Grand Opening of Ed Roberts Campus at UC Berkley April 9

© Tim Griffith and Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects

The University of California Berkley announced the opening of the Ed Roberts Campus.

The Ed Roberts Campus is a nonprofit corporation that has been formed by disability organizations that share a common history in the Independent Living Movement of People with Disabilities. These organizations have joined together to plan and develop a universally designed, transit-oriented campus located at the Ashby BART Station in South Berkeley. The Ed Roberts Campus now houses the offices of the collaborating organizations as well as fully accessible meeting rooms, a computer/media resource center, a fitness center, a cafe, and a child development center.

Ed Roberts (1939-1995) was an international leader and educator in the independent living and disability rights movements. He fought throughout his life to enable all persons with disabilities to fully participate in society. Roberts was a true pioneer: he was the first student with significant disabilities to attend UC Berkeley. He was a founder of UC's Physically Disabled Students Program, which became the model for Berkeley's Center for Independent Living (CIL) and over 400 independent living centers across the country. He was one of the early directors of CIL. He was the first California State Director of Rehabilitation with a disability; he was awarded a MacArthur fellowship; and he was co-founder and President of the World Institute on Disability.

The concept of the Campus took form shortly after Ed's death in 1995. The Berkeley Mayor's Office convened a meeting of representatives from the City Council, UC Berkeley, CIL, WID and other disability leaders to discuss how to memorialize Ed's work. Disability community leaders decided they could best commemorate Roberts's work by supporting the organizations that he helped start and the Independent Living Movement that he championed. They decided to do this by establishing a center dedicated to fostering collaboration and improving the services and opportunities for people with disabilities locally and worldwide.

Public transportation is highly recommended. The ERC is accessible directly from the Ashby BART station, and by AC transit. Limited accessible parking will be provided.

RSVP online here.

ERC is a scent-free environment. Please refrain from wearing scent to this event. This event is wheelchair accessible and sign language interpreters will be provided.

Please contact Beatrice Burgess to request other accommodations.Requests made by April 5 will help to ensure availability.

Ed Roberts Campus
3075 Adeline Street
Berkeley, CA 94703
at the Ashby BART Station

edrobertscampus.org

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