Jul 25, 2011

ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, 2011 BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - A PROCLAMATION

ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, 2011
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BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION

Generations of Americans with disabilities have improvedour country in countless ways. Refusing to accept the world asit was, they have torn down the barriers that prohibited themfrom fully realizing the American dream. Their tireless efforts led to the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA), one of the most comprehensive pieces of civil rightslegislation in our Nation's history. On this day, we celebratethe 21st anniversary of the ADA and the progress we have made,and we reaffirm our commitment to ensure equal opportunity forall Americans.

Each day, people living with disabilities make immeasurablecontributions to the diversity and vitality of our communities.Nearly one in five Americans lives with a disability. They areour family members and friends, neighbors and colleagues, andbusiness and civic leaders. Since the passing of the ADA,persons with disabilities are leading fuller lives inneighborhoods that are more accessible and have greater accessto new technologies. In our classrooms, young people withdisabilities now enjoy the same educational opportunities astheir peers and are gaining the tools necessary to reach their greatest potential.

Despite these advancements, there is more work to be done,and my Administration remains committed to ending all formsof discrimination and upholding the rights of Americans withdisabilities. The Department of Justice continues to strengthenenforcement of the ADA by ensuring that persons withdisabilities have access to community-based services that allowthem to lead independent lives in the communities of theirchoosing. Under provisions of the Affordable Care Act, insurerswill no longer be able to engage in the discriminatory practiceof denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions, andAmericans with disabilities will have greater control over theirhealth care choices. And last year, I signed an Executive Orderestablishing the Federal Government as a model employer forindividuals with disabilities, placing a special focus onrecruitment and retention of public servants with disabilitiesacross Federal agencies.

Through the ADA, America was the first country in theworld to comprehensively declare equality for citizens withdisabilities. To continue promoting these principles, we have joined in signing the Convention on the Rights of Persons withDisabilities. At its core, this Convention promotes equality.It seeks to ensure that persons with disabilities enjoy the samerights and opportunities as all people, and are able to leadtheir lives as do other individuals.

Eventual ratification of this Convention would representanother important step in our forty-plus years of protectingdisability rights. It would offer us a platform to encourageother countries to join and implement the Convention. Broad implementation would mean greater protections and benefitsabroad for millions of Americans with disabilities, includingour veterans, who travel, conduct business, study, reside, orretire overseas. In encouraging other countries to join andimplement the Convention, we also could help level the playingfield to the benefit of American companies, who already meethigh standards under United States domestic law. Improveddisabilities standards abroad would also afford American
businesses increased opportunities to export innovative productsand technologies, stimulating job creation at home.

Equal access, equal opportunity, and the freedom to makeof our lives what we will are principles upon which our Nationwas founded, and they continue to guide our efforts to perfectour Union. Together, we can ensure our country is not deprivedof the full talents and contributions of the approximately54 million Americans living with disabilities, and we will moveforward with the work of providing pathways to opportunity toall of our people.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of theUnited States of America, by virtue of the authority vestedin me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States,do hereby proclaim Tuesday, July 26, 2011, the Anniversary ofthe Americans with Disabilities Act. I encourage Americansacross our Nation to celebrate the 21st anniversary of thiscivil rights law and the many contributions of individualswith disabilities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand thistwenty-fifth day of July, in the year of our Lordtwo thousand eleven, and of the Independence of theUnited States of America the two hundred and thirty-sixth.

BARACK OBAMA