The President’s Message: July 26, 2007 Marks the 17th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act
The Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s sparked other civil rights movements, most notably the Women’s Rights Movement and the Disability Rights Movement. While minorities and women were protected by civil rights legislation passed by the United States Congress during the 1960’s, the rights of people with disabilities were not protected by federal legislation until much later. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was broad in scope and covered those receiving federal funds, employers and places of public accommodation and prohibited discrimination on the basis of race, religion and national origin. However, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 did not protect people with disabilities. Discrimination against people with disabilities would not be addressed until Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 became law and later still in 1990 when the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits discrimination on the basis of a disability towards otherwise qualified people with disabilities by recipients of federal financial assistance, but did not protect people with disabilities from discrimination by employers, by public accommodations in the private sector, by publicly funded programs and by those providing federal financial assistance. It took the ADA to address these areas that were not covered by Section 504.
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) is one of the most compassionate and successful civil rights laws in American history. In the 17 years since President George H. W. Bush signed the ADA into law, more people with disabilities are participating fully in our society than ever before. As we mark this important anniversary, we celebrate the positive effect this landmark legislation has had upon our Nation, and we recognize the important influence it has had in improving employment opportunities, government services, public accommodations, transportation, and telecommunications for those with disabilities. Today, Americans with disabilities enjoy greatly improved access to countless facets of life; but more work needs to be done. We must continue to build on the important foundations established by the ADA and help people with disabilities understand how they are protected. (Above information found at Mountain State Centers for Independent Living www.mtstcil.org)
The article that follows is about a polio survivor’s quest during the Disability Rights Movement and how his determination and leadership made a significant mark in history for people with disabilities.
God Bless,
Diane Davis, President
Ed Roberts
“The Father of Independent Living”
Born Jan. 23, 1939, died on March 14, 1995.
In the late 60’s and early 70’s the University of California at Berkeley was nationally known as the home of radical politics and progressive social movements. Mario Savio and the 1964 free speech movement set the tone and developed the model for the movements that followed such as the Yippies and the Black Panthers, particularly influencing campus anti-war movements and tactics for student involvement in ethnic and racial social movements.
Many students took note and developed progressive movements to benefit various causes. Among the students on the Berkeley campus was Ed Roberts. The university hesitated to admit Ed as he was severely disabled from polio which he contracted as a teenager. He had virtually no functional movement and was dependent on a respirator to breath. “We’ve Tried Cripples Before and It Didn’t Work,” said the university. They reluctantly admitted Ed in 1962 and arranged for him to live in the campus medical facility, Cowell Hall. His brother, also a student, served as an on campus PA, often pushing Ed from class to class in an old manual wheelchair.
Ed was accustomed to rejection, a year earlier in 1961 the state vocational rehabilitation agency refused to serve him as he was considered too severely disabled and labeled unemployable. That decision was later overturned. One of the many ironies of Ed’s life was that fourteen years later in 1975, Governor Jerry Brown appointed Ed as state Director of the same agency that deemed him too severely disabled to ever work.
The following year, 1962 John Hessler, severely disabled secondary to a spinal cord injury, began attending Berkeley and living in Cowell Hall. Others followed, and evening and late night talks evolved to developing advocacy strategies to live independently on campus and in the surrounding community with necessary supports.
Ed’s leadership skills emerged and he took lessons from other campus movements to start the independent living and disability rights movements for persons with disabilities. Ed was quick to grasp that the struggle for independence was not a medical or functional issue, but rather a sociological, political, and civil rights struggle. Additionally, Ed’s involvement with Gini Laurie’s Toomey J. Gazette, (later named the Rehabilitation Gazette), clarified that credible information and new, innovative ways of managing life with a severe disability were best taught by peers with similar disabilities. Gini’s publications were essentially forums for people with polio and various disabilities to share how they managed their lives and maintained their productivity with severe disabilities. The roots of the independent living model can clearly be traced to influences from the civil rights movement and the peer support model associated with Gini Laurie’s Rehabilitation Gazette.
In the late 60’s and early 70’s Berkeley students with severe disabilities were organized into a group known as The Rolling Quads. Led by Ed, they began exerting pressure on the university to become more accessible and began seeking funding to develop a student organization to work for barrier removal and support services, including Personal Attendant services, for students with disabilities to live independently while attending school.
In a communication to Gini Laurie in 1970, Ed stated the following, “I have begun a consultation business for anyone needing help with problems with cripples. I’ve consulted with Health Education in Washington, DC, about programs for cripples in higher education, help secured $80,000 grant for UC Berkeley program run by cripples for the education of cripples. I brought John Hessler in as director. He is doing a magnificent job. Would you like to hear more? I believe there is no other consulting firm like this in the country.”
He continued, “I’m tired of well meaning non-cripples with their stereotypes of what I can and cannot do directing my life and my future. I want cripples to direct their own programs and to be able to train other cripples to direct new programs. This is the start of something big — cripple power.”
