Presidential Documents

84683 

Federal Register 

Vol. 88, No. 233 

Wednesday, December 6, 2023 

Title 3— 

The President 

Proclamation 10681 of December 1, 2023 

International Day of Persons With Disabilities, 2023 

By the President of the United States of America 

A Proclamation 

On International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we recommit to building 

a world where disabled people everywhere are treated with the dignity 

and respect they deserve and are afforded an equal shot at achieving their 

dreams. 

Many Americans can still recall when—just over three decades ago—a person 

could legally be denied service in a restaurant and employers could refuse 

to hire them on the basis of their disability. Since the beginning of my 

career, I have worked hard to change that. One of my earliest acts as 

a United States Senator was co-sponsoring the Rehabilitation Act, which 

banned discrimination on the basis of disability by any entity funded by 

the Federal Government. Years later, I was proud to co-sponsor the Americans 

with Disabilities Act—a landmark piece of legislation that banned discrimination against disabled people in workplaces, schools, public transit, and 

more. 

In the years since, over 180 nations around the world have passed similar 

laws, delivering justice to millions of people with disabilities worldwide. 

But there is still more to do at home and abroad to ensure they have 

equal opportunities. Too often, disabled Americans are unable to vote, get 

to and from school, and enjoy public spaces, and are paid less for doing 

the same work. Around the world, disabled people continue to face discrimination, harassment, exploitation, abuse, and violence, which inhibits their 

full participation in society. 

That is why my Administration has worked to ensure that the dignity 

and rights of disabled Americans are lifted in every policy we pursue. 

Through my American Rescue Plan, we have taken action to improve access 

to health care for disabled Americans, including providing billions of dollars 

to all 50 States to expand home- and community-based services under Medicaid so that more people with disabilities can live independently at home. 

Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we have invested billions of 

dollars more in building a country that works for everyone—from repairing 

and improving accessibility in airports and transit stations to expanding 

access to high-speed internet so more disabled Americans can work, study, 

and stay connected from home. Additionally, the Department of Justice 

proposed standards for State and local governments to make their internet 

content and mobile apps more accessible to disabled Americans so that 

they can easily do things like travel to and from work and school, care 

for themselves and their loved ones, and vote. 

My Administration is also working to uphold the dignity and freedom of 

disabled people worldwide. For example, I released the first-ever memorandum on Advancing Worker Empowerment, Rights, and High Labor Standards Globally, which directed departments and agencies to account for the 

particular needs of persons with disabilities in promoting labor rights. At 

the United Nations General Assembly in September, I met with leaders 

from Central Asia at the first-ever C5+1 Presidential Summit and launched 

a joint disability rights initiative aimed at integrating disability rights, promoting inclusive education, and increasing infrastructure accessibility. At 


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84684 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 233 / Wednesday, December 6, 2023 / Presidential Documents 

the Department of State, I reestablished the role of Special Advisor on 

International Disability Rights so that the needs of disabled people are 

consistently represented in foreign policy. Through our participation as a 

co-chair of the Global Action on Disability Network and a participant in 

the Global Disability Summit, the United States continues to stand for the 

equal rights of people with disabilities around the world. 

Today, as we celebrate the dignity, resilience, and immense contributions 

of disabled people everywhere, we recognize that our progress is not just 

about protecting disability rights—it is about promoting disability pride. 

For many of the over one billion disabled people around the world, disability 

is a source of identity and power—and it is our responsibility to ensure 

everyone has equal opportunities to reach their full potential. 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States 

of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution 

and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim December 3, 2023, 

as International Day of Persons with Disabilities. I call on all Americans 

to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs. 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of 

December, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the 

Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fortyeighth. 

[FR Doc. 2023–26898 

Filed 12–5–23; 8:45 am] 

Billing code 3395–F4–P 


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