Dear campus community,
During October, we are honoring Disability Awareness Month, which has a deep-rooted connection to UC Berkeley as a birthplace of the disability rights movement.
Our past
This year the theme is Advancing Access and Equity and we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the passage of Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act. Section 504 is a federal law that protects qualified individuals from discrimination based on their disability and that was the precursor to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which passed in 1990.
In 1977, Berkeley alum and advocate Judith Heumann, known as “the mother” of the disability rights movement, led a 28-day 504 Sit-In in front of San Francisco's federal building to fight for the legislation to be implemented. This year's On the Same Page program for new students was an exploration of the documentary film, Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution, which features Judith and scenes from the legendary sit-in. Judith passed away in March 2023 at age 75, but her legacy and tireless work for the disabled community lives on at Berkeley and around the world.
In addition to honoring Judith, we must acknowledge the contributions of another disability rights leader who passed away recently, Berkeley professor emeritus Ray Lifchez. In the 1990s Professor Lifchez, together with Professors Susan Schweik (Department of English) and Fred Collignon (Department of City & Regional Planning), began developing disability-centric course offerings at Berkeley. By 2000, a formal Disability Studies Minor was established, one of
the first degrees in Disability Studies to be offered in the world. Faculty members in the Disability Studies Cluster work to understand the meaning and effects of disability socially, legally, politically and culturally, and seek to eliminate barriers to full social inclusion and advance the rights of people with disabilities. In 2020, Ray gave $2.5 million to the College of Environmental Design to endow the Lifchez Professor of Practice in Social Justice. The endowed professorship incorporates accessibility and disability justice into design education and will continue to have an impact on many students' lives to come.
Our present
As we turn our attention to the work of today, we recognize that our path to inclusiveness and accessibility remains a journey. We are committed to educating and employing people with disabilities at Berkeley, and we understand that we have a lot more to do and have not yet reached our final destination.
Since the amendments to the ADA in 2008, far more people with disabilities, including those with invisible disabilities, have been able to complete their education and work. At Berkeley, we have over 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students and over 1,500 employees (staff and faculty) with disabilities.
Our campus has been working diligently to improve both its digital and physical spaces. To comply with the Department of Justice Consent Decree, the Office of Disability Access & Compliance and IT have partnered to help campus make all audio and video recordings produced before Dec. 2, 2022, accessible to everyone. We are in the first year of a three-year initiative, with our next big milestones including mandatory training and accessible websites. Additional resources and updates are available on the Digital Accessibility webpage. Vice Chancellor Sutton also co-chairs the University of California Systemwide Advisory Workgroup On Students With Disabilities; the committee is due to deliver a report in early 2024.
The Coordinating Committee for the Removal of Architectural Barriers (CCRAB) has been kept extremely busy this year reviewing construction projects, funding studies and projects, and overseeing the implementation of the ADA Transition Plan. The Loop shuttle system, which assists people with mobility disabilities and visual impairments to navigate the campus, was improved with the installation of bright and uniquely designed benches throughout campus as places to wait for Loop shuttles.
We are also excited to celebrate the five-year anniversary of the Disability Access & Compliance Office (DAC) and the first anniversary of the Disability Cultural Community (DCC) Center. In its five years on campus, DAC has completed a full ADA Transition Plan and Self Evaluation, led the Chancellor's Committee on Disability Access & Planning, and sponsored dozens of programs and projects to improve disability inclusion and equity. Two-thirds of DAC's staff are Berkeley graduates. Half of all DAC staff were DSP-registered students during their time at Berkeley, and most DSP staff are BIPOC. Since its formal opening, the DCC has served as a vibrant hub for students, faculty, staff, and community members. It has consistently expanded its offerings, collaborating with partners like Alternative Media, Career Engagement, Disability Access and Compliance, and Classroom Accessibility. Stay updated by following @ucbdisabilityculture on Instagram, and don't miss the celebratory anniversary party on October 25, 2024! In the wellness space, Disability Management Services continues to offer many resources for faculty and staff, and Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) has evolved its support for students with disabilities.
Our future
As we look toward the future of disability access at Berkeley, we want to take this opportunity to announce the new executive director of the Disabled Students' Program (DSP), Carmen Varela, who will start on Nov. 1, 2023. With nearly 30 years of experience in disability and civil rights advocacy, Carmen's expertise will greatly benefit our team as we work together to shape our vision for the future. Check the DSP website for information on how to connect with Carmen.
Our team is thrilled to introduce the soft launch of the Disability Justice Hub, a crucial resource in our ongoing effort to create a more just and inclusive campus environment. We look forward to continuing to collaborate and partner with community members to further develop the hub and make it an even more valuable tool. Meanwhile, please feel free to share your feedback and ideas with us. People and Culture will be hiring an ADA Specialist this year, adopting specialized software, and forming a working group to increase support for disabled employees and their supervisors. Finally, we are delighted to share that construction has begun this year to transform the Dwinelle Annex into a new home for the Disabled Students' Program.
Celebratory events
Please consider joining us at one of our many events in October. We have the Berkeley Library's Exhibit Tour: A Camp, a Campus, and a Disability Revolution (Oct. 3); the Community Art Gallery (12 p.m. on Oct. 10 at the DCC); Superfest Disability Film Festival (Oct. 19-Oct. 22); and the Disability Rally: Whenever Wherever, Disability and You (12 p.m. Oct. 25 in front of Sproul Hall) followed by a one-year anniversary celebration at the Disability Cultural Community Center (please RSVP). More events, profiles, and resources can be found on the Disability Awareness and Employment Month webpage.
This CalMessage was written in partnership and consultation with Donna Lee, Joanna King, and Lauren Adams. We thank them for their dedicated support and subject matter expertise.
In community,
Dania Matos
she/her/ella
Vice Chancellor for Equity & Inclusion
Stephen C. Sutton
he/him
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
–
Ella Callow
she/her/hers
ADA/Section 504 Compliance Officer, Office of Disability Access & Compliance
Martha Velasquez
she/her/ella
Interim Executive Director / Associate Director, Disabled Students' Program
Victoria Plaut
she/ella
Vice Provost for the Faculty
Eugene Whitlock
he/him
Associate Vice Chancellor for People & Culture
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