Remarks of the Hon. Bob Dole to the "Mayor's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped" - Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 28 November 1969

Item

Other Media

c019_007_015_001_tr

Extent (Dublin Core)

16 Pages

Item Archival Status (Curation)

In American Congress Digital Archives Portal

File Name (Dublin Core)

c019_007_015_001

Title (Dublin Core)

Remarks of the Hon. Bob Dole to the "Mayor's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped" - Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 28 November 1969

Description (Dublin Core)

Bob Dole discusses the potential and capabilities of Americans with disabilities, their employment, and the barriers they face.

Date (Dublin Core)

1969-11-28

Date Created (Dublin Core)

1969-11-28

Congress (Dublin Core)

91st (1969-1971)

Topics (Dublin Core)

See all items with this valueChildren with disabilities

See all items with this valueEducation

See all items with this valuePeople with disabilities--Employment

See all items with this valueRehabilitation

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 valueDole, Robert J., 1923-2021

See all items with this valueKiser, Bill

See all items with this valueWinston-Salem Journal, Inc.

Location representation (Dublin Core)

North Carolina (state)

Winston-Salem (inhabited place)

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/index.php?p=collections/findingaid&id=52&q=

Physical Location (Dublin Core)

Collection 019, Box 7, Folder 15

Institution (Dublin Core)

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

Archival Collection (Dublin Core)

Robert J. Dole Speeches Collection, 1958-1996

Full Text (Extract Text)

REMARKS OF THE HON. BOB DOLE
MAYOR'S COMMITTEE ON EMPLOYMENT OF THE HANDICAPPED
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1969

IN MY FIRST MAJOR SENATE SPEECH LAST SPRING, I SPOKE SOME WORDS WHICH MAY HAVE TO BE AMENDED, CONSIDERING THE ACTIVITY IN THIS STATE AND PARTICULARLY, HERE IN WINSTON-SALEM.

IN MY SPEECH, I ASKED: ''WHO ARE THE HANDICAPPED?" AND I ANSWERED THIS WAY: "THEY ARE PERSONS -- MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN -- WHO CANNOT ACHIEVE FULL PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND SOCIAL POTENTIAL BECAUSE OF DISABILITY."

OF COURSE, THERE ARE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PERSONS IN THE UNITED STATES WHO FIT THIS DEFINITION -- PERSONS WHO MERIT OUR DEEP CONCERN AND OUR GREAT ENERGIES.

(page 2)

BUT, OF COURSE, THERE ARE ALSO PERSONS WHO HAVE REACHED THEIR FULL POTENTIAL, THEIR GREATEST HEIGHTS IN SPITE OF THEIR HANDICAPS.THESE ARE THE PERSONS WHO PUT NEW HOPE IN OUR WORK; WHO CONVINCE US THAT YES, WE ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK.

-EXAMPLES IN WINSTON-SALEM-
YOU ARE PROBABLY MORE FAMILIAR THAN I WITH MANY OF THEM LIVING RIGHT HERE.

FOR EXAMPLE, I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A YOUNG MAN NAMED BILL KISER. YOU ALL PROBABLY KNOW HIM. HE IS A COLUMNIST FOR THE WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL-SENTINEL. HE HAS BEEN WRITING HIS COLUMN REGULARLY FOR THE PAST SIX MONTHS.

"WRITING?" DO YOU KNOW HOW HE DOES IT? I AM TOLD HE PECKS AWAY AT HIS TYPEWRITER WITH ONE FINGER-- SLOWLY, PAINFULLY, LABORIOUSLY. HE MANAGERS TO GET OUT ONE OR TWO WORDS A MINUTE.

BILL KISER HAS CEREBRAL PALSY. HE CAN BARELY CONTROL HIS FINGERS. HE CAN BARELY CONTROL HIS BODY. HE CAN BARELY SPEAK SO THAT OTHERS CAN UNDERSTAND. HE CAN'T EVEN PUSH HIMSELF IN A REGULAR WHEELCHAIR, SO HE HAS ONE THAT OPERATES BY BATTERIES.

(page 3)

BUT THAT SHARP MIND OF HIS IS NOT HANDICAPPED.

READ HIS COLUMN. YOU CAN SEE FOR YOURSELVES, IT'S NOT HANDICAPPED.

BILL KISER HAS ACHIEVED HIS FULL POTENTIAL, HANDICAP NOTWITHSTANDING. BILL KISER'S STORY SHOWS US WE ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK.

