[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 135 (Wednesday, October 25, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S10996]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                        DISABILITY MENTORING DAY

 Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack has 
proclaimed October 25 ``Iowa Disability Mentoring Day.'' Today, Iowans 
around the state will work to raise awareness of the benefits for all 
of us of increasing employment opportunities for young people with 
disabilities. And young people with disabilities will learn about job 
opportunities through on-site work experiences, job shadowing, and 
other forms of job mentoring.
  Many of the mentors will themselves be people with disabilities. All 
children need role models, and I'm thrilled that through mentoring, 
children with disabilities will see tangible evidence that their 
disability does not diminish their ability to participate in the 
cultural, economic, educational, political, and social mainstream.
  It's no surprise that Iowa is celebrating disability mentoring, 
because we are a leader in the field. This week, Iowa received a 
Federal grant under the Work Incentives Improvement Act for the Working 
Together So All Can Work program. This grant will enable more people 
with disabilities to participate in the workforce.
  And Iowa Creative Employment Options, along with the University of 
Iowa Hospital School, has started up the Healthy and Ready to Work 
Mentoring Project. The project is run by a mentoring group of young 
adults with disabilities who have achieved their career goals or are 
pursuing the education and training they need to reach their goals.
  These young men and women are college students, computer programmers, 
teachers, television directors, social workers, and businesspeople. On 
top of their studies and jobs, they are working with high school 
guidance counselors, meeting with students with disabilities, and 
developing a resource book to help students with disabilities and other 
students prepare for their careers. And they're planning to do even 
more in the future.
  Mr. President, ten years ago, we passed the Americans with 
Disabilities Act. We said no to exclusion, dependence, and paternalism 
for people with disabilities, and we said yes to inclusion, 
independence, and empowerment. Iowa Disability Mentoring Day and 
projects like the Healthy and Ready to Work Mentoring Project and the 
Working Together So All Can Work Program bring the ADA to life every 
day by increasing the independence and self-sufficiency of people with 
disabilities. I thank everyone who is a part of these efforts.

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