Talking Points: Keynote Address to the Governor's Conference on the Prevention of Childhood Disabilities

Item

Other Media

c021_001_006_004_tr

Extent (Dublin Core)

25 Pages

File Name (Dublin Core)

c021_001_006_004

Title (Dublin Core)

Talking Points: Keynote Address to the Governor's Conference on the Prevention of Childhood Disabilities

Description (Dublin Core)

This speech is Senator Dole's reading copy.

Date (Dublin Core)

1989-12-07

Date Created (Dublin Core)

1989-12-07

Congress (Dublin Core)

101st (1989-1991)

Topics (Dublin Core)

See all items with this valueChildren with disabilities

Policy Area (Curation)

Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues

Creator (Dublin Core)

Dole, Robert J. (1923-2021)

Record Type (Dublin Core)

speeches (documents)

Names (Dublin Core)

See all items with this valueUnited States. Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

See all items with this valueSpecial Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (U.S.)

Location representation (Dublin Core)

See all items with this valueKansas

Rights (Dublin Core)

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/

Language (Dublin Core)

eng

Collection Finding Aid (Dublin Core)

https://dolearchivecollections.ku.edu/?p=collections/findingaid&id=54&q=

Physical Location (Dublin Core)

Collection 021, Box 1, Folder 6

Institution (Dublin Core)

Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS

Archival Collection (Dublin Core)

Alec Vachon Papers, 1969-2006

Full Text (Extract Text)

TALKING POINTS FOR KEYNOTE ADDRESS TO THE GOVERNOR'S CONFERENCE ON THE PREVENTION OF CHILDHOOD DISABILITIES
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1989
LAWRENCE HOLIDOME

BACKGROUND & INTRODUCTION

The purpose of the conference is to generate interest, encourage involvement and support, and increase awareness of the preventability of certain developmental disabilities.

Those in attendance are knowledgeable professionals who have come together to share what they know and to learn how to better meet the needs of persons with disabilities in Kansas.

The services available in Kansas represent the type of coordinated statewide effort which reflects state-of-the-art practice. The problem in Kansas as in other states is that the need for the program or service far surpasses the availability.

Partly as a result of this situation there are many persons with developmental disabilities whose conditions could have been prevented.

Although it's fashionable to always knock Congress, I must say that 1989 was a fairly productive session for the House and Senate. Because this year represents only the first half of the 101st Congress, in my view, it's premature to make any final judgments. Congress made major progress in the war on drugs and crime, made a good start on child care, boosted the minimum wage, enacted critical drought relief legislation for our farmers and stayed strong on foreign policy. There was also good news from Washington for America's disabled. The 101st Congress approved significant -- even historic -- legislation for persons with disabilities and their families.

Leading the way was Senate passage of The Americans with Disabilities Act.

THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT

Although the prevention of developmental disabilities is and must be a focus of our domestic policy we must also be concerned about the everyday lives of persons with developmental disabilities.

That's why the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act is so important. This historic civil rights legislation has passed the Senate and is now pending in the House. When enacted, the ADA will provide clear, consistent, enforceable civil rights protection to individuals with disabilities by prohibiting discrimination in employment and public accommodations. This legislation requires new facilities to be accessible, and existing ones to be modified if that can be done without excessive difficulty or expense.

The ADA will open up many opportunities making for a more inclusive America. For example, new buses, trains and subways will be home to accessible and telephone companies will be required to provide relay services that will permit individuals with hearing and speech impairments to use telephones. But, the enactment of ADA is only half the equation. We must also do all that we can to assure that preventable disabilities are in fact prevented.

WAR ON DRUGS

One step in this direction was taken when Congress fully funded a major new anti-drug program. If we are really serious about preventing developmental disabilities, we must win the war on drugs. It has been estimated that nationally there are 375,000 infants born each year addicted to drugs.

