[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 54 (Thursday, March 23, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E677]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


       IN MEMORY OF EDWARD ROBERTS--WORLD LEADER FOR THE DISABLED

                                 ______


                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 23, 1995
  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, Edward Roberts, a highly acclaimed activist 
for the rights of persons with disabilities and a personal friend, died 
March 14 of cardiac arrest at his home in Berkeley, CA.
  Mr. Roberts was a tireless fighter for the rights of the disabled, 
even though he himself was severely disabled. At the age of 14, Edward 
Roberts became paralyzed from the neck down as a result of polio. 
Although this paralysis would dramatically change his life, Mr. Roberts 
found the courage to not only exist, but to excel. He became infuriated 
when a counselor informed him he would never work because of his 
disability. Ironically, Mr. Roberts later became the supervisor of that 
same counselor.
  A driving force in Edward Roberts life was his love of a challenge. 
Being able to move only one finger, Mr. Roberts was one of the first 
disabled individuals to attend the University of California at 
Berkeley. While attending college, he and a group of his fellow 
classmates organized a counseling program for persons with 
disabilities. This innovative program was named ``Rolling Quads''.
  After graduation, Mr. Roberts continued his fight to enhance the 
lives of those who had disabilities. In 1972, he cofounded the Center 
for Independent Living. This program won acclaim for the incredible 
work it accomplished and for the fact that it was the first 
organization run by and for persons with disabilities. This program was 
an inspiration to people around the Nation. It spawned 400 similar 
institutions throughout the United States.
  In 1975, Gov. Jerry Brown appointed Edward Roberts to head the State 
Department of Rehabilitation. He utilized the organization's 2,500 
employees and its $140 million budget to implement programs that 
promoted self-reliance for those with disabilities. Mr. Roberts ran 
this organization until 1983, at which time he founded the World 
Institute on Disability [WID]. This think tank is involved in creating 
and monitoring programs that help individuals with disabilities.
  Over his 56 years, Edward Roberts positively impacted a countless 
number of lives. Deborah Kaplan, the president of the WID Program and a 
disability rights lawyer, said ``There are literally thousands of 
people whose lives have been influenced by Ed.'' Through his leadership 
skills as well as his intense drive to overcome discrimination, Mr. 
Roberts was a great role model for those with and without disabilities. 
Friends as well as colleagues will morn this immense loss.


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