Biking While Blind

Photograph of Bobby McMullen and guide biking (courtesy of Poison Oak Productions)

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After countless broken bones, a double organ transplant and sight loss, Bobby McMullen doesn't just ride his bike; this daredevil is a human cliffhanger.

He joins Pushing Limits hosts, Raphaella Bennin and Leah Gardner to talk about his life and the documentary based on his mountain biking exploits, The Way Bobby Sees It.

It’s blind biking, so hold onto your chairs; we're in for a bumpy ride.
Original air date: 1-5-10

Beyond the IEP

(Individualized Educational Program)

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Cynthia Molina and Christine Zimmerman, mother-advocates for students with disabilities in Oakland's Programs for Exceptional Children talks with cohosts Eddie Ytuarte and Leah Gardner. What is it in the institutional culture that helps students succeed beyond the Independent Educational Program.

With a commentary by Shelley Berman on the upcoming elections.

KPFA

Photo: Three young children face a teacher with her hands up, palms out.
Their faces reflect excitement, withdrawal & caution.
Courtesy Furman University Libraries, Special Education Resources.

Original air date: 10-29-10

Musicians Living with a Disability

Listen 28 min

A sampling of musicians who found success as they lived with significant disabilities. From pop star Michael Bolton and his profound deafness in one ear to a one-arm drummer with the hard rock band, Def Leppard...

Chick Webb. At a young age, he contracted spinal tuberculosis that left him with a hunchback and little use of his legs.

Rick Allen. Def Leppard drummer, one arm amputee.

Rick Allen, smiling, with one arm in the air. Photo by Matt Becker

Michael Bolton. Vocalist, deaf in one ear.

Jeff Healey. The Jeff Healey Band. Lost his sight to retinoblastoma, a rare cancer of the eyes.

Derek Pavaricini, autistic prodigy, Pianist.

Susannah McCorkle Jazz & pop vocalist who killed herself because of her mental illness.

Leah Gardner and Eddie Ytuarte spin the tunes and talk about the artists.

Arnieville Protest of CA Budget Cuts

Listen (28 min)

At the
Arnieville Tent City
people with disabilities
and seniors engage
in a living protest
against the continued
cuts in California's
human services.

Two weeks long
and counting...

Photo of Bruce Allison and Jon Reed
by Helen Walsh, Diverse Disability Media

Guests: Marg Hall and Jana Overbo from Arnieville,
Scott Graves from the California Budget Project

Hosts: Eddie Ytuarte and Leah Gardner

Photo: Large banner reads "Our Homes Not Nursing Homes!"

original air date: 7-2-10

When Home Is (or could be) an Institution

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A discussion of the film, Far from Home,
with director Elissa Moon showing at Berkeley's Superfest.
Saturday, June 5, 2:10 pm
Gaia Arts Center, 2120 Allston Way @ Shattuck,
Berkeley, CA,

A documentary focused on the political and personal realities of living in San Francisco's Laguna Honda, the largest nursing home in the U.S. Laguna Honda houses thousands of people living with severe physical disabilities.

Plus, coverage of the ArnieVille Sleep Out, a protest of California's proposed budget cuts, cuts that could leave many seniors and persons with disabilities homeless or institutionalized. With Syndy Sharp, Hannah Jo Karpilow, Thomas & Nicholas McMullan, & Marissa Shaw.

After a cold night, ArnieVille residents soak in some rays.
Photo: Dan McMullan

We've all heard the adage, home sweet home.
It's that place we long for when we've been away where we seek rest, recreation and a break from the outside world.
(Nicholas & Thomas McMullan, photo by their dad, Dan)
Leah Gardner and Eddie Ytuarte ask the question:

"What does home mean for people who live with disabilities?"

Original Air Date: June 4, 2010

Blind Man's Bluff

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Air date: April 16, KPFA. 94.1 fm, www.kpfa.org

Original drama, Blind Man's Bluff,
Starring Kris Yates & Mary Ann (Tidwell) Boussard

Adapted from Geri Taecken's memoir of progressive blindness and coming of age in the disability movement.

A poignant, funny story
produced by a team of people
with disabilities
(and one able bodied engineer).

Original book cover

Cast

Geri ... Kris Yates .
Cheryl ... Mary Ann (Tidwell) Boussard .
Airline Steward ... Ammy Joseph .
Ticket Agent ... Shelley Berman
Conductor ... Doyle Saylor
Cliff ... John Healy
Nina ... Leah Gardner
Helpful Man & Bus Driver ... Patty Nash
Incidental Characters: Jan Santos, Adrienne Lauby, & Leah Gardner

Engineering by Lamont Young
Screenplay by Leah Gardner & Adrienne Lauby
Direction by Shelley Berman & Leah Gardner
Audio Editing and Sound Effects by Greeta Ahart & Adrienne Lauby
'Diary' music by J.S. Bach played by Ayaka Isono

Thanks to the Shoestring Radio Theater for sound effect assistance.

Author Geri Taeckens uses her website to raise money for health care for service animals. You can read all her adventures in her memoir which is available through her website, locally at Waldon Pond Books, or at the usual on-line booksellers.