Many of these innocent victims will experience life-long irreversible developmental disabilities. A recent survey of 36 U.S. hospitals found that more than one in ten women used illegal drugs during pregnancy. That's a trend that must be reversed. Our new federal legislation provides funds not only for much needed stiffer penalties for pushers and users, but for more education which will help in our prevention efforts. Let's face it, drug abuse is an international nightmare. I have written to the President about the need for humanitarian efforts on an international scale. In fact, prior to the President's floating summit in Malta, I suggested that he and Mr. Gorbachev agree on a joint US-USSR effort to deal with drug and alcohol abuse.

EARLY INTERVENTION

Another major federal effort which relates to the prevention of disabilities is an important component of The Education of the Handicapped Act. This law establishes a creative new approach to the care and training of our young disabled. With the help of federal funding, eligible children from birth to 3 can benefit--for the first time--from coordinated services, ranging from health care to psychological counseling to life skills training. It will put in place a developmental 'blueprint' for each individual and his or her family, a plan we hope will prevent disabilities caused by a lack of early education and therapy.

CHILD CARE

This is why child care is such a priority issue. By the end of 1987, 72% of women with children between the ages of 6 and 17 were in the workforce. Adequate child care provides not only early intervention, but it assures the safety of our nation's children. Every year, nearly 8,000 children die from preventable injury and another 50,000 become permanently disabled.

CHILD ABUSE

Adequate child care reduces the risk of accidental injury, as well as child abuse and neglect--another cause of preventable disability. It is disturbing to note that when the Governor's Commission on Children and Families compared Kansas to the rest of the nation, they found the rate of sexual abuse in Kansas to be twice the national rate. This tells me that regardless of what the Federal government does, we need the involvement of the state and your community, including businesses, churches, and civic organizations and, most of all, the parents. Congress made a start on child care. It is a priority issue, but the debate continues over how to address it. Do you do it with tax credits, where the parents make the decision? Or do you turn it over to some government bureaucracy that dictates what to do? No question, we need to provide care for children of working mothers. We need to keep that crucial investment in the workforce, but in my view, we should do it with minimal bureaucratic red tape and government interference. I do not believe we have to invent the most expensive new spending program just to demonstrate concern about child care.

WIC PROGRAM

Another solid success this year was the reauthorization of the WIC (Women, Infants and Children's) Program which is administered by the Department of Agriculture. This is another program that is absolutely critical for sustaining good health and nutrition for America's young. It's a federal program that has truly made a difference for the people who need it the most. Study after study have demonstrated that every dollar spent on WIC yields several dollars in savings on health care and hospitalization costs. This year we increased funding for WIC by close to $200 million, which will allow for a significant increase in participation in this successful prevention program.

AIDS

Infectious diseases are another cause of preventable disability.

The number of HIV-positive children being born and surviving for longer periods is increasing. This is especially problematic because more than half of the mothers of HIV positive children are unaware that they are carrying the virus at the time they deliver.
Although this problem is not as acute in Kansas as it is in other parts of the nation, the response of Kansas in terms of mandatory AIDS education is important to the prevention of a disease that knows no boundaries.

NATIONAL PLAN

The National Council on Disability, an independent Federal agency comprised of 15 members appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate advises the President and the Congress on national disability policy. In its report, 'Towards Independence', they note that we have the knowledge, technology, and resources to prevent many primary and secondary disabilities. What is needed, they claim is a national plan on the prevention of disabilities. Any good plan in this area will require several components including: an awareness of the problem, education for the public, specific education for professionals, generation of community support, availability of treatment and the provision of services. In Kansas, a good effort has begun on these fronts.

TALKING POINTS FOR KEYNOTE ADDRESS TO THE GOVERNOR'S CONFERENCE ON THE PREVENTION OF CHILDHOOD DISABILITIES
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1989
LAWRENCE HOLIDOME

BACKGROUND & INTRODUCTION

The purpose of the conference is to generate interest, encourage involvement and support, and increase awareness of the preventability of certain developmental disabilities.

