Edward V. Roberts Papers, 1975-1998

Summary

Creators:

Roberts, Edward V., 1939-1995

Abstract:

The Edward V. Roberts Papers, 1953-1998 [bulk 1975-1995], consist of writings, professional activities, subject files, and biographical information documenting Roberts's leading role in the movements for disability rights and independent living. The majority of the material is about Roberts's professional and political activities; there is limited information on his personal life. The records include information about Roberts's tenure as the director of the California Dept. of Rehabilitation, and his involvement in the World Institute on Disability (WID) and Disabled Persons International (DPI). The collection contains Roberts's speeches, appearances, testimonies, and records of travel throughout the United States and the world as an outspoken activist for the rights of disabled people.

Extent:

11 cartons, 1 oversize box 14.15 linear feet 9 digital objects

Language:

English

Background

Scope and content:

The Edward V. Roberts Papers, 1953-1998 [bulk 1975-1995], consist of writings, professional activities, subject files, and biographical information documenting Roberts's leading role in the movements for disability rights and independent living. The majority of the material is about Roberts's professional and political activities; there is limited information on his personal life. The records include information about Roberts's tenure as the director of the California Dept. of Rehabilitation, and his involvement in the World Institute on Disability (WID) and Disabled Persons International (DPI). The collection contains Roberts's speeches, appearances, testimonies, and records of travel throughout the United States and the world as an outspoken activist for the rights of people with disabilities.

Roberts's writings include articles and drafts or transcripts of speeches written throughout his career to promote disability rights and the independent living movement. Several instances of Roberts's expert testimony in front of federal and state Congressional committee hearings on disability rights, independent living, and the impact of budget cuts on the disabled community are also included in the collection.

The records documenting Roberts's professional activities demonstrate Roberts's growth as a leader, and how he became one of the nation's pre-eminent disability rights activists. Because Roberts was a charismatic leader on disability rights, he was often appointed to advisory boards or committees for civil rights and disability organizations. Roberts was also an avid public speaker. The collection contains information on his remarkable travel throughout the United States and all over the world for conferences, meetings, and public appearances. Roberts's wide involvement in many aspects of disability rights, civil rights, and independent living issues are amply documented in his extensive subject files.

The biographical information shows Roberts's dedication to disability rights awareness from his curriculum vitae, calendars describing his busy public appearance schedule, awards, memorials, posthumous tributes, and collected press clippings. The material shows little of the private man, with the exception of Roberts's own case history file.

Researchers interested in the history of the disability rights and independent living movements will discover Roberts's papers full of material on his involvement with policy creation and organizations throughout the world.

Biographical / historical:

Edward V. Roberts, 1939-1995, contracted poliomyelitis in 1953 at the age of 14. Surviving the disease, he became a quadriplegic, requiring the use of a respirator (called an iron lung) Roberts taught himself how to swallow air in order to survive outside his iron lung and began to attend classes at Burlingame High School once a week as a senior.

After attending the College of San Mateo, Roberts became the first severely disabled student to live on the campus of the University of California, Berkeley in 1962. To accommodate his respirator, Roberts lived in a ward of Cowell Hospital, the on-campus health center. He relied on a personal attendant during the day. As Roberts completed his BA and MA in political science, he became politically active, promoting disabled people's rights and the independent living movement.

In 1970, Roberts helped found the Physically Disabled Students Program (PDSP), later known as the Disabled Students Program (DSP) at Berkeley to assist disabled students. The program then expanded into the Berkeley community as the Center for Independent Living (CIL) in 1972. Roberts served as Executive Director of the CIL from 1973 to 1975. CIL became the national model for a community-based self-help program directed by people with disabilities for people with disabilities.

Roberts was appointed director of the California Department of Rehabilitation in 1975, serving until 1983. As director, Roberts pioneered in the areas of employment and rehabilitation services for people with severe disabilities, anti-discrimination legislation on the state and national level, and independent living program legislation.

Roberts married Catherine Dugan in 1976. They had a son, Lee, in 1978. Though Roberts and his wife later divorced, Roberts shared custody of his son.

In 1983 Roberts co-founded the World Institute on Disability (WID) in Oakland, California, serving as president until his death in 1995. WID was the first non-profit organization in the world dedicated to the development and advancement of a unified body of public policy on disability issues and public awareness of disability. Roberts was named a MacArthur Fellow in 1984, and used the fellowship funds to found WID.

Roberts was also involved with Disabled Peoples International (DPI) and served on many disability and civil rights organizations, committees and advisory boards. He was an avid public speaker, appearing all over the United States and throughout the world.

Roberts died of a heart attack in 1995, and is remembered as a pioneering activist for the rights of people with disabilities.

Acquisition information:

The Edward V. Roberts Papers were given to The Bancroft Library by Roberts's mother, Zona Roberts, and accessioned with the records donated by the World Institute on Disability.

Location of this collection:

UC Berkeley, Bancroft Library

University of California, Berkeley, The Bancroft Library

Berkeley, CA 94720-6000, US

Contact:

510-642-6481

bancref-library@berkeley.edu

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