REMARKS OF HONORABLE BOB DOLE KANSAS ASSOCIATION FOR RETARDED CHILDREN ANNUAL CONVENTION TOWN HOUSE KANSAS CITY, KANSAS FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 1970 THE RECORD OF THE KANSAS ASSOCIATION FOR RETARDED CHILDREN IS ONE OF MANY REASONS KANSAS HAS A NATIONWIDE REPUTATION FOR PROGRESS IN THE FIELD OF MENTAL HANDICAPS. YOUR FOURTEEN YEARS OF SERVICE AND CONCERN FOR MENTALLY RETARDED CHILDREN ARE A GREAT POINT OF PRIDE FOR ALL KANSANS AND A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION AND HOPE FOR THOSE WHO SUFFER HANDICAPS OF ALL TYPES. TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO I BECAME A MEMBER OF AN OFTEN MISUNDERSTOOD, FREQUENTLY UNDERESTIMATED, AND WHOLLY INVOLUNTARY MINORITY GROUP: THE HANDICAPPED. -2.- MEMBERSHIP IN THIS MINORITY HAS MEANT MANY THINGS TO ME. HOWEVER, ONE POINT OF SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE HAS BEEN AN APPRECIATION OF THE IMMENSE POTENTIAL FOR CONTRIBUTION TO OUR SOCIETY WHICH THE HANDICAPPED POSSESS. ALONG WITH THIS GREAT POTENTIAL THERE IS ALSO A GREAT NEED, A NEED FOR UNDERSTANDING --- OF THE PROBLEMS WHICH THE HANDICAPPED FACE --- OF THE ASSISTANCE THEY REQUIRE TO FULFILL THEIR POTENTIAL --- AND OF PRIORITIES FOR THE LIMITED RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO ATTAIN THIS GOAL. AS AN EXAMPLE OF THE DIFFICULTIES WE FACE IN RESOURCE ALLOCATION, CONSIDER EFFORTS TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED. MENTAL RETARDATION FACILITIES CONSTRUCTION ACT PRIOR TO 1963, NO FEDERAL LEGISLATION EXISTED TO SUPPORT THE CONSTRUCTION OF FACILITIES DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR THE MENTALLY RETARDED. -3- THAT YEAR, WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, CONGRESS PASSED THE MENTAL RETARDATION FACILITIES ACT IN RECOGNITION OF THE URGENT NEED FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF MANPOWER, RESEARCH, AND A NETWORK OF FACILITIES FOR THE DELIVERY OF HEALTH CARE TO THE MENTALLY RETARDED. COMMUNITY MENTAL FACILITIES PROGRAM THE COMMUNITY MENTAL FACILITIES PROGRAM, PART C, HAS PROVIDED THE BASIS FOR 297 PROJECTS WHICH WILL SERVE 30,000 PEOPLE NOT SERVED BEFORE, AND IMPROVED SERVICES FOR AN ADDITIONAL 45,000 PERSONS. KANSAS HAS BENEFITTED FROM THIS PROGRAM. ON MARCH 21, 1970, I WAS PRESENT AT THE DEDICATION OF LAKEMARY CENTER IN PAOLA, KANSAS. I AM PARTICULARLY PROUD OF THAT COMMUNITY WHICH IN 5 YEARS BUILT AND PUT INTO OPERATION AN EXPANDED MEDICAL, EDUCATIONAL AND SERVICE COMPLEX. IT IS A STORY OF THE RESPONSIBILITY WHICH KANSAS AND ITS CITIZENS HAVE ASSUMED IN MEETING THE PROBLEMS OF MENTALLY RETARDED CHILDREN. -4- UNIVERSITY-AFFILIATED FACILITIES PROGRAM ANOTHER MAJOR EFFORT FINANCED UNDER THE 1963 ACT IS THE UNIVERSITY-AFFILIATED FACILITIES PROGRAM, PART B, WHICH PROVIDES GRANTS TO ASSIST IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FACILITIES AFFILIATED WITH UNIVERSITIES OR COLLEGES WHICH OFFER INTERDISCIPLINARY TRAINING BASED ON EXEMPLARY MODELS OF COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES TO THE MENTALLY RETARDED. THROUGH 1969, 18 PROJECTS HAVE