Those in attendance are knowledgeable professionals who have come together to share what they know and to learn how to better meet the needs of persons with disabilities in Kansas.

The services available in Kansas represent the type of coordinated statewide effort which reflects state-of-the-art practice. The problem in Kansas as in other states is that the need for the program or service far surpasses the availability.

Partly as a result of this situation there are many persons with developmental disabilities whose conditions could have been prevented.

Although it's fashionable to always knock Congress, I must say that 1989 was a fairly productive session for the House and Senate. Because this year represents only the first half of the 101st Congress, in my view, it's premature to make any final judgments. Congress made major progress in the war on drugs and crime, made a good start on child care, boosted the minimum wage, enacted critical drought relief legislation for our farmers and stayed strong on foreign policy. There was also good news from Washington for America's disabled. The 101st Congress approved significant -- even historic -- legislation for persons with disabilities and their families.

Leading the way was Senate passage of The Americans with Disabilities Act.

THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT

Although the prevention of developmental disabilities is and must be a focus of our domestic policy we must also be concerned about the everyday lives of persons with developmental disabilities.

That's why the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act is so important. This historic civil rights legislation has passed the Senate and is now pending in the House. When enacted, the ADA will provide clear, consistent, enforceable civil rights protection to individuals with disabilities by prohibiting discrimination in employment and public accommodations. This legislation requires new facilities to be accessible, and existing ones to be modified if that can be done without excessive difficulty or expense.

The ADA will open up many opportunities making for a more inclusive America. For example, new buses, trains and subways will be home to accessible and telephone companies will be required to provide relay services that will permit individuals with hearing and speech impairments to use telephones. But, the enactment of ADA is only half the equation. We must also do all that we can to assure that preventable disabilities are in fact prevented.

WAR ON DRUGS

One step in this direction was taken when Congress fully funded a major new anti-drug program. If we are really serious about preventing developmental disabilities, we must win the war on drugs. It has been estimated that nationally there are 375,000 infants born each year addicted to drugs.

Many of these innocent victims will experience life-long irreversible developmental disabilities. A recent survey of 36 U.S. hospitals found that more than one in ten women used illegal drugs during pregnancy. That's a trend that must be reversed. Our new federal legislation provides funds not only for much needed stiffer penalties for pushers and users, but for more education which will help in our prevention efforts. Let's face it, drug abuse is an international nightmare. I have written to the President about the need for humanitarian efforts on an international scale. In fact, prior to the President's floating summit in Malta, I suggested that he and Mr. Gorbachev agree on a joint US-USSR effort to deal with drug and alcohol abuse.

EARLY INTERVENTION

Another major federal effort which relates to the prevention of disabilities is an important component of The Education of the Handicapped Act. This law establishes a creative new approach to the care and training of our young disabled. With the help of federal funding, eligible children from birth to 3 can benefit--for the first time--from coordinated services, ranging from health care to psychological counseling to life skills training. It will put in place a developmental 'blueprint' for each individual and his or her family, a plan we hope will prevent disabilities caused by a lack of early education and therapy.

CHILD CARE

This is why child care is such a priority issue. By the end of 1987, 72% of women with children between the ages of 6 and 17 were in the workforce. Adequate child care provides not only early intervention, but it assures the safety of our nation's children. Every year, nearly 8,000 children die from preventable injury and another 50,000 become permanently disabled.

CHILD ABUSE

Adequate child care reduces the risk of accidental injury, as well as child abuse and neglect--another cause of preventable disability. It is disturbing to note that when the Governor's Commission on Children and Families compared Kansas to the rest of the nation, they found the rate of sexual abuse in Kansas to be twice the national rate. This tells me that regardless of what the Federal government does, we need the involvement of the state and your community, including businesses, churches, and civic organizations and, most of all, the parents. Congress made a start on child care. It is a priority issue, but the debate continues over how to address it. Do you do it with tax credits, where the parents make the decision? Or do you turn it over to some government bureaucracy that dictates what to do? No question, we need to provide care for children of working mothers. We need to keep that crucial investment in the workforce, but in my view, we should do it with minimal bureaucratic red tape and government interference. I do not believe we have to invent the most expensive new spending program just to demonstrate concern about child care.

