Counselor for UC Berkeley's Physically Disabled Students' Program and the Center for Independent Living, mother of Ed Roberts
By: Zona Roberts ; an interview conducted by Susan O'Hara in 1994-1995 includes and interview with Jean Wirth ; Regional Oral History Office, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley,
Contributors: O'Hara, Susan P., interviewer.; Zukas, Hale.; Wirth, Jean, 1932-1996, interviewee.; Bancroft Library. Regional Oral History Office.
Published: 2000
Subjects: Roberts, Zona, 1920-; Wirth, Jean, 1932-1996,; Roberts, Edward V., 1939-1995.; Center for Independent Living.; California. Dept. of Rehabilitation.; United States.; University of California, Berkeley. Physically Disabled Students Program.; Parents of children with disabilities -- California -- Interviews.; Family therapists -- California -- Interviews.
Genres: Interviews.
Description: Interview with Roberts covers topics: growing up in Oregon, Washington, and California; marriage to Verne Roberts and raising four sons; PTA work in San Mateo; polio of son Edward V. Roberts at age 15: medical care, iron lung, therapy, transition to home; Ed's continuing education: Burlingame High School, College of San Mateo; first disabled student living at Cowell Hospital, UC Berkeley; Ed's work at Center for Independent Living (CIL) and California State Department of Rehabilitation; Zona's education: College of San Mateo and UCB; work as counselor at Physically Disabled Students' Program, 1970-1979; travels in Europe; comments on independence, education, and employment for disabled persons, architectural accessibility and user-friendly equipment; reflections on John Hessler, Jean Wirth, disability community leadership; Zona's work at CIL and as family therapist.

Jean Wirth talks about meeting Ed and his mother, Zona Roberts, for the first time at the College of San Mateo, visiting the Roberts' home, and accompanying Ed and Zona on their first visit to the UC Berkeley campus in 1962. She describes her own and Ed's roles as consultants to the TRIO program of the Office of Education in Washington D.C., advancing the inclusion of students with disabilities in the program. She gives a brief account of Ed's less than successful year teaching at Common College and concludes with recollections of his later years.