The post Disability, Immigration and Detention – Pushing Limits – August 28, 2026 appeared first on KPFA.

We call our news highlight program Disability in MAGA Land. That’s because, frankly, the news for people with disabilities these days is almost completely related to bad decisions by the right-wing Trump Administration.

But sometimes… Sometimes, we see the world differently than many other lefty KPFA listeners and programmers. In this program for instance, we join Canadian conservatives to raise an alarm about a plan to enlarge those who are eligible for Physician Assisted Suicide. And, in another item, we see how disability rights can intersect with abortion rights in a peculiar way.

Listen to these and other news highlights from the Disability Community. Tell us what you think at [email protected]  

Produced by Eddie Ytuarte.  Hosted by Eddie Ytuarte and Adrienne Lauby.

https://uptonrebecca.substack.com/p/disability-justice-and-palestine

Rebecca Upton recommends the following organizations to support and/or follow:

HEAL Palestine

The Atfaluna Society for Deaf Children

Disability Divest

Disability Justice for Palestine Collective

Article Footnotes:

Goodarzi, H., Badri, T., & Javadzadeh, H. R. (2023). War, forced displacement, and lack of healthcare in the Gaza Strip. Trauma Monthly, 28(5), 945-946. doi.org/10.30491/tm.2023.427311.1665

Hamamra, B., Mahamid, F., & Mayaleh, A. (2025). Childhood under siege: Battling malnutrition, disease, and despair during genocide in Gaza. Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition, 44(1), 321. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-025-00321-y

Sen, S., & Asi, Y. (2024). Coming to terms: Gaza and disability. Disability & Society. Advance online publication. doi.org/10.1002/nad.12187

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/12/surrogate-mother-texas-gives-birth

https://abc13.com/story/mckenna-west-surrogates-fight-parental-rights-dallas-could-discourage-surrogacy-use-texas-lawyers-say/19702274/

https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/maid-mental-illness-canada-9.7240830

https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/maid-mental-disorder-committee-report-government-9.7238589

https://thearcca.org/news-room/press-releases/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VKs61x5FxE

Cat Training Helps Kids With Disabilities – and Their Cats 

https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/16/14/2133

The post Disability In MAGA Land – August 21, 2026 appeared first on KPFA.

The current state of disability rights wouldn’t be what it is without the rich history and the strong individuals who pushed the movement forward. But what about the future? Who is propelling us into the next era of disability rights?  

On this week’s program, Dominick Trevethan attempts to answer that question by interviewing two of his peers. His guests, Ryan Manriquez and Sarah Bellish, both live with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, or SMA, and they want more from our current systems. Listen in as they discuss the changes they hope to see in the coming years and outline how to fight for the future we want.  

Ryan Manriquez is a disability justice advocate, a graduate of UC Davis and UC Berkeley, and, as he puts it, a “transit nerd.” Working in the Bay Area, he hopes to use his lived experience as a person with a disability to push for more accessible housing, public transportation, and government-funded medical research.  

Sarah Bellish is the Senior Manager of Advocacy at Cure SMA, where she works in public policy to help push vital disability legislation through the doors of Congress. Issues important to her include increasing the current SSI Asset Limit, making it safer for those with disabilities to fly, and improving the current state of accessible public transportation.  

We’ve come this far. So, where do we go next? Find out on Pushing Limits!  

This program was hosted and produced by Dominick Trevethan. Editing by Dominick Trevethan and Denny Daughters.  

For a full program transcription, click here

Relevant Resources:  

Cure SMA  

Cure SMA Advocacy 

How to become a Cure SMA Advocate 

The post SMA Voices, Disability Rights – Pushing Limits – August 14, 2026 appeared first on KPFA.

In 1981, longtime disability activist Jean Stewart guest edited a special issue of the legendary folk music magazine Sing Out!, featuring folk musicians and songwriters whose work explored disability themes. Though Sing Out! is no longer in publication, Jean remains a cherished friend of Pushing Limits and continues her advocacy from her home in El Sobrante.