Photo of Geri & her dog

poster for the broadcast

PLAY BALL!

LISTEN 29 min.

One-handed big league pitcher, Jim Abbott,(1989-1999) joins us for a discussion of disability in professional baseball.

Also, current Oakland A's stars Mark Ellis and
Eric Chavez talk about the reality of playing baseball with disabilities. A few managers take a swing at discussing disability on the field as well.

Grab a bag of peanuts. . .



Abbott photos
courtesy Jim Abbott

Leah Gardner &
Shelley Berman host.

(Our broadcast of excerpts from Blind Man's Bluff has been postponed due to producer illness. Watch for a new broadcast date soon.)

Texas Rangers Manager Ron Washington talks to
A's 2nd baseman, Mark Ellis

Eric Chavez comes up to bat in Phoenix spring training. Notice his back, which has been a problem since high school and recently was the focus of two surgeries. Now, notice the photo of Eric Chavez coming in after another home run.

Spring training photos by Shelley Berman

Smell hot dogs on the wind,
feel the sun on your face in the bleachers and
know magic might be made
with the next pitch. . .

Original Air Date: March 12, 2010

Sticks and Stones

Listen (28 min)

Shocking Statistics: Teenagers and middle aged people with disabilities suffer criminal violence twice as often as the able-bodied. Women are two time more likely to experience violence if they live with a disability. And, there is more. . .

Horrific Social Context:
People with disabilities
not served well or at all
by domestic violence agencies.

Cover art by Carli Scales

Little or no attention to abuse and violence
by traditional disability non-profit agencies.
Widespread perception of disability as a weakness,
dependency and less-than-human condition.
Centuries of documented mistreatment.

Moving Past
Shock and Horror
to Defiance and Resilience:
The stories from a new book,
Sticks and Stones,
edited by Marsha Saxton,
lay out the problems and offer strategies
to confront this multi-pronged beast.

Editor, Marsha Saxton

CAPE: Curriculum on
Abuse Prevention and Empowerment

Hosted by
Adrienne Lauby and Leah Gardner.

original air date: Jan 15, 2010

The Reckoned and the Reckoning

Listen 28 min.

Drawing by Neil Marcus

We celebrate Winter Solstice,
the day the earth turns back to the light.

George Louie

one of the plaintiffs in the Contra Costa pedestrian access lawsuit,
speaks frankly about his role
in this controversial case.

In Home Supportive Services (IHSS) activists

Tom Ross
Carman Rivera-Hendrickson
Kenneth C. Johnson
Cheryl Powell Smith

Plus,
Shelley Berman, Eddie Ytuarte, Leah Gardner, and Adrienne Lauby
send out year-end honors,
raspberries to the inexcusable,
blueberries to the indestructible.

Janus (or Ianus), the Roman god of gates, doorways, beginnings and endings

Get In The Game

Listen 28 min.

Who says a one-armed man can't pitch a no-hitter or
shoot for the net in a Division I college basketball game?

photo by Neil Marcus

Who says a deaf man can't wield the bat
in a major league baseball game?

And who says disabled kids
don't make good athletes?

A discussion of possibility,
triumph -- and kids.

Guests:
Commentator Gary Gray, who covers disabled athletes at BlackAthlete.com and on his internet radio program, Gray Leopard Cove.
U.S. Adaptive Ski Team

Doug Pringle, President of the Far West chapter of Disabled Sports USA

Hosted by Eddie Ytuarte and Leah Gardner.

Resources:
Bay Area Outreach and Recreation Program (BORP)
www.borp.org
Activities for youth include wheelchair basketball, power soccer, track and field and hand cycling.
For adults, they have the same sports plus goalball.
BORP's outings and adventures program offers hiking, skiing and other outdoor expeditions.

Tandems Across the Bay is composed of a number of volunteers with tandem bicycles. They offer excursions on weekends and some holidays. These trips often start in San Francisco in the Fisherman's Wharf area. For more info, e-mail tandemsacrossthebay@gmail.com.

The Bay Area Association of Disabled Sailors (BAADS)
They meet every Sunday at noon from Pier 40 in Sf.
www.baads.org

Disability Rights California

Disability Rights California Logo

Listen (28 min)

Do non-profits operate
under too narrow
a charge?

Are they just plain
too conservative?

Catherine Blakemore

Eddie Ytuarte and Leah Gardner puts these questions to Catherine Blakemore, the executive director of one of the highest funded disability non-profits focused on California issues, Disability Rights California (DRC) -- It's also one of the most successful.

Sins Invalid

Take a good look
in the mirror.

Do you feel pride
in what you see?

Pushing Limits
ogles --
Beauty in the Face of Invisibility.

Listen, 28 min.

Nomy Lamm
photo by Richard Downing

Leah Gardner interviews Patricia Berne and Nomy Lamm from the groundbreaking organization, Sins Invalid.

This troupe of artists and performers use storytelling, music and dance to demonstrate
that disabled bodies are beautiful. Artistic director Patricia Berne and performer Nomy Lamm will discuss their work with Sins Invalid as well as what it takes to break down the barriers of shame and fear to create beauty