The Ed Roberts Campus

Listen 28 min

After 15 years of planning, seven disability movement organizations have opened an 80,000 sq ft building at a major Berkeley transit hub, the Ed Roberts Campus.photo of large group at groundbreaking ceremony

A little history. In the early 70’s, Ed Roberts was a quadriplegic living in the Cowell Hospital and studying at the University of Berkeley. Change and liberation was in the air, so it didn’t take long for Ed and some other students with disabilities to decide that they didn’t need nurses. They could live independently with attendants. They formed a group called the Rolling Quads which morphed into the next group, which morphed and changed and morphed and started the Center for Independent Living and, in the meantime—the modern independent living movement was born. And that’s not the end of the story.

People with disabilities started other organizations, projects and groups. When seven of these groups got together to dream about a building to house all their organizations they dreamed of a place to share amenities like meeting rooms; centers for computers, child development and fitness; a theater and café. And, since those who used the building would be mostly people with disabilities, it had to be near a major public transit hub. No one doubted the dream would come with a high price tag.

photo of building

The organizations are Bay Area Outreach and Recreation Program (BORP), Center for Accessible Technology (CforAT), Center for Independent Living (CIL), Computer Technologies Program (CTP), Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF), Through the Looking Glass (TLG), and World Institute on Disability (WID).

Dmetri Belser came to KPFA's studio to talk about it. Dmetri is the executive director of The Center for Accessible Technology. The buck stopped with him in the fundraising and construction phase.

Raphaella Bennin went over to the Campus to talk to people who use the new facility including Reba Knickerbocker, Julie Fuller, Miley George, Saraswathi Devi, Leslie Simon, and Peter Sussman.

Photo of Dmetri Belser

Eddie Ytuarte and Adrienne Lauby host.

Biking While Blind

Photograph of Bobby McMullen and guide biking (courtesy of Poison Oak Productions)

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After countless broken bones, a double organ transplant and sight loss, Bobby McMullen doesn't just ride his bike; this daredevil is a human cliffhanger.

He joins Pushing Limits hosts, Raphaella Bennin and Leah Gardner to talk about his life and the documentary based on his mountain biking exploits, The Way Bobby Sees It.

It’s blind biking, so hold onto your chairs; we're in for a bumpy ride.
Original air date: 1-5-10

Morningstar Vancil

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Morningstar Vancil photo courtesy Fabled Asp

To celebrate 2010, The Year of Honoring Lesbians With Disabilities, Morningstar Vancil speaks candidly about her life as a lesbian stage-3 cancer survivor.

Vancil is a butch activist dyke of mixed race who lives with multiple disabilities. She’s traveled with a burlesque show and carried the banner of gay rights into the national American Cancer Society. Morningstar Vancil confronts discrimination and physical difficulties with joy and self respect.

Also, Marion Abdullah, co-chair of the Fabled Asp project, the organization responsible for the Year of Honoring Lesbians with Disabilities.

Hosted by Raphaella Bennin.

Fabled Asp

The 20^th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabi lities Act

July 26^th is the 20^th Anniversary of the American's with Disabilities Act and we’re celebrating!

Photo of vets, man in wheelchair in front

Don't miss the

First Annual West Coast Disability Pride Parade and Festival next Saturday, July 24^th in San Jose. The festival headlines Tristian Thunderbolt a Native American Deaf entertainer and the Disability Pride Quilt will be on display. To find out more: go to the Silicon Valley Independent Living Center at www.svilc.org

For the anniversary itself, a week from Monday, Hayward will celebrate from 4-7 pm in the Hayward City Hall Plaza with Mary Lou Breslin speaking, and the City of San Francisco celebrates in the North Light Court of their own City Hall. In SF, there’s speeches by Judy Hueman, Tom Ammiano and others; another chance to see the Disability Pride Quilt and even make your own square. And a Superfest screening in the SF Library. For more information check out www.itsnormal.org