Ed Roberts Research Paper

From 1940 to 1990, people with disabilities started to challenge the social barriers that outcast them from communities and even parents of children with disabilities fought against the exclusion and segregation of their children. People with disabilities fought to establish certain civil rights towards federally funded programs, education, housing and the architectural barriers. After years of protesting the creation of Centers for Independent Living arose and most importantly the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the civil rights law for all person with disabilities. This powerful movement did not happened from one day to another people had to establish local groups to advocate for the rights of people with disabilities, people like …show more content…
Ed Roberts had to overcome several obstacles in order to accomplish his goal on helping disable people. In the beginning, Ed Roberts was denied his diploma because lack of credit from driver and physical education. His mother and Ed Roberts fought for his diploma and the decision was overturned. Another obstacle Ed Roberts had to face was being rejected from Berkeley University because of his disability. Once again Ed Roberts went against the board for his acceptance to the university and was granted admission. While attending Berkeley Ed Roberts realized how disable people were being denied civil rights and how people were making decision for them, Ed Roberts believed that was not a way to live life. So him and other students started the Berkeley Center for Independent Living. The Independent Living was run by and for people with disabilities. Ed Roberts also noticed how there was social barrier in the community and created the curb cut for wheelchairs. Ed Roberts traveled the world to educated people about disabilities. Ed Roberts influenced many people around the world about no limits and just go for