Presidential Documents

Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 192 / Thursday, October 3, 2024 / Presidential Documents 80369 

Proclamation 10825 of September 30, 2024 

National Disability Employment Awareness Month, 2024 

By the President of the United States of America 

A Proclamation 

America’s economy is stronger when every American has an opportunity 

to thrive and contribute meaningfully. During National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we honor the incredible contributions of disabled 

Americans to our country and economy. And we recommit to opening 

the doors of opportunity wider for people with disabilities, making our 

Nation more equal, accessible, and fair. 

Not too long ago, a person with a disability in America could be denied 

employment because of their disability. They could even be denied access 

to public spaces and basic needs like service in a restaurant or a grocery 

store. One of my early acts as a United States Senator was co-sponsoring 

the Rehabilitation Act. It was the first time in our Nation’s history that 

we declared in law what we knew to be true: that Americans with disabilities 

deserve dignity, respect, and an equal chance at the American Dream. The 

Rehabilitation Act is one of the most consequential civil rights laws in 

our Nation’s history, banning discrimination on the basis of disability by 

any entity the Federal Government funds. 

The Rehabilitation Act laid the groundwork for another landmark law: the 

Americans with Disabilities Act. I was enormously proud to co-sponsor 

that bill and remain even prouder of its lasting legacy today. For more 

than 61 million Americans living with a disability, these laws are a source 

of opportunity, meaningful inclusion, participation, respect, and—as my 

dad would say—dignity. And in the Obama-Biden Administration, we built 

on the lasting legacy of these laws by setting hiring goals in Federal contracts 

for people with disabilities, which we have upheld and continued to pursue 

in the Biden-Harris Administration. 

My Administration is committed to ensuring people with disabilities have 

access to good jobs. In my first few months in office, I signed an Executive 

Order establishing a Government-wide commitment to advancing equality 

and equity in Federal employment, including for people with disabilities. 

It brought together the Department of Labor, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Office of Personnel Management to ensure that 

Federal workplaces are fully accessible to people with disabilities so that 

the dignity and rights of disabled Americans are lifted in every policy 

we pursue. That includes making sure our Nation’s largest employer—the 

Federal Government—is the model for fair, accessible, and decent practices 

in the workplace. This Executive Order directs agencies to address the 

challenges faced by job applicants and employees with disabilities. Additionally, the General Services Administration adopted the United States Access 

Board’s new guidelines to ensure people with disabilities have access to 

the over 300,000 Federal Government buildings. Furthermore, my Administration ended the use of unfair subminimum wages in Federal contracts— 

no longer will employers be permitted to pay workers with disabilities 

less than minimum wage through the AbilityOne Federal contracting program. And the Department of Labor has launched a comprehensive review 

of the subminimum wage program. We are working to increase hiring for 


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80370 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 192 / Thursday, October 3, 2024 / Presidential Documents 

people with disabilities in every sector—from helping State and local governments, businesses, and nonprofits access Federal funds to hire more disabled 

Americans to appointing people with disabilities to positions in my Administration. 

My Administration is also strengthening our Nation’s infrastructure and 

making it more accessible so that people with disabilities have no problems 

commuting to work or other places. My Bipartisan Infrastructure Law makes 

the biggest investment ever—$1.75 billion—to expand accessibility in transit 

and rail stations. It also includes $65 billion to expand access to highspeed internet so more disabled Americans can work, study, and stay connected from home. Further, the Department of Justice finalized standards 

for State and local governments to make their internet content and mobile 

apps more accessible so that digital workplaces are accessible to disabled 

Americans. 

During National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we celebrate the 

talent, impact, and legacy of people with disabilities across our Nation 

by working to make our country stronger, more prosperous, and more just. 

And we recommit to ensuring people with disabilities have every opportunity 

to pursue the American Dream. 

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 October 2024 as 

National Disability Employment Awareness Month. I urge all Americans 

to embrace the talents and skills of workers with disabilities and to promote 

the right to equal employment opportunity for all. 

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

of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-four, and of 

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

forty-ninth. 

[FR Doc. 2024–22992 

Filed 10–2–24; 8:45 am] 

Billing code 3395–F4–P 


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