If you were born after 1990, it might be easy to think that the world has always had wheelchair ramps, closed captions, and bathroom stalls for people with disabilities. But none of those things existed until a few decades ago - and they all had to be demanded. Until a group of confrontational activists emerged out of Berkeley in the 1960s, it was legal to discriminate against people with disabilities. All that changed thanks to the radical students who built one of the most successful movements of the 20th century.
Today’s episode features my interview with Scot Danforth, the author of “An Independent Man: Ed Roberts and the Fight for Disability Rights” (UC Press). Listen now to hear about how a man who couldn’t move his arms or legs changed laws, architecture, and society’s view on people with disabilities.
To see photos and links related to this episode, visit: https://eastbayyesterday.com/episodes/he-wanted-people-to-take-risks/
Don’t forget to follow the East Bay Yesterday Substack for updates on events, boat tours, exhibits, and other local history news: https://substack.com/@eastbayyesterday
Donate to keep this show alive: www.patreon.com/c/eastbayyesterday
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If you were born after 1990, it might be easy to think that the world has always had wheelchair ramps, closed captions, and bathroom stalls for people with disabilities. But none of those things existed until a few decades ago - and they all had to be demanded. Until a group of confrontational activists emerged out of Berkeley in the 1960s, it was legal to discriminate against people with disabilities. All that changed thanks to the radical students who built one of the most successful movements of the 20th century.
Today’s episode features my interview with Scot Danforth, the author of “An Independent Man: Ed Roberts and the Fight for Disability Rights” (UC Press). Listen now to hear about how a man who couldn’t move his arms or legs changed laws, architecture, and society’s view on people with disabilities.
To see photos and links related to this episode, visit: https://eastbayyesterday.com/episodes/he-wanted-people-to-take-risks/
Don’t forget to follow the East Bay Yesterday Substack for updates on events, boat tours, exhibits, and other local history news: https://substack.com/@eastbayyesterday
Donate to keep this show alive: www.patreon.com/c/eastbayyesterday
Sea walls won’t save us: The past and future of the Bay’s shifting shorelines
East Bay Yesterday
1 hour 43 seconds
1 year ago
Sea walls won’t save us: The past and future of the Bay’s shifting shorelines
Many communities in the East Bay’s flatlands are built in areas that were either wetlands or completely underwater less than two centuries ago. Following the Gold Rush, much of the Bay was filled in so that industry, neighborhoods and landfills could be developed along the shoreline. Now these areas are at risk not only from increasing sea levels, but also rising ground water that contains toxic chemicals accumulated from decades of unregulated pollution. Confronting the future of climate change demands understanding the history of this land.
Rosanna Xia’s brilliant book “California Against the Sea: Visions for our Vanishing Coastline” (Heyday Books) not only explores these threats, but also highlights promising (albeit complicated) solutions, such as wetlands restoration, that are already being deployed throughout the Bay Area. On October 28, I interviewed Rosanna in front of a packed crowd at Clio’s Books in Oakland. Listen to the episode to hear all about our shifting shorelines, why sea walls won’t save us, and much more.
Don’t forget to follow the East Bay Yesterday Substack for updates on events, tours, exhibits, and other local history news: https://substack.com/@eastbayyesterday
To see photos and links related to this episode, visit: https://eastbayyesterday.com/episodes/sea-walls-wont-save-us/
Special thanks to the sponsor of this episode: Every week at UCSF’s Food Farmacy clinic, nurses, staff, and volunteers distribute fresh produce and food to Bay Area and Oakland families. This free program makes sure growing children have dependable access to healthy food options, growing produce oases in urban food deserts. To learn more, visit: https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2023/08/425936/food-farmacy-provides-fresh-and-free-food-oakland-families
East Bay Yesterday
If you were born after 1990, it might be easy to think that the world has always had wheelchair ramps, closed captions, and bathroom stalls for people with disabilities. But none of those things existed until a few decades ago - and they all had to be demanded. Until a group of confrontational activists emerged out of Berkeley in the 1960s, it was legal to discriminate against people with disabilities. All that changed thanks to the radical students who built one of the most successful movements of the 20th century.
Today’s episode features my interview with Scot Danforth, the author of “An Independent Man: Ed Roberts and the Fight for Disability Rights” (UC Press). Listen now to hear about how a man who couldn’t move his arms or legs changed laws, architecture, and society’s view on people with disabilities.
To see photos and links related to this episode, visit: https://eastbayyesterday.com/episodes/he-wanted-people-to-take-risks/
Don’t forget to follow the East Bay Yesterday Substack for updates on events, boat tours, exhibits, and other local history news: https://substack.com/@eastbayyesterday
Donate to keep this show alive: www.patreon.com/c/eastbayyesterday
