[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