WIC PROGRAM

Another solid success this year was the reauthorization of the WIC (Women, Infants and Children's) Program which is administered by the Department of Agriculture. This is another program that is absolutely critical for sustaining good health and nutrition for America's young. It's a federal program that has truly made a difference for the people who need it the most. Study after study have demonstrated that every dollar spent on WIC yields several dollars in savings on health care and hospitalization costs. This year we increased funding for WIC by close to $200 million, which will allow for a significant increase in participation in this successful prevention program.

AIDS

Infectious diseases are another cause of preventable disability.

The number of HIV-positive children being born and surviving for longer periods is increasing. This is especially problematic because more than half of the mothers of HIV positive children are unaware that they are carrying the virus at the time they deliver.
Although this problem is not as acute in Kansas as it is in other parts of the nation, the response of Kansas in terms of mandatory AIDS education is important to the prevention of a disease that knows no boundaries.

NATIONAL PLAN

The National Council on Disability, an independent Federal agency comprised of 15 members appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate advises the President and the Congress on national disability policy. In its report, 'Towards Independence', they note that we have the knowledge, technology, and resources to prevent many primary and secondary disabilities. What is needed, they claim is a national plan on the prevention of disabilities. Any good plan in this area will require several components including: an awareness of the problem, education for the public, specific education for professionals, generation of community support, availability of treatment and the provision of services. In Kansas, a good effort has begun on these fronts.

TALKING POINTS FOR KEYNOTE ADDRESS TO THE GOVERNOR'S CONFERENCE ON THE PREVENTION OF CHILDHOOD DISABILITIES
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1989
LAWRENCE HOLIDOME

BACKGROUND & INTRODUCTION

The purpose of the conference is to generate interest, encourage involvement and support, and increase awareness of the preventability of certain developmental disabilities.

Those in attendance are knowledgeable professionals who have come together to share what they know and to learn how to better meet the needs of persons with disabilities in Kansas.

The services available in Kansas represent the type of coordinated statewide effort which reflects state-of-the-art practice. The problem in Kansas as in other states is that the need for the program or service far surpasses the availability.

Partly as a result of this situation there are many persons with developmental disabilities whose conditions could have been prevented.

Although it's fashionable to always knock Congress, I must say that 1989 was a fairly productive session for the House and Senate. Because this year represents only the first half of the 101st Congress, in my view, it's premature to make any final judgments. Congress made major progress in the war on drugs and crime, made a good start on child care, boosted the minimum wage, enacted critical drought relief legislation for our farmers and stayed strong on foreign policy. There was also good news from Washington for America's disabled. The 101st Congress approved significant -- even historic -- legislation for persons with disabilities and their families.

Leading the way was Senate passage of The Americans with Disabilities Act.

THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT

Although the prevention of developmental disabilities is and must be a focus of our domestic policy we must also be concerned about the everyday lives of persons with developmental disabilities.

That's why the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act is so important. This historic civil rights legislation has passed the Senate and is now pending in the House. When enacted, the ADA will provide clear, consistent, enforceable civil rights protection to individuals with disabilities by prohibiting discrimination in employment and public accommodations. This legislation requires new facilities to be accessible, and existing ones to be modified if that can be done without excessive difficulty or expense.

The ADA will open up many opportunities making for a more inclusive America. For example, new buses, trains and subways will be home to accessible and telephone companies will be required to provide relay services that will permit individuals with hearing and speech impairments to use telephones. But, the enactment of ADA is only half the equation. We must also do all that we can to assure that preventable disabilities are in fact prevented.

