[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 201 (Wednesday, October 19, 2022)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 63393-63394]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-22828]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 201 / Wednesday, October 19, 2022 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 63393]]


                Proclamation 10477 of October 14, 2022

                
Blind Americans Equality Day, 2022

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                On Blind Americans Equality Day, we celebrate the 
                essential contributions of blind and low-vision 
                Americans, whose talents and strength shape every 
                industry and every community.

                In 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson issued the first 
                Presidential Proclamation honoring the independent 
                spirit of blind Americans and calling on us all to help 
                build a more accessible Nation. Twenty-six years later, 
                in 1990, we came together as Democrats and Republicans 
                to pass the most sweeping civil rights legislation in a 
                generation--the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)--
                improving the lives of the now more than 60 million 
                Americans living with a disability, including more than 
                7 million with vision loss. I was enormously proud to 
                cosponsor that bill as a United States Senator, and as 
                President, I am making sure that we deliver on its full 
                promise to end discrimination, increase independence, 
                and expand opportunity for everyone.

                The ADA has been transformational, but it did not end 
                our work. As long as disabled Americans--including 
                those who are blind and low-vision--face barriers to 
                equality, opportunity, and freedom, we have more to do. 
                That is why, on my first day in office, I was proud to 
                sign an Executive Order establishing a government-wide 
                commitment to equity for all. I am proud to have 
                appointed the first-ever White House Disability Policy 
                Director and to work every day to make sure that the 
                dignity and rights of disabled and blind Americans are 
                championed in every policy that we pursue.

                During the pandemic, my American Rescue Plan has helped 
                States better cover low-income adults living with 
                disabilities on Medicaid and given schools funding to 
                reopen safely, helping to better serve students with 
                vision loss and other disabilities. My Administration 
                launched the Disability Information and Access Line to 
                help blind and other disabled people schedule COVID-19 
                tests and vaccinations, and we have expanded the 
                availability of accessible at-home tests for blind and 
                low-vision Americans. Meanwhile, my Bipartisan 
                Infrastructure Law is expanding access to transit for 
                blind and other disabled Americans by updating old 
                train stations and airports. The Labor Department is 
                defending the rights of workers with disabilities to 
                receive a fair wage. My Administration is creating jobs 
                by funding State and local governments, employers, and 
                nonprofits that hire more people with disabilities, 
                including vision loss. Additionally, the Department of 
                Education is funding projects to teach more STEM 
                teachers braille, in turn expanding access to STEM 
                education for blind and low-vision students. I have 
                also signed Executive Orders to start to remove 
                barriers that keep too many people with disabilities 
                from voting.

                Across the board, we have been making great progress, 
                but I know there is much more to do to guarantee every 
                American the same fair shot to contribute, thrive, and 
                succeed. I will keep fighting to get more disabled and 
                blind Americans support and care in their own 
                communities, as well as the workplace accommodations 
                they deserve. I am proud to join so many fierce 
                advocates in this cause, and I call today on all 
                Americans

[[Page 63394]]

                to help us build on the ADA's promise--moving our 
                Nation closer to realizing its full potential as a 
                place that is truly for everyone.

                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 low-
                vision 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, 
                2022, 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-two, and of the Independence of the 
                United States of America the two hundred and forty-
                seventh.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2022-22828
Filed 10-18-22; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3395-F3-P