[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 35 (Monday, September 2, 2002)]
[Pages 1449-1450]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Memorandum on Development of an Interagency Disability Web Site

August 27, 2002

Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies

Subject: Directive to Develop Interagency Disability Web Site

    Twelve years ago, the Congress passed and President George H.W. Bush 
signed one of the most significant civil rights laws since the Civil 
Rights Act of 1964--the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. In 
doing so, America opened its door to a new age for people with 
disabilities.
    Through the New Freedom Initiative, my plan to reduce barriers to 
people with disabilities, my Administration is committed to ensuring 
that all Americans have the opportunity to learn and to develop skills, 
to engage in productive work, to choose where to live, and to 
participate in community life. This effort will allow America to draw on 
the talents and creativity of all its citizens.
    In an effort to remove barriers for people with disabilities, I am 
instructing Federal agencies to work together to develop a comprehensive 
Federal web site that serves people with disabilities. This site will 
provide individuals with access to a single point to go

[[Page 1450]]

online for Government information and resources related to disabilities 
and to the New Freedom Initiative.
    The development of this web site shall be coordinated by the 
Department of Labor. Information and services for the new web site shall 
be shared by all Federal agencies. Therefore, I direct executive 
departments and agencies (agencies) to work together in developing and 
launching this new citizen-centered and useful web site. I further 
direct agencies, within 60 days of the date of this memorandum and on an 
ongoing basis thereafter, to work together to provide information about 
their programs and access to their services to the Department of Labor. 
The information and services should be relevant to people with 
disabilities and should include the programs in the New Freedom 
Initiative. Agencies shall also work with State and local governments, 
as appropriate, in collecting information about the State and local 
government programs and access to services for people with disabilities 
to be included in the web site.
                                                George W. Bush

Note: This memorandum was released by the Office of the Press Secretary 
on August 28.