[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 199 (Tuesday, October 19, 2021)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 57749-57750]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-22877]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 86 , No. 199 / Tuesday, October 19, 2021 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 57749]]

                Proclamation 10288 of October 14, 2021

                
Blind Americans Equality Day, 2021

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Thirty-one years ago, our Nation moved closer to 
                fulfilling its foundational promise of equal dignity 
                and opportunity for all with the enactment of the 
                landmark Americans with Disabilities Act. This 
                bipartisan legislation--which I proudly co-sponsored as 
                a member of the United States Senate--has made a 
                profound difference in the lives of blind Americans, 
                paving the way for greater opportunity, self-
                sufficiency, independent living, and equitable 
                participation in all aspects of life. On Blind 
                Americans Equality Day, we recognize the rights, 
                talents, and contributions of blind and visually 
                impaired Americans who represent every segment of our 
                diverse population.

                My Administration is committed to building on the 
                foundation of the Americans with Disabilities Act by 
                ensuring that blind and visually impaired Americans 
                have equitable opportunities for employment and career 
                advancement. That is why I signed Executive Orders to 
                advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility 
                within the Federal workforce and to raise the minimum 
                wage of Federal contractors to $15 an hour--orders 
                which will directly impact our many Federal contractors 
                who are blind and visually impaired. These actions will 
                further enable Federal workers with disabilities to 
                access reasonable accommodations and gain greater 
                economic self-sufficiency while spurring the Federal 
                Government to be a model employer in providing 
                equitable, accessible, and inclusive work environments 
                for employees with disabilities.

                My Administration is also providing funding 
                opportunities across agencies to advance competitive 
                integrated employment opportunities for disabled 
                workers. And to provide much-needed financial relief 
                during the COVID-19 pandemic, my Administration 
                recently awarded $20 million through the Randolph-
                Sheppard Vending Facilities Program to assist blind 
                entrepreneurs and provide opportunities for blind 
                vendors to operate vending facilities on Federal 
                property.

                Building an accessible, equitable Nation for all 
                Americans is a key part of building back better, and 
                for many families, fulfilling that commitment begins in 
                America's classrooms. When we invest in education, we 
                advance equity and opportunity for millions of 
                students, including children who are blind and visually 
                impaired. My American Rescue Plan has made over $3 
                billion available to help State educational agencies 
                recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This 
                funding is supporting special education, early 
                intervention, and related services for children with 
                disabilities and their families. While the American 
                Rescue Plan increased the amount of the Federal 
                Government's financial contribution to the education of 
                children with disabilities, my Administration is also 
                working with the Congress to fully fund the Individuals 
                with Disabilities Education Act--so that disabled 
                students can receive an education that is tailored to 
                their individual needs.

                This is about who we are as Americans--and these 
                actions are helping us move our country closer to the 
                fulfillment of our highest ideals of equity and 
                opportunity for all. On Blind Americans Equality Day, 
                we recommit to ensuring freedom, equality, and 
                opportunity for all blind and visually

[[Page 57750]]

                impaired Americans, whose contributions continue to 
                make our Nation stronger.

                By joint resolution approved on October 6, 1964 (Public 
                Law 88-628, as amended), the Congress authorized 
                October 15 of each year as ``White Cane Safety Day,'' 
                which is recognized today as ``Blind Americans Equality 
                Day,'' to honor the contributions of blind and visually 
                impaired Americans.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., 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 October 15, 
                2021, as Blind Americans Equality Day. I call upon all 
                government officials, educators, volunteers, and all 
                the people of the United States to mark this day with 
                appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.

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

[FR Doc. 2021-22877
Filed 10-18-21; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3395-F2-P