President George W. Bush yesterday signed an executive order to provide greater opportunities for people with disabilities to engage fully in community life and in employment.

Under the order, the U.S. secretary of education is directed to work cooperatively with the attorney general; the secretaries of health and human services, labor, and housing and urban development; and the commissioner of the Social Security Administration in providing assistance to states and communities in expanding community-based alternatives for persons with disabilities.

Specifically, the order is intended to help states to comply with the terms of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Olmstead v. L.C. [527 U.S. 581 (1999)]. According to the order, "the Supreme Court construed Title II of the ADA [Americans With Disabilities Act] to require states to place qualified individuals with mental disabilities in community settings, rather than in institutions, whenever treatment professionals determine that such placement is appropriate, the affected persons do not oppose such placement, and the state can reasonably accommodate the placement, taking into account the resources available to the state and the needs of others with disabilities."

"This administration is committed to working to provide greater freedom for everyone with a disability," said U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige. "Our department can and will be a resource for Americans with disabilities who are in danger of being left behind. Several efforts are already underway here at the department to fulfill the mission set forth in President Bush's order."

Following are existing resources available from the department's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services that may support the transition to community living for individuals with disabilities:

• A $400,000 award to the Independent Living Research and Utilization Project (ILRU) at the Texas Institute on Rehabilitation Research to provide technical assistance to states and communities. Through regional training sessions, a web site and a telephone hotline, ILRU will educate community and state leaders about ways to help people with disabilities make the transition from institutions to community living.
• Grants this year in the amount of $6.2 million to support Disability and Business Technical Assistance Centers which will also coordinate work with the ILRU.
• The $100 million Independent Living Programs and the $2.3 billion Vocational Rehabilitation Program.

Paige said that under the terms of the order, the Education Department will review its policies, programs, statues and regulations to determine whether any need to be revised or modified to help with the development of community-based alternatives to support people with disabilities.

"This executive order offers important opportunities for people with disabilities," Paige said, "and a challenge that we embrace enthusiastically."