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349304665
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"Keynote Presentation by Lex Frieden at 40th Annual Meeting of the President's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped, April 15, 1987"
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349304665
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"Keynote Presentation by Lex Frieden at 40th Annual Meeting of the President's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped, April 15, 1987"
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Lex Frieden Collection: Records on Disability Rights
Records Relating to Disability Rights
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Originally Processed With FOIA(s):
FOIA Number:
S
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MARKER
This is not a textual record. This is used as an
administrative marker by the George Bush Presidential
Library Staff.
Record Group/Collection: Donated Historical Materials
Collection/Office of Origin:
Frieden, Lex, Collection
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Related Materials
Subseries:
Conferences
OA/ID Number:
52077
Folder ID Number:
52077-005
Folder Title:
"Keynote Presentation by Lex Frieden at 40th Annual Meeting of the President's Committee on
Employment of the Handicapped, April 15, 1987"
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KEYNOTE PRESENTATION MADE BY LEX FRIEDEH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,
NATIONAL COUNCIL ON THE HANDICAPPED, AT THE 40TH ANNUAL MEETING OF
THE PRESIDENT'S COMMITTEE ON EMPLOYMENT OF THE HANDICAPPED, DENVER,
COLORADO, APRIL 15, 1987
THANK YOU, MRS. VIERRA, FOR THAT VERY KIND INTRODUCTION. I WOULD
ALSO LIKE TO THANK SANDRA PARRINO, CHAIRPERSON OF THE NATIONAL
COUNCIL ON THE HANDICAPPED, AND THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL FOR ALL
THE SUPPORT WHICH THEY HAVE GIVEN ME DURING MY TENURE AS DIRECTOR
OF THE COUNCIL. AS YOU MAY KNOW, THE COUNCIL IS COMPOSED OF
FIFTEEN INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT AND
CONFIRMED BY THE SENATE. MORE THAN HALF OF THE MEMBERS OF THE
COUNCIL ARE PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES OR PARENTS OF PERSONS WITH
DISABILITIES. ALL OF THE MEMBERS ARE VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE AND
DEDICATED TO THEIR WORK ON THE COUNCIL. WITHOUT THEIR SUPPORT,
I
WOULD NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TODAY.
ALSO, THANKS TO THE PRESIDENT'S COMMITTEE, THE COLORADO COALITION,
AND THE MEMBERS OF THE ANNUAL MEETING PLANNING COMMITTEE FOR
INVITING ME HERE AND FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE SOME
IDEAS WiTH YOU TODAY. THIS IS TRULY AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE FOR
ME.
2
I WAS ASKED TO PRESENT A CONSUMER PERSPECTIVE OF DISABILITY POLICY.
I WILL BE PLEASED TO DO THAT. HOWEVER, BEFORE I PROCEED FURTHER, I
WOULD LIKE TO KNOW; HOW MANY PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ARE IN THE
AUDIENCE? HOW MANY OF YOU ARE FAMILY MEMBERS OR FRIENDS OF SOMEONE
WHO IS DISABLED? HOW MANY OF YOU ARE EMPLOYERS OF DISABLED PEOPLE?
HOW MANY REHABILITATION PROFESSIONALS AND OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS
ARE IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY? HOW MANY OF YOU CONSIDER YOURSELVES TO
BE ADVOCATES FOR THE RIGHTS OF DISABLED PEOPLE?
