SENATOR BOB DOLE
CONSORTIUM FOR CITIZENS WITH DISABILITIES BRIEFING
ROOM 2237 RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING
MARCH 13, 1989

WELCOME TO THE CONSORTIUM FOR CITIZENS WITH DISABILITIES (CCD) BRIEFING. I AM HAPPY TO SPONSOR THIS EVENT WITH REP. COEHLO, WHICH HAS BROUGHT SO MANY OF YOU HERE TODAY, TO LEARN ABOUT A VARIETY OF IMPORTANT LEGISLATIVE INTIATIVES THAT IMPACT ON AMERICA'S 43 MILLION CITIZENS WITH DISABILITIES.

THE 101ST CONGRESS WILL UNDERTAKE LEGISLATION AFFECTING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ENCOMPASSING EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE AND CIVIL RIGHTS. I HOPE THIS BRIEFING WILL MARK THE CONTINUATION OF A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES, CONGRESS AND THE NEW ADMINISTRATION.

MANY THANKS GO TO THE CONSORTIUM FOR CITIZENS WITH DISABILITIES, RESPONSIBLE FOR PUTIING THIS EVENT TOGETHER. CCD HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN PROVIDING MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND THEIR STAFFS VALUABLE INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE IN SETIING DISABILITY POLICY. WE OWE ALOT TO THIS COALITION FOR THE MANY STRIDES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE IN THE PAST THREE CONGRESS'. OF PARTICULAR IMPORTANCE TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, WAS LEGISLATION FROM THE 1OOTH CONGRESS WHICH SAW ENACTMENT OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS RESTORATION ACT, THE FAIR HOUSING AMENDMENT ACT, AND THE TECHNOLOGY-RELATED ASSISTANCE ACT, TO NAME JUST A FEW. THESE LEGISLATIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS WERE SUCCESSFUL, DUE IN A LARGE PART TO, THE EFFORTS OF THE COALITION.

YOU WILL HEAR TODAY FROM PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES, FIRST HAND, THEIR PERCEPTIONS OF VARIOUS FEDERAL PROGRAMS AND IMPLEMENTATION OF SERVICES MANDATED UNDER LAW. MOST IMPORTANT, HOWEVER, PANELISTS, WILL PERSONALLY SHARE THE IMPACT A DISABILITY HAS HAD IN THEIR LIFE. IF ONE CHOOSES TO, ONE CAN, CAN INFLUENCE MUCH OF WHAT OCCURS IN WASHINGTON IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS -- THIS FORUM WILL SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO, HERE AND NOW.

PRESIDENT BUSH AND VICE-PRESIDENT QUAYLE HAVE PROMISED A KINDER, GENTLER, AMERICA AND I BELIEVE THAT PROMISE WILL BE KEPT. AMERICA'S DISABLED CITIZENS ARE PERHAPS OUR GREATEST RESOURCE OF UNTAPPED POTENTIAL. WORKING TO OPEN SOCIETY TO FULL PARTICIPATION BY PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, WILL IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE NOT ONLY FOR DISABLED INDIVIDUALS, BUT FOR ALL AMERICANS. PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ARE NOT A SMALL, UNIFORM MINORITY WITH NARROW INTERESTS -- DISABILITIES KNOW NO BOUNDARIES OR ECONOMIC CLASS -- MEMBERSHIP IS OPEN TO ALL AND MOST OF US WHO LIVE OUR LIFESPAN WILL JOIN THIS COMMUNITY SOONER OR LATER.

I AM CERTAIN THAT TODAYS FORUM WILL ADDRESS ISSUES PERTAINING TO COMPREHENSIVE CIVIL RIGHTS LEGISLATION FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, THE "MEDICAID HOME AND COMMUNllY OUALllY SERVICES ACT," AND REUTHORIZATION LEGISLATION SUCH AS THE EDUCATION FOR ALL HANDICAPPED CHILDREN ACT AS WELL AS THE CARL D. PERKINS VOCATIONAL EDUCATION ACT,TO HIGHLIGHT JUST A FEW.

I COMMEND CCD FOR RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATING CONGRESSIONAL STAFF ON ISSUES AFFECTING PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, -- FOR THE PRESENTERS HERE TODAY, KNOW BEDER THAN ANY OTHER, THE ABILITIES AND SELF DETERMINATION , PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES POSSESS. THE GREATEST DISABILITY TO OVERCOME, IS THAT OF THE ARCHAIC MISPERCEPTION THAT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ARE IN NEED OF SYMPATHY.

IT IS TIME FOR A SHARED EFFORT BY ALL OF US TO EXCEL AGAIN THIS CONGRESS. OPPORTUNITIES ARE LIMITED ONLY BY OUR OWN CAPACITY TO CHALLENGE AND EMPOWER OURSELVES.