    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 128, 113th Congress, 2nd Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    PROCLAMATION 9217--DEC. 2, 2014

    Proclamation 9217 of December 2, 2014

    International Day of Persons With Disabilities, 2014

    By the President of the United States of America

    A Proclamation

    Each year, the United States joins with the international community to
    celebrate the inherent dignity and worth of every person. In America and
    in countries around the world, individuals with disabilities support
    families, strengthen their communities, and contribute to the global
    economy. On International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we reaffirm
    the fundamental principle that those with disabilities are entitled to
    the same rights and freedoms as everyone else: to belong and fully
    participate in society, to live with respect and free from
    discrimination, and to make of their lives what they will.
    Nearly a quarter century ago, the Congress came together to pass the
    Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a landmark civil rights bill and
    a historic milestone in our journey toward a more perfect Union. The
    first Nation on earth to comprehensively declare equality for its
    citizens with disabilities, we enshrined into law the promise of equal
    access, equal opportunity, and equal respect for every American. The ADA
    was a formal acknowledgement that individuals with disabilities deserve
    to live full and independent lives the way they choose, and

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    today, my Administration continues to fight to give every person a fair
    shot at realizing their greatest potential. We are working to rigorously
    enforce the protections against disability-based discrimination and
    expand workforce training and employment opportunities for people with
    disabilities, including our wounded warriors and those with serious
    disabilities. Today's theme, ``Sustainable Development: The promise of
    technology,'' reminds us that as we strive to increase accessibility in
    our communities, we cannot allow the benefits of groundbreaking
    innovation to be out of reach for those who seek to participate fully in
    our democracy and economy.
    Disability rights are not only civil rights to be enforced here at home;
    they are universal rights to be recognized and promoted around the
    globe. That is why I am proud that during my time in Office, the United
    States signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,
    and why I continue to call on the Senate to provide its advice and
    consent to the ratification of what is the first new human rights
    convention of the 21st century. Around the world, more than 1 billion
    people experience a disability. These women, men, and children seek a
    fair chance to complete an education, succeed in a career, and support a
    family--and the United States stands with them wherever they live.
    America continues to be the world leader on disability rights. Today, we
    celebrate the courage and commitment of all who have agitated and
    sacrificed to bring us to this point, and all who continue to press
    ahead toward greater access, opportunity, and inclusion. With advocates
    from around the world and all those whose lives have been touched by a
    disability, we can build on our progress. Let us recommit to fostering a
    society free of barriers and full of a deeper understanding of the value
    each person adds to our global community.
    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 December 3, 2014, as
    International Day of Persons with Disabilities. I call on all Americans
    to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and
    programs.
    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this second day of
    December, in the year of our Lord two thousand fourteen, and of the
    Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
    ninth.
    BARACK OBAMA