Robert David Hall

Bearded character actor who since his accident in 1978 has done  extensive radio and voiceover work.  Also, an accomplished singer, guitar player, and pianist.

Had both legs amputated after suffering burns over 65% of his body, the result of his car being crushed by an 18-wheeler in 1978. He uses prosthetics.

His disabled-specific role as the coroner on "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (2000) was initially for one episode, but expanded immediately to a regular role in 2000. Since this monumental success, he has become an impassioned spokesperson on the importance of hiring actors with disabilities. He has testified before Congress and served as a national board member and chair on the Performers With Disabilities Committee.

If you support diversity and think shows should give a portrayal of what America truly looks like, then performers with disabilities must be included in that equation...People have been very good at being politically correct. They say the right things. But there has been an assumption that disabled actors could slow down production, can't do this or that, or that people won't want to see them on screen.

Robert performed in the initial production of John's play, Jury by Trial, put on by the Mark Taper Forum.
 

Roger Russell

Degrees, Ph.D., University of Houston 1980 (clinical psychology), M.A., California State University, Los Angeles (social psychology), B.A., Pomona College 1965 (English, writing emphasis). 

He had polio in 1948 and has been involved with the disabled community and disability issues his entire life.  His doctoral dissertation addressed long term adjustment to spinal cord injuries in military veterans.  He served on the Board of Directors for the Dayle McIntosh Center for Independent Living (now the Dayle Mcintosh Disability Resource Center), has presented papers and workshops regarding disability at conferences, and is a lifetime member of Californians for Disability Rights

Roger is a retired psychologist who provided mental health services, specializing at time with people who have disabilities.  He also was an academician, having taught for several years at the University of La Verne in La Verne, California.

He is also a radio broadcaster who was a "rock jock" on commercial radio in the mid '60s, and who has done a one hour humor program, The Sunset Review, on KSPC, 88.7 FM  since August, 1988.

to visit the radio show web site

He has written and published both fiction and nonfiction, some of which concerned issues about disability.  Some of his work is featured in the Pixley Project's online ezine, Cripple Creek.

Currently, he provides a variety of online services via his web site Eagle Online Services.  Among these services, he does web design and is the webmaster for the Pixley Project website. 

Finally, he is also collaborating with John on the current stage project, I'm No Dummy.

Ruben Caballero

Ruben is a long time resident of Claremont, California and graduated from Pitzer College (one of the Claremont Colleges) in 1999, majoring in Spanish and Latin American Studies. Ruben subsequently worked for Claremont Unified School District for 16 years as an ESL assistant and teacher. He has been an active drawer and painter since the age of eight, when he was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. At that time, as he was unable to participate in athletic activities, his teachers would allow him to remain in the classroom, drawing and later painting. He has worked with all mediums but prefers pen-and-ink and water color. More of his art and information about him is available on his Facebook page.

to visit his web site

to visit his Facebook page.

Raul Pizarro

Raul Pizarro was born in Mexicali, Mexico. He is a self taught-artist who works primarily in oil paints. Living with a rare form of muscular dystrophy, he is forced to constantly shift and reinvent his painting technique with each new physical challenge presented at the varies stages of muscle loss. He lives and works on the fringe of Los Angeles.

“I paint every day, knowing that every ounce of strength I put into applying each brush stroke is the measure of life. My muscles aren’t vanishing, they are transforming into permanent echoes on canvas.”

Additional examples of his art can be found on his web site and his Facebook page.

to visit his web site

to visit his Facebook page

First Street Gallery Art Center

First Street Gallery Art Center opened in 1989 to provide art training and exhibition resources is an exhibition resource for adults with developmental disabilities in Claremont, California.  It is a unique art center of the Tierra del Sol Foundation founded on the proposition that human potential for creativity and artistic expression is not limited by physical or intellectual challenges.  First Street Gallery Art Center helps artists with disabilities experience the benefits of making art, live as respected contributors to the cultural life of the community, fully express themselves through art, and develop their professional art career.

  to visit their web site.

The Axis Dance Company - Founded by Judith Smith

Celebrating 27 years of inspired dance, AXIS Dance Company was founded by Judith Smith (pictured left), who is the Artistic Director.  She has earned an international reputation in the field of physically integrated dance. Upon taking over artistic leadership of the company in 1997, she began commissioning works by some of the nation’s best choreographers and composers.  Their mission is to create, perform, educate, and support “physically integrated dance” a contemporary dance form that evolves from the collaboration between dancers with and without disabilities. AXIS Dance Company is located in the Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts, in downtown Oakland, California.

to visit their web site.