[Image description: A photo of the outside of the CRIL building on A St in Hayward, CA. It is a red building with three trees in front of it, 10 windows and a door, as well as a ramp and stairs to enter. The sky is blue and the sun is shining.

[Image description: A photo of the outside of the CRIL building on A St in Hayward, CA. It is a red building with three trees in front of it, 10 windows and a door, as well as a ramp and stairs to enter. The sky is blue and the sun is shining.

Founded in 1979

Community Resources for Independent Living History and the Independent Living Philosophy

There are 28 Independent Living Centers (ILCs) in California and over 400 in the United States. The first ILC was formed in Berkeley, California by Ed Roberts, Hale Zukas and Jan McEwan Brown at UC Berkeley during the late 1960s and early 70s. They advocated for basic rights on campus as well as in the community. They had no accessible place to live on campus except the infirmary. The campus and the community were not accessible. If a required class was on the third floor, they heard "that was too bad." There were no elevators. No accommodations were attempted and civil rights for persons with disabilities were few. Ed, Hale and Jan joined forces to lead a movement that made the University of Californias academic and social life accessible to all. In 1972, these students and community members joined to form The Center for Independent Living, Inc.

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