BEEN APPROVED AND FUNDED; SIX HAVE BEEN COMPLETED; AND EIGHT ARE SCHEDULED FOR COMPLETION WITHIN THE NEXT 12 TO 18 MONTHS. KANSAS HAS ALWAYS BEEN A LEADER IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF FACILITIES TO TREAT MENTAL ILLNESS. AS A PART OF THAT TRADITION, THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS AT LAWRENCE, KANSAS UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER AT KANSAS CITY, AND THE PARSONS STATE HOSPITAL ARE CONSTRUCTING FACILITIES TO MAKE POSSIBLE THE UTILIZATION OF THE VARIED RESEARCH AND CLINICAL TRAINING RESOURCES AT THESE INSTITUTIONS. -5- INADEQUATE APPROPRIATIONS WHILE MUCH HAS BEEN DONE, WE HAVE REALLY JUST SCRATCHED THE SURFACE. UNFORTUNATELY, IN THE FISCAL YEAR 1969, AUTHORIZATIONS WERE $60 MILLION, WHILE APPROPRIATIONS WERE $29 .5 MILLION. FOR FISCAL YEAR 1970, $84 MILLION WAS AUTHORIZED AND $21.2 MILLION WAS APPROPRIATED. BECAUSE OF BUDGETARY PRESSURES, THE CONGRESS HAS BEEN UNABLE TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS NECESSARY TO FULFILL THE OBJECTIVES OF THE MENTAL FACILITIES CONSTRUCTION ACT. S. 2846, THE DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES ACT, WAS PASSED BY THE SENATE 69 TO 0 ON APRIL 13. AS YOU KNOW, THIS BILL WILL PROVIDE SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES IN AUTHORIZATION. WHETHER THESE INCREASES WILL BE AGREED TO BY THE HOUSE IS UNCERTAIN. NO COMMITTEE HEARINGS HAVE BEEN SCHEDULED YET, BUT I AM HOPE FUL THE BILL WILL EMERGE FROM THE -6- HOUSE WITH MEANINGFUL AND REALISTIC AUTHORIZATION PROVISIONS TO WHICH THE SENATE CAN AGREE AND WHICH WILL CONSIDER ALL OF OUR PRESSING HEALTH NEEDS. AS ONE STEP TOWARD MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE HANDICAPPED, I PROPOSED IN MY MAIDEN SPEECH TO THE SENATE LAST YEAR CREATION OF A PRESIDENTIAL TASK FORCE ON THE HANDICAPPED. IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT SUCH A BODY REVIEW EFFORTS IN BOTH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS ON A BROAD BASIS AND FURNISH SUGGESTIONS AND OBSERVATIONS ON THE MOST CRITICAL AREAS OF CONCERN TO THE HANDICAPPED. I WAS HIGHLY GRATIFIED WHEN THE PRESIDENT APPOINTED TWO TASK FORCES TO STUDY THE PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY HANDICAPPED. THE TASK FORCE ON THE PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED WAS APPOINTED IN OCTOBER AND MET DURING THE FALL AND EARLY WINTER. THE TASK FORCE ON THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED WAS APPOINTED IN DECEMBER, AND ITS DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS COMPLETED THEIR MEETINGS ONLY THIS MONTH. -7- AS YOU KNOW, TWO KANSANS, MRS. HARVEY FRIED AND MY WIFE, PHYLLIS, SERVED ON THE MENTAL HANDICAP TASK FORCE. I AM SURE MRS. FRIED HAS BEEN SHARING SOME OF HER EXPERIENCES WITH YOU, SO I WILL NOT ATTEMPT TO PASS ON MY WIFE'S ACCOUNTS OF THEIR WORKING SESSIONS. I WOULD RELATE THAT SHE WAS HIGHLY IMPRESSED BY THE ENTHUSIASM, DIVERSITY OF EXPERIENCE AND DEDICATION OF HER FELLOW MEMBERS. MRS. FREID ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE DIVERSITY OF PRACTICAL AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND INTERESTS IN BOTH MENTAL ILLNESS PROVED A SIGNIFICANT ASSET TO THE TASK FORCE. THROUGH THEIR MULTI-FACETED VIEWPOINTS AND EXPERTISE, COMMON AREAS OF CONCERN WERE DEFINED, SIMILAR APPROACHES TO PROBLEMS WERE MAPPED OUT AND MUTUAL UNDERSTANDINGS WERE REACHED. THIS EXAMPLE MAY PROVE HIGHLY BENEFICIAL TO WORKERS IN OTHER RELATED HANDICAPPED AREAS. STILL ANOTHER KANSAN, MRS. ROSS BEACH, OF HAYS, SERVES ON THE FIRST OF THE PRESIDENTIALLY-APPOINTED HANDICAP GROUPS, THE PRESIDENT'S COMMITTE ON MENTAL RETARDATION. -8- THE REPORTS OF THE TASK FORCES SHOULD BE UNIQUELY VALUABLE TO BOTH THE ADMINISTRATION AND TO CONGRESS IN THE FORMULATION AND CONDUCT OF FUTURE PROGRAMS TO AID THE HANDICAPPED. THE FOCUS OF THE TASK FORCES' EFFORTS WITHIN THE AREAS OF PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DISABILITIES WILL AFFORD A PERSPECTIVE WHICH TO DATE HAS BEEN UNAVAILABLE TO CONCERNED AGENCIES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND INDIVIDUALS. THE NEXT STEP I WOULD HOPE, HOWEVER THAT STUDY OF THE HANDICAPPED WILL BE CARRIED ONE STEP FURTHER. TO OBTAIN THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE VIEWPOINT OF THE ENTIRE AREA, IT SEEMS APPROPRIATE THAT AN EFFORT BE MADE TO SYNTHESIZE AND COMBINE THE WORK OF EACH TASK FORCE AND THE PRESIDENT'S COMMITTEE ON MENTAL RETARDATION. EACH OF THESE THREE GROUPS HAS CONCENTRATED ITS EFFORTS ON MAJOR, BROAD SEGMENTS OF A GENERAL FIELD. WE NOW NEED TO DRAW TOGETHER ALL THE ELEMENTS AND COMPONENTS OF THE PROBLEM OF THE DISABLED AND HANDICAPPED. -9- THIS NEED WOULD NOT BE SO URGENT IF HANDICAPPED INDIVIDUALS NEATLY FELL INTO ONE CATEGORY OR ANOTHER AND IF THE RAMIFICATIONS OF DEVELOPMENTS IN ONE FIELD DID NOT EXTEND TO OTHER AREAS. BUT INDIVIDUALS FREQUENTLY SUFFER COMBINATION OR MULTIPLE HANDICAPS. THEY ARE ALSO AFFECTED EMOTIONALLY BY PHYSICAL DISABILITIES AND HAVE PHYSICAL REACTIONS TO EMOTIONAL HANDICAPS. WE CANNOT ACHIEVE OPTIMUM RESULTS IN ONE AREA IF WE DO NOT FULLY UNDERSTAND THE WHOLE FIELD. THIS YEAR, IN WHAT I SEE AS THE SECOND IN A SERIES OF SPEECHES ON THE NEEDS AND PROBLEMS OF THE HANDICAPPED, I EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT PRESIDENT NIXON WILL TAKE THE NEXT STEP IN FULFILLING THE COMMITMENT HE DEMONSTRATED BY THE CREATION OF THE TASK FORCES AND THE COMMITTEE. A GENERAL COMMITTEE OR TASK FORCE ON THE HANDICAPPED WOULD CEMENT THE NEW FOUNDATION THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS LAID FOR PROGRESS AND GREATER UNDERSTANDING IN THIS FIELD. -10- DIFFICULT AND UNIQUE PROBLEMS IN MY REMARKS LAST YEAR, I CALLED ATTENTION TO SEVERAL ASPECTS OF LIFE IN WHICH THE HANDICAPPED ENCOUNTER PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT AND FREQUENTLY UNIQUE PROBLEMS. OF COURSE, EMPLOYMENT IS ALMOST UNIVERSALLY RECOGNIZED AS AN AREA IN WHICH THE HANDICAPPED ARE UNDER-UTILIZED AND OFTEN UNJUSTFIABLY RESTRICTED. NUMEROUS ORGANIZATIONS AND PROGRAMS HAVE SOUGHT TO STIMULATE EMPLOYMENT OF HANDICAPPED WORKERS AND TO OPEN GREATER OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM IN THE MAINSTREAM OF