[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 31 (Monday, August 4, 2003)]
[Page 983]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
The President's Radio Address

July 26, 2003

    Good morning. This weekend marks the 13th anniversary of the 
Americans With Disability Act, one of the great compassionate acts of 
American Government. Since becoming law, the ADA has helped to improve 
the quality of life for more than 50 million Americans with physical and 
mental disabilities. As a result, it is easier today for people with 
disabilities to find a job, to enter public buildings, and to live more 
independently in their communities. These are all welcome changes in 
American life.
    Many citizens have dedicated themselves to serving the interests of 
persons with disabilities, and some of them are here with me at the 
White House. I am joined by members of the President's Committee on 
Mental Retardation. The men and women on this committee include people 
with disabilities as well as parents, teachers, health care workers, and 
advocates. They recently voted to change the committee's name to the 
President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities, and I 
was pleased to sign an Executive order instituting that change.
    There is much more we can do to assure that Americans with 
disabilities are treated with dignity and respect. In 2001, I announced 
the New Freedom Initiative to further promote the full participation of 
people with disabilities in all areas of society. As part of the New 
Freedom Initiative, we're giving States funding to help people with 
disabilities commute to work or purchase equipment that allows them to 
work from home. We are promoting homeownership for people with 
disabilities and educating builders about the need for more accessible 
rental housing.
    We are working with Congress to provide record levels of funding for 
special education programs and to make sure the money is used to provide 
the most help to the most children. And we are making Government web 
sites more accessible to people with disabilities so that they can more 
easily find information about services and programs of the Federal 
Government. We're also focused on providing better care to people with 
mental illness. I'm committed to making sure people get the treatment 
and support they need and don't fall through the cracks.
    My administration continues to work with States to ensure full 
implementation of the Supreme Court's Olmstead decision. That decision 
rightly mandates that individuals with disabilities who can receive 
support and treatment in a community setting should be given an 
opportunity to live close to their families and friends whenever 
possible.
    People with disabilities now have more freedom to do productive work 
and live independent lives. We're making good progress toward ensuring 
that persons with disabilities know the American Dream is meant for 
them. With changes in old ways of thinking, the development of new 
technologies, and the Federal Government's firm commitment to equality, 
more and more people with disabilities continue to become full 
participants in the American life.
    Thank you for listening.

Note: The address was recorded at 2 p.m. on July 25 in the Cabinet Room 
at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on July 26. The 
transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on 
July 25 but was embargoed for release until the broadcast. The Office of 
the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language transcript of this 
address.