Presidential Documents

96855 

Federal Register 

Vol. 89, No. 235 

Friday, December 6, 2024 

Title 3— 

The President 

Proclamation 10868 of December 3, 2024 

International Day of Persons With Disabilities, 2024 

By the President of the United States of America 

A Proclamation 

The over one billion disabled people around the world have made incredible 

contributions—propelling us all forward in the pursuit of progress. This 

International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we recommit to ensuring 

that people with disabilities are treated with dignity and respect and have 

every opportunity to reach their full potential. 

I remain proud that one of my earliest acts as a United States Senator 

was co-sponsoring the Rehabilitation Act, banning discrimination on the 

basis of disability by any entity funded by the Federal Government. And 

later, I co-sponsored the Americans with Disabilities Act, which banned 

discrimination against disabled people in workplaces, schools, public transit, 

and more—finally making a commitment to build an America for all Americans. Together, these laws declared what we have always known to be 

true: that Americans with disabilities deserve dignity, respect, and an equal 

chance at the American Dream. 

Over 180 nations have passed similar laws in the years since, codifying 

their commitment to equal justice and opportunities for people with disabilities. Still, these laws have not brought an end to the work we need to 

do. Around the world, people with disabilities are subject to shameful 

discrimination, harassment, exploitation, abuse, and violence. And too often, 

they struggle to get by—whether it is finding an accommodating job, enjoying 

public spaces, receiving quality education, or getting to and from school 

or work. 

That is why my Administration has worked to uplift people with disabilities 

in everything we do. My American Rescue Plan provided $37 billion to 

strengthen home-based services so that more people with disabilities have 

the option to live independently at home. My Bipartisan Infrastructure Law 

makes historic investments in making transit, rail, and airports more accessible, so that people with disabilities can commute and travel with dignity. 

The Department of Justice issued a rule that ensures State and local governments make their web content and mobile apps more accessible to Americans 

with disabilities so they can more easily access local government services, 

emergency services, voting information, and publicly funded education. And 

today, the Department of Labor announced a proposed rule that would 

gradually phase out certificates that permit employers to pay workers with 

disabilities less than the full minimum wage. 

My Administration has also worked with partners around the world to 

secure the rights of people with disabilities. I released the first-ever Memorandum on Advancing Worker Empowerment, Rights, and High Labor Standards Globally, which is working to ensure that people with disabilities 

are represented in our work to promote labor rights. And I re-established 

the role of Special Advisor on International Disability Rights at the Department of State to ensure our foreign policy reflects our commitment to this 

community. In October, my Administration participated in the first-ever 

G7 Ministerial on Inclusion and Disability, joining leaders around the world 

to advance disability rights. Together with leaders from Central Asia, I 

launched a joint disability rights initiative to help make education and 


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96856 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 235 / Friday, December 6, 2024 / Presidential Documents 

infrastructure more accessible. And as a co-chair of the Global Action on 

Disability Network, the United States is continuing to advocate for disability 

rights on the world stage. 

Today, I am thinking of a quote from disability rights activist Judy Heumann, 

who once wrote: ‘‘Change never happens at the pace we think it should. 

It happens over years of people joining together, strategizing, sharing, and 

pulling all the levers they possibly can.’’ On International Day of Persons 

with Disabilities, we show our gratitude for all the leaders and activists 

who have advocated and worked to make real our Nation’s founding promise—that every American has a right to be recognized and respected for 

who they are. And we recommit to building a world where we support 

disability pride and give everyone an equitable chance at achieving their 

highest aspirations. 

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, 2024, 

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 third day of 

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

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

[FR Doc. 2024–28852 

Filed 12–5–24; 8:45 am] 

Billing code 3395–F4–P 


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