[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 146 (Monday, October 25, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2168]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       ABILITIES EMPLOYMENT MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ROBERT A. UNDERWOOD

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 25, 1999

  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, it is characteristic of the people of my 
district to look for and find humor in adversity; to prompt a smile 
from those who grieve, or to laugh in the midst of misfortune. We have 
learned, over many generations, through a long history of natural and 
man-made disasters, that laughter indeed is the best medicine. Now, as 
the rest of the nation observes the month of October as National 
Disabilities Month, we in Guam continue to look on the bright side, as 
is our nature, and have proclaimed this month ``Abilities Employment 
Month,'' with the theme ``Think Abilities . . . Employ Abilities.''
  The Guam Developmental Disabilities Council, the University of Guam's 
University Affiliated Programs on Developmental Disabilities, the 
Department of Integrated Services for Individuals with Disabilities' 
Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, and the non-profit organizations 
which provide services to persons with disabilities are working 
together to sponsor and coordinate an impressive schedule of events and 
activities to promote awareness, understanding and the need as well as 
the benefits of employing the abilities of our families, friends and 
neighbors who are disabled in some way. The Governor of Guam issued a 
proclamation stating that, ``Guam cannot afford, either morally or 
financially, to lose the contributions of persons with disabilities in 
the workplace or in our community at large.'' The proclamation further 
states, ``October is set aside to help our community recognize the 
tremendous value and potential that people with disabilities have to 
commit and dedicate ourselves to their full empowerment, integration 
employment. . . .''
  To this end, numerous activities are planned. These include Pre-
employment Workshops, which focus on pre-employment skills, personal 
hygiene, resume preparation, application and interview skills and 
interpersonal relationships in the workplace; Consumer Employment 
Workshops, to promote consumer knowledge of employment opportunities, 
accessing employment services and entrepreneurship; Employer Power 
Workshops to increase job opportunities and expand employer placement 
skills with emphasis on sensitivity, provisions of the Americans with 
Disabilities Act (ADA), successful job accommodations and performing 
job analyses. Additionally, Guam System for Assistive Technology will 
hold an open house; there will be a legislative forum with policymakers 
on employment issues; a job fair at Guam's One-Stop Employment Center; 
and ``A Day in the Life'' sensitivity activity in which able people 
experience what it is like to have a disability.
  An island-wide call for nominations of persons and organizations who 
exemplified superior performance in the workplace was conducted. The 
winners were recognized at an Awards Ceremony with Guam's Lieutenant 
Governor presenting the awards. It gives me great pleasure at this time 
to recognize, congratulate and commend the winners as well. For 
superior performance in the workplace as a Public Sector Employee, Ms. 
Catherine P. Leon Guerrero of the Department of Revenue and Taxation; 
for superior performance in the workplace as a Private Sector Employee, 
Mr. Joel E. Oyardo of Atkins Kroll, Inc.; and for superior performance 
in the workplace as an Employee of a Non-Profit Organization, Mr. 
Elipido Agaran of Goodwill Industries. The Department of Revenue & 
Taxation took the Outstanding Public Sector Employer Award; Citizens 
Security Bank won the Outstanding Private Sector Employer Award and the 
Outstanding Non-profit Organization Employer Award was given to 
Goodwill Industries of Guam. Also to be commended are the planners of 
this year's ``Think Abilities . . . Employ-Abilities'' Month: the Guam 
Developmental Disabilities Council, the University of Guam's University 
Affiliated Programs on Developmental Disabilities, the Department of 
Integrated Services for Individuals with Disabilities, Goodwill Guam 
and Guma' Mami. Maulek che'cho' miyu para todo I maninutet na taotao 
Guam, Si Yu'os ma'ase hamyo todos.

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