KPFA - Pushing Limits

Struggling to get your landlord to install a ramp or let you keep a service animal? Ever been denied housing because of your disability, but weren’t sure what to do next? You’re not alone and there are protections in place. Angie Watson-Hajjem This week, Pushing Limits welcomes Angie Watson-Hajjem. She is the Fair Housing Coordinator of ECHO Fair Housing, which serves the San Francisco East Bay. Topics she will talk about include different forms of discrimination against people with disabilities, accommodations, recourse when discrimination occurs, plus the possible effects of Trump’s actions on the disabled community. As the Fair Housing Coordinator, Angie investigates housing discrimination complaints for residents in Alameda, Contra Costa, and Monterey County. She is a certified mediator and helps facilitate reasonable accommodation requests for disabled tenants. Angie holds monthly regional fair housing trainings online where tenants and housing providers can receive fair housing education and counseling. This program is produced and hosted by Eddie Ytuarte. The post Housing Accommodations, Discrimination, & Action – Pushing Limits – April 18, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

Does the very system that supports you hold you back? There are a plethora of concerns regarding this administration and Social Security. Social Security is a life and death support in our community. Accordingly, disabled advocates have tried to improve Social Security for literally decades with limited success. We don’t have a choice, as we defend this Social Security, we must work to improve it. Did you know Social Security resource limits haven’t been updated since 1989? The SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act has been sitting in Congress for a year and a half. Why? On this week’s Pushing Limits program, we learn more about producer Denny Daughters’ experiences with Social Security. Joining us as we share our frustrations and lived experiences is another blind friend and podcast producer, Kevin Wassmer. Plus, producer Dominick Trevethan shares the financial constraints the current SSI income limits place on him as someone who relies on Medicaid services to live an independent life. From absurd income caps to the hoops we jump through just to survive — we get real about what needs to change. This program was hosted and produced by Dominick Trevethan with editing assistance from Denny Daughters. For more Information on the SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act, click here. The post Social Security: Trapped by the System – Pushing Limits – April 11, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

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In California, 2.3 million people are covered by Medicaid. In addition to covering medical care, the program also helps with transportation costs, in-home care, and access to other community support for persons with disabilities and older adults. But that support is in jeopardy. Currently, Congress is trying to cut this program by $800 billion, which would lead to a major reduction in services. Our guest on this week’s program of Pushing Limits is healthcare advocate and Youtuber Jane Hash. She will talk about the impact of those cuts on her and other people with disabilities. Plus, Hash will speak frankly about how people with disabilities are struggling to survive in a country that doesn’t adequately fund the services we need. This episode of Pushing Limits is written and produced by Jacob Lesner-Buxton. It is hosted and edited by Dominick Trevethan with assistance by Adrienne Lauby and Denny Daughters. Relevant Resources: Jane Hash’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@JaneHashCNHP Latest info on ways to protect Medicaid: https://justiceinaging.org/ Jane Hash The post The Consequences of Cuts to Medicaid – Pushing Limits – March 28, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

A vital legal protection for people with disabilities is under attack. But a coalition from 15 states is fighting back, filing a lawsuit to stop the Trump administration’s attempt to gut Section 504 of the federal code. This crucial regulation has been a cornerstone in the battle against discrimination in employment, housing, and more. Claudia Center, legal director at the Disability Rights and Education Defense Fund, joins us to break down what’s at stake and how this legal battle could impact the rights of millions. Tune in to Pushing Limits this Friday at 2:30 PM to learn more about the fight to preserve Section 504 and what you can do to support disability rights. This program is hosted and produced by Edward Ytuarte. The post The Legal Fight for Section 504 – Pushing Limits – March 21, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