LIFE. THE ECONOMIC PROBLEMS WHICH A HANDICAP OFTEN GENERATES ARE TO A CERTAIN DEGREE UNDERSTOOD BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC, BUT THE IMPACT ON THE LIVES OF THE AFFLICTED AND THEIR FAMILIES IS FREQUENTLY UNAPPRECIATED. SOME RESOURCES AND FINANCIAL BENEFITS ARE AVAILABLE BOTH THROUGH GOVERNMENTAL AND PRIVATE CHANNELS, BUT OFTEN THEY ARE DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN OR OF ONLY TOKEN SIGNIFICANCE. -11- THE AVAILABILITY AND ACCESS OF NEEDED HEALTH CARE FACILITIES AND PERSONNEL LOOMS LARGE IN THE LIVES OF THE HANDICAPPED. THIS IS A MATTER WHICH USUALLY RECEIVES SCANT ATTENTION FROM THE GREAT MASS OF PEOPLE, BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO COMPARABLE NEEDS IN THEIR LIVES. IN A SIMILAR SENSE, REHABILITATION SERVICES CAN BE TREMENDOUSLY SIGNIFICANT TO THE HANDICAPPED AND DISABLED, BUT THE PUBLIC IS LARGELY UNAWARE OF THE CRITICAL NATURE OF THIS NEED. ALSO, IN THE FIELD OF EDUCATION THE HANDICAPPED POSE SPECIAL DIFFICULTIES IN REQUIREMENTS OF METHODOLOGY, FACILITIES ANO CURRICULA. SLIGHT ATTENTION AND PUBLICITY HAVE BEEN GIVEN THESE MATTERS OUTSIDE FAIRLY NARROW CORRIDORS OF CONCERN AND INVOLVEMENT. A COMMON PROBLEM - INFORMATION COMMON TO EACH OF THESE AREAS OF DIFFICULTY IS THE PROBLEM OF INFORMATION. IT APPEARS THAT THE GREATER THE AVAILABILITY AND COORDINATION OF KNOWLEDGE, THE MORE PROGRESS THE HANDICAPPED HAVE MADE TOWARD ACHIEVING MEANINGFUL SOLUTIONS AND PROGRESS. -l2- NO CENTRAL SOURCE THIS LACK OF COORDINATION AND CENTRALLY AVAILABLE INFORMATION IS NOT RESTRICTED TO ANY SINGLE SUBJECT OR GROUP OF SUBJECTS. NO ONE SOURCE EXISTS WHERE THE HANDICAPPED CAN TURN FOR INFORMATION ON COLLEGES WITH SPECIAL PROGRAMS AND FACILITIES FOR THEM. THE MATERIALS THAT ARE AVAILABLE ARE OFTEN INCOMPLETE AND OUT-OF-DATE WHEN PUBLISHED. DATA ON REHABILITATION FACILITIES AND SERVICES, EVEN ON A REGIONAL BASIS, IS WOEFULLY INCOMPLETE, AND THAT WHICH IS COMPILED OFTEN CAN BE FOUND ONLY THROUGH PROFESSIONAL CHANNELS. MUCH THE SAME CAN BE SAID FOR INFORMATION ON EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, HEALTH CARE FACILITIES AND ECONOMIC AID PROGRAMS. -13- THERE IS A GREAT VOID IN THE EFFORTS NOW UNDER WAY. THERE IS NO CENTRAL PLACE, IN OR OUT OF GOVERNMENT, WHERE THE HANDICAPPED OR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO WORK ON THESE AND OTHER PROBLEMS CAN GET THE INFORMATION THEY NEED: --THE EXAMPLES OF WHAT OTHER COMMUNITIES, ORGANIZATIONS AND INSTITUTIONS HAVE DONE; --COPIES OF LAWS, STANDARDS AND PLANS; --AND AVAILABLE FUNDS AND OPPORTUNITIES. MANY PEOPLE NOW TRY TO KEEP IN TOUCH WITH WHAT IS GOING ON BY WRITING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE FOR INFORMATION IN CONNECTION WITH SCHOOLS, OR REHABILITATION CENTERS OR AID PROGRAMS. THEY CONTACT THE GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION CONCERNING DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS FOR POST OFFICES AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS. THEY CALL ON THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT WHEN THEY NEED ASSISTANCE IN BUILDING