Ed Roberts was starting a self help movement that would radicalize how people with disabilities perceived themselves. He did it for himself and then began laying the groundwork for the rest of us. Independence and rehabilitation have not been the same since, and will never return to the archaic notions which perceived people with disabilities as passive recipients of charity, unable to self direct their lives.
After establishing the campus organization, Ed and others realized the need for an off campus, community based organization. In 1972, with minimal funding, the Berkeley Center for Independent Living (CIL) was started. The core values of the Berkeley CIL, dignity, peer support, consumer control, civil rights, integration, equal access, and advocacy, remain at the heart of the independent living and disability rights movements. Today, as many as 400 CILs exist throughout the country, funded with a mix of federal, state, local, fee for service, and private money.
In the mid-70’s newly elected governor Jerry Brown appointed Ed as Director of the state rehabilitation agency. In his position he was able to influence the establishment of many new CILs throughout the state. He served as director for eight years.
In the early 80’s Ed and others established the World Institute on Disability in Oakland, a progressive think tank focusing on independence and civil rights for people with disabilities. Ed traveled the country and the world influencing the lives of people with disabilities. He was featured on a variety of news shows, including 60 Minutes.
Ed died at a far too young an age in March 1995. He was 55 years old. (www.ilusa.com)
CEPSA General Meeting Minutes
May 19, 2007
Vice President Lorraine Frew opened the meeting at 10:35 a.m. She welcomed all members and guests. We said the Pledge of Allegiance and observed a moment of silence for our veterans.
Sandra Bath told an inspirational story about Itzhak Perlman.
Marty Foxx introduced Kristine Silliman, Nationally Certified Massage Therapist, who did an excellent presentation on Massage Therapy. She covered what massage therapy is, the types of massage while demonstrating each on Marty Foxx, the health benefits, and the education, training, and licensing of therapists. She answered questions from the audience.
A business meeting was held after a short break. Refreshments were provided by Sandra Bath and Marty Foxx.
The minutes of the April 28, 2007 meeting were approved as printed in the newsletter. Marty Foxx gave the Treasurer’s Report.
Dan Shehan stated that the maps have been printed again, and they will be distributed in the area soon.
Lorraine Frew announced that Marty Foxx had several copies of Managing Post-Polio by Dr. Lauro Halsted for sale at a table in the back of the room.
Lorraine stated that President Diane Davis is going to write letters to Mayor Otis Johnson and the governors of Georgia and South Carolina asking them to proclaim September Polio Immunization Month.
Jim Veccia asked the members to verify their information on the new Membership Directory.
Cheryl Brackin announced that Tina Solokiev’s mother died. She suggested that CEPSA send her an e- card. No one present knew her address.
Marty Foxx announced that the June program topic is nutrition. She asked us to keep a food diary between the two meetings.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:45 PM. The next meeting will be held on June 23, 2007 at 10:30 AM in the Candler Hospital Heart and Lung Building.
Respectfully submitted,
Janet DiClaudio. Secretary
Spotlighting Ruth Parham
Ruth Parham is representing CEPSA as a member of the Coastal Georgia Immunization Coalition in Brunswick,Georgia and will speak to the Coalition about polio and post-polio syndrome on June 13, 2007 at 9:00.
Spotlighting Our Sponsors
United Way Minuteman Press
Bobbie Jackson – Member/Supporter
Honorary Gifts
Sheila Tillman, in honor of her sister, Cheryl Brackin
Michael Swain, in honor of his sister, Marty Foxx
Member Concerns
Eunice Newcomer Diane Davis
George and Judy Frick Jim Veccia
Happy Birthday!
June 14 – Ruth Parham
17 – Janet DiClaudio
July 21 – Cornelia Rollins
August 1 – Dave Vance
11 – Archie Ivey
27 – Jim Veccia
29 – Doris Phillips
Polio Case Count as of 6/6/07
| Total cases | Year-to-date 2007 | Year-to-date 2006 | Total in 2006 |
| Globally | 190 | 460 | 1997 |
CONTRIBUTIONS
The Coastal Empire Polio Survivors Association is a non-profit corporation which is tax exempt under IRS code 501c (3). We have no paid employees, only volunteers dedicated to helping all polio survivors.
Your financial support is appreciated at any level suggested below:
* CEPSA Member – $15.00 annual voluntary donation
* CEPSA Supporter – $25.00 $50.00 $100.00 $300.00
* CEPSA Memorial or Honor Gift – any amount
* CEPSA Sponsor – any amount
Your contributions are tax deductible and will be acknowledged appropriately.
Please complete this form and mail it along with your check to: CEPSA, Marty Foxx, 23 East 61st Street, Savannah, GA31405.
Name __________________________________________________
Address ________________________________________________
City ___________________ State_____________ Zip ___________
Phone _______________________ E-mail _________________________________
Thank you for your support and encouragement.