HASL

01/23/2026

Ed Robert’s is considered to be the founder of the I independent living movement.

Today we celebrate Ed Roberts on what would have been his 87th birthday — a day we call Ed Roberts Day. Ed Roberts is considered one of the fathers of the disability rights movement. His area of focus was independent living, work that — like Ed Roberts’ impact — still lives on to this day.

Ed Roberts was admitted to Berkley in 1962, where he had trouble finding housing that would accommodate the 800-pound iron lung that he slept in at night. The director of the campus health service offered him a room in an empty wing of the Cowell Hospital. Roberts accepted on the condition that the area where he lived be treated as dormitory space, not a medical facility. His admission broke the ice for other students with disabilities who joined him over the next few years at what evolved into the Cowell Residence Program.

Ed Roberts would go on to have a huge influence on Berkeley creating the first Centers for Independent Livings (CIL), the first independent living service and advocacy program run by and for people with disabilities.

Now, CILs help disabled people across the country access independent living. In 1976 Roberts was appointed as the director of the California Department of Vocational Rehabilitation by then-governor Jerry Brown.

Ed Roberts' influence and impact on the disability rights movement cannot be overstated.

ID: Black and white portrait of Ed Roberts, with the years 1939-1995 and text that says "remembering Ed Roberts".

01/22/2026

Parking on pavements is often framed as a small convenience to most…

For many Disabled people, it’s a huge everyday barrier.

As a wheelchair user, a blocked pavement doesn’t just slow me down, it can end a journey altogether. No dropped kerb to reroute. No safe way round. Sometimes the only option left is the road facing oncoming traffic.

Wheelchairs and powerchairs aren’t one-size-fits-all, and it’s not as simple as just bumping up and down kerbs - as it’s simply not possible for everyone.

When a pavement is blocked, the impact ripples far beyond that moment.

It can mean being late for work. Missing an appointment. Cancelling plans. Losing energy before the day has even begun. These aren’t one offs, this is everyday life for many Disabled people.

Not only this, but clear pavements and dropped kerbs support parents with prams, people using other aids, older people, delivery workers, those with luggage etc.

I’d really encourage people to take a look when you’re out and about - how many obstacles do you spot, that you’d never even realised before?

What’s your experiences with this? Is it something you’ve considered before? 👇

01/19/2026

HASL will be closed Monday January 19, 2026 in observance of Martin Luther King Day. HASL will reopen at 9:00 AM Tuesday, January 20, 2026.

01/16/2026

Accessibility isn’t about perfection. It’s about intention.

This store is in an older building, and yes, there are stairs. But they also had a wheelchair lift. They didn’t ignore accessibility just because the building was old or because it would have been easier to do nothing.

That lift told me something important. It let me know that I was welcome too.

So often, accessibility is treated like an afterthought. But when businesses make the effort, even when it’s not simple, it makes a powerful statement. Inclusion isn’t always flashy. Sometimes it’s just a lift beside a staircase, quietly making sure no one is left out. 💙

01/16/2026

Together, we can make a difference! 🌟 This list of essential donations will help WCST continue its vital work in ending domestic and sexual violence, a mission our community has proudly supported since 1977. Our survivors and their families are forever grateful! 💕 For more information, call 541 476-3877. Thank you for being part of the change! 🙏

01/05/2026

AN NPR survey finds that people with disability still find hotels unaccommodating, even 35 years after passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

12/31/2025

12/28/2025

For anyone who has never seen this part of air travel for wheelchair users, this is how I get to my seat on the plane. It’s called an “aisle chair” because it’s thin enough to roll down the narrow aisle of the plane. It is not glamorous or comfortable, but it is the reality for so many of us who love to travel.

One tip I have learned after years of flying like this: some aisle chairs do not have armrests or enough support to keep you stable. I always pack plenty of Velcro so I can wrap it around myself and the chair as an extra seatbelt when needed. It has saved me from slipping or sliding more times than I can count, so if you fly and use a wheelchair, bring Velcro. It is a game changer.

I am grateful for the assistance I get, but I will never stop advocating for better. I want to roll onto a plane in my own wheelchair one day. I want accessibility to be standard, not something we improvise with straps and Velcro. Until that day comes, I will keep traveling, keep sharing, and keep pushing for change so that we can move through the world safely and confidently.

12/21/2025

Michaela Benthaus, a paraplegic engineer for the European Space Agency, became the first wheelchair user in space Saturday. 🔗⬇️

12/12/2025

Did you know about our ramps program?

We believe that safe and affordable access to home starts at the front door. 🏡💚

Through our A Brush With Kindness (ABWK) / Small Repair program, Habitat for Humanity Rogue Valley builds ramps so low– to moderate–income homeowners in Jackson County can stay safely in the homes they love.

Projects are completed with volunteer labor and are income-based on a sliding scale—some very low-income homeowners may not be asked to repay the cost of repairs.

👉 Know someone who needs a ramp or minor accessibility support to stay safe at home?
Learn more and see if you qualify: https://www.roguevalleyhabitat.org/repair-programs

For questions, contact us at 541-779-1983 or bthoms@roguevalleyhabitat.org.