Londa and Bess, the canine, blond bombshell
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----- Original Message -----
From: "Chapman Ruth A NPRI" <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, July 23, 2001 9:07 AM
Subject: FW: Bush Visits Pentagon to Promises Help for Disabled


>
> fyi
>
> Subject: FW: Bush Visits Pentagon to Promises Help for Disabled
>
> More on President Bush's visit to the Pentagon June 19.
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Press Service [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> > Sent: Wednesday, June 20, 2001 2:50 PM
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: Bush Visits Pentagon to Promises Help for Disabled
> >
> >
> > By Rudi Williams
> > American Forces Press Service
> >
> > WASHINGTON, June 20, 2001 -- Computers and the Internet
> > deliver a world of information that enriches the lives of
> > many disabled people, but they also create challenges that
> > DoD, other government agencies and the private sector must
> > do more to solve.
> >
> > That was President Bush 's message to a Pentagon audience
> > June 19 that included Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld;
> > Dinah F.B. Cohen, director of DoD's Computer and Electronic
> > Accommodation Program; Sen. James M. Jeffords of Vermont;
> > Rep. Steve Horn of California; and a host of disabled
> > employees.
> >
> > "Americans with disabilities have a great deal to
> > contribute to our national security," Rumsfeld said before
> > introducing the president. "In this era of continuing,
> > advancing technologies, there are possibilities to harness
> > their talents in ways there were previously inconceivable."
> >
> > Bush went to the Pentagon auditorium after watching
> > demonstrations in DoD's Computer and Electronic
> > Accommodations Program Technology Evaluation Center. The
> > center provides employees with disabilities with adaptive
> > computers, electronics and other specially designed
> > assistive devices.
> >
> > "I saw technologies that are helping people with
> > disabilities enjoy the full range of opportunities made
> > possible by the technology boom," the president told the
> > audience.
> >
> > He said the center's software allows hearing-impaired
> > people to communicate with co-workers by computer. Screen
> > reading technology makes it possible for the visually
> > impaired to access information off their monitor displays.
> > Voice recognition software unlocks new computing
> > possibilities for people with impaired dexterity.
> >
> > "The technologies on display here have helped more than
> > 20,000 Defense Department employees enjoy greater access to
> > communications and computing equipment," Bush said. He also
> > pointed out that such technology helps countless
> > individuals in the public and private sectors become fully
> > integrated into the workplace.
> >
> > Noting that Internet access for Americans with disabilities
> > is half that of people without disabilities, Bush said,
> > "I'm committed to ensuring that government Web sites become
> > compatible with this evolving technology."
> >
> > Noting that Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act becomes
> > effective for all federal agencies on June 25, the
> > president said, "There will be more opportunities for
> > people of all abilities to access government information."
> > Section 508 requires federal agencies to ensure that
> > electronic and information technology is accessible for
> > people with disabilities.
> >
> > "Section 508 will also make the federal government a better
> > employer, as roughly 120,000 federal employees with
> > disabilities will have greater access to the tools they
> > need to better perform their jobs," the president said.
> >
> > Section 508 is a key element of the president's "New
> > Freedom Initiative," implemented in February. "Its goal is
> > to help Americans with disabilities realize their potential
> > and to achieve their dreams," Bush said.
> >
> > Among the many goals of the initiative, Bush wants to lower
> > cost and improve access to assistive technologies, such as
> > adaptive computer equipment, lightweight and powered
> > wheelchairs, text telephones and modern artificial limbs.
> > He also wants to expand employment opportunities for the
> > disabled, offer new transportation solutions and improve
> > access to places of worship.
> >
> > "We've asked Congress to increase funding to bring
> > assistive technologies to market more quickly, to help make
> > them more affordable for the people who need them and to
> > speed research in developing new technologies," the
> > president said.
> >
> > Bush drew applause when he said he signed an executive
> > order requiring full implementation of the Supreme Court's
> > 1999 Olmstead Decision. Olmstead and the Americans with
> > Disabilities Act mandate that disabled persons who can
> > receive support and treatment in a community setting should
> > be given a reasonable opportunity to live close to their
> > families and friends, when appropriate.
> >
> > The executive order directs key federal agencies, like the
> > departments of Housing and Urban Development, Labor, Health
> > and Human Services, Education and Justice and the Social
> > Security Administration, to work with states to implement
> > the Olmstead decision and ADA.
> >
> > Loud applause erupted again when Bush said the order
> > "directs Attorney General John Ashcroft and Secretary of
> > Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson to fully enforce
> > Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and ensure
> > that no one is unjustly institutionalized."
> >
> > The landmark Supreme Court ruling in the Olmstead vs. L.S.
> > and F.W. case on June 22, 1999, involved a lawsuit filed by
> > Lois Curtis and Elaine Wilson, who were living in a Georgia
> > psychiatric hospital. In a 6-3 vote, the Supreme Court said
> > a state may not discriminate against psychiatric patients
> > by keeping them in hospitals instead of community homes.
> > The court said the Americans with Disabilities Act may
> > require that states provide treatment in community-based
> > programs rather than in a segregated setting.
> >
> > Bush's executive order also directs those agencies to
> > explore how to increase community-based services for people
> > with disabilities.
> >
> > "The Olmstead executive order will increase freedom for
> > people with disabilities," Bush said. "Americans must have
> > the opportunity to live independently, work productively
> > and participate fully in community life." This includes
> > allowing many people with disabilities to buy their own
> > homes, he said.
> >
> >
> > <i>Related Site of Interest:<ul><li><a href= "
> > http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/06/20010619-1.html"
> >Remarks
> > by President Bush</a> at the Department of
> > Defense Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program
> > Technology Evaluation Center (CAPTEC), the Pentagon, June
> > 19, 2001
> >
> > </ul></i>
> > ##END##
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________________
> > NOTE:  This is a plain text version of a web page.  If your e-mail
> program
> > did not properly format this information, you may view the story at
> > http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Jun2001/n06202001_200106201.html
> > Any photos, graphics or other imagery included in the article may also
> > be viewed at this web page.
> >
> > NOTE: This is a plain text version of a web page.
> > If your mail program did not properly format this
> > information, current News Articles are online at
> > http://www.defenselink.mil/news/#News Articles
> >
> > ====================================================
> > Virtual tour of the Pentagon
> >      http://www.defenselink.mil/pubs/pentagon/
> > ====================================================
> > Unsubscribe from or Subscribe to this mailing list:
> >      http://www.defenselink.mil/news/subscribe.html
> > ====================================================


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