[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 117, 108th Congress, 1st Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

Proclamation 7712 of October 3, 2003
 
National Disability Employment Awareness Month, 2003

By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation

For Americans with disabilities, employment is vital to independence,
empowerment, and quality of life. During National Disability Employment
Awareness Month, we recognize the many contributions citizens with
disabilities make to our society, and we reaffirm our commitment to
helping them achieve their full inclusion in our workforce.
Today, Americans with disabilities enjoy improved access to education,
government services, public accommodations, transportation,
telecommunications, and employment opportunities. The landmark Americans
with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) removed barriers and enabled many
individuals with disabilities to find more opportunities to use their
gifts and talents in the workplace. This progress has made our Nation
stronger, more productive, and more just. People with disabilities still
encounter challenges, however, to their full participation in American
society.
In February 2001, I launched the New Freedom Initiative to address these
challenges, to fulfill the promises of the ADA, and to move toward an
America where all our citizens live and work with dignity and freedom.
This comprehensive plan is helping Americans with disabilities learn and
develop skills, engage in productive work, make choices about their
daily lives, and participate fully in their communities.
A key component of the New Freedom Initiative is our commitment to
integrate individuals with disabilities into the workforce. We have made
substantial progress toward this goal. The Department of Justice has
established an ADA Business Connection, a series of meetings between
representatives of the business and disability communities to open
dialogue that will promote greater understanding and increased voluntary
compliance with the ADA. Also, the Department of Health and Human
Services and the Social Security Administration are implementing the
landmark ``Ticket to Work'' program that makes it possible for millions
of Americans with disabilities to no longer have to choose between
having a job and receiving health care. And the Department of Labor has
established two national technical assistance centers on workforce and
disability that offer training, technical assistance, and information to
improve access for all in the workforce development system.

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By working together to open doors of opportunity for citizens with
disabilities, we can help fulfill the promise of our great Nation.
To recognize the contributions of Americans with disabilities and to
encourage all citizens to help ensure their full inclusion in the
workforce, the Congress, by joint resolution approved August 11, 1945,
as amended (36 U.S.C. 121), has designated October of each year as
``National Disability Employment Awareness Month.''
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of
America, do hereby proclaim October 2003 as National Disability
Employment Awareness Month. I call upon government officials, labor
leaders, employers, and all the people of the United States to observe
this month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this third day of
October, in the year of our Lord two thousand three, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-
eighth.
GEORGE W. BUSH