Memo: KETCH Press Conference/Advisory Board Meeting

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Extent (Dublin Core)

3 Pages

Item Archival Status (Curation)

In American Congress Digital Archives Portal

File Name (Dublin Core)

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Title (Dublin Core)

Memo: KETCH Press Conference/Advisory Board Meeting

Description (Dublin Core)

This memorandum includes a statement from Senator Dole announcing the creation of a KETCH (Kansas Elks Training Center for the Handicapped) advisory board

Date (Dublin Core)

1993-12-16

Date Created (Dublin Core)

1993-12-16

Congress (Dublin Core)

103rd (1993-1995)

Topics (Dublin Core)

See all items with this valuePeople with disabilities

See all items with this valueEmployment

Policy Area (Curation)

Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues

Creator (Dublin Core)

Vachon, Alexander

Record Type (Dublin Core)

memorandum

Names (Dublin Core)

See all items with this valueDole, Robert J., 1923-2021

Location representation (Dublin Core)

Kansas (state)

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 5

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)

MEMORANDUM
Date: December 16, 1993
To: Senator Dole
From: Alec Vachon
Re: KETCH Press Conference/Advisory Board Meeting

You have agreed to attend on Monday, December 20th: (1) a press conference to announce the creation of a KETCH advisory
board, the "Robert J. Dole Committee on Employment of Kansans with Disabilities," and (2) immediately following the press conference, the first meeting of this advisory board.

Attached for your approval are two short statements, one for the press conference and another for the advisory board meeting.





STATEMENT OF SENATE BOB DOLE
KETCH PRESS CONFERENCE
DECEMBER 20, 1993
WICHITA, KS

* I'M PLEASED TO ONCE AGAIN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEMONSTRATE MY LONGSTANDING SUPPORT FOR KETCH AND ITS EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS THROUGH ESTABLISHMENT OF THE "ROBERT J. DOLE COMMITTEE ON EMPLOYMENT OF KANSANS WITH DISABILITIES."

*WHEN CONGRESS PASSED THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT IN 1990 WE WERE DETERMINED TO OPEN A NEW WINDOW OF EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITY FOR MILLIONS WITH DISABILITIES BY ELIMINATING DISCRIMINATION. BUT WE ALSO KNEW THAT FOR MANY THAT WINDOW
WOULD REMAIN CLOSED BECAUSE THEY LACKED JOB SKILLS, EDUCATION, AND HELP IN FINDING A JOB.

*THAT'S WHY THE TRAINING, PLACEMENT, AND JOB ACCOMMODATION SERVICES OFFERED BY KETCH ARE SO IMPORTANT --BY PROVIDING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WITH ASSISTANCE TO BECOME GAINFULLY EMPLOYED. THE POET ARCHIBALD MACLEISH ONCE WROTE, "AMERICA WAS ALWAYS PROMISES." BUT AMERICA'S BIGGEST PROMISE --A JOB --IS TOO OFTEN AN EMPTY PROMISE TO THE DISABLED. NATIONWIDE, ONLY ONE-THIRD ARE WORKING, AND 30 PERCENT ARE IN POVERTY. THE LESSON HERE IS SIMPLE: FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, AS FOR MOST AMERICANS, WORKING IS ESSENTIAL TO A
DECENT INCOME. AND IN TURN, IF PROVIDED WITH A JOB, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WILL BECOME TAXPAYERS, NOT SIMPLY THE RECIPIENTS OF TAX DOLLARS, AND ALL AMERICANS GAIN.

*THE PURPOSE OF THE ROBERT J. DOLE COMMITTEE ON EMPLOYMENT OF KANSANS WITH DISABILITIES IS TO ASSIST KETCH IN THIS VITAL WORK IN A COUPLE OF WAYS.

* FIRST, THE COMMITTEE WILL WORK TO STRENGTHEN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND THE
DISABILITY COMMUNITY. THIS PARTNERSHIP IS ESSENTIAL TO ELIMINATE THE BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT FACED BY PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND PROMOTE JOB OPPORTUNITIES. KETCH HAS AN OUTSTANDING HISTORY OF SUCCESS IN THIS REGARD IN ITS PROJECTS WITH INDUSTRY PROGRAM, WHICH WE WILL BUILD ON.

* SECOND, THE COMMITTEE WILL SERVE KETCH BY PROVIDING LEADERSHIP IN STRATEGIC PLANNING AND PUBLICIZING KETCH'S PROGRAMS. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE KETCH IS LOCATED NOT JUST HERE IN WICHITA, BUT THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

* I AM HONORED THAT KETCH HAS ASKED ME TO LEND MY NAME TO THIS COMMITTEE AND TO HELP WITH ITS IMPORTANT WORK. JUDY HEARN WILL NOW INTRODUCE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.

