APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY
CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION NO. _______________ C.M.S.
INTRODUCED BY VICE MAYOR REBECCA KAPLAN AND
COUNCILMEMBER DAN KALB
RESOLUTION CELEBRATING THE CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT
LIVING INC. ON ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY AND ITS MANY
CONTRIBUTIONS TO ADVANCING THE CIVIL RIGHTS AND
INDEPENDENCE OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
WHEREAS, in 1972 , The Center for Independent Living, Inc. was established in Berkeley, California, near the Berkeley/Oakland border, in order to support people with disabilities to live independent and dignified lives; and
WHEREAS, serving numerous individuals in Oakland and throughout the East Bay, The Center for Independent Living, Inc. became the catalyst for the Independent Living Movement which is based on the principle that people with disabilities are entitled to the same civil rights, options, and autonomy over their lives as people without disabilities; and
WHEREAS, the Disability Rights Movement pr otects people with disabilities against discrimination, promotes the civil rights and independence of people with disabilities, and centers the self-advocacy of people with disabilities; and
WHEREAS, The Center for Independent Living, Inc. is the nation’s first disability rights advocacy group organized and operated by persons with significant visible and invisible disabilities to support fellow disabled persons, and support non -disabled people to further assist their disabled families, loved ones, and clients; and
WHEREAS, The Center for Independent Living, Inc. engaged in grassroots policy advocacy that resulted in both the passage of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, including internationally recognized advocacy to implement Section 504, and t he Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; and
2 WHEREAS, the over 400 Centers for Independent Living across the nation, modeled after the first Center located at the Berkeley/Oakland border, have been crucial in providing transition and diversion services for people with disabilities seeking to live in their communities and not in institutions; and
WHEREAS, people with disabilities have a long history of being looked down on, condescended to, objectified, dismissed, and devalued by the nondisabled majority within their communities due to ableism; and
WHEREAS, disabled persons seek the same civil rights, dignity, choice, accessibility, and access to community integration that people without disabilities have, and continue to encounter barriers to homecare and personal attendant services to achieve these goals; and
WHEREAS, disabled persons have a right to have their voices heard in their communities and the ability to make and have control over their own decisions and accommodations best suited to their conditions and everyday lifestyle; and
WHEREAS, there is a growing population of disabled persons and seniors in the Bay Area impacted by chronic illness and conditions from aging into disability; these individuals are in need of the services, support, and advocacy provided by the Independent Living Mov ement that The Center for Independent Living, Inc. started and continues to advance; and
WHEREAS, people who live with invisible disabilities such as person s living with chronic pain, intellectual and other developmental disabilities, mental health disabilities, HIV and AIDS, chemical sensitivity, COVID -19 and Long -COVID, and many other conditions that are not often perceived by others as a disability, continue to encounter daily barriers to access and equitable community participation without appropriate recognition and supports; and
WHEREAS, disabled Americans are also disproportionately low -income, people of color, and may be unhoused, incarcerated, migrant, or monolingual in a language other than English; therefore protecting the rights of people with disabilities includes protecting the rights of all marginalized Americans and individuals; and
WHEREAS, The Center of Independent Living is the foundation for many other organizations such as Bay Area Outreach and Recreation Program (BORP), Disabili ty Rights Education and Defense Fund, and the World Institute on Disability - all of which focus on developing the skills and civil rights for people with disabilities; and
3 WHEREAS, from October 19 -23, 2022, The Center for Independent Living will hold a week of events to honor its 50th Anniversary, and continue to advocate for and provide services to support independent living for people with diverse disabilities; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED: That the Oakland City Council extends its heartfelt congratulations to The Center for Independent Living, Inc. on its 50th Anniversary and celebrates its many contributions to advancing the civil rights and independence of people with disabilities.
IN COUNCIL, OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA,
PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES - FIFE, GALLO, KALB, KAPLAN, REID, TAYLOR, THAO AND
PRESIDENT FORTUNATO BAS
NOES –
ABSENT –
ABSTENTION –
ATTEST:
ASHA REED
City Clerk and Clerk of the Council of the
City of Oakland, California
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