KPFA - Pushing Limits KPFA

Young person typing braille by George Williams
Why should blind children learn to read braille? Given the amazing rise of audio books and audio screen readers, is braille a technology of the past?
Our guest Mike Tanner answers these questions with a resounding “No” and, in this week’s program, makes the case for braille literacy.
Most people gain literacy as children, which means parents have a strong role to play in researching their children’s needs and advocating for them with their school district.
But, braille isn’t a total solution. Mike talks about the cost of hard copy braille and explains why it is so expensive. He reminds us that one way to negotiate these problems is to use the many resources of the National Library Service For The Blind And Print Disabled.
What does the future of braille technology hold? Find out this week on Pushing Limits, KPFA’s program by and about people with disabilities.
Mike Tanner teaches visually impaired students in Southern California. He holds a BA degree in mathematics and a Masters Degree in Special Education.
This program was hosted, edited and produced by Denny Daughters.
Hands reading Braille by Vater_fotografo622_NSC_4787_bis_Braille– “la luce attraverso le dita” (light through the fingers)
Resources:

For more about the National Library Service For The Blind And Print Disabled, visit them at: https://www.loc.gov/nls/
The National Library Service is underutilized. For more about it, as well as the Braille And Talking Book Library in Sacramento, go here: https://kpfa.org/episode/pushing-limits-march-15-2024/

Photo Citations:

Young person typing braille by George Williams from Flickr
Hands reading Braille.
by Vater_fotografo from Flickr
Creative Commons License

The post Braille Today – Pushing Limits – June 14, 2024 appeared first on KPFA.

Sophia Lee-Park
What is a disability advocate? How does advocacy look in this day and age with the role that media and smartphones play? How does someone advocate effectively while simultaneously negotiating and managing their own unique identities? On Friday’s program of Pushing Limits, we answer all these questions and more as we take a deep dive into what it means to be a disability advocate.
Joining us is Sophia Lee-Park, a disability justice advocate and accessibility educator. Sophia earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology from UCSB and recently graduated from USC with a master’s degree in post secondary affairs and schooling administration. Pulling from her experiences as a person with a physical and a developmental disability, Sophia shares her thoughts on the topic of advocacy.
 
This program was produced and edited by Dominick Trevethan with help from Denny Daughters. Additionally, this program originally aired in a longer form on the podcast, The Disability Myth. 
 
The post Disability Advocacy: A Deep Dive – Pushing Limits – June 7, 2024 appeared first on KPFA.

It is the height of California’s annual budget wrangle, and Governor Newsom is planning severe cuts to programs we depend on. These programs include In Home Supportive Services, CalFresh, nutrition support, housing & homeless assistance, and others. It’s pretty dire.
We have until June 15, just two more weeks, to let our Sacramento representatives know how we want tax payer money spent. Scroll down for something you can do TODAY.
We bring a panel of experts from San Francisco’s HomeBridge: Erin Saberi, public policy and communications consultant, Amber Harris, senior director of talent and people, and Meaghan Shanahan, senior director of programs.  Home Bridge trains and provides care givers and attendants for elderly and disabled people throughout the bay area.
Erin Saberi
There is a crisis in attendant care in California. These folks know just how bad it is and how these budget discussions will either help  – or make it worse.
Some context: California has had a fat purse for several years but, this year, the purse is skinny with a $27.6 billion dollar shortfall.
As usual, one thing that isn’t being cut is California’s prison system. It’s being tinkered with but it’s actually getting an overall increase!
Our community is not taking these cuts lying down. Since the draft budget came out in January, lobbyists, non-profits and many disabled people have been in Sacramento to testify at hearings and hold rallies.  There’s just enough time, just enough momentum to turn the tide and save ourselves from some of the worst consequences.
One more thing:  There’s an inevitable level of competition in the budget fight. It’s tricky to lobby for any particu
Amber Harris
lar program.  For instance, if you argue for expanding IHSS caregivers you might find yourself arguing against houses for homeless people. You argue for Developmental Disability increases and find yourself arguing against help for abused elders.
We salute two organizations who’ve made long term coalitions to take some sting out of the competition.  The California Collaborative for Long Term Services and Supports has over 60
organizational members and CURB, Californians United for a Responsible Budget, brings more than 80 organizations together. They help make the best of a tough situation.

 Emergency Budget Rally 
Governor Newson is trying to cut critical services for undocumented people, people with disabilities, and older adults. Join us to fight back!
Governor Newsom: Hands Off Our Home Care!
Thursday, June 6, 11:00 am
455 Golden Gate, San Francisco
Masks required & provided
————————————————————–
Take Action Today!  Make some calls, write some emails.
HERE’S WHAT TO SAY:
My name is ___________ and I am a (senior, immigrant, person with a disability).  I am very concerned about the incredibly harsh cuts proposed in the Governor’s proposed May Revised Budget.  The elimination of the IHSS benefit for undocumented Californians on Medi-Cal is extremely harmful, and sends a message that California is turning its back on immigrant, older adult and disabled communities – and will surely end up with more expensive institutional care.

Meaghan Shanahan
The other cuts to food security, developmental disability, housing and homeless programs, APS, and other Older Adult Act programs will take us backwards. California enacted a Master Plan on Aging that looks to expand programs and services to address our state’s aging population.  Let’s look to the rainy day fund and other sources to move us forward, and protect our most vulnerable populations.  Thank you.
WHO TO CONTACT: Please call and/or email these members:
Assembly Budget Chair – Assm. Jesse Gabriel: 916-319-2046/ AsmBudget@asm.ca.gov
Assembly Speaker – Assm. Robert Rivas: 916-319-2029/ https://speaker.asmdc.org
Senate Budget Chair – Senator Scott Wiener: 916-651-4011/Severiano.Christian@sen.ca.gov
(Leg. Director) Senate Pro

Today’s Pushing Limits is preempted by special spring fund drive programming.
 
The post Special Spring Fund Drive Programming appeared first on KPFA.

Today’s Making Contact is preempted by the final part of C.S. Soong’s interview of Nate Powell about his graphic adaptation of James W. Loewen’s book Lies My Teacher Told Me.
 
The post Special Spring Fund Drive Programming: Nate Powell on his adaptation of Lies My Teacher Told Me appeared first on KPFA.

Nina G.
Tune in to a special hour-long Pushing Limits program this Friday at 2 pm. We will be talking to Nina G, comedian and author of Stutterer Interrupted and Bay Area Stand-Up Comedy: A Humorous History. In May 2023, her album debuted at #1 in Comedy on iTunes and Amazon. Her first video special, Nina G: Stutterer Interrupted, debuted in October 2023.
We will also talk to comedian and professional speaker Michael Beers. For 20 years, he has been an award-winning stand-up comic, disability activist and educator.
Michael Beers
We will also be raising money for KPFA. For 75 years the station has been a home for voices that the corporate media has tried to silence. We will be giving away copies of Nina’s book Stutterer Interrupted as a thank-you for your donation to KPFA.
This episode of Pushing Limits will be hosted by Jacob Lesner-Buxton, Adrienne Lauby, Shelley Berman, and Bonnie Elliott.
Check out our awesome guests below!
Nina G’s website
Michael Beers website
The post Comics with Disabilities – Pushing Limits – May 10, 2024 appeared first on KPFA.