[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 129, 114th Congress, 1st Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
Proclamation 9336 of September 30, 2015

National Disability Employment Awareness Month, 2015

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

A quarter century ago, our country took a major step toward fulfilling
the fundamental American promises of equal access, equal opportunity,
and equal respect for all when the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
was made the law of the land. While we have continued to make
advancements that help uphold this basic belief, we must address the
injustices that remain. During National Disability Employment Awareness
Month, we celebrate the ways individuals with disabilities strengthen
our workforce, our communities, and our country, and we recommit to
cultivating an America where all people are able to build vibrant
futures for themselves and for their families.
Americans with disabilities make up almost one-fifth of our population,
but are unemployed at a rate that is twice that of people without
disabilities; and for women and minorities with disabilities, the rates
are even higher. Despite all they contribute to our society, people with
disabilities still face discrimination by employers, limited access to
skills training, and, too often, unfairly low expectations. As a Nation,
we must continue to promote inclusion in the workplace and to tear down
the barriers that remain--in hearts, in minds, and in policies--to the
security and prosperity that stable jobs provide and that all our people
deserve. And we must actively foster a culture in which individuals are
supported and accepted for who they are and in which it is okay to
disclose one's disability without fear of discrimination.
My Administration is working to make sure our country does not let the
incredible talents of Americans with disabilities go to waste. We are
working to strengthen protections against disability-based
discrimination in the workplace and to expand employment possibilities
for people with disabilities--and the Federal Government is leading by
example. I have taken action to require agencies and Federal contractors
to hire more people with disabilities--and thanks to these efforts, more
Americans with disabilities are in Federal service than at any point in
the last three decades.
I will continue fighting to widen pathways to opportunity for
individuals with disabilities and supporting employers in their efforts
to increase disability inclusion. The White House hosted a Summit on
Disability and Employment earlier this year to provide businesses,
philanthropies, and advocates with information on Federal resources for
hiring disabled individuals. Last year, I was proud to sign the
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which encourages
greater coordination across Federal, State, and local programs to expand
access

[[Page 3453]]

to high-quality workforce, education, and rehabilitation services. WIOA
also helps youth with disabilities to receive extensive pre-employment
transition services so they can find positions alongside people without
disabilities and get paid above minimum wage. Additionally, last year I
signed the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act, which allows
eligible people with disabilities to establish tax-free savings
accounts.
America is at its strongest when we harness the talents and celebrate
the distinct gifts of all our people. This October, as we observe the
70th anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, let
us pay tribute to all who fought for better laws, demanded better
treatment, and overcame ignorance and indifference to make our Nation
more perfect. In their honor, and for the betterment of generations of
Americans to come, let us continue the work of removing obstacles to
employment so every American has the chance to develop their skills and
make their unique mark on the world we share.
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 2015 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 fifteen, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and
fortieth.
BARACK OBAMA