Despite epilepsy being the fourth most common neurological condition, affecting one in twenty-six people globally, there’s a widespread lack of awareness surrounding this disability. This is in large part due to its low visibility in daily life. Many individuals living with epilepsy exhibit little to no visible symptoms that would signal their epilepsy to the people around them. Such is the case with the two guests on this week’s program, Hanna Wight and Mary Cadd. When most people think of a seizure, they typically associate it with what is called a “Grand Mal Seizure,” which involves a complete loss of consciousness and motor control. However, as we explore in this program, seizures and other epileptic events affect individuals in a myriad of ways. In this conversation, we explore how Hanna and Mary navigate their personal and professional lives while living with Epilepsy. This condition affects relationships, work, driving, and many other aspects of our guests’ daily lives. Mary and Hanna both advocate for increased empathy and awareness of this disability. It is important for the public to know how to respond effectively while being non-intrusive when someone has a seizure. This program was hosted and produced by Jacob Stanton with audio editing by Denny Daughters and Dominick Trevethan. Mary Cadd Hanna Wight The post Epilepsy Enlightenment – Pushing Limits – March 14, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

A half-hour radio show providing critical coverage of disability issues and bringing the insight of the grassroots disability movement to the general public. The post Pushing Limits – March 7, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

A half-hour radio show providing critical coverage of disability issues and bringing the insight of the grassroots disability movement to the general public. The post Pushing Limits – February 21, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

If you are not worried about programs that come from the Federal government, you are not paying attention. Supports for people with disabilities are on the chopping block, everything from Food Stamps to Meals on Wheels to Social Security and Medi-Care. All of it is under threat from the heavy hand of Elon Musk. For our brothers and sisters overseas, these threats became a nightmare in actuality with the Trump Administration’s “Stop Work” order for all International Aid on January 28. Disabled children lost the ability to attend school at the same time food supplies were cut. It’s been a disaster for disabled refugees, disability organizations, and many others. We talk with Peter Fremlin Torres about what his international contacts told him about the effect of this order. There have been legal challenges and protests in support of the staff at the USAID agency, but in many countries outside the U.S., the damage is real and likely to spread. Join us to learn more about the billionaire’s war on disabled people around the world. Peter Torres Fremlin is a disabled man who writes the weekly Disability Debrief newsletter which is archived at disabilitydebrief.org. He’s spent 10 years studying, working, and language-learning in Brazil, Bangladesh, Switzerland, and Egypt. He currently resides in Colchester, England, where he grew up. Disability Debrief signup page: https://www.disabilitydebrief.org/signup Link to the article on the Stop Work order: https://www.disabilitydebrief.org/debrief/stop-work/ Inclusive Development Partners: https://www.inclusivedevpartners.com/ Their crowdfunding site: https://www.gofundme.com/f/urgent-support-for-idps-global-mission Peter Torres Fremlin Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-torres-fremlin/ Note: The artist who painted the picture below was Tan Kuan Aw, who sadly passed away recently. A link to his work on the Debrief is here. Hosted and Produced by Adrienne Lauby. Audio editing by Dominick Trevethan, Denny Daughters, and Jacob Stanton. Peter Torres Fremlin The post The Billionaire’s War on Disabled People – Pushing Limits – February 14, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

