KPFA - Pushing Limits

Turning the Ship of State

Policy vs protest.  Insiders vs outsiders.

The Supreme Court’s Olmstead decision ruled that people with disabilities have a right to remain in their communities, even if they need government services to do it.  But, how can people with disabilities manifest the promise of Olmstead amid the stagnant politics of Sacramento?

A centuries-old debate plays out in this summer’s California budget debate.

Guests:
Mary Lou Breslin, long time disability activist, senior policy analyst & co-founder of the Disability Education and Defense Fund (DREDF).

Sunaura Taylor, one of 23 arrested for blocking a street in front of the state capital two weeks ago. Sunaura is a member of Communities United in Defense of Olmstead (CUIDO), the group who organized the Arnieville protest.

Adrienne Lauby and Eddie Ytuarte host.

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After hundreds of years of stigma and exclusion, people with cognitive disabilities are out and about in our communities. Many work at jobs with able-bodied co-workers and live independently, or in small group homes, in many neighborhoods.

Then, we talk to Josh Elwood, our sound engineer, who is both a client and board member of the non-profit, Clausen House.  Adrienne Lauby interviews Josh and we follow him on his weekly shopping trip.

Interviews by Josh Elwood, Shelley Berman & Adrienne Lauby.

Hosted by Raphaella Bennin.

Photos By Shelley Berman

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To celebrate 2010, The Year of Honoring Lesbians With Disabilities, Morningstar Vancil speaks candidly about her life as a lesbian stage-3 cancer survivor. Vancil is a butch activist dyke of mixed race who lives with multiple disabilities. She’s traveled with a burlesque show and carried the banner of gay rights into the national American Cancer Society. Morningstar Vancil confronts discrimination and physical difficulties with joy and self respect. Also, Marion Abdullah, co-chair of the Fabled Asp project, the organization responsible for the Year of Honoring Lesbians with Disabilities.

Hosted by Raphaella Bennin.

Resources: http://www.fabledasp.com/

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Pushing Limits presents a report on the Arnieville Tent City where people with disabilities and seniors are engaged in a living protest against the continued cuts in state human services. Yup, they are camped out at the median at Russell and Adeline streets in Berkeley; and have been there since June, all day and all night. Guests include Marg Hall and Jana Overbo. Co hosts are Eddie Ytuarte and Leah Gardner.

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Emergency services for people with disabilities in Berkely.
It's tax-payer supported, innovative, and it gets people out of trouble perhaps saves lives. It's also a nice chunk of money in a community where money is as scarce as a trouble-free wheelchair. We talk to the players.

Yomi Wronge, Executive Director of the Center for Independent Living in Berkeley, Bonnie MacFadyen, Executive Director of Easy Does It, and Vickie Riggin, co-owner of People Moving On.

Adrienne Lauby and Eddie Ytuarte look at the issues behind Berkeley's Emergency Services Program and ask what will be the ultimate effect of the city's contract competition.

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We've all heard the adage about home sweet home.  It's that place we long for when we've been away where we seek rest, recreation and a break from the outside world.  On Friday, June 4th, Pushing Limits discusses the concept of home and what that means to many in the disabled community.  First, we discuss the film, Far from Home, with director Elissa Moon.  The documentary focuses on the political and personal realities of living in Laguna Honda, a San Francisco institution housing thousands with severe physical disabilities.  And we also have coverage of a recent budget protest highlighting the reality that many seniors and persons with disabilities may be homeless due to possible budget cuts.  

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First, we join our heroine Geri at her job interview at the local Independent Living Center as we play another scene from our original play, “Blind Man’s Bluff”.  Starring Kris Yates, Mary Ann (Tidwell) Boussard, Doyle Saylor, Leah Gardner, Jan Santos & Patty Nash. From the memoir of the same name by Geri Taekens.

Then Adrienne Lauby talks to Stephanie Sugars about a community of people

These 250-300 people, who live with Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome, face decades

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A dramatic production — a radio adaptation of scenes from Blind Man’s Bluff, a self-published memoir by visually-impaired writer and advocate Geri Taeckens.  Played by members of the Pushing Limits Collective.

Travel with Geri as she collides with the reality of visual impairment and disability in her life.

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