SPEECH FOR INDUSTRY-LABOR CONFERENCE 
SEPTEMBER 30, 1987 

I AM PLEASED TO BE HERE AND TO BE A PART OF THIS INDUSTRY-LABOR CONFERENCE ON AN ISSUE THAT IS IMPORTANT TO ME AND TO EVERYONE IN THIS COUNTRY ­THE EMPLOYMENT FOR DISABLED INDIVIDUALS. 

IN 1973 THIS COUNTRY CHANGED ITS DIRECTION IN HOW IT RELATED TO DISABLED PERSONS. WITH THE PASSAGE AND SIGNING OF THE REHABILITATION ACT, WE AS A NATION CHALLENGED OURSELVES TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT ALLOWED DISABLED INDIVIDUALS INTO THE MAINSTREAM OF SOCIETY. 

KEY TO FULL PARTICIPATION FOR DISABLED INDIVIDUALS AND FOR ALL OF US IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK. AT THE TIME 70 PERCENT OF DISABLED INDIVIDUALS IN THIS COUNTRY, WHO WERE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 16 AND 64 AND CAPABLE OF WORKING, WERE UNEMPLOYED. THIS WAS A RATE MORE THAN TEN TIMES THE NATIONAL AVERAGE. 

SINCE THEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS INSTITUTED REGULATIONS PROHIBITING DISCRIMINATION AGAINST AN INDIVIDUAL MERELY BECAUSE HE OR SHE IS DISABLED. WE HAVE SUPPORTED PROGRAMS TO HELP DISABLED INDIVIDUALS RECEIVE VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE, TRAINING AND ASSISTANCE WITH PLACEMENT. WE HAVE PASSED TAX DEDUCTIONS AND CREDITS TO ENCOURAGE BUSINESSES TO HIRE DISABLED INDIVIDUALS. THROUGH THE PRESIDENT'S COMMITTEE ON EMPLOYMENT OF THE HANDICAPPED, WE HAVE MOUNTED A SIGNIFICANT PUBLICITY DRIVE TO ENCOURAGE EMPLOYERS INCLUDING OURSELVES TO HIRE DISABLED PERSONS. AND WE ARE REVIEWING OUR DISABILITY SUPPORT PROGRAMS SUCH AS SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME TO REMOVE DISINCENTIVES TO WORK.
 
IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR MANY CORPORATIONS LIKE YOUR OWN EITHER IN RESPONSE TO THESE FEDERAL INITIATIVES OR BECAUSE YOU REALIZE IT IS GOOD BUSINESS, ARE GIVING DISABLED PERSONS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE AND SUCCEED IN POSITIONS IN YOUR COMPANIES. YOU PROBABLY HAVE ALSO DISCOVERED THE SAVINGS THAT CAN BE REALIZED IN DISABILITY RETIREMENT OR WORKMAN'S COMPENSATION PAYMENTS WHEN MEASURES ARE TAKEN TO RETURN DISABLED EMPLOYEES TO WORK. 

YET DESPITE ALL THAT HAS BEEN DONE BY BOTH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS, A 1986 HARRIS POLL DISCOVERED THAT NEARLY 67 PERCENT OF DISABLED AMERICANS, BETWEEN THE AGES 16 AND 64, ARE NOT WORKING. WHAT MAKES THIS STATISTIC EVEN MORE TELLING IS THAT 66 PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE POLLED IN THAT SURVEY SAID THEY WANTED TO WORK. IT SEEMS THAT WE HAVE A LARGE STILL UNTAPPED RESOURCE AND I DON'T THINK WE, AS A SOCIETY, CAN ALLOW IT TO GO UNUTILIZED. 

I AM NOT SURE WHAT THE SOLUTIONS ARE. BUT I AM DEDICATED TO WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU WHO ARE EQUALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROBLEM IN FINDING THOSE SOLUTIONS. I SHARE YOUR HOPE THAT WE WILL HAVE "FULL EMPLOYMENT FOR DISABLED INDIVIDUALS IN THE 1990'S" AND COMMIT MYSELF TO DOING EVERYTHING I CAN TO HELP MEET THAT GOAL.