CITY
OF
OAKLAND
CITY HALL
•
1 FRANK H. OGAWA PLAZA •
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA
94612
#LoveLife
REBECCA KAPLAN
DAN KALB
Vice Mayor
Councilmember
District At Large
Distract 1
Date: September 22, 2022To: Members of City Council and Members of the PublicFrom: Vice Mayor Kaplan and Councilmember KalbRe: 50th Anniversary of Center for Independent Living Inc.
Dear Colleagues on the City Council and Members of the Public, In 1972 The Center for Independent Living, Inc. was establishedinBerkeley, near the Berkeley/Oaklandborder, in order tosupport people withdisabilities tolive independent anddignifiedlives. Since then, theCenter for Independent LivingInc.hasopenedover400centersacrossthenationandengagedingrassrootspolicy advocacy, carrying out its mission to ensure people with disabilities are entitled to the same civilrights, options, and autonomy over their lives as people without disabilities. Please join me andCouncilmember Kalbas we celebrate the Center for Independent LivingInc.’s impressive contributions toOakland on its 50th Anniversary.
The Center forIndependentLiving,Inc.isthenation’sfirstdisabilityrightsadvocacygrouporganizedandoperated by persons with significant visible andinvisible disabilities tosupport fellowdisabledpersons,and support non-disabled people as they assist disabled family members, loved ones, and clients. WithCenters across the nation modeled after the first Center for Independent Living located at theBerkeley/Oakland border, the Center for Independent Living, Inc. has provided crucial transition anddiversion services for people with disabilities seeking to live in their communities and not in institutions.
Disabled persons seek the same civil rights, dignity, choice, accessibility, and access to communityintegration that people without disabilities have, and continue to encounter barriers to homecare andpersonal attendant services to achieve these goals. People who live with invisible disabilities such aschronic pain, intellectual andother developmental disabilities, mental healthdisabilities,HIVandAIDS,chemicalsensitivity,COVID-19andLong-COVID,andmanyotherconditionsthatarenotoftenperceivedby others as a disability, also continue to encounter daily barriers to access and equitable communityparticipation without appropriate recognition and supports.
The Center for Independent Living Inc. has made it its mission to break down these barriers, protectpeople with disabilities against discrimination, and promote the civil rights andindependence of peoplewith disabilities. The OaklandCityCouncil, therefore, extends its heartfelt congratulations tothe Centerfor Independent Living Inc. as it celebrates its 50 th
Anniversary, and for its many contributions to theadvancement of civil rights and independence of people with disabilities.
City CouncilSeptember 22, 2022File # 22-0716