FLOOR STATEMENT OF SENATOR ROBERT J. DOLE ON DEAF AWARENESS WEEK
MARCH 8, 1990

MR. PRESIDENT: I AM PLEASED TO JOIN MY COLLEAGUES IN CELEBRATING "DEAF AWARENESS WEEK." THE WORLD WITNESSED A REVOLUTIONARY TURN OF EVENTS AT GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY THAT SECOND WEEK IN MARCH OF 1988 WHEN STUDENTS, FACULTY, STAFF AND FRIENDS JOINED TOGETHER IN A UNITED FRONT TO INSTALL ITS FIRST DEAF PRESIDENT. THE "DEAF PRESIDENT NOW" MOVEMENT HAD WORLDWIDE IMPACT FOR DEAF PEOPLE AS WELL AS OTHER INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.

THE MESSAGE WAS SIMPLE YET SPIRITED AND ONE THAT PERMEATED THIS NATION FOR MONTHS THEREAFTER - THAT DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING INDIVIDUALS ARE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE EACH WITH UNIQUE ABILITIES AND IN CONTROL OF THEIR OWN DESTINY.

THE DEAF NOW PRESIDENT MOVEMENT HERALDED A NEW BEGINNING AT GALLAUDET WITH THE INSTALLATION OF DR. I KING JORDAN AS ITS FIRST DEAF PRESIDENT. DR. JORDAN LEADS GALLAUDET INTO A NEW ERA BY THE EXAMPLE HE SETS.

THIS HISTORIC EVENT WAS MADE POSSIBLE BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE COMMITTED TO A CAUSE THAT THEY BELIEVED TO BE JUST AND RIGHT. THE RIGHT OF EVERY PERSON TO PURSUE THEIR GOALS AND REACH NEW HEIGHTS. THE WORLD SAW THE CAPACITY FOR EXCELLENCE IS NOT RESERVED FOR THOSE WHO CAN HEAR.

UNFORTUNATELY DEAF PEOPLE KNOW FIRST HAND WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST AND SHUNNED FROM THE MAINSTREAM. CONGRESS HAS RESPONDED TO THEIR JUST AND RIGHT MESSAGE WITH SENATE PASSAGE OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT. I HOPE THE HOUSE WILL SOON FOLLOW IN PASSING THIS HISTORIC PIECE OF CIVIL RIGHTS LEGISLATION WHICH WILL BRING THIS LAST AND LARGEST MINORITY INTO A POSITION OF ACHIEVING EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, ACCESS, AND FULL PARTICIPATION IN THE AMERICAN DREAM.

PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ARE OFTEN LIMITED BY THE ATTITUDINAL BARRIERS THAT SOCIETY HAS IMPOSED ON US. IT IS MY HOPE THAT THROUGH "DEAF AWARENESS WEEK" AND PASSAGE OF THE ADA WE CAN CORRECT THE MISPERCEPTIONS THAT EXIST.

I AM PROUD THAT THIS BODY RECENTLY PASSED LEGISLATION TO INSURE CLOSED CAPTIONING OF THE SENATE PROCEEDINGS WHICH I INTRODUCED AND WILL BE IMPLEMENTED SOON. WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE KNOWLEDGE GAINED FROM OBSERVING THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS IN ACTION MAKES FOR A MORE INFORMED AND INVOLVED CITIZENRY. AND THEY BELIEVE AS I DO, THAT AS CITIZENS AND TAXPAYERS, DEAF AND HEARING IMPAIRED AMERICANS ARE AS ENTITLED TO WITNESS THE DEBATES OF THEIR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES AS ANYONE ELSE.

I'D LIKE TO THANK REV. GERALD TRACONE FOR PROVIDING INTERPRETER SERVICES TODAY SO THAT ALL DEAF AND HEARING IMPAIRED CITIZENS CAN EQUALLY PARTICIPATE IN TODAY'S CELEBRATION AND I'D LIKE TO WELCOME THOSE PEOPLE IN THE GALLERY WHO ARE HERE TODAY WITH US TO SHARE AN IMPORTANT TRIBUTE TO A HISTORICAL EVENT THAT TRULY BROUGHT ABOUT GREATER AWARENESS OF DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING INDIVIDUALS.

WHAT HAPPENED AT GALLAUDET WAS AN INSPIRATION TO ALL OF US. WITH DISABILITIES AND A CHALLENGE THAT SHOULD NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. AS PRESIDENT I KING JORDAN SO ELOQUENTLY STATED "THE ONLY THING DEAF PEOPLE CAN'T DO IS HEAR" - WHEN WE STAND UNITED WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND WE MUST BE EVER VIGILANT IN OUR EFFORTS TO ENSURE AN INCLUSIVE AMERICA.