Celebrating Ed Roberts Day and His Legacy of Interdependence
January 23, is Ed Roberts Day, a day to honor the life and achievements of one of the most influential disability rights activists in history. Ed Roberts was a pioneer of the independent living movement, a leader of the World Institute on Disability, and a champion of inclusion and diversity. He was also a participant and producer of a documentary called Discovering Interdependence, which showcased the power and potential of youth with and without disabilities working and learning together.
Who was Ed Roberts?
Ed Roberts was born in 1939 in California. He contracted polio at the age of 14, which left him paralyzed from the neck down and dependent on a respirator. He faced many barriers and discrimination in his education and career, but he did not let his disability define him or limit him. He became the first student with a severe disability to attend the University of California, Berkeley, where he founded the Physically Disabled Students Program, the first student-led disability services program in the world. He also co-founded the Center for Independent Living, the first independent living center in the country, which provided services and advocacy for people with disabilities.
Ed Roberts was a visionary and a trailblazer. He fought for the rights and dignity of people with disabilities, and challenged the stereotypes and prejudices that society had about them. He advocated for the concept of interdependence, which recognizes that everyone has strengths and weaknesses, and that everyone needs and can offer support to others. He believed that people with disabilities are not helpless or dependent, but rather valuable and contributing members of society. He inspired many people to follow his example and join the disability rights movement, which led to the passage of landmark legislation such as the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
Ed Roberts died in 1995, but his legacy lives on. He is widely regarded as the father of the independent living movement, and his birthday, January 23, was declared as Ed Roberts Day by the U.S. House of Representatives in 20101. He is also honored by the Ed Roberts Campus, a universally designed and accessible building in Berkeley that houses several disability organizations and services.
What is Discovering Interdependence?
Discovering Interdependence is a documentary that was produced by Ed Roberts and the World Interdependence Fund in 1992. It features a week-long adventure-based training program for 100 high school students, half of whom have disabilities and half of whom do not. The program aims to teach the students about interdependence, cooperation, leadership, and diversity. The students participate in various activities, such as ropes courses, rafting, camping, and group discussions, that challenge them to overcome their fears, trust each other, and learn from each other. The documentary shows how the students grow and change as a result of the program, and how they develop friendships and respect for each other, regardless of their differences.
The documentary also includes interviews with Ed Roberts and other disability rights activists, such as Judy Heumann, Justin Dart, and Evan Kemp, who share their stories and perspectives on interdependence and disability. The documentary is a powerful and inspiring example of how youth with and without disabilities can discover their potential and contribute to society. It is also a testament to Ed Roberts’ vision and passion for interdependence and inclusion.
Why is Ed Roberts Day and Discovering Interdependence important?
Ed Roberts Day and Discovering Interdependence are important because they celebrate and promote the values and principles that Ed Roberts stood for and embodied. They remind us of the history and achievements of the disability rights movement, and the challenges and opportunities that still exist for people with disabilities. They also inspire us to embrace interdependence, diversity, and inclusion in our own lives and communities, and to recognize the humanity and dignity of everyone. They challenge us to follow Ed Roberts’ example and become agents of change and advocates for justice.
As Ed Roberts said, "We are all interdependent. We all need each other. We all have something to give."