REHAB INSTITUTE OF KANSAS CITY VIDEO 

ON BEHALF OF EVERYONE AT THE DOLE FOUNDATION, THANK YOU FOR THIS TREMENDOUS HONOR. 

WE STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT HAVING A JOB IS A BASIC COMPONENT OF THE AMERICAN DREAM, AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES ARE ENTITLED TO THAT DREAM, TOO. 

THAT'S WHY CONGRESS AND PRESIDENT BUSH MADE THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) THE LAW OF THE LAND. NOW WE HAVE THE CLOUT TO HELP PREVENT QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES FROM BEING DENIED JOBS. IF SOME FOLKS STILL DON'T THINK WE NEED THE ADA, TELL THEM THIS FACT: WHILE PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES ARE EXCELLENT EMPLOYEES, THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR THIS GROUP IS THE HIGHEST IN THE NATION. 

THAT'S ONE BIG REASON WHY I CREATED THE DOLE FOUNDATION. IT HELPS THE PRIVATE SECTOR PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THE MANY OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING PROGRAMS WHICH FOSTER COMPETITIVE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES. EVERY INDIVIDUAL HAS UNIQUE ABILITIES AND TALENTS --AND THOSE QUALITIES CAN PAY BIG DIVIDENDS FOR AN EMPLOYER, IF A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY IS GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY. 

IT'S THE REHABILITATION INSTITUTE OF KANSAS CITY'S COMMITMENT TO THIS IDEAL THAT MAKES THIS HONOR SO SPECIAL. FOR 45 YEARS, THE INSTITUTE HAS PROVIDED STATE OF THE ART REHABILITATION TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES TO MAXIMIZE THEIR POTENTIAL AND TO PROMOTE INDEPENDENCE IN THE COMMUNITY. 

NO DOUBT ABOUT IT, THANKS TO THE WORK OF THE GOOD PEOPLE IN GREATER KANSAS CITY, WE ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE. 

THANK YOU, AND KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. 
###