Comedians with Disabilities Act

The Comedians with Disabilities Act (CWDA) is a fabulous collection of comedians with disabilities, both seen and unseen, who share their humor and personal experiences. Overall, the tour is designed to bring authentic and traditionally unheard voices to the forefront. It’s the brainchild of comedian, Michael O’Connell, who started the group in 2010, and was later joined by Steve Danner and Nina G. In 2016, O’Connell passed away – but the show lives on and spotlights a variety of disabled and outrageously funny comedians.

CWDA comes to Berkeley's Gilman Brewing August 3.

Mean Dave, a favorite in the San Francisco Bay Area, headlines. Dave is in his tenth year of addiction recovery, which he ingeniously weaves into his humor. He’s opened for many notable comedians like Josh Blue, Big Jay Oakerson, and Jay Mohr, and has performed at colleges across the U.S.

Nina G is an author and comedian. Her memoir, “Stutterer Interrupted: The Comedian Who Almost Didn’t Happen,” was released to critical acclaim in 2019 and in February 2022, she launched and another book, co-authored by OJ Patterson, “Bay Area Stand-Up Comedy: A Humorous History.” She’s performed all over the U.S. and appeared on many daytime TV talk shows, NPR broadcasts and podcasts.

Jade Theriault joins the troupe for their first ever Berkeley appearance! Jade Theriault is renowned in the comedy community and has been on SF Sketchfest, The Art of Female Comedy Festival (Wichita, KS), Palm Springs International Comedy Festival, and the Westside Comedy Festival in Santa Monica, where they were honored for Best Joke of the Night. Jade also starred in Malic Almaya's "RUN!" (2018) and was on an episode of MTV Decoded.

Loren Kraut is a writer and stand-up comedian in San Francisco. Her solo show "A Bit Touched" co-written with Randall Whitehead, won Best Comedy at the Tucson Fringe Festival 2018. She was in SF Sketchfest 2013-2017 & 2023, and has performed at SheDot Festival, Lysistrata Comedy Festival, Mutiny Radio Comedy Festival, HIGHlarious Comedy Festival and The World Series of Comedy, where she placed 3rd in the Comedy Girls Satellite in Las Vegas 2015. She can be heard on CD recordings with the Comedians with Disabilities Act, and Left Coast Comedy. During the pandemic, Loren began a weekly video series "Giraffe Corner" where stuffed giraffes have therapy. She lives with her cat Scout and an unprecedented number of giraffes.

CWDA is happy in have Inanc Ino and Laura Hernandez make their special guest debut!

Inanc Ino is a stand up comedian hailing from Alameda, California. Recently he placed in the Rooster T. Feathers annual comedy competition. Inanc’s surrealist humor extends to his work as a prolific painter who has sold his work internationally. He is a favorite in the storytelling community in the San Francisco Bay Area. When Inanc isn’t performing or painting, he is kite sailing the the Bay.

Laura Hernandez(she/ella/they/them) is a queer Indigenous Xicana living with Marfan Syndrome and total blindness and is a comedian/artist/advocate from Southern California. In 2018, she made her TV debut performing on the First Nations Comedy Experience Showcase and has been featured on several podcasts.

Host or Publisher Comedians With Disabilities Act