Berkeley's Independent Living Movement

The Independent Living Movement of People with Disabilities stems from ideas of self determination, empowerment and autonomy. This movement fights for the ability of people with disabilities to have equal rights to other citizens and control over their own lives. This movement originated in the Bay Area, specifically on the campus of UC Berkeley during the 1960s.

In the early 1960s UC Berkeley admitted a handful of students with severe disabilities. The first and best known of these was Ed Roberts, who is sometimes called the father of the Independent Living Movement. Inspired by other growing civil rights movements, these students began to develop a political analysis of disability and advocate for things such as curb cuts and wheelchair ramps around campus. The very first curb cut in the nation was installed at the intersection of Telegraph Avenue and Bancroft Way next to campus. Before this, politicians would always claim there was no need for curb cuts because there were no people with wheelchairs using sidewalks. This was the kind of catch 22 disability rights advocates had to deal with on a regular basis.

The students formed the Physically Disabled Student's Program - the first student led disability services program in the country. Soon after forming, this group began getting calls from people with disabilities who were not students, seeking assistance. This led to the creation of the Berkeley Center for Independent Living, a listing service and advocacy program serving the community at large. One of the main philosophies of the Independent Living Movement is that people with disabilities know what is best for themselves. To ensure that people with disabilities are the ones being empowered, the bylaws of this organization state that at least 51% of the staff and leadership have to be people with disabilities. This was in stark contrast to the paternalistic treatment of people with disabilities by the majority of the medical and political communities of the 1960s. For the first time a services and advocacy organization run by and for people with disabilities existed.

This organization became the model for hundreds of similar organizations nationwide, and eventually internationally. Amongst many other victories, in April 1977 the Berkeley Center for Independent Living organized the longest sit-in demonstration of an federal building in U.S. history. This took place in San Francisco's Federal building, 50 United Nations Plaza, at the offices of Health, Education and Welfare. It was the longest of many demonstrations held throughout the country that month. The sit-in lasted 28 days and led to the first federal civil rights protections for persons with disabilities.

The Berkeley Center for Independent Living still exists today and continues to fight for the rights of those with disabilities.

In November 2010 the Ed Roberts Campus opened its doors. Named after the most famous of the Berkeley Independent Living founders, the Ed Roberts Campus is a nonprofit corporation formed by seven organizations that share a common history in the Independent Living Movement of People with Disabilities. The building incorporates the principles of Universal Design - the creation of environments that are equally easy and intuitive to use for individuals of all abilities. This includes: a helical ramp; accessible elevators with automatic doors; restrooms that accommodate all ability levels; specially designed signage and way-finding devices guide people who are blind or have low vision; and hands-free sensors and timers control lighting. It is a beautifully designed building and far surpasses federal requirements for accessibility. The campus located at the Ashby BART Station in South Berkeley and accessible to the public during regular business hours.

Beyond this building, the wheelchair ramps and other disabled access installations we see around us every day are probably the most appropriate monument to the legacy of Ed Roberts and the countless others who have advocated for the Independent Living Movement of People with Disabilities.