Persons with disabilities

“ Clearly, our Nation has recognized its obligation to become more conscious of, and responsive to, the environmental and structural obstacles that persons with disabilities face on a daily basis. However, we also have a practical interest in doing so: indeed, it is estimated that 70 percent of all Americans will, at some time in their lives, have a temporary or permanent disability. ”

“ Persons with Disabilities The law prohibits discrimination against persons with physical and mental disabilities in employment, access to health care, or the provision of other state services, and the government generally enforced these provisions in practice. ”

“ Article 26 Integration of persons with disabilities The Union recognises and respects the right of persons with disabilities to benefit from measures designed to ensure their independence, social and occupational integration and participation in the life of the community. ”

“ Effective rehabilitation technology and techniques are also helping to change the attitudinal barriers that have, in the past, limited opportunities for persons with disabilities. Today these members of our society are refuting age-old myths and misconceptions, proving that a disability need not be an obstacle to success. Continuing advances in rehabilitation services and in related education and research—coupled with implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990—will further open the door to their social and economic advancement. ”

“ Rehabilitation is a collaborative process that involves health care providers, therapists, educators, employers, and many others. For example, through advances in technology, scientists and engineers are helping persons with disabilities to overcome the physical barriers that once prevented them from participating in the mainstream of American life. ”

“ The States parties undertake to ensure to persons with mental or physical disabilities a decent life that guarantees their dignity, and to enhance their self-reliance and facilitate their active participation in society. ”

“ Regard should then be paid to the modification or development of such unfavourable environment, so that persons with disabilities would be able to equally access fundamental utilities and to peacefully live their lives in the same manner as other ordinary persons. ”

“ As we celebrate the two-hundredth anniversary of our national independence, physically and mentally handicapped Americans are seeking new opportunities to use their talents, abilities and experience. Assisting those of our citizens who are disabled are programs designed to provide equality of opportunity and equality of education. These programs place new emphasis on the needs of those with severe disabilities, and a new and growing consumer movement of and for handicapped persons. ”

“ My Administration is committed to removing the barriers that prevent people with disabilities from realizing their full potential and achieving their dreams. The New Freedom Initiative, which I announced last year, builds on the hopeful path of the ADA. It provides Americans with disabilities increased access to assistive technologies, expands educational options, and increases opportunities for them to integrate into our workforce. We are committed to ensuring the delivery of vital services to disabled persons in an integrated, community-based setting. ”

“ To private health and disability organizations for the purpose of— (A) disseminating information to the public; (B) improving access to services for persons living with paralysis and other physical disabilities and their caregivers; (C) testing model intervention programs to improve health and quality of life; and (D) coordinating existing services with State-based disability and health programs. ”

“ National Disabled Americans Week, 1988, allows each of us to salute efforts aimed at developing and utilizing the skills and insights of disabled people-and to honor the spirit and accomplishments of Americans with disabilities in these efforts and in communities everywhere. ”

“ Of course, challenges remain in the effort to help more and more Americans with disabilities achieve their fullest potential. These challenges range from the development of a wider array of rehabilitation services to improved cooperation among human service agencies. ”

“ Under the regulations applying to children, a person under 18 will be considered disabled if suffering from a Part A impairment listed for adults or its equivalent, as long as the disease's processes have a similar effect on adults and younger persons. ”

“ During National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we celebrate the many contributions of American workers with disabilities and reaffirm our admiration of the skills and talents they bring to today's workplace. ”

“ Today, individuals with disabilities are better able to develop meaningful skills, engage in productive work, and participate fully in society. Yet, our work is not finished. The millions of Americans with disabilities continue to face both physical barriers and false perceptions. ”

“ All of these efforts will build on the progress we have made as a society since the Americans With Disabilities Act became law. During the last 11 years, we have opened the doors of opportunity to millions of people with disabilities; and, together, we can ensure that everyone with a disability enjoys the respect that all citizens deserve. ”

“ This month is a special time for all Americans to recognize the tremendous potential of citizens with disabilities and to renew our commitment to full inclusion and equal opportunity for them, as for every citizen. ”

“ With today's signing of the landmark Americans for Disabilities Act, every man, woman, and child with a disability can now pass through once-closed doors into a bright new era of equality, independence, and freedom. ”

“ I call on all Americans to celebrate the many contributions of individuals with disabilities as we work towards fulfilling the promise of the ADA to give all our citizens the opportunity to live with dignity, work productively, and achieve their dreams. ”

“ During these seven days, we emphasize our recognition of the changing roles of people with disabilities in America today. Their aspirations and demonstrated ability to meet challenges and make the most of opportunities have resulted in changing the way the Nation thinks about handicaps and disabilities. Let us recognize through our actions, as well as our words, that people with disabilities are first of all our fellow citizens, who happen to be disabled. ”

“ The primary motivation for the inclusion of misperceptions of disabilities in the statutory definition was that "society's accumulated myths and fears about disability and diseases are as handicapping as are the physical limitations that flow from actual impairment." ”

“ 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. ”

“ Americans are thankful for the inspiration and achievements of the millions of us who have disabilities. Through the years, and in more and more spheres of endeavor, disabled Americans have demonstrated their capabilities and their desire to make the most of the opportunities life can offer. ”

“ The barriers facing the handicapped are not so much their own disabilities, but the attitudes of the non-handicapped toward their disabilities.
Those of us who are not handicapped think of what we could not do if we lost an arm or a leg, lost our sight or our voice, or were disabled in some other way. We often forget that the handicapped are thinking of what they can do.
We must learn to think like them-positively ! We must look not at what they cannot do, but at what they can do. We must look beyond the disability to the positive ability. ”

“ All of us must constantly strive for full acceptance of disabled people, so that we begin to see people rather than disabilities. We must first learn, and then seek to inculcate in others, especially the young, a deep respect for the human person, whatever that person's handicaps. ”

“ Americans are justifiably proud of the ADA and its accomplishments, but more can be done to protect the rights and dignity of Americans living with disabilities. Disabled Americans in the workforce already contribute substantially to our Nation's productivity and prosperity. ”

“ This day-a wonderful, vigorous celebration of the progress and possibilities for equal opportunity-must also include an equally vigorous commitment to continue the fight. Now is the time to act on our understanding that having a physical or mental disability is a part of the human experience. ”

“ I invite all individuals, agencies, and organizations concerned with the problem of developmental disabilities to observe this month with appropriate observances and activities directed toward increasing public awareness of the needs and the potential of Americans with developmental disabilities. I urge all Americans to join me in according to our fellow citizens with such disabilities both encouragement and the opportunities they need to lead productive lives and to achieve their full potential. ”

“ The implementing regulations define handicapped children as "being mentally retarded, hard of hearing, deaf, speech impaired, visually handicapped, seriously emotionally disturbed, orthopedically impaired, other health impaired, deaf-blind, multi-handicapped, or as having specific learning disabilities, who because of those impairments need special education and related services." ”

“ Seeing the mischief which the system of disabilities is accomplishing, is it not time that there should be at least an end of it? Or is there any good it can possibly do to make up for the harm it has already wrought and is still working? ”

“ On the 15th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, we celebrate the progress that has been made and reaffirm our commitment to fulfilling the ADA's mission of bringing greater hope and opportunity to our Nation's disabled Americans. ”

“ We are committed to giving all Americans opportunities to gain the skills they need to fill the jobs of the 21st century. We know that includes Americans with disabilities, who want to work, provide for themselves and their families, contribute to their communities, and build up our Nation. ”