[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 193 (Wednesday, October 4, 2000)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 59313-59314]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-25674]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 193 / Wednesday, October 4, 2000 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 59313]]


                Proclamation 7347 of September 29, 2000

                
National Disability Employment Awareness Month, 
                2000

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Individuals 
                with Disabilities Education Act and the 10th 
                anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act 
                (ADA). These two landmark civil rights laws have opened 
                the doors of opportunity for people with disabilities 
                and increased our awareness of the enormous 
                contributions that Americans with disabilities can make 
                to our national life.

                A decade ago, when we were debating the Americans with 
                Disabilities Act, critics said that making workplaces, 
                public transportation, public facilities, and 
                telecommunications more accessible would be too costly 
                and burdensome. But they have been proved wrong. Since 
                passage of the ADA in 1990, more than a million men and 
                women with disabilities have entered the labor force 
                and, as taxpayers, consumers, and workers, they are 
                contributing to a period of unprecedented prosperity 
                and record employment in our country.

                Throughout my Administration, we have worked hard to 
                break down the barriers that people with disabilities 
                continue to face on a daily basis. In 1998, I signed 
                the Workforce Investment Act, requiring that 
                information technology purchased by the Federal 
                Government be accessible to people with disabilities. 
                In 1999, I was proud to sign the Ticket to Work and 
                Work Incentives Improvement Act, which enables 
                Americans with disabilities to retain their Medicare or 
                Medicaid coverage when they go to work, because no one 
                should have to choose between health care and a job. We 
                are also dramatically expanding the income students 
                with disabilities can earn while retaining access to 
                disability benefits; and to lead by example, we are 
                hiring more people with disabilities throughout the 
                Federal Government.

                Today's revolution in information and communications 
                technology offers us powerful new tools to expand 
                employment and training opportunities for people with 
                disabilities. Whether translating web pages aloud for 
                people who are blind or visually impaired, creating 
                captioning for those who are deaf or hard of hearing, 
                or enabling people with physical disabilities to 
                control a computer through eye movement and brain 
                waves, these technologies show enormous potential for 
                increasing access to employment and full participation 
                in society. We are exploring ways that Medicare and 
                Medicaid can be enhanced to cover the cost of assistive 
                technology so that people can live and work more 
                independently in the communities of their choosing. And 
                I was pleased to announce on September 21 that dozens 
                of corporate leaders from the technology sector and the 
                presidents of many of America's leading research 
                universities have pledged to make their products and 
                services accessible to and usable by people with 
                disabilities.

                A new generation of young people with disabilities is 
                growing up in America today--graduating from high 
                school, going to college, and preparing to participate 
                fully in the workplace. They have a right to make the 
                most of their potential, and our Nation must make the 
                most of their intellect, talents, and abilities. By 
                working together to break down barriers for Americans

[[Page 59314]]

                with disabilities, we will keep our economy growing, 
                make a lasting investment in the future of our country, 
                and uphold our fundamental commitment to justice and 
                equality for all our people.

                To recognize the enormous potential of individuals with 
                disabilities and to encourage all Americans to work 
                toward their full integration into the workforce, the 
                Congress, by joint resolution approved August 11, 1945, 
                as amended (36 U.S.C. 121), has designated October of 
                each year as ``National Disability Employment Awareness 
                Month.''

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the 
                United States of America, do hereby proclaim October 
                2000 as National Disability Employment Awareness Month. 
                I call upon Government officials, educators, labor 
                leaders, employers, and the people of the United States 
                to observe this month with appropriate programs and 
                activities that reaffirm our determination to fulfill 
                the letter and spirit of the Americans with 
                Disabilities Act.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                twenty-ninth day of September, in the year of our Lord 
                two thousand, and of the Independence of the United 
                States of America the two hundred and twenty-fifth.

                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 00-25674
Filed 10-3-00; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P