Welcome back to Trump’s America and another round of attacks against people with disabilities. In the past week we saw Trump try to blame our community for the crash of American Eagle Flight 534. Trump’s comments came less than 48 hours after his administration tried to freeze federal funding for many disability organizations, as well as programs like Medi-Cal and Section 8. With all this chaos, it’s understandable if you want to hide in the bedroom watching reality television for the next four years. Nieta Greene However, this Friday at 2:30 PM, Nieta Greene has another idea! She’ll be encouraging people with disabilities to resist Trump‘s policies on KPFA’s Pushing Limits program. Green is the founder and CEO of Disability Community for Democracy. She works to get organizations and policymakers to consider the needs of persons with disabilities. This new organization is dedicated to preserving, protecting, and defending liberal democracy and disability rights. On March 1st, the group will host a protest on zoom to push back against Trump’s policies. Additionally, the organization advocates alongside public officials to do a better job at encouraging voters with disabilities to run for public office. Plus, we will hear from the next generation of truth-tellers as Josh Elwood interviews people with disabilities who are learning how to produce radio through a KPFA internship program. Thanks to grant support from Berkeley City College, Clayton Pedersen and Jess Hutcheson are gaining valuable work experience in the fields they would like to pursue – music and talk radio. Tune in to hear more! This episode of Pushing Limits is written and produced by Jacob Lesner-Buxton and Josh Elwood. It is hosted and voiced by Denny Daughters. Editing by Dominick Trevethan and Denny Daughters. Relevant Resources: Link to Disability Community for Democracy Also, look for them on Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky. PSA: The recent devastation of the Southern California wildfires has shown us how important emergency/disaster preparedness is…and we’ve got some answers! Join Community Resources for Independent Living (CRIL) and CIL’s Emergency Preparedness and Resilience program for a special Emergency Preparedness 101 specifically for Blind/Low Vision Communities, led by CIL’s Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, Sheela Gunn. This workshop will be held as a hybrid, both virtually over Zoom and in-person at the Ed Roberts Campus, 3075 Adeline Street, Berkeley, 94703, in the Osher Room. When: Thursday, February 13th, 2025, from 1:00 – 4:00 PM. Where: Ed Roberts Campus, 3075 Adeline Street, Berkeley, 94703, in the Osher Room and via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82594949995 What: A workshop for people who are Blind or Low Vision that live in the San Francisco Bay Area to learn, then apply, the basics of emergency/disaster preparedness. Who: The Center for Independent Living (CIL), serving northern Alameda County, and Community Resources for Independent Living (CRIL), serving southern Alameda County. Accessibility: The Ed Roberts Campus is a wheelchair-accessible space. Masks required for in-person attendees. Wayfinding support available. Other accommodations available upon request. Register at: https://bit.ly/EP101BLIND1 The post Disability Resistance in the Age of Trump – Pushing Limits – February 7, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

When tough times fall on us, we often learn who is really in our corner. However, if Dominick & Uriel push came to shove, would you trust your friend to help you use the restroom? Would they even be willing to do so? On this program of Pushing Limits, one of our very own producers shares his experiences in this exact situation along with his IHSS provider and best-friend. Join us as Dominick Trevethan and Uriel Ruelas discuss their unique friendship. They will be sharing all of the Activities of Daily Living (ADL) that Dominick needs help with, how they navigate the nuances of a friendship and work-dynamic, as well as their thoughts on the current state of IHSS. Should family members be paid nearly minimum wage to care for loved ones? Tune in to hear Dominick and Uriel’s thoughts. This program was hosted and produced by Dominick Trevethan. The post The Provider-Recipient Dynamic: An Inside Angle – Pushing Limits – January 31, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

January is a month often filled with new gym membership, NFL playoffs, and even snow. Before COVID, we didn’t associate it with debilitating and devastating illnesses, but COVID-19 changed that. In January of 2020, “Joyful” Joni Gold was the fourth person in her small community to get covid and, for her, this month will never be the same. Living in Los Osos, California with a population of 14,485, Joni faced life-threatening challenges. In a community with few medical providers, she needed quality care. As someone in a nation with little understanding of the disease, she needed advice and support. Now, living with long covid, Joni talks about her experience and how her spirituality helps her live with her disability. On top of hearing from jovial Joni, we have a commentary from Pushing Limits collective member Adrienne Lauby on COVID, unity, and Mr. Trump. Stay tuned! This episode of Pushing Limits is written and produced by Jacob Lesner-Buxton. It is hosted and edited by Denny Daughters. Joni Gold The post Long Covid in a Small Town – Pushing Limits – January 24, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

