A week ago, on April 5, 61-year-old Brett Estes took his own life by moving his wheelchair in front of a BART train. He was a quadriplegic and a member of a Quad-Squad which was active in the disability movement. Despite the kind, long-term help of a man named John, Brett had recently struggled with … Continued
Are you ready? Ready for whatever comes at you? No one can answer “yes” 100% of the time. But we can take steps to be prepared. And Pushing Limits is here to help. This week, Amy SP Wilson brings a wealth of ideas about the perennial problem of strangers who are intrusive when … Continued
What do a dance teacher, a pastor, a community advocate, and a home care worker have in common? If you said they all could be allies to those with disabilities, you’re right! On this episode of Pushing Limits we will be talking to individuals with those labels – all of whom work … Continued
Dogs Comfort People in Crisis We talk to Jennifer Barbettini, who runs the Courthouse Facility Dog Program in Ventura CA. The program connects victims of crime to doggy comfort when they testify in court and when interviewed by detectives. We also talk with Mary Hooker and Mark Ruefenacht with the National Institute of Canine Service … Continued
Peers and Mental Health Recovery with Sean Kelson Our guest, Sean Kelson, has faced mental health challenges since he was a child. He’s also spent over a decade at the Interlink Self-Help center in Santa Rosa, California, helping other people make peace with the mental and emotional disabilities. Now, he’s talking to the movers and … Continued
Disability and the Media: Excerpts from a conversation about how Hollywood presents people with disabilities hosted by Santa Barbara’s Independent Living Resource Center Rapid Response Committee. New York-based comic, Mike Cotayo and Florida-based actress singer-songwriter Danielle Hollobaugh talk about their experiences as disabled people in the industry.
A week from today, Governor Newsom is expected to sign the 2023-2024 California state budget. In this program, we look at the deals that were struck and their impact on people with disabilities. Then we widen our camera to talk about our yearly budget advocacy and how our community can become more powerful in this … Continued
Alex Rush, 81 years old, recently went under the knife and had his chest pried over. Doctors call this open heart surgery. Hearts are complicated and, when hearts are exposed to the Goddess and everybody, much can happen. One might be shaken to the core. One’s life partner might be turned upside down. Yes, when … Continued
The clamor about the Supreme Court’s decision to revoke Roe v. Wade and allow the states to make their own rules about a woman’s reproductive right to abortion has been loud. The women-led backlash to this decision may actually allow the Democrats to keep control of the House of Representatives next year. But, in … Continued
We talk about names- the labels people give people with disabilities and the labels we choose for ourselves. Sometimes labels are a result of able bodied discomfort with talking to someone who looks or acts differently from them. You know the question: “What do I say? How do I approach a person with an obvious … Continued