THEN I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A YOUNG WOMAN HERE IN TOWN WHO REALLY WOULDN'T STAND OUT IN A CROWD. SHE HAS HER OWN APARTMENT. SHE GOES TO WORK EVERY MORNING -- NOT MUCH OF A JOB; KITCHEN WORKER IN A RESTAURANT. SHE COMES HOME NEARLY EVERY EVENING, COOKS DINNER, WATCHES TELEVISION, GOES TO BED. A RATHER UNEVENTFUL LIFE.

OR IS IT?

I AM TOLD THIS YOUNG LADY SPENT ALL OF HER CHILDHOOD AND MOST OF HER ADULT YEARS IN AN INSTITUTION FOR THE MENTALLY RETARDED. THEN FINALLY THE VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION PEOPLE GOT AHOLD OF HER CASE.

(page 4)

THEY ARRANGED FOR HER TO GO TO A SHELTERED WORKSHOP, WHERE SHE STAYED THREE YEARS. THEN THEY ARRANGED FOR HER TO MOVE INTO A HALFWAY HOUSE -- WHICH IS LIKE A TRANSITION FROM BEING IN AN INSTITUTION TO BEING ENTIRELY ON YOUR OWN.

AND THEY FOUND SOMETHING AMAZING. HER RETARDATION WAS NOT ENTIRELY CAUSED BY BRAIN DAMAGE. A GOOD PART OF IT WAS CAUSED BY THE FACT THAT HER MIND NEVER DID HAVE THE CHANCE TO DEVELOP. "CULTURAL RETARDATION," THEY CALL IT. ONCE SHE HAD THE CHANCE, SHE BEGAN TO BLOSSOM. SHE, TOO, FINALLY ACHIEVED HER POTENTIAL, RETARDATION NOTWITHSTANDING.

I HAVE BEEN TOLD OF ANOTHER WOMAN WHO HAD BEEN MENTALLY ILL. FOR FIVE YEARS, SHE WAS UNABLE TO WORK AT ALL. THEN SHE HAD AN ENTIRE SERIES OF JOBS, WHICH SHE WOULD QUIT ALMOST AS FAST AS SHE WOULD GET. ALONE, LOST, DESPONDENT. FEELING UTTERLY USELESS.

(page 5)

THAT WAS HER STATE WHEN SHE CAME TO THE ATTENTION OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION. THEY WORKED WITH HER. THEY MADE ARRANGEMENTS FOR HER TO LIVE IN A HALFWAY HOUSE FOR THE MENTALLY ILL.

SLOWLY, SLOWLY, SHE REGAINED HER CONFIDENCE. SHE STABILIZED HERSELF. SHE TOOK A NEW INTEREST IN WORKING AND IN LIVING. SHE GOT A JOB AND STAYED WITH IT.

AND TODAY, SHE SEEMS QUITE HAPPY. SHE HAS A RESPONSIBLE JOB. SHE LOOKS FORWARD TO EACH NEW DAY. SHE HAS FINALLY REACHED HER FULL POTENTIAL, MENTAL ILLNESS NOTWITHSTANDING.

-WHY SUCCESS IN WINSTON-SALEM?-
THERE ARE MANY OTHER LIVING EXAMPLES. BUT THESE ARE JUST A FEW ILLUSTRATIONS OF WHAT IS GOING ON HERE AND IN THIS STATE. THE QUESTION IS: WHAT HAS BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR SUCCESS? WHAT ARE THE FACTORS THAT HAVE ENABLED THE EMPLOYMENT SECURITY COMMISSION AND THE DEPARTMENT OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION TO PUT 600 HANDICAPPED MEN AND WOMEN TO WORK IN WINSTON-SALEM LAST YEAR ALONE?

(page 6)

0NE FACTOR HAS BEEN THE PROGRESS MADE IN ELIMINATING ARCHITECTURAL BARRIERS FROM ALL THE MAJOR MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS AS WELL AS FROM THE CONVENTION CENTER HERE. I UNDERSTAND YOUR MAYOR'S COMMITTEE TOOK THE LEAD IN THIS.

I WISH MORE CITIES WOULD KICK OFF THEIR PROGRAMS THE WAY YOU DID. YOU CHALLENGED THE MAYOR AND TOP CITY OFFICIALS TO GET IN WHEELCHAIRS AND TRY TO GET IN AND OUT OF THE PUBLIC BUILDINGS HERE. THEY COULDN'T. AND LOOK WHAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE.

ANOTHER FACTOR HAS BEEN THE LARGE NUMBER OF SHELTERED WORKSHOPS IN THIS STATE -- INCLUDING THE FINE ONES HERE. WORKSHOPS CAN DO SO MUCH TO PREPARE THE HANDICAPPED TO HOLD THEIR OWN IN THE WORLD. EVEN ASIDE FROM THAT, FOR MANY SERIOUSLY HANDICAPPED PEOPLE, WORKSHOPS OFFER THEIR ONLY CHANCE FOR INDEPENDENCE.

