Confined to a wheel-chair, since he was fourteen, Ed Roberts became a hero because of his decision to act beyond his apparent limitations. Instead of focusing on his own handicap, Ed chose to make the world a better place for others.

    Fighting against a world that was often condescending, Ed’s work has resulted in many improvements to the quality of life for the disabled. He educated the public and initiated wheelchair access ramps, special parking spaces and other amenities for the disabled.

    He became the first quadriplegic to graduate from the University of California, Berkeley, and he went on to become the director of the California State department of Rehabilitation. Ed Roberts provides proof that it is not where you start out that matters, it’s the decisions you make about where you are determined to end up.

    All of Ed’s actions were founded on a single, powerful, moment of decision. He could have settled back to a life of self-pity, but he didn’t. He decided to make a difference, and not quite knowing how, went ahead, anyway.