HOW MANY OF YOU WANT ME TO TALK ABOUT HOW HAPPY DISABLED PEOPLE ARE
AND ABOUT WHAT GREAT WORKERS DISABLED PEOPLE MAKE? HOW MANY OF YOU
WANT ME TO TELL IT LIKE IT IS -- ABOUT HOW MOST OF US ARE
UNDEREMPLOYED AND UNDER-PAID, OR MAYBE NOT EMPLOYED AT ALL? ABOUT
HOW WE DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING, ATTENDENT
SERVICES, READERS OR INTERPRETERS? HOW MANY OF YOU WANT ME TO TALK
ABOUT DISCRIMINATION -- ABOUT HOW SOME EMPLOYERS DENY US JOBS AND
SOME SCHOOLS DENY US ADMISSION BECAUSE WE ARE DISABLED -- ABOUT HOW
SOME AIRLINES AND SOME BUS TRANSPORTATION COMPANIES DENY US SERVICE
BECAUSE WE ARE DISABLED -- ABOUT HOW SOME INSURANCE COMPANIES WILL
NOT INSURE US BECAUSE THEY CONSIDER US TO BE DAMAGED GOODS?! HOW
MANY OF YOU WANT ME TO TALK ABOUT HOW THERE IS MORE TO LIFE THAN
WORK -- ABOUT HOW MANY OF US ALSO WANT THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE MORE
3
INDEPENDENT, TO HAVE ACCESS TO RECREATION, CULTURAL AND LEISURE
TIME ACTIVITIES? HOW MANY OF YOU WANT ME TO TALK ABOUT INDEPENDENT
LIVING -- ABOUT DISABLED PEOPLE MAKING DECISIONS WHICH AFFECT OUR
OWN LIVES (AS OPPOSED TO ALWAYS HAVING NONDISABLED POLICY MAKERS,
MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, VOCATIONAL PROFESSIONALS AND SERVICE
PROVIDERS MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT OUR LIVES FOR US)?
HOW MANY OF YOU WANT ME TO TALK ABOUT HOW PUBLIC INVESTMENTS IN
EDUCATION AND REHABILITATION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABLITIES AND IN
SERVICES DESIGNED TO HELP US BE MORE INDEPENDENT WILL ACTUALLY
RESULT IN US BEING MORE PRODUCTIVE AND SELF-SUFFICIENT, AND AS A
RESULT, LESS DEPENDENT ON PUBLIC EXPENDITURES, AND LESS BURDENSOME
ON OUR FELLOW TAXPAYERS? HOW MANY OF YOU WANT ME TO TALK ABOUT HOW
WE SHALL OVERCOME DISCRIMINATION AND PREJUDICE -- HOW WE WILL
SUCCEED IN "OBTAINING OUR RIGHTS; HOW WE WILL GET JOBS; HOW WE
WILL BECOME PRODUCTIVE, SELF-SUPPORTING CITIZENS AND TAXPAYERS; AND
ABOUT HOW, INSTEAD OF BEING THE PROBLEM, WE WILL BECOME PART OF THE
SOLUTION TO THE PENDING CRISIS IMPOSED BY OUR NATIONAL DEBT?
I BROKE MY NECK IN AN AUTOMOBLE ACCIDENT NEARLY TWENTY YEARS
AGO AND JUST FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE, I CAN SAY, AND MAYBE SOME OF
YOU CAN ALSO RELATE TO THIS -- WE HAVE MADE GREAT PROGRESS DURING
THE LAST TWO DECADES IN ESTABLISHING THE RIGHTS OF DISABLED PEOPLE,
4
IN IMPROVING ACCESS TO FACILITIES AND SERVICES, IN DEVELOPING AND
EXPANDING EDUCATIONAL AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, IN CHANGING
ATTITUDES OF POLICY MAKERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC, AND IN MAKING
ACCOMMODATIONS FOR DISABLED PEOPLE MORE NORMAL, MORE ACCEPTABLE
AND MORE ROUTINE.
THE CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES, AND IN PARTICULAR THOSE OF US
WHO HAVE A PERSONAL INTEREST IN THE ISSUE, SHOULD BE PROUD OF THE
FACT THAT THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES EMPLOYED IN THE
UNITED STATES TODAY THAN THERE HAVE BEEN IN THIS OR ANY OTHER
COUNTRY IN THE WORLD AT THIS OR ANY OTHER TIME IN HISTORY. THERE
ARE THOUSANDS OF DEDICATED DISABLED AND NONDISABLED PROFESSIONALS
AND VOLUNTEERS, PARENTS AND ADVOCATES, COUNSELORS AND PROVIDERS,
EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES -- MANY PEOPLE REPRESENTED HERE TODAY --
WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PROGRESS. THEY SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED
AND CONGRATULATED.
