[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 43 (Monday, March 11, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S1764]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 103--DESIGNATING MARCH 27, 2019, AS ``NATIONAL 
                  ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY AWARENESS DAY''

  Mr. CASEY (for himself and Mr. Cramer) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 103

       Whereas assistive technology is any item, piece of 
     equipment, or product system that is used to increase, 
     maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of people 
     with disabilities and older adults;
       Whereas the term ``assistive technology service'' means any 
     service that directly assists a person with a disability or 
     an older adult in the selection, acquisition, or use of an 
     assistive technology device;
       Whereas, in 2018, the Centers for Disease Control and 
     Prevention reported that 1 in 4 people in the United States, 
     or almost 61,000,000 individuals, has a disability;
       Whereas, in 2017, the Department of Education reported that 
     there were more than 6,700,000 children with disabilities;
       Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
     reported that, among adults 65 years of age and older, 2 in 5 
     have a disability;
       Whereas assistive technology allows people with 
     disabilities and older adults to be included in their 
     communities and in inclusive classrooms and workplaces;
       Whereas assistive technology devices and services are not 
     luxury items but necessities for millions of people with 
     disabilities and older adults, without which they would be 
     unable to live in their communities, access education, and 
     obtain, retain, and advance gainful, competitive integrated 
     employment;
       Whereas the availability of assistive technology in the 
     workplace promotes economic self-sufficiency, enhances work 
     participation, and is critical to the employment of people 
     with disabilities and older adults; and
       Whereas State assistive technology programs support a 
     continuum of services that include--
       (1) the exchange, repair, recycling, and other 
     reutilization of assistive technology devices;
       (2) device loan programs that provide short term loans of 
     assistive technology devices to individuals, employers, 
     public agencies, and others;
       (3) the demonstration of devices to inform decision making; 
     and
       (4) providing State financing activities to help 
     individuals purchase or obtain assistive technology through a 
     variety of initiatives, such as financial loan programs, 
     leasing programs, and other financing alternatives, that give 
     individuals affordable, flexible options to purchase or 
     obtain assistive technology: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates March 27, 2019, as ``National Assistive 
     Technology Awareness Day''; and
       (2) commends--
       (A) assistive technology specialists and program 
     coordinators for their hard work and dedication to serving 
     people with disabilities who are in need of finding the 
     proper assistive technology to meet their individual needs; 
     and
       (B) professional organizations and researchers who are 
     dedicated to facilitating the access and acquisition of 
     assistive technology for people with disabilities and older 
     adults in need of assistive technology devices.

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