Pushing Limits

Pushing Limits – June 7, 2013

Jazz Musicians with Disabilities. Eddie Ytuarte and Josh Elwood present well known musicians who had significant disabilities. They include Bud Powell, Thelonious Monk, Chick Webb and Rosemary Clooney……we play them not because they are “supercrips” or are “inspirational’ stories. We play them because they also helped develop the course of the wonderful world of jazz … Continued


Pushing Limits

Public Comments About Disability – Call In

 ‘What is SHE having for dinner? “ “How can you be happy- you’re disabled” “Where’s your friend , surely you can’t ride BART by yourself ”  Everyday people with disabilities  hear funny, ignorant and hurtful comments such as these from folks in society who often don’t have a clue about how offensive they sound .  Wouldn’t … Continued


Pushing Limits

Pushing Limits – Moving Over the Edge: Artists with Disabilities

It began in living rooms and grew to the international stage.  The Disability Arts Movement came out of the disability movement of the 70s and 80s with brilliance and fire.  We revisit the origins, remember important performance groups and individuals, and talk about contemporary disability arts. Pamela Kay Walker’s memoir, “Moving Over the Edge, Artists … Continued


Pushing Limits

“Selling Sickness” Film & Discussion

Corporate pharmaceuticals are ethically challenged in multiple ways.  But, many people with disabilities owe their lives to the drugs provided by Big Pharma. We illustrate some of the problems with excerpts from the film, “Selling Sickness,” directed by Pat Scott.  Then, disability advocates Caroline Harby and s.e. smith help us pull apart the many strands … Continued


Pushing Limits

Federal Sequestration Cuts

Cuts: Subsidized Housing & A Plan for Social Security Major cuts to the HUD housing voucher program are leaving people on the streets and threatening the  homes of the very poor.   Today, we give you the dirty details of how Federal sequestration is playing out in central and northern California.  The Democrats said these cuts … Continued


Pushing Limits

Amanda Levitt, Fat Activist

Fat body activist Amanda Levitt speaks with co-hosts Eddie Ytuarte and Adrienne Lauby why being fat does not mean she is a person with a disability However, do the two communities share similar characteristics or experiences? Do us disabled share common barriers like facing various forms of discrimination or ….or being victimized by negative and … Continued


Pushing Limits

Sex and Disability

Fund Drive Special Mark O’Brien who lived most of his life in an iron lung is the focus of the new movie, “The Sessions.” We talk to Jessica Yu, the director of the Oscar-winning “Breathing Lessons.” David Steinberg, photos of sexual intimacy between persons wit disabilities. Dr.Rafe Eric Biggs and his partner Ligia Andrade, both … Continued


Pushing Limits

Guns and Disability – Call In

Come and give and take with Pushing Limit hosts Eddie Ytuarte and Shelley Berman about the current controversy over gun control….that is if they put their differences aside and want other folks with disabilities to speak about this biting topic. Not all people in the disability community are that enthusiastic about President Obama’s and New … Continued


Pushing Limits

Veterans Talk about PTSD

“The Invisible War,” a film about military sexual abuse of women, has been nominated for an Oscar for best documentary feature and one in five women in military service who have been the victim of sexual assault. Incredibly, women who’ve been sexually abused in military service have a higher incidence of PTSD than men who’ve … Continued