WE NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR PROGRESS AND GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT is
DUE. BUT FRIENDS
IF WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE MAKING PROGRESS,
IF WE ARE GOING TO REALLY DELIVER THE AMERICAN DREAM TO 36 MILLION
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES -- THEN WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO
RECOGNIZE OUR FAILURES JUST AS WE RECOGNIZE OUR SUCCESSES. OF THE
24 MILLION DISABLED PEOPLE OF WORKING AGE IN THE UNITED STATES
5
TODAY, APPROXIMATELY OHE THIRD ARE WORKING. EIGHT MILLIOH DISABLED
PEOPLE WITH JOBS IS GREAT; BUT WHAT ABOUT THE 8 MILLION WHO WANT TO
WORK AND CANNOT FIND JOBS. OR WHAT ABOUT THE 8 MILLION WHO
CONSIDER THEMSELVES TOO DISABLED TO WORK OR WHO ARE SO DISCOURAGED
THAT THEY ARE NOT EVEN LOOKING FOR JOBS ANYMORE? WHAT ABOUT THE
FACT THAT MOST PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND MOST PUBLIC HOUSING IN
THIS COUNTRY IS NOT ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES? WHAT
ABOUT THE FACT THAT IT TAKES OFTEN MORE THAN A WEEKS NOTICE TO GET
AN INTERPRETER FOR A DEAF PERSON OR A READER FOR A BLIND PERSON,
OR A RESPITE CARE PROVIDER FOR A PERSON WHO IS MENTALLY RETARDED OR
AN ATTENDENT FOR A PERSON WHO IS PHYSICALLY DISABLED OR NEEDED
THERAPY AND MEDICATION FOR A PERSON WITH ACUTE SYMPTOMS OF MENTAL
ILLNESS?
YOU KNOW, A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO I WAS WORKING ON MY NOTES FOR
THESE REMARKS TODAY -- AND BROWSING THROUGH SOME OLD FILES, I CAME
UPON THE REJECTION LETTER I RECEIVED WHEN I APPLIED TO GO TO
COLLEGE SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER I BECAME DISABLED. I WAS REMEMBERING
MY FEELINGS OF BEWILDERMENT, DISAPPOINTMENT, AND DISILLUSIONMENT
ABOUT THE FACT THAT I HAD BEEN TURNED DOWN FOR ADMISSION TO THE
UNIVERSITY STRICTLY ON THE BASIS OF MY DISABLITY. I WAS A PRETTY
PATRIOTIC KID AND PROBABLY PRETTY GREEN, HAVING BEEN RAISED IN R
QUIET TOWN IN RURAL OKLAHOMA. I EVEN WROTE AN ESSAY IN HIGH
6
SCHOOL, BEFORE I BECAME DISABLED, ABOUT HOW PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES SHOULD BE TREATED WITH COMPASSION AND WITH DIGNITY. I
NEVER IMAGINED HOW CRUEL AND PAINFUL PREJUDICE AND DISCRIMINATION
COULD BE, UNTIL I EXPERIENCED IT MYSELF. I DO NOT THINK THAT
ANYONE CAN UNDERSTAND REAL DISCRIMINATION UNTIL THEY HAVE
EXPERIENCED IT THEMSELVES.
WHILE THINKING ABOUT THAT -- MY FIRST CONFRONTATION WITH BLATANT
DISCRIMINATION, I BEGAN TO MUSE ABOUT HOW MUCH PROGRESS THE
DISABILITY MOVEMENT, THE DISABILITY RIGHTS MOVEMENT AND THE
INDEPENDENT LIVING MOVEMENT HAVE MADE IN THIS COUNTRY -- AND THEN
THE TELEPHONE RANG -- IT WAS A WOMAN CALLING FROM TEXAS WHO WAS
BEWILDERED, DISAPPOINTED AND DISILLUSIONED. SHE HAD JUST BEEN
DENIED ADMISSION TO A GRADUATE PROGRAM BECAUSE SHE WAS DISABLED.
