    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2001, Book II)]
    [July 28, 2001]
    [Page 923]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 923]]

    The President's Radio Address
    July 28, 2001

        Good morning. This past week our country marked the 11th anniversary
    of the Americans with Disabilities Act. I'm proud that it was my father
    who signed that landmark legislation into law. And all Americans can
    take pride in the changes the ADA has brought into the lives of millions
    of citizens with disabilities.
        Because of that law, Americans with disabilities have gained greater
    access to public places. They have more options in choosing their homes,
    using public transportation, traveling, and staying in hotels. Many have
    joined the workforce, thanks to reasonable accommodations made by their
    employers. This has made our country a fairer society, more considerate
    and welcoming to all our citizens.
        As people with disabilities find more opportunities to use their
    gifts and talents, we also become a stronger, more productive nation.
    Some barriers remain, however, and as long as they stand, our work is
    unfinished. In February I announced a plan called the New Freedom
    Initiative to expand even further the opportunities available to people
    with disabilities.
        This initiative will help more Americans with disabilities enter the
    workforce by improving transportation or making it easier to work from
    home. It will encourage private companies to develop new assistive
    technologies, like computer monitors for people with visual impairments,
    infrared pointers for people who cannot use their hands to operate a
    keyboard, and lighter wheelchairs to increase mobility.
        And my New Freedom Initiative will help community groups, churches,
    synagogues, mosques, and civic organizations to improve access for
    people with disabilities. Many of these groups are trying their best to
    meet the requirements of ADA, and we will help them.
        We must also work to ensure that people with disabilities are not
    arbitrarily isolated or kept apart. I recently signed an Executive order
    requiring Federal agencies to work with State and local authorities to
    allow people with disabilities to move out of institutions and into
    community settings. I've also instructed the Attorney General and the
    Secretary of Health and Human Services to fully enforce title II of the
    Americans with Disabilities Act, ensuring that no one is unjustifiably
    institutionalized.
        My administration is also committed to requiring all Federal
    agencies to make sure that their Internet sites are more accessible for
    people with disabilities, both inside and outside the Government.
        We have made significant progress in advancing the New Freedom
    Initiative. But some of these reforms will require the Congress to
    provide the resources we need to fully implement the New Freedom
    Initiative and fulfill the promise of ADA.
        All of these efforts will build on the progress we have made as a
    society since the Americans with Disabilities Act became law. During the
    last 11 years, we have opened the doors of opportunity to millions of
    people with disabilities, and together, we can ensure that everyone with
    a disability enjoys the respect that all citizens deserve.
        Thank you for listening.

    Note: The address was recorded at 10:13 a.m. on July 27 in the Cabinet
    Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on July 28. The
    transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    July 27 but was embargoed for release until the broadcast. The Office of
    the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language transcript of this
    address.