* THANK YOU.





STATEMENT OF SENATOR BOB DOLE
FIRST MEETING OF ROBERT J. DOLE COMMITTEE ON EMPLOYMENT OF KANSANS WITH DISABILITIES
DECEMBER 20, 1993
WICHITA, KS

* I AM VERY PLEASED TO BE HERE TODAY AND TO BE PART OF KETCH'S LEADERSHIP EFFORT. AS I AM SURE FOLKS HERE KNOW WELL, BUSINESS IS WHERE THE JOBS ARE, BUT I BELIEVE TOO OFTEN THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY HAVE NOT WORKED TOGETHER AS CLOSELY AS THEY MIGHT. TO THE EXTENT THIS COMMITTEE CAN BUILD AND STRENGTHEN THAT PARTNERSHIP, IT WILL HAVE ACCOMPLISHED SOMETHING VERY SIGNIFICANT.

* AS YOU MAY ALSO KNOW, I AM A LONGTIME SUPPORTER OF KETCH AND ITS EFFORTS --BEGINNING IN THE EARLY 1970S --SO I AM DELIGHTED TO BE ASKED TO PART OF THIS VERY IMPORTANT WORK.

* I ALSO SINCERELY HOPE THAT WHAT WE ACCOMPLISH TOGETHER WILL BE A MODEL FOR OTHER STATES AND FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. IN THIS REGARD, YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED TO KNOW THAT IN SEPTEMBER I CALLED FOR A NATIONAL COMMISSION ON REHABILITATION SERVICES TO REVAMP THE NATION'S EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. THERE IS SOME VERY GOOD EVIDENCE THAT THESE PROGRAMS ARE NOT WORKING AS WELL AS THEY SHOULD. THIS IS UNDER THE PURVIEW OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, WHICH HAS INDICATED SOME RELUCTANCE IN SETTING UP A COMMISSION, BUT I PLAN TO CONTINUE TO PRESS THIS MATTER.

* I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT MY DOOR IS OPEN AT ALL TIMES, AND IF THERE IS ANYTHING I CAN DO, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

* THANK YOU.

MEMORANDUM
Date: December 16, 1993
To: Senator Dole
From: Alec Vachon
Re: KETCH Press Conference/Advisory Board Meeting

You have agreed to attend on Monday, December 20th: (1) a press conference to announce the creation of a KETCH advisory
board, the "Robert J. Dole Committee on Employment of Kansans with Disabilities," and (2) immediately following the press conference, the first meeting of this advisory board.

Attached for your approval are two short statements, one for the press conference and another for the advisory board meeting.





STATEMENT OF SENATE BOB DOLE
KETCH PRESS CONFERENCE
DECEMBER 20, 1993
WICHITA, KS

* I'M PLEASED TO ONCE AGAIN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEMONSTRATE MY LONGSTANDING SUPPORT FOR KETCH AND ITS EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS THROUGH ESTABLISHMENT OF THE "ROBERT J. DOLE COMMITTEE ON EMPLOYMENT OF KANSANS WITH DISABILITIES."

*WHEN CONGRESS PASSED THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT IN 1990 WE WERE DETERMINED TO OPEN A NEW WINDOW OF EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITY FOR MILLIONS WITH DISABILITIES BY ELIMINATING DISCRIMINATION. BUT WE ALSO KNEW THAT FOR MANY THAT WINDOW
WOULD REMAIN CLOSED BECAUSE THEY LACKED JOB SKILLS, EDUCATION, AND HELP IN FINDING A JOB.

*THAT'S WHY THE TRAINING, PLACEMENT, AND JOB ACCOMMODATION SERVICES OFFERED BY KETCH ARE SO IMPORTANT --BY PROVIDING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WITH ASSISTANCE TO BECOME GAINFULLY EMPLOYED. THE POET ARCHIBALD MACLEISH ONCE WROTE, "AMERICA WAS ALWAYS PROMISES." BUT AMERICA'S BIGGEST PROMISE --A JOB --IS TOO OFTEN AN EMPTY PROMISE TO THE DISABLED. NATIONWIDE, ONLY ONE-THIRD ARE WORKING, AND 30 PERCENT ARE IN POVERTY. THE LESSON HERE IS SIMPLE: FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, AS FOR MOST AMERICANS, WORKING IS ESSENTIAL TO A
DECENT INCOME. AND IN TURN, IF PROVIDED WITH A JOB, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WILL BECOME TAXPAYERS, NOT SIMPLY THE RECIPIENTS OF TAX DOLLARS, AND ALL AMERICANS GAIN.