STILL ANOTHER FACTOR IS THE WAY THAT REHABILITATION COUNSELORS HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED TO WHERE THEY'RE NEEDED MOST.

(page 7)

EVERY STATE MENTAL HOSPITAL HAS ITS REHABILITATION UNIT. IN FACT, THERE ARE REHABILITATION COUNSELORS WHOSE PRIMARY JOB IS TO FOLLOW UP ON EX-MENTAL PATIENTS TO BE SURE THEY ARE MAKING SUCCESSFUL ADJUSTMENTS AT HOME AND ON THE JOB.

AND STILL ANOTHER FACTOR IS THE GROWING NUMBER OF HALFWAY HOUSES IN THIS STATE -- EXCELLENT VESTIBULES TO NORMAL, EVERYDAY LIVING.

-WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?-
ALL OF WHICH BRINGS US TO A CRUCIAL QUESTION THAT FACES NOT ONLY WINSTON-SALEM, NOT ONLY NORTH CAROLINA, BUT THIS ENTIRE NATION. THE QUESTION IS: ''WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?"

WE CANNOT REST ON OUR LAURELS IN THE BELIEF WE ARE DOING ALL THAT POSSIBLY CAN BE DONE FOR THE HANDICAPPED.

CONSIDER THESE STATISTICS: ONLY ONE-THIRD OF AMERICA'S BLIND AND LESS THAN HALF OF THE PARAPLEGICS OF WORKING AGE ARE EMPLOYED, WHILE ONLY A HANDFUL OF THE 200,000 PERSONS WITH CEREBRAL PALSY OF WORKING AGE ARE EMPLOYED.

(page 8)

-SOME OF THE PROBLEMS-
BUT STATISTICS DON'T TELL THE WHOLE STORY.

TOO MANY HANDICAPPED PERSONS AND THEIR FAMILIES BEAR SERIOUS ECONOMIC PROBLEMS -- DESPITE TOKEN GOVERNMENT PENSIONS AND INCOME TAX DEDUCTIONS FOR A FEW, AND OTHER FINANCIAL AIDS. I RECALL A PORTION OF A LETTER RECEIVED FROM THE MOTHER OF A CEREBRAL PALSIED CHILD IN A MIDWESTERN URBAN AREA:
"THERE ARE THE NEVER-ENDING SURGERIES, BRACES, ORTHOPEDIC SHOES, WHEELCHAIRS, WALKERS, STANDING TABLES, AND SO ON... WE PARENTS FOLLOW UP ON EVERY HOPEFUL LEAD IN CLINICS AND WITH SPECIALISTS; WE GO UP AND DOWN PATHS BLINDLY AND ALWAYS EXPENSIVELY.
"I HAVE TALKED WITH FOUR MAJOR INSURANCE COMPANIES WHO DO NOT INSURE OR INFREQUENTLY INSURE CP CHILDREN... ALTHOUGH OUR DAUGHTER IS INCLUDED IN HER FATHER'S GROUP HOSPITALIZATION PLAN, MANY FAMILIES ARE NOT AS FORTUNATE.
"THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE PROBLEMS, COMPOUNDED BY THE FACT WE MUST TRY TO ADEQUATELY MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR OTHER 'NORMAL' CHILDREN. IN MANY CASES, SOME KIND OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WOULD ENABLE US AND OTHERS LIKE US TO PROVIDE FOR OUR CHILDREN IN OUR HOMES, AVOIDING OVERCROWDING ALREADY OVERCROWDED FACILITIES AND FURTHER ADDING TO THE TAXPAYER'S BURDEN COSTS FOR COMPLETE CARE."

(page 9)

THERE ARE OTHER PROBLEMS -- AVAILABILITY AND ACCESS OF HEALTH CARE PERSONNEL AND FACILITIES AT THE TIME AND PLACE THE INDIVIDUAL WITH HANDICAPS NEEDS THEM. IN MY OWN LARGELY RURAL STATE OF KANSAS, MANY HANDICAPPED PERSONS TRAVEL 300 MILES OR MORE TO RECEIVE THE BASIC HEALTH SERVICES THEY REQUIRE. MANY RURAL FAMILIES IN NORTH CAROLINA PROBABLY SHARE THE SAME PROBLEM.

