Ronald Reagan

“ I urge all governors, mayors, other public officials, leaders in business and labor, and private citizens to help meet the challenge of ensuring equal employment opportunities and full citizenship rights and privileges for disabled Americans. ”

“ The American people are becoming more and more aware of the great potential of citizens with disabilities. We are also realizing that providing equal employment opportunities to handicapped individuals is both the right thing to do and a matter of economic common sense and necessity. ”

“ Competitive reality is causing business, industry, and organized labor to urge complete integration of the disabled into the job market. Federal, State, and local governments have also provided significant opportunities for these men and women. They are filling critical gaps in the work force and contributing to productivity, because the demands placed on America's labor resources have changed ”