BOB DOLE
KANSAS 
UNITED STATES SENATE
OFFICE OF THE REPUBLICAN LEADER 
WASHINGTON, DC 20510 
November 18, 1991 
(End of Letterhead)

Center for Independent Living
2539 Telegraph Avenue
Berkley, California 94704 

Dear Friends: 
I am very pleased to have served on the National Advisory Board for your historic conference on "Independent Living: Preparing for the 21st Century." The Conference was a great success in the development of progressive disability policies that will result in full inclusion of EVERY American into the mainstream of society. 

With passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act we mark an important beginning, giving us not only a framework from which to work, but also a mandate from which to proceed. However, to reinforce the goals of the ADA and to move disability policy forward into the next century, it is critical to maintain a solid partnership between the public and private sectors in order to bring about effective implementation. Working together, we can ensure that EVERY American citizen will be provided the access and opportunity to be a part of all that society offers. From this perspective, it should be noted that passage of the ADA alone does not guarantee that it's mandates will be fulfilled. As a result, we need to redefine and enhance current disability programs in order to bring them up to speed with current policies mandated under the ADA. Your conference was timely in providing a blueprint to meet this challenge. 
 
The time is now, to create consumer-driven incentives in the Rehabilitation Act, the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Program, as well as the Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) Program if creative employment opportunities are to come to fruition for individuals with disabilities. Additionally, the inclusion of Personal Assistance Services in programs and policies assisting individuals with disabilities is needed if we are to accelerate full inclusion that we all desire. Again, congratulations on your successful conference and I look forward to utilizing your conference findings to strengthen national disability policy.