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October 17, 2003
MEMORANDUM FOR ALL TREASURY EMPLOYEES
FROM: John W. Snow (signed)
SUBJECT: Javits-Wagner-O'Day Program--National Disability Employment
Awareness Month
October heralds the beginning of a new fiscal year and this year,
the beginning of National Disability Employment Awareness Month.
As a part of this observance, I want to encourage each of you to
reflect on the importance of the Javits-Wagner-O'Day (JWOD) Program.
Under the JWOD Program, Government Purchase Card users and acquisition
personnel buy supplies and services furnished by nonprofit agencies
employing people who are blind or who have other severe disabilities.
The theme of this year's JWOD Program celebration is "JWOD Works
for America." I am especially proud of our agency's efforts to provide
employment and training opportunities for people with severe disabilities
through our support of the program. Under JWOD, supplies and services
purchased by Treasury and other federal agencies currently generate
jobs for nearly 40,000 Americans who are blind or who have other
severe disabilities. I ask all Treasury employees to help increase
this number by identifying more contracting opportunities with the
JWOD Program.
With an unemployment rate of 70 percent, people with disabilities
continue to represent the nation's largest untapped pool of talented,
skilled, knowledgeable and dedicated workers. President Bush cites
these statistics in his New Freedom Initiative for people
with disabilities, and pledges the Administration's commitment to
increasing the ability of Americans with disabilities to integrate
into the workforce. The major challenges to productive employment
of qualified people with disabilities are attitudinal barriers and
false assumptions about what people can and cannot do. People with
disabilities can be productive members of the workforce. Your efforts
to develop awareness and to educate about this important issue will
help ensure Treasury makes an important contribution to President
Bush's goal of fulfilling America's promise to Americans with disabilities.
Please learn more about the important role you can play in the
JWOD Program at www.jwod.gov and make a special effort to show your
support as we all observe National Disability Employment Awareness
Month.
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