The history of the curb cut at University of California, Berkeley originated in the late 1960s and early 1970s with disability rights activists, particularly the Rolling Quads, who demanded accessibility in public spaces. 

Their advocacy, which included creating their own curb cuts with sledgehammers, led the city of Berkeley to install the nation’s first curb cuts on Telegraph and Bancroft in 1971. This initiative was a key part of the larger movement that eventually led to the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Curb cuts not only support people with disabilities but also benefit parents with strollers, travelers with luggage, cyclists, and delivery workers—proving that inclusive design helps everyone. Many other accommodations open up a better world for everyone.

We have so much work to do!  

Check out our article in the Understanding digital about INCIGHT Scholar Jada Yang, who is a sophomore at UC Berkeley. She is continuing the work of changing hearts and minds, leveraging obstacles and unlocking potential.