*THE PURPOSE OF THE ROBERT J. DOLE COMMITTEE ON EMPLOYMENT OF KANSANS WITH DISABILITIES IS TO ASSIST KETCH IN THIS VITAL WORK IN A COUPLE OF WAYS.

* FIRST, THE COMMITTEE WILL WORK TO STRENGTHEN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND THE
DISABILITY COMMUNITY. THIS PARTNERSHIP IS ESSENTIAL TO ELIMINATE THE BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT FACED BY PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND PROMOTE JOB OPPORTUNITIES. KETCH HAS AN OUTSTANDING HISTORY OF SUCCESS IN THIS REGARD IN ITS PROJECTS WITH INDUSTRY PROGRAM, WHICH WE WILL BUILD ON.

* SECOND, THE COMMITTEE WILL SERVE KETCH BY PROVIDING LEADERSHIP IN STRATEGIC PLANNING AND PUBLICIZING KETCH'S PROGRAMS. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE KETCH IS LOCATED NOT JUST HERE IN WICHITA, BUT THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

* I AM HONORED THAT KETCH HAS ASKED ME TO LEND MY NAME TO THIS COMMITTEE AND TO HELP WITH ITS IMPORTANT WORK. JUDY HEARN WILL NOW INTRODUCE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.

* THANK YOU.





STATEMENT OF SENATOR BOB DOLE
FIRST MEETING OF ROBERT J. DOLE COMMITTEE ON EMPLOYMENT OF KANSANS WITH DISABILITIES
DECEMBER 20, 1993
WICHITA, KS

* I AM VERY PLEASED TO BE HERE TODAY AND TO BE PART OF KETCH'S LEADERSHIP EFFORT. AS I AM SURE FOLKS HERE KNOW WELL, BUSINESS IS WHERE THE JOBS ARE, BUT I BELIEVE TOO OFTEN THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY HAVE NOT WORKED TOGETHER AS CLOSELY AS THEY MIGHT. TO THE EXTENT THIS COMMITTEE CAN BUILD AND STRENGTHEN THAT PARTNERSHIP, IT WILL HAVE ACCOMPLISHED SOMETHING VERY SIGNIFICANT.

* AS YOU MAY ALSO KNOW, I AM A LONGTIME SUPPORTER OF KETCH AND ITS EFFORTS --BEGINNING IN THE EARLY 1970S --SO I AM DELIGHTED TO BE ASKED TO PART OF THIS VERY IMPORTANT WORK.

* I ALSO SINCERELY HOPE THAT WHAT WE ACCOMPLISH TOGETHER WILL BE A MODEL FOR OTHER STATES AND FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. IN THIS REGARD, YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED TO KNOW THAT IN SEPTEMBER I CALLED FOR A NATIONAL COMMISSION ON REHABILITATION SERVICES TO REVAMP THE NATION'S EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. THERE IS SOME VERY GOOD EVIDENCE THAT THESE PROGRAMS ARE NOT WORKING AS WELL AS THEY SHOULD. THIS IS UNDER THE PURVIEW OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, WHICH HAS INDICATED SOME RELUCTANCE IN SETTING UP A COMMISSION, BUT I PLAN TO CONTINUE TO PRESS THIS MATTER.

* I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT MY DOOR IS OPEN AT ALL TIMES, AND IF THERE IS ANYTHING I CAN DO, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

* THANK YOU.

MEMORANDUM
Date: December 16, 1993
To: Senator Dole
From: Alec Vachon
Re: KETCH Press Conference/Advisory Board Meeting

You have agreed to attend on Monday, December 20th: (1) a press conference to announce the creation of a KETCH advisory
board, the "Robert J. Dole Committee on Employment of Kansans with Disabilities," and (2) immediately following the press conference, the first meeting of this advisory board.

Attached for your approval are two short statements, one for the press conference and another for the advisory board meeting.





STATEMENT OF SENATE BOB DOLE
KETCH PRESS CONFERENCE
DECEMBER 20, 1993
WICHITA, KS

* I'M PLEASED TO ONCE AGAIN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEMONSTRATE MY LONGSTANDING SUPPORT FOR KETCH AND ITS EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS THROUGH ESTABLISHMENT OF THE "ROBERT J. DOLE COMMITTEE ON EMPLOYMENT OF KANSANS WITH DISABILITIES."

*WHEN CONGRESS PASSED THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT IN 1990 WE WERE DETERMINED TO OPEN A NEW WINDOW OF EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITY FOR MILLIONS WITH DISABILITIES BY ELIMINATING DISCRIMINATION. BUT WE ALSO KNEW THAT FOR MANY THAT WINDOW
WOULD REMAIN CLOSED BECAUSE THEY LACKED JOB SKILLS, EDUCATION, AND HELP IN FINDING A JOB.

