SENATOR BOB DOLE
WELCOMING REMARKS
J.C. PENNEY/N.0.D.
NATIONAL PARTNERS AWARDS LUNCHEON
THURSDAY, MAY 26, 1994

WELCOME
GOOD AFTERNOON. IT IS A PLEASURE TO WELCOME YOU TO THIS EIGHTH ANNUAL AWARDS LUNCHEON SPONSORED BY J.C. PENNEY AND THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION ON DISABILITY TO HONOR NOD'S NATIONAL PARTNERS.

I AM VERY GLAD TO SEE A NUMBER OF FAMILIAR, FRIENDLY FACES, INCLUDING ALAN REICH, JIM BRADY, JIM OESTERREICH ER, RAY SHAFER, AND JACK VALENTI.

THE NATIONAL PARTNERS PROGRAM AND THE SPIRIT OF ADA LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT IN 1990, THIS NATION EMBARKED ON A GREAT ENTERPRISE.

THE POET ARCHIBALD MACLEISH ONCE WROTE, "AMERICA WAS ALWAYS PROMISES." BUT FOR TOO LONG THE PROMISES OF AMERICA WERE DENIED TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES BECAUSE OF DISCRIMINATION, INCLUDING A LACK OF ACCESSIBILITY AND ACCOMMODATIONS.

WE ARE NOW DETERMINED TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION, AND ENSURE THAT EVERY AMERICAN, REGARDLESS OF DISABILITY, HAS A SHOT AT THE AMERICAN DREAM AND FULFILLING THEIR PERSONAL PROMISE.

BUT LAWS CAN DO ONLY SO MUCH.

REAL INCLUSION AND INTEGRATION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES -- AND NOT MERELY THE APPEARANCE OF INCLUSION -- MUST COME FROM OUR HEARTS AND MINDS.

PERHAPS MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE, WE NEED TO REMOVE ATTITUDINAL BARRIERS.

IN MY VIEW, THIS IS WHY THE NATIONAL PARTNERS PROGRAM IS SPECIAL. YOUR EFFORTS TO INCLUDE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN YOUR PROGRAMS EXEMPLIFY THE SPIRIT OF ADA AND THE AMERICAN IDEAL OF SERVICE TO OTHERS. IT IS ABOUT BREAKING DOWN THE BARRIERS OF NEGATIVE STEROTYPES.

LET ME NOTE THAT THE MOVIES HAVE A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE AS WELL, AND I AM SURE JACK VALENTI WILL HAVE MANY EXCELLENT THINGS TO SAY ON THIS SCORE.

I SALUTE YOU, THE COMMITMENT OF J.C. PENNEY TO THIS PROGRAM, AND THE INITIATIVE OF NOD.

CLOSING
ONCE AGAIN, MY BEST WISHES. ENJOY YOUR LUNCH.