[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 195 (Friday, October 8, 2010)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 62301-62302]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-25574]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 75 , No. 195 / Friday, October 8, 2010 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 62301]]


                Proclamation 8574 of October 1, 2010

                
National Disability Employment Awareness Month, 
                2010

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                 As Americans, we understand employment and economic 
                security are critical to fulfilling our hopes and 
                aspirations. We also know we are stronger when our 
                country and economy can benefit from the skills and 
                talents of all our citizens. No individual in our 
                Nation should face unnecessary barriers to success, and 
                no American with a disability should be limited in his 
                or her desire to work. During National Disability 
                Employment Awareness Month, we renew our focus on 
                improving employment opportunities and career pathways 
                that lead to good jobs and sound economic futures for 
                people with disabilities.

                This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Americans 
                with Disabilities Act (ADA), the landmark civil rights 
                legislation that established a foundation of justice 
                and equal opportunity for individuals with 
                disabilities. In the two decades since its passage, 
                much progress has been made. However, Americans with 
                disabilities continue to be employed at a rate far 
                below Americans without disabilities, and they are 
                underrepresented in our Federal workforce.

                My Administration is committed to ensuring people 
                living with disabilities have fair access to jobs so 
                they can contribute to our economy and realize their 
                dreams. To help achieve this goal, I signed an 
                Executive Order in July to increase Federal employment 
                of individuals with disabilities. This directive 
                requires Federal agencies to design model recruitment 
                and hiring strategies for people with disabilities, and 
                to implement programs to retain these public servants. 
                To ensure transparency and accountability, agencies 
                will report on their progress on hiring people with 
                disabilities, and the Office of Personnel Management 
                will post the results of agencies' efforts online for 
                public evaluation. As the Nation's largest employer, 
                the Federal Government can become a model employer by 
                increasing employment across America of individuals 
                with disabilities.

                The 21st-century economy demands a highly educated 
                workforce equipped with the technology and skills to 
                maintain America's leadership in the global 
                marketplace. Technology has changed the way we work, 
                and the Federal Government is leveraging emerging, 
                assistive, and other workplace technologies to improve 
                the options available for everyone, including workers 
                with disabilities. We must improve the accessibility of 
                our workplaces and enable the collaboration and 
                contributions of every employee, and that is why I look 
                forward to signing into law the Twenty-First Century 
                Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010. 
                This legislation will greatly increase access to 
                technology, with advances in areas such as closed 
                captioning, delivery of emergencyinformation, video 
                description, and other advanced communications--all 
                essential tools for learning and working in today's 
                technological society.

                Individuals with disabilities are a vital and dynamic 
                part of our Nation, and their contributions have 
                impacted countless lives. People with disabilities 
                bring immeasurablevalue to our workplaces, and we will 
                continue to address the challenges to employment that 
                must be overcome. This month, let us rededicate 
                ourselves to fostering equal access and fair 
                opportunity

[[Page 62302]]

                in our labor force, and to capitalizing on the talent, 
                skills, and rich diversity of all our workers.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of 
                theUnited States, do hereby proclaim October 2010 as 
                National Disability Employment Awareness Month. I urge 
                all Americans to embrace the unique value that 
                individuals with disabilities bring to our workplaces 
                and communities and to promoteeveryone's right to 
                employment.

                 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                first day of October, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United 
                States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth. 
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2010-25574
Filed 10-7-10; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-W1-P