National Disability Employment Awareness Month, 2003

Proclamation 7712 of October 3, 2003

National Disability Employment Awareness Month,
2003

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

For Americans with disabilities, employment is vital to
independence, empowerment, and quality of life. During
National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we
recognize the many contributions citizens with
disabilities make to our society, and we reaffirm our
commitment to helping them achieve their full inclusion
in our workforce.

Today, Americans with disabilities enjoy improved
access to education, government services, public
accommodations, transportation, telecommunications, and
employment opportunities. The landmark Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) removed barriers and
enabled many individuals with disabilities to find more
opportunities to use their gifts and talents in the
workplace. This progress has made our Nation stronger,
more productive, and more just. People with
disabilities still encounter challenges, however, to
their full participation in American society.

In February 2001, I launched the New Freedom Initiative
to address these challenges, to fulfill the promises of
the ADA, and to move toward an America where all our
citizens live and work with dignity and freedom. This
comprehensive plan is helping Americans with
disabilities learn and develop skills, engage in
productive work, make choices about their daily lives,
and participate fully in their communities.

A key component of the New Freedom Initiative is our
commitment to integrate individuals with disabilities
into the workforce. We have made substantial progress
toward this goal. The Department of Justice has
established an ADA Business Connection, a series of
meetings between representatives of the business and
disability communities to open dialogue that will
promote greater understanding and increased voluntary
compliance with the ADA. Also, the Department of Health
and Human Services and the Social Security
Administration are implementing the landmark ``Ticket
to Work'' program that makes it possible for millions
of Americans with disabilities to no longer have to
choose between having a job and receiving health care.
And the Department of Labor has established two
national technical assistance centers on workforce and
disability that offer training, technical assistance,
and information to improve access for all in the
workforce development system.

By working together to open doors of opportunity for
citizens with disabilities, we can help fulfill the
promise of our great Nation.

To recognize the contributions of Americans with
disabilities and to encourage all citizens to help
ensure their full inclusion in the workforce, the
Congress, by joint resolution approved August 11, 1945,
as amended (36 U.S.C. 121), has designated October of
each year as ``National Disability Employment Awareness
Month.''

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the
United States of America, do hereby proclaim October
2003 as National Disability Employment Awareness Month.
I call upon government officials, labor leaders,
employers, and all the people of the United States to
observe this month with appropriate programs,
ceremonies, and activities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
third day of October, in the year of our Lord two
thousand three, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and twenty-eighth.

(Presidential Sig.)B