9, 2024 appeared first on KPFA.

Adam Cureton Philosophy is about knowledge, truth, right and wrong, religion, the meaning of life and disability.   Yep, when Adam Cureton speaks, disability fits right into that list of basics. In this program Cureton brings an overview of the field of Disability Philosophy to Pushing Limits listeners.  He’ll talk about “coming out” as a person with a disability and his work prompting the social model of disability in society. Adam Cureton is Professor of Philosophy at the University of...

Disability and Palestine Teach-In: A Conversation with Sawsan Zakaria, Marina Salman and Allie Cannington. Monday, February 5, 3-4 pm  On-line zoom event.  ASL/CART provided. How does the ongoing attack on Palestine relate to disability communities and disability justice? For other access needs please contact us at [email protected] Register here. (See below for biographies of the presenters) Events Coordinator Shaina Ghuraya talks about the upcoming online Palestine Teach-in on Feburary 5....

Wendy Patrice Williams Wendy Patrice Williams is on a mission – a mission to save others from the severe symptoms of trauma from infant surgery without anesthetic.   Wendy underwent infant surgery for pyloric stenosis when she was 26 days old.  The surgery was called a success but its after-affects included decades of suicidal depression and extreme anxiety.   Wendy’s book, Autobiography of a Sea Creature: Healing the Trauma of Infant Surgery, chronicles the steps she took to learn why she...

(Due to technical problems, this program is a rerun of the previous week.) ‘Chief of the Office of Access and Functional Needs at the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services‘ is a long title, but an important one.  Vance Taylor, diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy at the age of seven, tells us how his lived experience as a person with a disability molded him for this extremely rare position that gives him access to the ear of the governor.     Join us as Vance Taylor explains the...

L Vance Taylor ‘Chief of the Office of Access and Functional Needs at the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services‘ is a long title, but an important one.  Vance Taylor, diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy at the age of seven, tells us how his lived experience as a person with a disability molded him for this extremely rare position that gives him access to the ear of the governor.       Join us as Vance Taylor explains the intricacies of his job, which include visiting actual areas...