Ronald Reagan

“ We also gained vast new insights into the significant impact that access to education, rehabilitation, and employment have on their lives.
The progress we have made is a tribute to the courage and determination of our disabled people, to innovative research and development both in technology and training techniques to assist the disabled, and to those-whether in the private or public sectors-who have given so generously of their time and energies to help enrich the lives of disabled persons. ”

“ Now, Therefore, I, Ronald Reagan, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim the years 1983 through 1992 as the National Decade of Disabled Persons. I call upon all Americans in both the private and public sectors to join our continuing efforts to assist disabled people and to continue the progress made over the past two years. ”

“ In furtherance of the initiatives encouraged by observance of the International Year of Disabled Persons, the United Nations General Assembly has proclaimed the years 1983 through 1992 as the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons. ”