Douglas Martin cited Dr. Pepper as “his drink” and
the UCLA campus as one of his favorite places; friends, family and
admirers gathered in Dickson Court Thursday to celebrate the life
of Martin on what would have been his 56th birthday.
Martin died unexpectedly in January after a malfunction with his
respirator.
It was not a solemn event because Martin wouldn’t have
wanted it that way, said Winston Doby, vice president of
educational outreach for the University of California. Doby
remembers Martin as a man who had numerous accomplishments in civil
rights protections for disabled people.
With memorabilia highlighting Martin’s achievements, rock
‘n’ roll song interludes throughout the ceremony, and
some of his favorite possessions prominently displayed,
Martin’s personality and tireless efforts to achieve an equal
playing field for all people was clearly evident.
Labeling Martin as her first and most influential mentor since
age 13, Kim Hudson, a social worker and advocate for disabled
people’s rights, summed up Martin’s outlook on
life.
“Doug taught people with disabilities to live their lives
to the fullest,” Hudson added.
Among his successes, Martin co-founded the UCLA
Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Disability in 1983 and was
deeply involved with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990,
which bans discrimination against the nation’s 43 million
disabled people.
He contributed sweeping reforms to Social Security in the 1970s,
so that recipients of disability can now work without losing cash
benefits.
But perhaps the most important legislation that Martin lobbied
for was for college students.
He coordinated 504 Compliance at UCLA, a code guaranteeing
special accommodations for college students, such as note taking,
translation and special test times.
“Doug really had a way of planting the seed in everyone,
to join in efforts and promote advocacy,” said Jayne Spencer,
chairwoman of the Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on
Disability.
“He may be absent from us, but his commitments are present
everywhere,” she added.
From the universal design features found at the Hollywood Bowl
to the access ramps, handrails and curb ramps at UCLA,
Martin’s commitments and legacy really are present all over
the county.
As a result, officials declared May 8 “Douglas A. Martin
Day” in Los Angeles County from this year forward.
To be recognized in Los Angeles would have pleased Martin, said
attendees, especially considering his devotion to the Bruins.
“Doug met his wife at UCLA and his love for UCLA was only
surpassed by his love for RaeLynne,” Doby said.
Elwin Svenson, a former vice chancellor at UCLA, said that as a
student, Doug found the facilities less than perfect.
He didn’t leave them that way.
“Ultimately though, as I walk on the ramps instead of the
stairs at UCLA, I remember Doug mostly because we called each other
friends,” Svenson said.