Transforming Public Health Through Independent Living: Reflections on My Guest Lecture at UC Berkeley

Recently I had the privilege of speaking to Professor Jason Corburn's class on Global Public Health at UC Berkeley. The discussion was with bright and talented graduate students from across the world. It happened to be scheduled in a room I knew well, 106 Wurster Hall, where I have taught Disability Policy and Community Development for over 13 years.

This experience was different from my other lectures or academic seminars, this was not just an opportunity to share insights on independent living and disability-inclusive urban design but also a powerful reminder of the urgency and potential in transforming our cities and communities for everyone. A reminder that each one of us has a role to play to advance equity and inclusion today.

Inclusive Cities: A Path to Healthy Cities

I opened with a central thesis: You cannot have a healthy city without an inclusive and accessible city. This idea underscores the profound connection between public health and the built environment. Every time a city fails to account for accessibility, it compounds the barriers faced by people with disabilities. These barriers not only restrict mobility and agency but also perpetuate systemic inequities.

For instance, did you know that 25% of urban residents encounter barriers due to disability, a figure that rises with aging populations? Yet, in many places, cities are designed in ways that exacerbate these challenges, limiting access to housing, employment, and even public spaces. This is not just an oversight—it is a form of structural violence that marginalizes a significant portion of our population.

The Economic Case for Inclusion

One point that resonated strongly with the students was the economic argument for inclusion. Globally, the exclusion of people with disabilities costs between $2 and $8 trillion annually in lost productivity and untapped potential. By contrast, investing in inclusive design—whether in housing, transportation, or public health initiatives—generates shared prosperity.

I shared examples from my work in cities like Dubai, Amsterdam, and Quito, where inclusive urban planning not only improved accessibility but also drove economic growth. These projects demonstrate that inclusion is not just a moral imperative but a strategic investment in a city’s future.

Independent Living as a Public Health Imperative

The Center for Independent Living (CIL) in Berkeley, which I have the honor of leading, is a global pioneer in empowering individuals with disabilities to live with dignity and autonomy. I emphasized how independent living directly aligns with public health goals by:

• Reducing Health Disparities: Accessible housing and transportation reduce risks associated with isolation and lack of care.
• Promoting Equity: Services tailored to diverse needs ensure no one is left behind, particularly in emergencies.
• Enhancing Well-Being: Accessible recreational spaces and peer support networks foster mental health and community engagement.

CIL’s work is a model for integrating disability rights into broader public health strategies. For example, our housing advocacy incorporates universal design principles, ensuring that homes are not only accessible but also adaptable to diverse needs over time.

Stories that Inspire Action

I also shared the story of Camila, a young girl navigating life with a disability in a community that often overlooks her needs. Her story reminds us that every barrier removed—whether a lack of curb ramps or inaccessible classrooms—unlocks potential. Imagine a world where children like Camila grow up in communities designed to support, rather than hinder, their aspirations.

The Call to Action

To the students and future leaders in the room, I posed a challenge: What questions are you not asking when designing public health solutions? Inclusion requires intentionality. One of my favorite maxims is, "If we don’t intentionally include, we unintentionally exclude". As an aside, we should look at the unexpected benefits of exclusion. John Kelly was an executive at Microsoft and worked with many others including Kat Holmes, and Jenny Lay Flurrie on redesigning every Microsoft product to be more accessible. This act of centering on accessibility set the company up well to benefit from LLM and AI integration, making deploying Co-Pilot much easier. How could redesigning cities do the same, get us ready to integrate systems and software (read policies) that could further unlock human potential?

As we look ahead, I urged these graduate students to embrace frameworks like the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and to think about disability not as a problem to be solved but as a lens to build better, more resilient systems for everyone.

Closing Thoughts

Reflecting on this lecture, I am more convinced than ever that disability inclusion is central to achieving the public health and urban development goals of the 21st century. Cities that prioritize accessibility and independent living will not only be healthier—they will also be more equitable, vibrant, and prosperous.

I am grateful to Professor Corburn and his students for engaging in this critical conversation. Let’s continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in public health and urban design, ensuring that no one is left behind.

As I said in the lecture, “The work we do matters. It changes lives. And it starts with the choices we make today.”

Join me in this movement. How can you incorporate inclusion into your work? Let’s share ideas and build a more accessible future together.

#PublicHealth #IndependentLiving #DisabilityInclusion #InclusiveDesign #Berkeley