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

    PROCLAMATION 9180--SEPT. 30, 2014

    Proclamation 9180 of September 30, 2014

    National Disability Employment Awareness Month, 2014

    By the President of the United States of America

    A Proclamation

    Americans with disabilities lead thriving businesses, teach our
    children, and serve our Nation; they are innovators and pioneers of
    technology. In urban centers and rural communities, they carry forward
    our Nation's legacy of hard work, responsibility, and sacrifice, and
    their contributions strengthen our economy and remind us that all
    Americans deserve the opportunity to participate fully in society.
    During National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we celebrate the
    Americans living with disabilities, including significant disabilities,
    who enrich our country, and we reaffirm the simple truth that each of us
    has something to give to the American story.
    This year's theme, ``Expect. Employ. Empower.,'' reminds us that every
    American has a right to dignity, respect, and a fair shot at success in
    the workplace. For too long, workers with disabilities were measured by
    what people thought they could not do, depriving our Nation and economy
    of the full talents and contributions of millions of Americans. Nearly
    25 years ago, the Americans with Disabilities Act codified the promise
    of an equal opportunity for everyone who worked hard, and in the years
    since, Americans with disabilities have reached extraordinary heights.
    But when employees with disabilities are passed over in the workplace or
    denied fair accommodations, it limits their potential and threatens our
    democracy; when disproportionate numbers of Americans with disabilities
    remain unemployed, more work must be done to achieve the spirit of what
    is one of the most comprehensive civil rights bills in the history of
    our country.
    My Administration remains committed to tearing down the barriers that
    prevent Americans with disabilities from living fully independent,
    integrated lives. We have supported programs that more effectively
    prepare workers, including those with disabilities, for high-growth,
    high-demand careers, and we have found new ways to encourage businesses
    to foster flexible workplaces that are open to diverse skills. We are
    also working to ensure those living with disabilities have access to the
    resources that support employment, including accessible housing,
    transportation, and technology.
    Meaningful careers not only provide ladders of opportunity into the
    middle class, but they also give us a sense of purpose and self-worth.
    When Americans with disabilities live without the fear of
    discrimination, they are free to make of their lives what they will.
    This month, we renew our commitment to cultivate a more inclusive
    workforce,

    [[Page 4232]]

    and we continue our efforts to build a society where everyone who works
    hard has a chance to get ahead.
    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 October 2014 as
    National Disability Employment Awareness Month. I urge all Americans to
    embrace the talents and skills that individuals with disabilities bring
    to our workplaces and communities and to promote the right to equal
    employment opportunity for all people.
    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of
    September, 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