EDUCATION PRESENTS DIFFICULTIES FOR MANY PARENTS OF HANDICAPPED CHILDREN. ALTHOUGH A CHILD MAY BE EDUCABLE, THERE MAY BE FEW, IF ANY, OPPORTUNITIES IN THE COMMUNITY FOR HIM TO RECEIVE AN EDUCATION. PRIVATE TUTORING, IF AVAILABLE, IS OFTEN TOO EXPENSIVE. SADLY, TO DATE, THE COUNCIL FOR EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN ESTIMATES LESS THAN ONE-THIRD OF THE NATION'S CHILDREN REQUIRING SPECIAL EDUCATION ARE RECEIVING IT.

(page 10)

IN REHABILITATION, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION AND WELFARE SAID RECENTLY THAT 25 PERCENT OF AMERICA'S DISABLED HAVE NOT RECEIVED REHABILITATION SERVICES AND DO NOT KNOW WHERE TO SEEK SUCH HELP. THEY ESTIMATE THAT AT LEAST FIVE MILLION DISABLED PERSONS MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR ASSISTANCE. PRORATED, THAT WOULD BE ABOUT 125,000 DISABLED PERSONS IN NORTH CAROLINA; 5,000 DISABLED PERSONS IN WINSTON-SALEM.

OTHER PROBLEMS THE HANDICAPPED PERSON FACES EACH DAY INCLUDE AVAIIABILITY AND ACCESS OF RECREATION AND TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES, ARCHITECTURAL BARRIERS IN RESIDENCES AND OTHER BUILDINGS AND MANY, MANY MORE.

-PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE-
ALTHOUGH WE IN AMERICA ARE STILL FAR FROM THE HALF-WAY POINT OF ASSURING THAT EVERY HANDICAPPED PERSON CAN BECDME AS ACTIVE AND USEFUL AS HIS CAPACITIES WILL ALLOW, I AM NOT DISCOUNTING THE PROGRESS THAT HAS BEEN MADE.

(page 11)

UNPARALLELED ACHIEVEMENTS IN MEDICINE, SCIENCE, EDUCATION, TECHNOLOGY AS WELL AS IN PUBLIC ATTITUDES HAVE CEMENTED A FRAMEWORK IN WHICH THE HANDICAPPED PERSON TODAY HAS MORE OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO HIM THAN EVER BEFORE.

-THE FEDERAL ROLE-
THE STORY OF WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, HAND IN HAND WITH STATE GOVERNMENTS, IS DOING TO HELP MEET THE NEEDS OF THE HANDICAPPED IS NOT ONE THAT DRAWS THE BIGGEST AND BOLDEST HEADLINES. NEVERTHELESS, IT IS A FINE STORY OF ACHIEVEMENTS -- IN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, IN REHABILITATION, IN RESEARCH, IN EDUCATION, IN TRAINING -- A MASSIVE EFFORT TO HELP MANY DISABLED AMERICANS LIVE AS NORMAL AND AS FULL LIVES AS POSSIBLE.

IT IS THE STORY OF RECORD NUMBERS OF REHABILITATIONS, YEAR AFTER YEAR; OF CONSISTENTLY HIGH NUMBERS OF PLACEMENTS OF THE HANDICAPPED BY PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT OFFICES; OF BOLD NEW PROGRAMS OF REHABILITATING DISABLED VETERANS; OF INITIATIVES IN RESEARCH THAT HAVE BROUGHT ABOUT MANY BREAKTHROUGHS FOR THE HANDICAPPED.

(page 12)

-THE PRIVATE, VOLUNTARY ROLE-
PARALLEL TO THE GOVERNMENT'S EFFORT HAS BEEN A VITAL AND GROWING EFFORT FOR THE HANDICAPPED BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR OF SOCIETY -- INDIVIDUALS, BUSINESSES, INDUSTRIES, CHURCHES, VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATIONS. IT IS HERE -- IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR WITH ITS EMPHASIS ON THE CREATIVITY, CONCERN AND ENERGIES OF OUR PEOPLE -- THAT AMERICA HAS BECOME THE ENVY OF THE WORLD. OUR PRIVATE ECONOMY AND RESOURCES OF OUR PEOPLE HAVE COMBINED TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN AMERICA IN WAYS AND FOR PERSONS THE GOVERNMENT COULD NOT BEGIN TO MATCH OR TO REACH.

FOR THE HANDICAPPED, THESE ACHIEVEMENTS HAVE BEEN UNMATCHED IN PUBLIC EDUCATION, IN EMPLOYMENT, IN TRAINING, IN UPGRADING HEALTH CARE, IN FUND RAISING, IN THE SUPPORT OF RESEARCH TO CONQUER OR AT LEAST MINIMIZE DISEASE AND HANDICAPPING CONDITIONS.

