[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 160 (Monday, October 24, 2011)]
[House]
[Page H6989]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                EMPLOYING INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES

  (Mr. McKINLEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. McKINLEY. Mr. Speaker, recently the Civitan Club of Wheeling, 
West Virginia, hosted a learning session on ``Employing Individuals 
with Disabilities.'' With nearly 50 million Americans living with 
disabilities, I applaud the efforts of the Wheeling Civitan Club for 
recognizing the importance of providing individuals with disabilities 
the tools necessary to be successful.
  President Ronald Reagan called for people to provide understanding, 
encouragement, and opportunities to help persons with disabilities lead 
productive and fulfilling lives.
  As an individual with a significant hearing impairment, and a 
grandfather of a child with special needs, I am very familiar with the 
hardships of overcoming the obstacles of disabilities.
  Disabilities have no boundaries. They cut across the lines of racial, 
ethnic, educational, social, and economic backgrounds and can occur in 
any family. I encourage us all to learn about the people in our 
community who have disabilities, and to recognize that all of us have 
talents and abilities that can make this a better place in which to 
live.

                          ____________________