KPFA - Pushing Limits

Sheila Black is the co-editor of Beauty is a Verb: The New Poetry of Disability (Cinco Puntos Press, 2011), an important anthology of poetry by people with disability.  She talks with Eddie Ytuarte about disability poets, including her own history and use of confessional forms.

They discuss the vibrant street poetry of disability, talk about how the internet has empowered this movement and other poetic subjects.

Sheila Black is currently the Developmental Director of Association of Writers and Writing Programs in Washington D.C.  She’s also the author of four poetry collections, including most recently “Iron, Ardent” (Educe Press, 2017).  Her poems have appeared in Poetry, The Birmingham Review, The New York Times and other places. She currently divides her time between San Antonio, TX, and Washington, D.C.

The post Disability Poetry with Sheila Black appeared first on KPFA.

For this program, we bring back long-time disability activist, Nadina LaSpina, to talk more about her memoir, Such a Pretty Girl: a Story of Struggle, Empowerment,

LaSpina has worked with several disability activist groups including ADAPT, Disabled in Action: NYC and The Disability Caucus. She’ll be in the Bay Area in person in December where, among other appearances, she will address the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco.

LaSpina comes from a poor and working class town in Sicily where she was pitied and told she’d never be “normal” or have a family.  She spent her younger years in a series of hospitals and surgeries — and she met other disabled teens for the first time.  Then she entered academia and the disability movement.  From there, LaSpina began a life of making history, with all the ups and downs that entails.

LaSpina has been a leader in our movement for decades, thinking, speaking, writing and being arrested numerous times in civil disobedience protests.  Her articles, essays, and stories have appeared in publications as varied as AbleNews and Ragged Edge, New Politics, And Then, and Bookwoman.  After teaching Italian for many years at New York University and at Fordham University, LaSpina created and taught courses in Disability Studies at The New School.  Tune in to listen and learn from this vibrant, passionate disability path maker.

This is a special KPFA fund drive program, with an expanded hour-long format. We’ll be offering LaSpina’s book as a thank you gift to those who join KPFA at a $60 or

Eddie Ytuarte, Adrienne Lauby, Shelley Berman and Josh Elwood will be in the studio for the hour. Don’t miss it!

Follow Nadina LaSpina on Facebook, Twitter, & YouTube

The post “Such a Pretty Girl” with Nadina LaSpina (funddrive edition) appeared first on KPFA.

How does climate change impact our lives with disabilities?

Climate change is more than an added stress factor in our lives. From the deaths in floods and fire, to the power shutoffs to the evacuations as recurring gigantic storms power down the Atlantic, our lives are at risk.

We honor Greta Thunberg, the youth leader of the climate strike, who is on the autism

We want to hear your thoughts at 510-848-4425 or 800-958-9008.

Mark Romoser and Sheela Gunn-Cushman will be taking your calls.

The post Climate Strike! Disability! Call In! appeared first on KPFA.

What do you get when you put a group of people with disabilities, people who are fat, LGBTQIA+, elders and many other sorts on one street corner?

No, not a bad joke!

You get…a PROTEST to #CloseTheCamps because #NoBodyIsDisposable.

Hear highlights from speeches, interviews and other live recordings from this powerful show of solidarity at the August 28 ICE protest.  The protest was designed to bring together fat & disability communities as a united front.  It was part of the Month of Momentum:  30 Days of Action to Close the Camps (ICE SF)

More information about the protest

Check out the photos gathered so far.   Add yours to the collection.

Hundreds of people supported through an online campaign.  Check the #NoBodyIsDisposable hashtag on social media for hundreds of photos.

Read and share scholar activist Caleb Luna’s remarks from the action.

There was a companion action on the same day organized by Fat Rose folks in Indiana! They had 100 folks come out! Check out the photos.

Here’s the short list of actions people can take from home.

One group to connect with locally is the Coalition to Close the Concentration Camps Bay Area, whose campaign is targeting the tech companies who support ICE.

The organizers encourage you to stay in touch with Fat Rose, Disability Justice Culture Club, Hand in Hand and Senior and Disability Action.

Organizational Sponsors:

Access-Centered Movement (accesscenteredmovement.com)

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Expanding Long Term Services and Supports for All

Thursday, September 19

Join us for a town hall about the solving the State’s need for affordable long-term supports and services so that we may all live and age with dignity.   Get your free ticket here.

By 2030 9 million Californians will be over the age of 65. That’s 3 million more than there are today! This unprecedented growth in the senior population is driving a skyrocketing demand for long term services and supports (LTSS), yet we see increasing evidence that paying for these services is bankrupting middle class seniors and their families throughout the state.

The event will include a panel discussion with state legislators, Senator Scott Wiener, Assembly member David Chiu and Assembly member Phil Ting on the challenges that seniors and people with disabilities face when seeking affordable long term care and the caregivers who provide these essential services.

Food, childcare, Spanish interpretation and other accommodations will be provided. Be sure to fill out the RSVP.

This event is hosted by the San Francisco Care Council, including UDW/AFSCME Local 3930, SEIU Local 2015, Caring Across Generations, the California Domestic Workers Coalition, SF Family Caregiver Alliance, Senior and Disability Action, California Foundation for Independent Living Centers, and Hand in Hand: Domestic Employers Network.

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Únase a nosotros para un ayuntamiento sobre la solución de la necesidad del estado CA de servicios y apoyos asequibles a largo plazo (LTSS) para que todos podamos vivir y envejecer con dignidad.

En 2030, 9 millón Californianos serán mayores de 65 años. Eso es 3 millón más de lo que hay hoy. Este crecimiento sin precedentes en la población de adultos mayores está impulsando una demanda vertiginosa de servicios y apoyos a largo plazo (LTSS). Sin embargo, vemos más y más evidencia de que pagar por estos servicios está llevando a la bancarrota a las personas mayores y a sus familias de clase media en todo el estado.

Únase a nosotros para una discusión con legisladores del estado de CA sobre los desafíos que enfrentan las personas mayores y las personas con discapacidades que buscan cuidado a largo plazo asequible y los asistentes personales que brindan estos servicios esenciales.

Se proporcionará comida, cuidado de niños, interpretación en español y otros alojamientos. Asegúrese de completar el forma para RSVP.

Este evento es organizado por el Consejo de Cuidado de San Francisco, que incluye UDW / AFSCME Local 3930, SEIU Local 2015, Cuidado a Través de Generaciones, la Coalición de Trabajadoras del Hogar, Alianza de Cuidadores Familiares de SF, Acción de Mayor Edad & Discapacidad, La Fundación para Centros de Vivir Independiente de California, y Mano a Mano: El Red de Empleadores Domésticos.

The post Close the Camps – Protest Coverage appeared first on KPFA.