This week, Pushing Limits revisits that landmark 1981 issue by spotlighting two prominent musicians it featured: Doc Watson and Django Reinhardt. Both were extraordinary guitarists who lived with distinct disabilities, came from different continents, and mastered different musical genres.

Enjoy part of your Friday afternoon with Pushing Limits, produced and hosted by Eddie Ytuarte.

For a full program transcription, click here

The post Disability in Song: Revisiting Sing Out! – Pushing Limits – August 7, 2026 appeared first on KPFA.

What did it take for blind people to gain access to computers before modern day screen readers and smartphones? Join Denny Daughters as he talks with Mike Tanner, a blind educator who teaches blind and visually impaired students in Southern California, about the evolution of adaptive technology for the blind. 

From the first scanning and reading machines of the 1970s to groundbreaking devices like the Apple IIe, VersaBraille, and early PCs, they explore the innovations that opened the door to education, employment, and independence. 

This first installment traces the history of adaptive technology from the early 1970s through about 1990. It’s the beginning of a series exploring the evolution of technology that has transformed life for blind people. 

This program is hosted, produced, and edited by Denny Daughters. 

For a full program transcription, click here

The post The History of Adaptive Technology for the Blind (Part 1) – Pushing Limits – July 31, 2026 appeared first on KPFA.

This episode of Pushing Limits is produced by Jacob Lesner-Buxton, voiced by Adrienne Lauby and edited by Adrienne Lauby & Denny Daughters.  Conference audio was provided by Jen Chassmam-Brown.   You can access all the conference presentations HERE.

For a full transcription of this program, click here

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Celebrate the 36th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act

THE ORGANIZERS ARE LOOKING FOR DANCERS, MUSICIANS, POETS, AND OTHER PEOPLE TO PERFORM.

THE FIRST 30 PEOPLE WHO SIGN UP WILL RECEIVE A $30 DOLLAR DOORDASH GIFT CARD!!

To sign up and to request accommodations, e-mail [email protected]

———————————-

An Effort to Increase Connection Between People with Disabilities and Able-Bodied People

The group will explore questions like:

“When did you know you didn’t have a disability?”

Attendance is limited to 40 people.

The post Disability, Violence & Race – Pushing Limits – July 17, 2026 appeared first on KPFA.

How do you produce radio when you can’t see the screen? Or when you only have the use of a few fingers? 

This week on Pushing Limits, producers Dominick Trevethan and Denny Daughters take you behind the microphone to share how they edit audio, produce radio, and overcome barriers using assistive technology and adaptive techniques. 

They also discuss why authentic disability representation matters—not just in front of the microphone as guests, but behind the scenes as producers and editors. 

This program was produced and edited by Denny Daughters and Dominick Trevethan. It is hosted by Dominick Trevethan. 

Relevant Resources: 

Here’s the app Dominick uses to control his laptop: https://apps.apple.com/app/id629019487

Here’s the screen reader Denny uses: https://www.nvaccess.org/

For a full program transcription, click here

The post The Art of Accessible Editing – Pushing Limits – July 10, 2026 appeared first on KPFA.

Will we return to the bad old days of existence in substandard hospitals and nursing homes?  Or will we fight to preserve our lives in the community? Sadly, this is not a rhetorical question.  

In 1999, the United States Supreme Court passed the Olmstead decision determining that people with disabilities should not be forced into institutions when they can be safely and appropriately supported in community settings. Or, in other words, people with mental and other disabilities no longer had to be incarcerated in oppressive institutions when they could reside in whatever type of community living was most appropriate to the individual. 

But in a memo issued in June, the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel upended that guidance. It argued that neither the Americans with Disabilities Act, nor Section 504, two major disability rights laws, requires states to provide services in the most mainstream setting.  

Pushing Limits on Friday, July 3 interviews Eric Harris, Associate Executive Director of External Affairs for Disability Rights California, to discuss Olmstead and the threat against it. 

This Program is hosted and produced by Eddie Ytuarte. 

Click here for a relevant article. For more info on our guest click here or read below: 

Eric Harris is DRC’s Associate Executive Director of External Affairs with an extensive career working closely with disability leaders, community members, and elected officials throughout the country to progress change for the disability community.