On this week’s program, Pushing Limits is diving into the heart of the Bay Area disability community with two local guests who are making a mighty impact. First, we’ll hear from Scott Simpson, President of the Board of Directors for KEEN (Kids Enjoy Exercise Now) San Francisco. KEEN empowers children with disabilities through swimming and a variety of other adaptive sports. Learn how this innovative program builds confidence, fosters friendships, and inspires joy for kids and their families. Dr. Emily Beitiks Next, we welcome back Emily Beitiks, Interim Director of the Paul Longmore Institute at San Francisco State University. Emily will provide an update on the Institute’s latest initiatives, including its work in disability history, culture, and advocacy. From groundbreaking research to upcoming events, find out how the Longmore Institute continues to amplify the voices of disabled people in the Bay Area and beyond. This program is produced and hosted by Eddie Ytuarte. Relevant Resources: KEEN – San Francisco San Francisco State University – Paul Longmore Institute on Disability The post Bay Area Disability Happenings – Pushing Limits – January 17, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to take care of someone else with major physical needs? Just like any relationship, the caregiver-patient relationship is a two-way street. Usually we bring you the voice of the “patient” on our program, but today we’re mixing it up. During the interview, Dean talks about his clients. Some of them have different mobility disabilities; others have diseases like Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s Disease, and various injuries. One younger client hadn’t had a regular bath or shower in several years, but Dean made this problem disappear. Find out how by tuning in! This program was produced and hosted by Denny Daughters. The post The Caregiver’s Perspective: Dean Starmer – Pushing Limits – January 10, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

A half-hour radio show providing critical coverage of disability issues and bringing the insight of the grassroots disability movement to the general public. The post Pushing Limits – January 3, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

As Bugs Bunny once said, “tha-that’s all folks!” 2024 has come to a close, and the Pushing Limits gang is looking forward to making next year even better. As we get ready to turn a new leaf, we invite you to join the crew as we look back at what we learned and appreciated about this year as we plan our goals out for next year. In this holiday special, host and producer Denny Daughters interviews all your favorite Pushing Limits producers, editors, script writers, and hosts. Plus, there’s a year-end montage and blooper reel that’s sure to send you laughing into 2025! See ya next year! The post 2024 in Review – Pushing Limits – December 27, 2024 appeared first on KPFA.

Victor McConnell Life is full of inconveniences, and it’s up to us as individuals to respond to those inconveniences. That’s how Victor McConnell looks at life anyways. Despite being born and orphaned in Russia without his entire left arm and shoulder, he is a successful IT consultant, photographer, and musician. On today’s program, we learn what it’s like to experience life without an arm. Plus, we get a taste of Victor’s optimism and spunk. Don’t miss the finale—where Victor lets his music do the talking. This interview has been edited from an episode of The Disability Myth. If you would like to hear the longer program, check out the podcast, The Disability Myth. This program is hosted and produced by Dominick Trevethan. Relevant Resources: Victor’s Website Victor’s Youtube Channel The post One-Handing Life – Pushing Limits – December 20, 2024 appeared first on KPFA.

A half-hour radio show providing critical coverage of disability issues and bringing the insight of the grassroots disability movement to the general public. The post Pushing Limits – December 13, 2024 appeared first on KPFA.

A half-hour radio show providing critical coverage of disability issues and bringing the insight of the grassroots disability movement to the general public. The post Pushing Limits – December 6, 2024 appeared first on KPFA.

Self-advocacy by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities has become a big part of the disability movement’s approach to this part of our community. Essentially it means that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities can and should be supported to speak for themselves, help make policy, serve on boards, and more. Sadly, too often organizations use the term “Self Advocate” simply to get grants or “street cred”. Today’s guest, Brittanie Hernandez-Wilson, helped make Self-Advocacy more than a “buzz word” when she was the Equity and Justice Director, at the ARC Minnesota. Hear her explain what it takes to transform disability organizations into places that are truly representative of and accountable to the communities they serve. This program was produced by Jacob Lesner-Buxton, hosted by Shelley Berman, and edited by Denny Daughters and Dominick Trevethan. Brittanie Hernandez-Wilson The post Beyond the Buzzword: Self-Advocacy in Action – Pushing Limits – November 29, 2024 appeared first on KPFA.