Transcripts For SFGTV2 20100727

>> every week we get together in smaller groups. and it doesn't matter what the topic is. susan will chime in to make sure she raises her hand and say did you consider the rights of those with mobility issues. the rights of those that are visually impaired. did you consider your responsibilities and obligations, moral and ethical and legal as well to include this and include that. i want to give a big round of applause to susan. i want to acknowledge the others who are doing great work and try to lead by example in terms of fulfilling our mandates and promises that we made some 20 years ago. it is extraordinary how far we have come but it is equally extraordinary how far we need to go. we understand that. we understand there is still discrimination in the workplace and recognize there are accessibility issues. there are even accessibility issues in our own san francisco board of supervisors chambers which still hasn't been made completely accessible. we recognize our rights and responsibilities. i want to begin by making that point. i also want to make a few points about ed roberts. it is absolutely right to remember that in 1962 it was ed out here in this san francisco bay area that led the way in so much progress has been made. the headlines of the day when he was accepted to uc berkeley. the headlines read a crip cell accepted into berkeley. that was acceptable headline writing by the editors of local newspapers. that is how people were referred to. it was because of his commitment and his devotion to the cause of true equality that others started to come out that led to 1977. many of you may have been there. in u.n. plaza.