HOUSING FOR THE HANDICAPPED, OR IDEAS ON HOW TO CHANGE LOCAL AND STATE BUILDING CODES TO GET A BETTER SYSTEM OF PRIVATE FACILITIES DEVELOPED. THEY ALSO SPEND CONSIDERABLE EFFORT IN TRACKING DOWN OFTEN GROUNDLESS REPORTS OF NEW FUNDS, PROGRAMS AND FACILITIES FOR THEMSELVES AND MEMBERS OF THEIR FAMILIES. -14- IN OTHER WORDS, THE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT RESOURCES, RESEARCH FINDING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, REPORTS, AND INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT OTHER GOVERNMENTAL UNITS, COMMUNITIES, BUSINESSES AND COLLEGES HAVE DONE TO ACCOMMODATE HANDICAPPED PEOPLE IS DIFFUSED AND COMPLETELY LACKING IN CENTRALIZATION OR COORDINATION. A NATIONAL RESOURCE AND INFORMATION CENTER I POINTED OUT IN MY REMARKS TO THE SENATE LAST WEEK THAT IT IS TIME FOR THE CONGRESS TO PROVIDE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL INFORMATION AND RESOURCE CENTER TO BE A POINT OF CONTACT FOR INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS, PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS, PROFESSIONAL GROUPS, AND CITY AND STATE OFFICIALS, WHO SEEK INFORMATION OR DIRECTION. IN SUCH A CENTER, THE INFORMATION WOULD BE STORED FOR ALL TO USE. IT WOULD HAVE A SMALL STAFF TO DIRECT INQUIRIES TO SPECIALIZED CONTACTS EITHER UNIVERSITIES, INDIVIDUALS OR ORGANIZATIONS WHICH HAVE SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE OR HAVE SUCCESSFULLY WORKED ON ASPECTS OF THESE PROBLEMS. HERE IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE FOR INTEREST -15- GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS TO POOL THEIR KNOWLEDGE WITH OTHERS. IN THE INTERCHANGE OF THEIR EXPERIENCES, WE WOULD SEE DEVELOP NEW WAYS TO UTILIZE OUR EXPANDING TECHNOLOGY IN PROVIDING BETTER LIVING CONDITIONS, EXPANDED PERSONAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND MORE COMPLETE REALIZATION FOR THE HANDICAPPED. THIS INFORMATION CENTER WILL NOT BE AN END IN ITSELF. IT IS, HOWEVER, AN ANSWER TO A SPECIFIC AND WELL-DEFINED NEED, AND IT WILL MEET THIS NEED AT MODEST COST. 50TH YEAR FOR REHABILITATION THIS IS THE 50TH YEAR FOR THE STATE-FEDERAL REHABILITATION PROGRAM. IN THIS HALF-CENTURY THE PROGRAM HAS GROWN FROM ONE SERVING 523 PEOPLE ON A BUDGET OF $285,000 TO ONE SERVING MORE THAN A QUARTER MILLION DISABLED AND HANDICAPPED INDIVIDUALS ON A BUDGET OF MORE THAN $500 MILLION. THE SERVICES PROVIDED HAVE BROADENED FROM STRICTLY PHYSICAL REHABILITATION TO ENCOMPASS PROGRAMS FOR THOSE WITH EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL DISORDERS. -16- A MOST FITTING MARK FOR THE BEGINNING OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'SSECOND HALF-CENTURY OF ACTIVE CONCERN FOR AND SERVICE TO THE HANDICAPPED WOULD BE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THIS CENTER. THE 42 MILLION AMERICANS WHO BELONG TO THE HANDICAPPED MINORITY WILL BE THE IMMEDIATE BENEFICIARIES OF THE CENTER'S SERVICES. AMERICA AND THE 160 MILLION MAJORITY WILL BE THE ULTIMATE BENEFICIARIES, THROUGH THE INCREASED CONTRIBUTION, WELL-BEING AND PERSONAL FULFILLMENT OF THE HANDICAPPED.