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Ed Roberts: The Wheelchair Genius Who Changed the World for People with Disabilities

Ervin Bell

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Published in Ed Roberts: Wheelchair Genius Tyler Hadyniak

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Early Life and Education

Ed Roberts was born in 1939 in Berkeley, California. He contracted polio at the age of 14, which left him paralyzed from the waist down. Roberts attended public schools, but he was often discriminated against because of his disability. He was not allowed to participate in many activities, and he was often made fun of by his classmates.

Despite the challenges he faced, Roberts was a bright and ambitious student. He graduated from high school with honors and went on to attend the University of California, Berkeley. Roberts was the first person with a disability to earn a PhD from Berkeley. His dissertation was on the social and psychological impact of disability.

Ed Roberts: Wheelchair Genius

by Tyler Hadyniak

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	6892 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	53 pages

Career and Activism

After graduating from Berkeley, Roberts worked as a rehabilitation counselor. He soon realized that there were few services available to people with disabilities. In 1972, he founded the Center for Independent Living (CIL) in Berkeley. CIL provides a variety of services to people with disabilities, including housing, transportation, and job training.

Roberts was also a leading advocate for the disability rights movement. He helped to pass the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990. The ADA is a landmark piece of legislation that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities.

Legacy

Ed Roberts died in 1995 at the age of 56. He left behind a legacy of advocacy and empowerment for people with disabilities. CIL continues to provide services to people with disabilities, and the ADA has made a significant difference in the lives of millions of people.

Roberts was a pioneer in the disability rights movement. He showed that people with disabilities can achieve great things. He also showed that people with disabilities deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. Roberts' legacy continues to inspire people today.

Additional Information

* Ed Roberts was a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. * He was inducted into the National Disability Hall of Fame. * The Ed Roberts Campus in Berkeley is named after him.

Ed Roberts was a brilliant thinker and a tireless advocate for people with disabilities. He left behind a legacy of advocacy and empowerment that continues to inspire people today. Roberts showed that people with disabilities can achieve great things, and he also showed that people with disabilities deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.

Ed Roberts: Wheelchair Genius

by Tyler Hadyniak

5 out of 5