WAR ON DRUGS

One step in this direction was taken when Congress fully funded a major new anti-drug program. If we are really serious about preventing developmental disabilities, we must win the war on drugs. It has been estimated that nationally there are 375,000 infants born each year addicted to drugs.

Many of these innocent victims will experience life-long irreversible developmental disabilities. A recent survey of 36 U.S. hospitals found that more than one in ten women used illegal drugs during pregnancy. That's a trend that must be reversed. Our new federal legislation provides funds not only for much needed stiffer penalties for pushers and users, but for more education which will help in our prevention efforts. Let's face it, drug abuse is an international nightmare. I have written to the President about the need for humanitarian efforts on an international scale. In fact, prior to the President's floating summit in Malta, I suggested that he and Mr. Gorbachev agree on a joint US-USSR effort to deal with drug and alcohol abuse.

EARLY INTERVENTION

Another major federal effort which relates to the prevention of disabilities is an important component of The Education of the Handicapped Act. This law establishes a creative new approach to the care and training of our young disabled. With the help of federal funding, eligible children from birth to 3 can benefit--for the first time--from coordinated services, ranging from health care to psychological counseling to life skills training. It will put in place a developmental 'blueprint' for each individual and his or her family, a plan we hope will prevent disabilities caused by a lack of early education and therapy.

CHILD CARE

This is why child care is such a priority issue. By the end of 1987, 72% of women with children between the ages of 6 and 17 were in the workforce. Adequate child care provides not only early intervention, but it assures the safety of our nation's children. Every year, nearly 8,000 children die from preventable injury and another 50,000 become permanently disabled.

CHILD ABUSE

Adequate child care reduces the risk of accidental injury, as well as child abuse and neglect--another cause of preventable disability. It is disturbing to note that when the Governor's Commission on Children and Families compared Kansas to the rest of the nation, they found the rate of sexual abuse in Kansas to be twice the national rate. This tells me that regardless of what the Federal government does, we need the involvement of the state and your community, including businesses, churches, and civic organizations and, most of all, the parents. Congress made a start on child care. It is a priority issue, but the debate continues over how to address it. Do you do it with tax credits, where the parents make the decision? Or do you turn it over to some government bureaucracy that dictates what to do? No question, we need to provide care for children of working mothers. We need to keep that crucial investment in the workforce, but in my view, we should do it with minimal bureaucratic red tape and government interference. I do not believe we have to invent the most expensive new spending program just to demonstrate concern about child care.

WIC PROGRAM

Another solid success this year was the reauthorization of the WIC (Women, Infants and Children's) Program which is administered by the Department of Agriculture. This is another program that is absolutely critical for sustaining good health and nutrition for America's young. It's a federal program that has truly made a difference for the people who need it the most. Study after study have demonstrated that every dollar spent on WIC yields several dollars in savings on health care and hospitalization costs. This year we increased funding for WIC by close to $200 million, which will allow for a significant increase in participation in this successful prevention program.

AIDS

Infectious diseases are another cause of preventable disability.

The number of HIV-positive children being born and surviving for longer periods is increasing. This is especially problematic because more than half of the mothers of HIV positive children are unaware that they are carrying the virus at the time they deliver.
Although this problem is not as acute in Kansas as it is in other parts of the nation, the response of Kansas in terms of mandatory AIDS education is important to the prevention of a disease that knows no boundaries.

NATIONAL PLAN

The National Council on Disability, an independent Federal agency comprised of 15 members appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate advises the President and the Congress on national disability policy. In its report, 'Towards Independence', they note that we have the knowledge, technology, and resources to prevent many primary and secondary disabilities. What is needed, they claim is a national plan on the prevention of disabilities. Any good plan in this area will require several components including: an awareness of the problem, education for the public, specific education for professionals, generation of community support, availability of treatment and the provision of services. In Kansas, a good effort has begun on these fronts.