Harris brings significant local, state and federal policy experience, having worked for Congresswoman Barbara Lee, the Democratic National Committee and the California and Hawaii State NAACP. 

Mr. Harris has led discussions on disability pride, inclusion and access on platforms throughout the country. He has spoken at Harvard Law School, the University of California at Berkeley School of Medicine and at the White House.  

Harris started his time at DRC in 2019 working in the legislation and estrategic partnerships and community engagement units. He served on the State Independent Living Council as a Governor Newsom appointee and as a board member for the Resources for Independent Living in Sacramento. He grew up in Sacramento, California and was an elite wheelchair basketball player. 

“Creating public policy that improves the lives of disabled people has been my life’s mission. I look forward to working closely with intersectional disability leaders throughout the state to improve the lives of all people with disabilities.” 

For a full program transcription, click here

The post Olmstead Under Threat – Pushing Limits – July 3, 2026 appeared first on KPFA.

If you’re wondering through the Trump fog, we have some help for you.  There are so many problems, so many alarms, so many changes. . . how can anyone take it all in and get out the front door in the morning.

So, today, we bring you key stories of disability in MAGA Land.  We’ve sorted through the headlines, checked for overlooked news, and found the disability context you need to make sense of it all.

Click here for the Transcript

These are the stories in this episode, with links to our sources:

https://sjdr.se/articles/10.16993/sjdr.1002

https://www.hi-us.org/en/news/lebanon-people-with-disabilities-forgotten-victims-of-the-crisis

https://www.hi-us.org/en/escalating-amputation-crisis-in-gaza-amid-severe-prosthetics-shortage

https://www.the74million.org/article/splitting-up-special-ed-and-civil-rights-will-dilute-services-for-students-experts-say/

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/06/rfk-jr-disability-special-education-hhs-kennedy-autism/?ref=disability-thinking-weekday.ghost.io

https://tfl.gov.uk/transport-accessibility/please-offer-me-a-seat

https://hdsunflower.com/

https://www.nokidhungry.org/blog/why-more-snap-work-requirements-will-harm-families-and-increase-hunger

https://web.charityengine.net/Default.aspx?tsid=40811

https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2025/10/24/ssi-social-security-benefits-will-rise-next-year/31698/

8.  Olmstead Under Attack

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/06/trump-doj-memo-olmstead-psychiatric-disabilities-institutions-mental-health/?ref=disability-thinking-weekday.ghost.io

https://mailchi.mp/c57f2fa9c907/alert-executive-branchs-assault-on-the-integration-mandate?ref=disability-thinking-weekday.ghost.io

These important stories were not able to fit into this episode, read the sources below for more information about them:

https://pestakeholder.org/reports/private-equity-in-intellectual-and-developmental-disability-services/

https://adawatch.org/category/disability-rights-justice-news/

https://prismreports.org/2025/12/08/gaza-disabled-palestinians-disabilities/

https://heller.brandeis.edu/community-living-policy/research-policy/publications/titles/caregivers-w-disabilities.html

https://disability-thinking-weekday.ghost.io/4-20-26-caregiving-and-a-look-back-at-winter/

Photo Credit: @presentedbyjo.

This program produced and hosted by Eddie Ytuarte and Adrienne Lauby.

The post Pushing Limits – Disability In MAGA Land – June, 2026 appeared first on KPFA.

We’ve spun a lot of records and told a lot of stories—but there’s still more to discover. And speaking of…  

Join Denny Daughters on Friday, June 19, at 2:30 pm for another installment of Musicians With Disabilities. This time, Denny explores the stories and music of artists affected by blindness, dementia, and Parkinson’s disease. Discover how these performers continued to create and leave their mark on music despite the obstacles they faced.  

Along the way, you might learn something new about the artists and groups behind the songs. Featuring music from the 1960s through the 1990s, this program offers a unique blend of great music and fascinating stories.  

This show was hosted edited and produced by Denny Daughters. 

The post Musicians With All Types of Disabilities – Pushing Limits – June 19, 2026 appeared first on KPFA.