Nadina LaSpina ~ arrested in a direct action protest

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,

and Disability Pride.

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

above level.  Call during the program at (510) 848-5732 or toll free at 800-439-5732.  You can also pledge securely on line at KPFA.org

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

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