Presidential Documents

Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 195 / Friday, October 8, 2010 / Presidential Documents 62301 

Proclamation 8574 of October 1, 2010 

National Disability Employment Awareness Month, 2010 

By the President of the United States of America 

A Proclamation 

As Americans, we understand employment and economic security are critical 

to fulfilling our hopes and aspirations. We also know we are stronger when 

our country and economy can benefit from the skills and talents of all 

our citizens. No individual in our Nation should face unnecessary barriers 

to success, and no American with a disability should be limited in his 

or her desire to work. During National Disability Employment Awareness 

Month, we renew our focus on improving employment opportunities and 

career pathways that lead to good jobs and sound economic futures for 

people with disabilities. 

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities 

Act (ADA), the landmark civil rights legislation that established a foundation 

of justice and equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities. In the 

two decades since its passage, much progress has been made. However, 

Americans with disabilities continue to be employed at a rate far below 

Americans without disabilities, and they are underrepresented in our Federal 

workforce. 

My Administration is committed to ensuring people living with disabilities 

have fair access to jobs so they can contribute to our economy and realize 

their dreams. To help achieve this goal, I signed an Executive Order in 

July to increase Federal employment of individuals with disabilities. This 

directive requires Federal agencies to design model recruitment and hiring 

strategies for people with disabilities, and to implement programs to retain 

these public servants. To ensure transparency and accountability, agencies 

will report on their progress on hiring people with disabilities, and the 

Office of Personnel Management will post the results of agencies’ efforts 

online for public evaluation. As the Nation’s largest employer, the Federal 

Government can become a model employer by increasing employment across 

America of individuals with disabilities. 

The 21st-century economy demands a highly educated workforce equipped 

with the technology and skills to maintain America’s leadership in the 

global marketplace. Technology has changed the way we work, and the 

Federal Government is leveraging emerging, assistive, and other workplace 

technologies to improve the options available for everyone, including workers 

with disabilities. We must improve the accessibility of our workplaces and 

enable the collaboration and contributions of every employee, and that is 

why I look forward to signing into law the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010. This legislation will greatly 

increase access to technology, with advances in areas such as closed captioning, delivery of emergencyinformation, video description, and other advanced communications—all essential tools for learning and working in 

today’s technological society. 

Individuals with disabilities are a vital and dynamic part of our Nation, 

and their contributions have impacted countless lives. People with disabilities bring immeasurablevalue to our workplaces, and we will continue 

to address the challenges to employment that must be overcome. This month, 

let us rededicate ourselves to fostering equal access and fair opportunity 


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62302 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 195 / Friday, October 8, 2010 / Presidential Documents 

in our labor force, and to capitalizing on the talent, skills, and rich diversity 

of all our workers. 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States 

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

and the laws of theUnited States, do hereby proclaim October 2010 as 

National Disability Employment Awareness Month. I urge all Americans 

to embrace the unique value that individuals with disabilities bring to our 

workplaces and communities and to promoteeveryone’s right to employment. 

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

October, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the Independence 

of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth. 

[FR Doc. 2010–25574 

Filed 10–7–10; 8:45 am] 

Billing code 3195–W1–P 


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