The Independent: Meeting the Moment for Disability Justice

In this episode of  The Independent , host  Dr. Victor Pineda  sits down with  Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Sian Heder , director of  Being Heumann , to explore the power of storytelling in preserving disability history and advancing disability justice. Inspired by the life of Judy Heumann—one of the most influential leaders of the disability rights movement and a mentor to Dr. Pineda— Being H...

In this episode of  The Independent , host Dr. Victor Pineda sits down with  Mayor Adena Ishii of Berkeley  to explore what it means to lead a city through the lens of disability justice, belonging, and community care. As the birthplace of the independent living movement, Berkeley occupies a unique place in disability history. Mayor Ishii reflects on her journey into public service, the values tha...

In this episode of  The Independent , host Dr. Victor Pineda speaks with  Jonathan Kaufman  - founder of J Kaufman Consulting, licensed psychotherapist, executive coach, and thought leader working at the intersection of leadership, organizational culture, and disability inclusion. Born with cerebral palsy, Jonathan brings a powerful perspective that reframes disability not as a limitation, but as...

In this episode of  The Independent , Dr. Victor Pineda sits down with Vilissa Thompson — a nationally recognized disability justice advocate, writer, and founder of Ramp Your Voice!. With her signature clarity and conviction, Vilissa invites us into the experiences that shaped her work: navigating the world as a Black disabled woman, challenging systems that overlook marginalized voices, and crea...

In this episode of  The Independent , host Dr. Victor Pineda speaks with  Scot Danforth , author of  An Independent Man: Ed Roberts and the Fight for Disability Rights  (University of California Press). Ed Roberts helped ignite the independent living movement — from organizing with the Rolling Quads at UC Berkeley to founding the first Center for Independent Living in Berkeley. But beyond the hist...

In Episode 3 of  The Independent , Dr. Victor Pineda is joined by  Keri Gray  — a powerful cross-movement strategist, speaker, and advocate whose work sits at the vital intersections of disability, race, gender, and justice. With honesty and depth, Keri reflects on how her lived experience as a Black disabled woman, cancer survivor, and movement leader has shaped her understanding of advocacy and...

In Episode 2 of  The Independent , Dr. Victor Pineda sits down with  Andy Imparato  — a nationally respected disability rights leader and the CEO of Disability Rights California — for a thoughtful, grounded conversation about leadership, policy, and the long arc of change. With clarity and conviction, Andy reflects on what first drew him into disability rights work and what has sustained him throu...

In our very first episode of  The Independent , Dr. Victor Pineda sits down with  Lateefah Simon  — a nationally recognized civil rights advocate, lifelong community organizer, and champion for equity and inclusion. With her signature honesty and warmth, Lateefah invites us into the experiences that shaped her journey: growing up in the Bay Area, stepping into leadership at a young age, and learni...