Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 124.djvu/4731

 124 STAT. 4705 PROCLAMATION 8574—OCT. 1, 2010 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 Dis- ability Employment Awareness Month, we renew our focus on improv- ing 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 Disabil- ities Act (ADA), the landmark civil rights legislation that established a foundation of justice and equal opportunity for individuals with dis- abilities. 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 under- represented in our Federal workforce. My Administration is committed to ensuring people living with dis- abilities have fair access to jobs so they can contribute to our economy and realize their dreams. To help achieve this goal, I signed an Execu- tive 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 trans- parency and accountability, agencies will report on their progress on hiring people with disabilities, and the Office of Personnel Manage- ment will post the results of agencies’ efforts online for public evalua- tion. As the Nation’s largest employer, the Federal Government can be- come 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 leader- ship 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 ac- cessibility of our workplaces and enable the collaboration and con- tributions of every employee, and that is why I look forward to signing into law the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessi- bility Act of 2010. This legislation will greatly increase access to tech- nology, with advances in areas such as closed captioning, delivery of emergency information, video description, and other advanced commu- nications—all essential tools for learning and working in today’s tech- nological society. Individuals with disabilities are a vital and dynamic part of our Na- tion, and their contributions have impacted countless lives. People with disabilities bring immeasurable value to our workplaces, and we