[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 165 (Tuesday, December 14, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H8324-H8326]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SUPPORTING DESIGNATION OF ED ROBERTS DAY
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the resolution (H. Res. 1759) expressing support for designation of
January 23rd as ``Ed Roberts Day''.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 1759
Whereas Edward Verne Roberts was born January 23, 1939;
Whereas Roberts acquired polio as an adolescent in 1953 and
had to spend vast expanses of time in an iron lung;
Whereas Roberts' career as an advocate began when a high
school administrator threatened to deny him a diploma because
he had not completed driver's education and physical
education;
Whereas in 1962 Roberts was admitted to the University of
California at Berkeley (UC Berkeley) where he became the
first severely disabled student to attend UC Berkeley;
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Whereas when his search for housing at the university met
resistance, the director of the campus hospital offered
Roberts a room in an empty wing, which Roberts accepted on
the condition that it was considered a dormitory space;
Whereas other significantly disabled students joined
Roberts in the empty wing over the next few years and called
themselves the ``Rolling Quads'';
Whereas at UC Berkeley the Rolling Quads began advocating
for curb cuts, opening access to the wider community and
creating the first student-led disability services program at
a university in the Nation;
Whereas the student program led to the creation of the
Nation's first center for independent living;
Whereas Roberts assumed leadership of the Center for
Independent Living, Berkeley and guided its development as a
model for disability advocacy and self-help services across
the Nation and around the world;
Whereas in 1975 Roberts was appointed the Director of the
California Department of Rehabilitation;
Whereas in 1983 Roberts co-founded the World Institute on
Disability, an organization committed to eliminating barriers
to full social integration for persons with disabilities;
Whereas Ed Roberts died from natural causes on March 14,
1995; and
Whereas Ed Roberts was a leader and champion in the
disability rights movement: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) supports the designation of an ``Ed Roberts Day''; and
(2) acknowledges the accomplishments of Ed Roberts in
helping reduce barriers, increase access, and improve lives
for persons with disabilities.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) and the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.
General Leave
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which
Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House
Resolution 1759 into the Record.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Arizona?
There was no objection.
{time} 1630
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1759, which
supports the establishment of ``Ed Roberts Day.'' Mr. Edward Verne
Roberts was a pioneering leader and a champion in the disability rights
movement.
Mr. Roberts was born January 23, 1939, in San Mateo, California. Mr.
Roberts acquired polio at the age of 14 in 1953, 2 years before the
Salk vaccine put an end to that epidemic. After 18 months in the
hospital, he returned home paralyzed from the neck down except for a
few fingers and toes.
Roberts continued his high school education while spending vast
amounts of time resting and sleeping in the iron lung. When a high
school administrator threatened to deny him a diploma because he had
not completed drivers and physical education requirements, he protested
and began an early career of activism. Later, Roberts became the first
student with severe disabilities to attend the University of California
at Berkeley.
At UC Berkeley, other students with significant disabilities joined
Roberts in an empty wing in which the university had placed him and,
over the next few years, began to call themselves the ``Rolling
Quads.'' The Rolling Quads began advocating for curb cuts, opening
access to the wider community, and creating the first student-led
disabilities service program at any university in the Nation. That
student program led to the creation of the Nation's first Center for
Independent Living, and Roberts assumed leadership of the center and
guided its development as a model for disability advocacy and self-help
service.
After earning a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in political
science at UC Berkeley, in 1975, Roberts was appointed the Director of
the California Department of Rehabilitation. In 1983, he cofounded the
World Institute on Disability, an organization committed to eliminating
the barriers to full social integration for persons with disabilities.
Mr. Edward Verne Roberts died from natural causes on March 14, 1995,
leaving behind a legacy as the modern father of the disability rights
movement. Roberts' efforts helped to reduce barriers, increase access,
and improve the lives for persons with disabilities across this Nation
and world. It is with these contributions in mind that this resolution
calls for the establishment of ``Ed Roberts Day.''
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the sponsor of the resolution and
chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, Mr. George Miller,
for his leadership in bringing this important resolution to the floor.
I urge my colleagues to join me in support of House Resolution 1759,
which supports the designation of an ``Ed Roberts Day.''
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise in support of House Resolution 1759, which supports the
designation of an ``Ed Roberts Day'' for his tireless work as a leader
and champion in the disability rights community.
Born January 23, 1939, Edward Verne Roberts contracted polio at the
age of 14 in 1953. Despite spending most of his adolescence in an iron
lung, he graduated high school and was admitted into the University of
California at Berkeley, where he became the first severely disabled
person to attend that university.
This feat is all the more amazing when you consider the obstacles
that were thrown in Ed's way. A high school administrator threatened to
deny him a diploma because he had not completed driver's education and
physical education requirements. College administrators told him they
had tried to educate students with disabilities before and it did not
work. The director of campus housing was afraid that they could not
accommodate his needs, offering him a room in the empty wing of the
campus hospital. Ed accepted only on the condition that it was
considered dormitory space.
During his time at UC Berkeley and after he left college, Ed worked
with other students with disabilities to push for curb cuts so that
parts of the university could be accessible to disabled persons. He
formed the Physical Disabled Student Program to help facilitate and
ease the transition for other students with disabilities to attend
college.
In 1972, he established the first Center for Independent Living in
order to support and assist disabled persons in gaining independence.
The center's philosophy was, and it continues to be, based on three
main points:
First, comprehensive programs with a wide variety of services, such
as employment and assistive technology, are the most effective at
meeting the needs of persons with disabilities;
Second, people with disabilities know best how to meet the needs of
others with disabilities; and
Third, the strongest and most vibrant communities are those that
include and embrace all people, including disabled persons.
Today, most independent living centers across the country use this
model as a basis for their work with individuals with disabilities. To
celebrate this fact, Ed is known as the ``Father of the Independent
Living Movement.''
Mr. Speaker, Ed Roberts was a pioneer in the disability community
until his death in 1995. Today, we honor him and acknowledge his work
to reduce barriers, increase access, and improve the lives of all
persons with disabilities. So I rise in support of House Resolution
1759, which supports the designation of an ``Ed Roberts Day.''
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the remainder of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1759.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
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