[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 168 (Wednesday, November 19, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2330]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       RECOGNIZING NATIONAL DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT AWARENESS MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DAVID SCOTT

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 18, 2003

  Mr. SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize October 
as National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). Congress 
designated each October as National Disability Employment Awareness 
Month in order to increase the public's awareness of the contributions 
and skills of American workers with disabilities. Various programs 
carried out throughout the month also highlight the specific employment 
barriers that still need to be addressed and removed. People with 
disabilities face many barriers to employment, including everything 
from transportation to contending with the prevailing attitude 
surrounding the disabled, but many of them want to work. They want the 
opportunity. The key is to focus on the abilities of the person, not 
the disabilities.
  This effort to educate the American public about issues related to 
disability and employment actually began in 1945, when Congress enacted 
a law declaring the first week in October each year ``National Employ 
the Physically Handicapped Week.'' In 1962, the word ``physically'' was 
removed to acknowledge the employment needs and contributions of 
individuals with all types of disabilities. In 1988, Congress expanded 
the week to a month and changed the name to ``National Disability 
Employment Awareness Month.'' This year's theme for National Disability 
Employment Awareness Month was ``America Works Best When All Americans 
Work.''
  I am also grateful to Wayne McMillon, CEO of the Bobby Dodd 
Institute, Lori Nipp, Board Member of the Bobby Dodd Institute, Megan 
Dakake of the Bobby Dodd Institute and Dorothy Cochran, CEO of Clayton 
County Worktec who work actively to prepare individuals with 
disabilities for employment, to expand employment opportunities 
available to them and to improve the quality of life for people with 
disabilities in Georgia. Each of these individuals work on behalf of 
the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Program which provides employment opportunities 
for nearly 40,000 Americans who are blind or have other severe 
disabilities.
  The Javits-Wagner-O'Day (JWOD) Program uses the purchasing power of 
the Federal Government to buy products and services from participating, 
community-based nonprofit agencies dedicated to training and employing 
individuals with disabilities. In the United States, the program serves 
40,000 people with disabilities and 972 Georgians with disabilities 
earned nearly $3 million in wages last year as a result of JWOD.
  A coordinated effort on behalf of the Committee for Purchase From 
People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled (the Federal agency that 
oversees the Program), National Industries for the Blind (NIB) and 
NISH-Creating Employment Opportunities for People with Severe 
Disabilities, the JWOD Program provides people who are blind or who 
have other severe disabilities the opportunity to acquire job skills 
and training, receive good wages and benefits and gain greater 
independence and quality of life. Through the JWOD Program, people with 
disabilities enjoy full participation in their community and can market 
their JWOD-learned skills into other public and private sector jobs. It 
is with great pleasure that I recognize the great contributions of 
American workers with disabilities and I encourage others to do the 
same every day of the year.

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