Each year on January 23 Texans observe Ed Roberts Day to honor his life and legacy. He was a leading figure in disability advocacy and independent living.
After contracting polio at the age of 14, Roberts lived with significant physical disabilities and relied on a wheelchair and an iron lung. At a time when opportunities for individuals with disabilities were limited, he challenged long-standing assumptions about what was possible. Despite initially being denied admission to the University of California, Berkeley because of his disability, Roberts persisted and ultimately became the university’s first full-time student using a wheelchair. His determination helped pave the way for lasting changes in how individuals with disabilities access education and community life.
Known as the “Father of Independent Living,” Ed Roberts played a central role in advancing the idea that individuals with disabilities should be able to live independently and make decisions about their own lives. He established the first Center for Independent Living and later co-founded the World Institute on Disability, helping expand access, opportunity, and practical supports for people with disabilities at both the state and national levels.
The Texas State Independent Living Council (SILC) with the network of Texas centers for independent living continues this work in our state. The SILC is a Governor-appointed council that develops, monitors, and evaluates the State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL), a framework that guides how independent living services are provided in Texas. The Council works with Centers for Independent Living and other partners to support independent living services and resources that help Texans with disabilities live in their communities with dignity and choice.
Governor Abbott proclaimed that “Ed Robert’s determination paved the way for the establishment of the Independent Living Movement, which continues to empower people with disabilities to live with dignity and independence.”
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