[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 147 (Tuesday, July 31, 2012)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 45235-45236]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-18812]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 147 / Tuesday, July 31, 2012 / 
Presidential Documents  
 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 45235]]

                Proclamation 8843 of July 26, 2012

                
Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities 
                Act, 2012

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Since our earliest days, America has measured its 
                progress not only by the growth of our borders and the 
                breadth of our economy, but also by how far we reach 
                toward fully realizing the fundamental rights, 
                protections, and freedoms afforded to each of us by our 
                Nation's founding documents. For generations, many 
                Americans with disabilities lived as second-class 
                citizens who were denied those most basic 
                opportunities. Not content to accept the world as it 
                was, they marched and organized and testified, coupling 
                quiet acts of persistence and perseverance with vocal 
                acts of advocacy. And step by step, progress was won. 
                Protections were put into law. And a wave of change 
                swept across our country, tearing down the barriers 
                that kept persons with disabilities from securing their 
                fullest measure of happiness.

                Today, we mark the 22nd anniversary of the Americans 
                with Disabilities Act (ADA)--a historic piece of civil 
                rights legislation that affirmed Americans with 
                disabilities are Americans first. When many wrongfully 
                doubted that people with disabilities could participate 
                in our society, contribute to our economy, or support 
                their families, the ADA asserted that they could. Under 
                this landmark law, America became the first Nation to 
                comprehensively declare equality for its citizens with 
                disabilities--an accomplishment that continues to guide 
                our country toward fulfilling its most essential 
                promises not just for some, but for all.

                Yet, despite the gains we have made, independence and 
                freedom from discrimination remain out of reach for too 
                many individuals with disabilities. That is why my 
                Administration continues to build on the legacy set 
                forth by the ADA. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, 
                insurance companies can no longer deny coverage to 
                children with disabilities because of pre-existing 
                conditions, medical history, or genetic information--a 
                provision that will be extended to all Americans in 
                2014. We have fought to protect and strengthen Medicare 
                and Medicaid by improving benefits and opposing 
                proposals that would shift costs to seniors and persons 
                with disabilities. And earlier this year, we 
                established the Administration for Community Living at 
                the Department of Health and Human Services to help 
                ensure people with disabilities have the support they 
                need to live with respect and dignity in their 
                communities, and to be fully included in our national 
                life.

                Because every American deserves access to a world-class 
                education, we have worked to make learning environments 
                safer and more inclusive. Last September, the 
                Department of Education implemented new standards for 
                the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act that 
                will help measure and improve outcomes for infants and 
                toddlers with disabilities. Moving forward, we will 
                continue to take action to help all children learn, 
                develop, and participate in instructional programs that 
                equip them with the tools for success in school and 
                beyond.

                As we mark this milestone and reflect on the barriers 
                that remain, we also pay tribute to the courageous 
                individuals and communities who have made progress 
                possible. Because so many advocates understood 
                injustice from the depths of their own experience, they 
                also knew that by allowing

[[Page 45236]]

                injustice to stand, we were depriving our Nation and 
                our economy of the full talents and contributions of 
                tens of millions of Americans with disabilities. Today, 
                those Americans are leaders not only in every field and 
                throughout every part of our national life, but also in 
                the journey to bring the American dream within reach 
                for our next generation. On this anniversary of the 
                ADA, we celebrate the contributions Americans with 
                disabilities have made to our Nation, and we rededicate 
                ourselves to empowering every individual with those 
                most American principles of equal access and equal 
                opportunity.

                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 the 
                United States, do hereby proclaim July 26, 2012, the 
                Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. I 
                encourage Americans across our Nation to celebrate the 
                22nd anniversary of this civil rights law and the many 
                contributions of individuals with disabilities.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                twenty-sixth day of July, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand twelve, and of the Independence of the United 
                States of America the two hundred and thirty-seventh.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2012-18812
Filed 7-30-12; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3295-F2-P