KPFA - Pushing Limits

On this edition of Pushing Limits, we speak with Grace Fisher — a gifted artist, founder of Santa Barbara’s Inclusive Arts Clubhouse, and owner of the Grace Fisher Foundation. At 17, Grace’s life changed overnight when she was paralyzed from the neck down by Acute Flaccid Myelitis, a rare polio-like illness. During her rehabilitation, she discovered adaptive music and art — a turning point that would shape her future. In 2023, driven by a vision of creativity and community, she opened the Grace Fisher Inclusive Arts Clubhouse, which has become a vibrant center offering music, dance, and art classes for people with disabilities. Grace joins Pushing Limits collective member Bonnie Elliott for a conversation about art, disability, and what it takes to run an inclusive creative space. This episode is hosted by Bonnie Elliott, with production support from Jacob Lesner-Buxton and editing by Denny Daughters. Grace Fisher The post Inclusive Arts Clubhouse – Pushing Limits – June 6, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

How far can a California private psychiatric hospital go in violating the rights and safety of people with disabilities—without being held accountable? A new report from Disability Rights California (DRC) shines a harsh light on College Hospital in Cerritos (CHC), revealing a disturbing pattern of inappropriate restraint and seclusion, as well as questionable use of involuntary emergency medications. These are not isolated incidents—they point to systemic problems affecting some of the state’s most vulnerable residents. On this program of Pushing Limits, we’ll speak with Richard Diaz, the lead attorney on the investigation, to unpack the key findings and what they mean for psychiatric care across California. We’ll also examine how a lack of oversight, transparency, and disability rights enforcement contributes to ongoing harm in institutions that are supposed to help people heal. What can be done to stop it? What recourse do disabled residents have? And what role should we all be playing in demanding better? Tune in to find out. This program is hosted and produced by Eddie Ytuarte. The post Locked In and Let Down in Cerritos – Pushing Limits – May 30, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

We’re living in a world where our country’s leaders believe that people with learning disabilities will never pay taxes, go on a date, or hold a job. But if you ask people on the spectrum about their capabilities, you’ll likely hear a very different story. On today’s edition of Pushing Limits, we go straight to the source. We talk with Cristopher Campbell, an aspiring paramedic, student at Santa Rosa Junior College, and someone who lives with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. He shares what life is really like living with ADHD, while navigating the demands of college including the pressure of due dates, social anxiety, and a tight schedule. He also discusses the tools that help him succeed as a student and as a contributing member of society. This conversation breaks stereotypes and gives voice to lived experience a reminder that disability doesn’t define potential. This program was hosted and produced by Jacob Stanton. Editing assistance was provided by Denny Daughters and Dominick Trevethan. The post Redefining Capable: Life on the Spectrum – Pushing Limits – May 2, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

Ever visit a museum and feel like it wasn’t built with you in mind? Struggled to read the exhibit text, navigate a gallery space, or find someone who could help — all while being told the place was “accessible”? You’re not alone. And change is possible. Maia Scott This week on Pushing Limits, we’re joined by Maia Scott, a blind educator and disability advocate who’s working to transform how museums serve people with disabilities. Maia recently launched her own consulting business that focuses on partnering with museums and other cultural institutions to break down barriers whether they are physical or systemic. She brings her lived experience and creative insight to the conversation, sharing how inclusive design, tactile access, better signage, and staff training can open doors — not just for disabled folks, but for everyone. Whether you’re someone who’s felt excluded from these spaces, or you work in one and want to do better, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss. This episode of Pushing Limits is hosted by Bonnie Elliott, produced by Jacob Lesner-Buxton, and edited by Denny Daughters. To learn more about Maia’s work, visit  https://maiamaia.co/ The post Making Museums Accessible for All – Pushing Limits – April 25, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

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.

What are some ways that tests are adapted for blind and visually impaired students? Why do some advocate for students to do math on an abacus rather than a brailler? What’s the difference between the two? This week on Pushing Limits, join Denny Daughters as he discusses testing blind students with Mike Tanner. Mike, who lives with blindness himself, has been teaching blind and visually impaired students for 15 years in Southern California. Having been a teacher for over 30 years, we talk about how he tests students academically. We also talk about how he does adaptive technology assessments for his students and the various types of devices that students can use to get their schoolwork done. The best part is the same principles that Mike uses on his technology assessments can be used for adults as well! Among the devices that we talk about are things like magnifiers, braille tablets, and computers. How are they made accessible for blind and visually impaired students? Find out all this and more on this week’s program! This show was hosted, edited, and produced by Denny Daughters. The post Blind-Accessible Testing & Technology – Pushing Limits – April 4, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

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.