*THAT'S WHY THE TRAINING, PLACEMENT, AND JOB ACCOMMODATION SERVICES OFFERED BY KETCH ARE SO IMPORTANT --BY PROVIDING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WITH ASSISTANCE TO BECOME GAINFULLY EMPLOYED. THE POET ARCHIBALD MACLEISH ONCE WROTE, "AMERICA WAS ALWAYS PROMISES." BUT AMERICA'S BIGGEST PROMISE --A JOB --IS TOO OFTEN AN EMPTY PROMISE TO THE DISABLED. NATIONWIDE, ONLY ONE-THIRD ARE WORKING, AND 30 PERCENT ARE IN POVERTY. THE LESSON HERE IS SIMPLE: FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, AS FOR MOST AMERICANS, WORKING IS ESSENTIAL TO A
DECENT INCOME. AND IN TURN, IF PROVIDED WITH A JOB, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WILL BECOME TAXPAYERS, NOT SIMPLY THE RECIPIENTS OF TAX DOLLARS, AND ALL AMERICANS GAIN.

*THE PURPOSE OF THE ROBERT J. DOLE COMMITTEE ON EMPLOYMENT OF KANSANS WITH DISABILITIES IS TO ASSIST KETCH IN THIS VITAL WORK IN A COUPLE OF WAYS.

* FIRST, THE COMMITTEE WILL WORK TO STRENGTHEN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND THE
DISABILITY COMMUNITY. THIS PARTNERSHIP IS ESSENTIAL TO ELIMINATE THE BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT FACED BY PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND PROMOTE JOB OPPORTUNITIES. KETCH HAS AN OUTSTANDING HISTORY OF SUCCESS IN THIS REGARD IN ITS PROJECTS WITH INDUSTRY PROGRAM, WHICH WE WILL BUILD ON.

* SECOND, THE COMMITTEE WILL SERVE KETCH BY PROVIDING LEADERSHIP IN STRATEGIC PLANNING AND PUBLICIZING KETCH'S PROGRAMS. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE KETCH IS LOCATED NOT JUST HERE IN WICHITA, BUT THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

* I AM HONORED THAT KETCH HAS ASKED ME TO LEND MY NAME TO THIS COMMITTEE AND TO HELP WITH ITS IMPORTANT WORK. JUDY HEARN WILL NOW INTRODUCE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.

* THANK YOU.





STATEMENT OF SENATOR BOB DOLE
FIRST MEETING OF ROBERT J. DOLE COMMITTEE ON EMPLOYMENT OF KANSANS WITH DISABILITIES
DECEMBER 20, 1993
WICHITA, KS

* I AM VERY PLEASED TO BE HERE TODAY AND TO BE PART OF KETCH'S LEADERSHIP EFFORT. AS I AM SURE FOLKS HERE KNOW WELL, BUSINESS IS WHERE THE JOBS ARE, BUT I BELIEVE TOO OFTEN THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY HAVE NOT WORKED TOGETHER AS CLOSELY AS THEY MIGHT. TO THE EXTENT THIS COMMITTEE CAN BUILD AND STRENGTHEN THAT PARTNERSHIP, IT WILL HAVE ACCOMPLISHED SOMETHING VERY SIGNIFICANT.

* AS YOU MAY ALSO KNOW, I AM A LONGTIME SUPPORTER OF KETCH AND ITS EFFORTS --BEGINNING IN THE EARLY 1970S --SO I AM DELIGHTED TO BE ASKED TO PART OF THIS VERY IMPORTANT WORK.

* I ALSO SINCERELY HOPE THAT WHAT WE ACCOMPLISH TOGETHER WILL BE A MODEL FOR OTHER STATES AND FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. IN THIS REGARD, YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED TO KNOW THAT IN SEPTEMBER I CALLED FOR A NATIONAL COMMISSION ON REHABILITATION SERVICES TO REVAMP THE NATION'S EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. THERE IS SOME VERY GOOD EVIDENCE THAT THESE PROGRAMS ARE NOT WORKING AS WELL AS THEY SHOULD. THIS IS UNDER THE PURVIEW OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, WHICH HAS INDICATED SOME RELUCTANCE IN SETTING UP A COMMISSION, BUT I PLAN TO CONTINUE TO PRESS THIS MATTER.

* I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT MY DOOR IS OPEN AT ALL TIMES, AND IF THERE IS ANYTHING I CAN DO, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

* THANK YOU.