The Future of CTP

ERC Central Ramp

First CTP was a few classrooms at the old Vista College, now known as Berkeley City College. Then came our own building on Milvia Street, until it was judged to be seismically unfit. The image of flying wheelchairs and canes strewn in the rubble might make for a good horror movie, but that’s no way to teach computer skills. From Milvia, CTP moved to Oxford Street and we printed this newsletter from our current home, the ultra-modern – if occasionally leaky – ArTech building on Addison Street, facing the Berkeley Rep.

But CTP is moving on up (one station stop on BART, that is) to the Ed Roberts Campus. CTP is one of the partners building the state-of-the art office and community center for people with disabilities that will be built at the site of the Ashby BART station. It is hard not to get excited over a design like this. The ERC will feature a sweeping circular ramp visible through two-story glass walls, Braille maps, automatic doors, extra-large elevators operated by foot paddles, and dozens of other features that will allow nearly anyone to feel at home.

ERC Plaza

After 12 years of planning and fund raising, CTP and its partners are close to securing the final funding for the $45 million project and hope to break ground in the months to come. It is named after the founder of Berkeley’s Center for Independent Living and will be a one-stop-shop for disability services and also serve as a regional focal point for the disabled community. It will house several nonprofits along with CTP, a cafe, fitness center, child care center, art gallery and other public amenities. And because it will be at a BART station, it will be easily available to most Bay Area residents.

In the months and years to come, CTP, as one of the partners building the ERC, will be responsible for significant financial commitments to the project. Watch this space because future newsletters will provide updates on the progress of the building as well as opportunities to contribute to make this dream a reality.

Ed Roberts, a founder of the Independent Living Movement

We invite you to take a closer look at CTP’s future by visiting the ERC’s website at www.edrobertscampus.org.

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