-STILL, MUCH TO DO-
GREAT GAINS, YES. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, OUR RESPONSIBILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES LOOM LARGER THAN EVER BEFORE.

(page 13)

WE MUST MAKE CERTAIN THAT OUR EFFORTS AND MONEY ARE NOT MISPLACED OR MISDIRECTED -- THAT THEY REALLY DO THE JOB.

WE MUST MAKE CERTAIN THAT ALL THE KNOWLEDGE, INFORMATION AND OTHER HELP WHICH WE HAVE IS CONSOLIDATED AND IS AVAILABLE FOR USE BY THE HANDICAPPED AND BY THOSE WHO WORK WITH THE HANDICAPPED.

WE MUST MAKE CERTAIN THERE IS SUFFICIENT COORDINATION AND PLANNING BETWEEN AND AMONG THE PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO AVOID MULTIPLICITY AND DUPLICATION.

WE MUST MAKE CERTAIN WE DO NOT ENGAGE IN SHEER NUMBERS GAMES -- TAKING CARE OF CASES THAT RESPOND QUICKLY IN ORDER TO SHOW RESULTS -- BUT SACRIFICING DIFFICULT CASES WHICH TAKE CONSIDERABLE TIME AND ENERGY.

I AM REMINDED OF A STATEMENT BY A PAST PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL REHABILITATION ASSOCIATION:
"IT IS THE PERSON, NOT THE PROGRAM THAT IS OF OVERWHELMING IMPORTANCE. IT IS NOT THE DISABILITY THAT CLAIMS OUR ATTENTION, IT IS THE PERSON WITH HANDICAPS. IT IS NOT THE MAINTENANCE OF PRESTIGE OF A PARTICULAR PROFESSION THAT MATTERS. IT IS THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE PROFESSION TO SOLVING THE COMPLEX PROBLEMS OF THE INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS HANDICAPS."

(page 14)

WE NEED MORE OF THIS KIND OF EMPHASIS. THEN, ONLY THEN, CAN WE BEGIN TO OPEN NEW VISTAS FOR MORE PERSONS WITH HANDICAPS.

- PRESIDENT'S TASK FORCES -
AT PRESENT, THERE IS A GREAT DEAL OF EMPHASIS ON THE HANDICAPPED IN THIS COUNTRY. PRESIDENT NIXON HAS APPOINTED A TASK FORCE ON THE PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED. HOPEFULLY, A SIMILAR TASK FORCE ON THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED WILL ALSO BE APPOINTED SOON.

GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ARE REEVALUATING THEIR PROGRAMS. VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATIONS ARE RESTUDYING THEIR GOALS. I AM SURE THAT SOME OF THAT NEW EMPHASIS, NEW SELF-EVALUATION, IS IN THE AIR HERE IN WINSTON-SALEM.

-EIGHT PRIORITIES-
FOR ALL OF THESE TASK FORCES, AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS, I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST SEVERAL TOPICS IN NEED OF URGENT CONSIDERATION, STUDY, AND ACTION. THESE SHOULD BE PRIORITY ITEMS:

(page 15)

FIRST, EXPANSION OF EMPLOYMENT, TRANSPORTATION AND RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE HANDICAPPED.

SECOND, A CENTRAL CLEARINGHOUSE TO HELP INFORM THE HANDICAPPED AND THEIR FAMILIES OF AVAILABLE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SSSISTANCE.

THIRD, REMOVAL OF ARCHITECTURAL BARRIERS.

FOURTH, MORE DEVELOPMENT OF HEALTH CARE ON A REGIONAL OR COMMUNITY BASIS.

FIFTH, BETTER SERVING THE SPECIAL EDUCATION NEEDS OF THE HANDICAPPED.

SIXTH, INCOME TAX DEDUCTIONS AND/OR OTHER FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THE HANDICAPPED AND THEIR FAMILIES.

SEVENTH, MORE ATTENTION PAID TO FAMILIES OF THE HANDICAPPED.

EIGHTH, INCREASED COORDINATION BETWEEN PRIVATE AND VOLUNTARY GROUPS AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO AVOID DUPLICATION.

(page 16)

GREAT PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE BY PRIVATE AGENCIES AND INDIVIDUAL AMERICANS, AND BY FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS. NONTHELESS, THERE IS MUCH MORE TO BE DONE, IF THE HANDICAPPED AMERICAN -- YOUNG, OLD, BLACK, WHITE, RICH, POOR -- IS TO SHARE THE JOYS OF THE GOOD LIFE OF AMERICA. THE TASK IS MONUMENTAL. BUT I AM CONFIDENT THAT AMERICA IS READY AND WILLING TO MEET THE CHALLENGE.