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As Prepared
U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao National
Business Leadership Network Summit U.S. Chamber of Commerce Washington,
D.C. November 19, 2002
Thank you, Cynthia [Richardson-Crooks, Director of Equal Employment
Outreach at George Washington University].
Im delighted to be here with all of you today. Its great to
see Claudia Ernharth, from my home state of Kentucky.
I know these two days have been very full and productive
sharing
best practices and listening to new ideas.
The BLN [Business Leadership Network] is an example of how we can all
work together to improve the lives of Americans with disabilities.
- Employers discussing how to fully open the workplace to people with
disabilities
- Entrepreneurs creating new products and services for this important
community
- Government and advocates supporting the needs of employers and
employees.
Barriers that once impeded progress are vanishing. Employer-led
initiatives are swinging the doors to economic independence wide-open. And
discrimination has given way to appreciation, as more and more employers
discover the extraordinary pool of talent that workers with disabilities
represent.
You are leading the way, and that is exactly what we need to build a
vibrant, productive, and inclusive workforce for the 21st
century.
You have a great leader in Tom Donohue, who has served as the chair of
BLN.
The BLN understands that the business-to-business model works because it
gets beyond the Beltway to create real results in the real world.
Im pleased to say that my home state of Kentucky is doing a lot to
break down the barriers for people with disabilities. For example, Bank One
developed an on-line career center to link employers with job candidates who
have disabilities.
And in Michigan, GM is working hard to create a disability-friendly
corporate culture, as well as encouraging skilled candidates with disabilities
to consider applying for jobs at GM.
In Virginia, SunTrust Bank and Manpower are ramping up their recruitment
of people with disabilities. And Booz Allen & Hamilton, through its
Emerging Leaders internship program, is introducing students with disabilities
to career choices at the company and helping them acquire interview and resume
writing skills.
These local, grassroots initiatives are putting into action the
Presidents call to leave no one behind in the 21st century
workforce.
You know, its been twelve years since
President
George H.W. Bush signed the most sweeping civil rights legislation in more
than a generationthe Americans with Disabilities Act. The ADA has lived
up to our expectations to break down barriers and promote productive change.
But some challenges still remain.
Two that come to mind are:
- The high levels of unemployment in the disability community.
- And need for the full integration of people with disabilities into
community life.
President George W. Bush is asking us to go beyond what is required by
law, and do what is mandated by conscience:
That means:
- Creating more employment opportunities for people with
disabilities
- Encouraging the development of more assistive technologies
- Providing greater home ownership and independent living opportunities
for people with disabilities.
Immediately after he took office, President Bush announced his New
Freedom Initiative. The fact that this was one of his very first executive
actions shows how much importance he places on this program.
The New Freedom initiative increases access to assistive technologies
and educational opportunities for people with disabilities. It also paves the
way for more Americans with disabilities to enter the workforce and enjoy
community life.
When describing the New Freedom Initiative, President Bush said,
We must speed up the day when the last barrier has been removed to full
and independent lives for every American with or without disability.
It makes sense that the Department of Labor plays a large role in its
implementation because we regulate every workplace in America.
But it also makes good economic sense because employment is the gateway
to a successful life in the community.
I am committed to making sure America welcomes, celebrates, and
encourages the contributions of the disability community. One way were
doing that is through the Office of
Disability Employment Policy, led by
Assistant Secretary Roy
Grizzard.
ODEP, as you know, is providing leadership, as well as new policies and
initiatives, to knock down barriers to employment for people with
disabilities.
It is the only Assistant Secretary-level federal office specifically
focused on disability employment issues.
In the past, services to this community have generally been designed to
address only a single aspect of an individuals life: education, or health
care, or employment or living situation. This model was, and to a great extent
continues to be, the norm.
ODEP will challenge states and localities to break down the artificial
bureaucratic barriers and produce coordinated, integrated real results for
people.
I want to share with you the basic assumptions that guide our policies
and programs for this important community.
First, the federal government has a significant role to play in the
encouraging the employment and full participation in their communities of
people with disabilities.
Second, we believe that the key to successful community integration is
the opportunity to become a productive, contributing member of that community.
As the Secretary of Labor, I believe that a job is the surest route to that
success.
Third, we believe that meaningful employment for people with
disabilities is sometimes contingent on obtaining the necessary support
services. That involves mobilizing family, community and faith-based
organizations to provide reliable transportation, technology, and housing.
And finally, the federal response to the high unemployment among
Americans with disabilities should be comprehensive and aggressive.
These are guiding principles for the Departments work in
implementing the
Presidents
New Freedom Initiative.
I hopeindeed, I knowthat you will continue to work with us
to achieve better and better results for this important community.
Thank you for your leadership. Thank you for sharing best practices and
for being role models. You are changing lives for the better, and I expect even
more progress as the Presidents New Freedom Initiative is fully
implemented.
Keep up the good work! Thank you.
# # #
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Archived Speech Caution: Information may be out of date.
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