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The following are highlights of the Seminar Opening and
Keynote Remarks. Please see the Appendices for the full text of the prepared
remarks.
OPENING REMARKS BY W. ROY
GRIZZARD, JR., ED.D., ASSISTANT SECRETARY, OFFICE OF DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT
POLICY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
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W. Roy Grizzard, Jr., Ed.D., ODEP Assistant
Secretary, encouraged federal managers to help ensure the workplace is safe for
all employees, including people with disabilities. |
The Office of Disability Employment Policy Assistant Secretary,
Dr. W. Roy Grizzard, Jr., Ed.D. opened the Seminar with remarks welcoming the
more than 200 participants to the Department of Labor. He stressed that
emergency preparedness planning for people with disabilities is important to
employment opportunities for this group in the Federal Government, as well as
in the private sector. “If people with disabilities are going to be in the
workplace, then, it becomes paramount that they feel comfortable…. If we
are going to encourage employers across the country— private, non-profit
and government entities— to hire people with disabilities, that workplace
should be one that is comfortable, healthy and safe and that feeling should be
conveyed to those…[employees].” In support of promoting employment of
people with disabilities in all sectors, Dr. Grizzard remarked that the Federal
Government “should be a shining example for all employers for how to
prepare the workplace for people with disabilities in case [an] emergency does
come [about].”
KEYNOTE REMARKS BY
SECRETARY ELAINE L. CHAO, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
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Secretary of Labor, Elaine L. Chao, stressed the
Department’s commitment to the safety of all federal employees.
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Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao delivered the keynote remarks on
the first day of the Seminar. She congratulated the sponsoring agencies,
presenters, and participants for convening this first of its kind seminar on
emergency preparedness for federal employees with disabilities. Secretary Chao
characterized emergency preparedness planning that includes employees with
disabilities as a priority for the Department of Labor. She added that
“making the federal workplace a model workplace by assuring a safe and
secure environment for employees with disabilities” is a critical element
in meeting President George W. Bush’s challenge to remove the barriers
that impede Americans with disabilities from leading full and independent
lives. Secretary Chao pointed out that “every single day, more than
120,000 employees with disabilities go to work in national headquarters
buildings, regional offices, or field offices that are owned by or leased by
the Federal Government.” She continued, “Their safety, and the safety of
all federal employees, is our number one priority.” Secretary Chao charged
participants to remain committed to including employees with disabilities in
their agencies’ emergency preparedness efforts, because their preparation
and creative planning will make a difference in the lives of their
colleagues. |
