KPFA - Pushing Limits

We talk to Katie Sellergren, a fellow at Paul K. Longmore Institute on Disability.  Named for the late author, professor, and disability rights advocate, Paul Longmore, the Institute hosts lectures and events, including Superfast, the largest disability film festival in the world.

We also talk with Tara Ayres. an activist with a disability who helps to organize the Oakland women’s march. She talks about her experiences working with left–wing activists who don’t identify as disabled in her continuing effort to make social justice movements inclusive and accessible.

Produced and scripted by Jacob Lesnor-Buxton and Mark Romoser.  Interviews by Jacob Lesnor-Buxton and Josh Elwood.  Hosted by Mark Romoser.

The post Katie Sellergren & Tara Ayres – Pushing Limits – March 31, 2023 appeared first on KPFA.

We talk with two advocates about their experience working in progressive movements where disability is not the primary focus.  

Maya Chupkov has worked as an organizer on issues such as affordable housing and promoting democracy.  In the past, she has experienced challenges in getting other organizers to understand her stuttering disability.  

Maya Chupkov is the producer and host of the podcast “Proud Stutter”

The Rev. Rowan Fairgrove, EP is involved with the Poor Peoples Campaign. This movement aims to unite low-income U.S. citizens to advocate for social and economic justice. Fairgrove talks about the challenges she faces as a wheelchair user at these campaign events and why it is important for alliance building between the progressive and disability communities.

SF-MOMA’s Raw Materials podcast is featuring Alice Wong and the Disability Visibility Podcast, including a recent interview with Wong about the partnership.

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Accessible currency with different size notes, braille, large print denominations, and high color contrast have been implemented by over a hundred countries.  On March 10, the American Council for the Blind organized a rally outside the White House to demand accessible currency in the U.S. as the Treasury is redesigning the $20 bill to include a portrait of Harriet Tubman.

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AXIS Dance Company the troupe with both disabled and non-disabled performers is hiring a Rehearsal Director and Apprentice Dancer. Both deadlines are March 26th. Their phone number is (510) 625-0110.

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On Saturday, March 25, 5pm Pacific Daylight time is sold out in-person, but you may be able to watch it live streamed online at thedisabilitycollective.com as we celebrate the intersectionality of queer and disabled identities!

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Thanks to Kevin Gotkin for “Crip News”, his excellent weekly roundup of disability arts and politics.  You can subscribe to Crip News at CripNews.substack.com   There is a free version.

Produced by and Interviews by Jacob Lesner-Buxton.

Voicing by Mark Romoser.

Editing by Mark Romoser and Adrienne Lauby.

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This week, a national CDC study found that nearly 3 in 5 (57%) of teen girls felt persistently sad or hopeless in 2021 — double that of boys.  This is a nearly 60% increase and the highest level in the past decade.

For the young people, their families, and friends, it was just a reminder of something they already knew.  We have a national mental health crisis in the U.S. and there is a stunning lack of resources to help.

In addition, in the North Bay of California, deaths involving fentanyl went up a whopping 2,550% in the five years since 2017.  This is on top of the opioid crisis across the U.S.

The CDC recommended more support for girls and other teens in their schools and Sonoma County put up billboards warning about the death-dealing power of fentanyl.

But other people have a technological solution, one that will make them rich from our mental health and addiction crisis.  Their monitoring solutions could affect millions of people with mental and emotional disabilities and addiction problems.

As our guest Sarah Roth explains, it could put many of us into virtual asylums.

Sarah Roth is Development and Communications Fellow at the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project.

She has a BA in Political Science and Psychology from Vassar and has been a congressional intern.  Her organizing work with anti-militarism groups resisting incursions on human, democratic, and civil rights around the globe has led her to work on local policing, criminal procedure, and Dept of Homeland Security policies.

She’s here today to talk about the scale and speed at which mass surveillance is discriminating and violating civil liberties.  Her recent article on this topic is titled, The Virtual Asylum Replacing Mental Health Care.

Go further.  Read the Daily Beast article Sarah Roth co-wrote with Evan Enzer on disability surveillance in schools.

Produced and hosted by Adrienne Lauby

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Mark Romoser discusses the life of the late Lois Curtis.  Curtis was one of the people with disabilities who were plaintiffs in the landmark civil rights case Olmstead v. L.C.    E.W. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg wrote the majority opinion that declared that, under the ADA, people like Lois had the right to live in the community rather than in large institutions.  And so she did.

We speak to four friends and colleagues of Lois Curtis: Linda Pogue, Lee Sanders, Ken Mitchell, and Grover Hogan.

Lois Curtis appeared at a 25th-anniversary ADA celebration at the Smithsonian in Washington, visited the White House and met President Obama. She was an African American artist who lived with intellectual and developmental disabilities as well as schizophrenia.  Lois loved music, had a great smile, was in great demand as a public speaker and wrote many letters.  She died on November 10, 2022.

A documentary produced by Carl King about Lois Curtis is called The Art of Being LC.

The post Lois Curtis – Pushing Limits – February 3, 2023 appeared first on KPFA.

We delve into the world of people with disabilities who identify as nerds and geeks. While some might think the term is insulting, our guests today wear these titles as a badge of honor.

Disability advocates Emily Bridges and  Rachael Davis talk about the different aspects of nerd culture and why they find the community accepting of those with disabilities.

Max McClure talks about the challenge of making geek culture accessible.

Lastly we hear from  Katie O’Rear, a self-described chicken geek.

So today, as you polish your Star Wars action figures, turn off “Weird Al” and listen to Pushing Limits instead.

Emily Bridges, MPH, CHES, Pronouns: She/Her/Hers, is a Public Health Advocate at the Independent Living Resource Center in Ventura, California.

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1. The Geeky Gimp (NOTE:  The website’s creator uses the term “gimp” as a way to reclaim an oppressive word and turn it into a word of empowerment):

2. Disabled Gamers, Geeks, and Nerds on Facebook. A community for PWD to share thoughts on”anything geek oriented.

3. The Learned Fangirl: Committed to providing critiques from women and people of color on pop culture, technology, and other related topics.

Residents who were affected by the severe storms and flooding can update their FEMA applications and learn about state and community programs and other available assistance.

Each DRC provides the following standard accessibility resources:

Merced County Fairgrounds (Yosemite Building)

900 Martin Luther King Jr. Way

Merced, CA 95341

Hours of operation: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily

Dates: January 18 through 25, 2023

Chabolla Community Center

600 Chabolla Avenue

Galt, CA 95632

Hours of operation: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily

Dates: January 18 through February 1, 2023

Ramsay Park Family Center

1301 Main St.

Watsonville, CA 95076

Hours of operation: 9:00 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily

Dates: January 21 through February 18, 2023

Support for Californians impacted by the winter storms:

2023 Winter Storms Recovery (English)

2023 Winter Storms Recovery (Spanish)

For an accessible video on how to apply, go to FEMA Accessible: Three Ways to Register for FEMA Disaster Assistance.

This video covers how to register: Important Registration Assistance Information for People with Disabilities

This video covers very specifically question 24 (1 minute video):

Applying for Assistance: Important Information for People with Disabilities (Question 24

Individuals and Households Program Disability Cap

California Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides DR-4683-CA

The fastest way to apply is through DisasterAssistance.gov. You can also apply through the FEMA mobile app or by calling 1-800-621-3362. If you use a video relay service, captioned telephone service, or other communication services, please provide FEMA the specific number assigned for that service. Press 2 for Spanish. Press 3 for an interpreter who speaks your language.

Find help with needs that FEMA is not authorized to provide. Check with your local emergency management officials, voluntary agencies, or by dialing your local 2-1-1.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

You will receive notification letters from FEMA either by U.S. mail or by electronic correspondence explaining your next steps. If you reported during the application process that you received damage and are not able to live in your primary residence, an inspector will contact you by phone to schedule an inspection. FEMA home inspections are conducted in-person; however, if you are apprehensive due to ongoing COVID-19 uncertainties, you can request we conduct the inspection without entering your home. Learn more about the steps after applying.

Translated into 27 languages, the “Help After a Disaster” brochure is a tool that can be shared in your community to help people understand the types of FEMA assistance that may be available to support individuals and families in disaster recovery. Download brochures.

L. Vance Taylor

Chief, Office of Access and Functional Needs

California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services

3650 Schriever Avenue

Mather, CA  95655

[email protected]

916-845-8202 (o)

916-205-1630 (c)

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This episode of Pushing Limits is produced by Jacob Lesner-Buxton and hosted by Mark Romoser and with editing assistance from Mark Romoser, Sheela Gunn-Cushman and Adrienne Lauby.

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