DID YOU KNOW THE GROVE CITY DECISION BY THE SUPREME COURT NEARLY
THREE YEARS AGO SET THE DISABILITY RIGHTS MOVEMENT BACK FIFTEEN
YEARS? DID YOU KNOW THE CIVIL RIGHTS RESTORATION ACT WHICH WOULD
RESTORE THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO THE SAME
PROTECTION AS BEFORE GROVE CITY HAS BEEN STALLED IN THREE
SUCCESSIVE CONGRESSES? DID YOU KNOW THAT EVEN IF THE GROVE CITY
SITUATION WAS FIXED, MOST BUSINESSES IN THIS COUNTRY COULD
DISCRIMINATE ON THE BASIS OF DISABILITY -- LEGALLY?
7
I HESITATE TO USE A TRITE QUOTATION, BUT MAHY OF YOU PROBABLY
HEARD A FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE SAY "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH".
WELL, I BELIEVE ENOUGH is ENOUGH. I AND THE MEMBERS OF THE
NATIONAL COUNCIL ON THE HANDICAPPED AND MANY OF OUR ADVISERS,
COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS, AND PERHAPS MANY OF YOU HERE TODAY, BELIEVE
IT IS ABOUT TIME TO STATE ONCE AND FOR ALL, WITHOUT EQUIVOCATION
AND IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS THAT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ARE EQUAL
AND THAT WE SHOULD BE TREATED EQUALLY UNDER THE LAW; BY OUR
GOVERNMENT; AND BY OUR FELLOW CITIZENS.
IN OUR REPORT "TOWARD INDEPENDENCE", THE NATIONAL COUNCIL
RECOMMENDED: "CONGRESS SHOULD ENACT A COMPREHENSIVE LAW REQUIRING
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, WITH BROAD
COVERAGE AND SETTING CLEAR, CONSISTENT, AND ENFORCEABLE STANDARDS
PROHIBITING DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF HANDICAP".
THE COUNCIL BELIEVES THAT SECTION 504 OF THE REHABILITATION ACT OF
1973 IS PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT MILESTONE AND TOOL FOR PERSONS
WITH DISABILITIES IN THEIR STRUGGLE TO OBTAIN EQUAL RIGHTS AND
OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR SOCIETY. BUT THE GUARANTEES OF SECTION 504
FALL FAR SHORT OF THE PROTECTION AGAINST DISCRIMINATION PROVIDED TO
OTHER MINORITIES AND WOMEN, AND FAIL TO ADDRESS MANY OF THE MOST
8
SERIOUS TYPES OF DISCRIMINATION THAT DISADVANTAGE AHD DEBILITATE
MANY PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.
THE PRIMARY GOALS OF A NEWLY CONSTITUTED COMPREHENSIVE EQUAL
OPPORTUNITY LAW, AS CONCEIVED BY THE COUNCIL, WOULD BE: 1.) TO
PROVIDE COVERAGE COMMENSURATE WITH THAT AFFORDED IN STATUTES
PROHIBITING DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF RACE, SEX, NATIONAL
ORIGIN, AND RELIGION; 2.) TO PROVIDE CLEAR, STRONG, CONSISTENT,
ENFORCEABLE STANDARDS FOR ADDRESSING DISCRIMINATION AGAINST PERSONS
WITH
DISABILITIES;
AND 3.) TO ADDRESS THE MAJOR AREAS OF
DISCRIMINATION FACED DAY-TO-DAY BY PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
THE STATUTE ENVISIONED BY THE COUNCIL WOULD ENCOMPASS MANY AREAS
THAT ARE CURRENTLY COVERED UNDER OTHER TYPES OF CIVIL RIGHTS LAWS,
BUT NOT THOSE WHICH NOW PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION AGAINST PERSONS
WITH DISABILITIES. THIS COMPREHENSIVE STATUTE WOULD APPLY TO 1.)
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, ANY OF ITS AGENCIES AND DEPARTMENTS, AND
THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE; 2.) ANY RECIPIENT OF FEDERAL
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE; 3.) ANY FEDERAL CONTRACTOR, SUBCONTRACTOR,
OR LICENSEE; 4.) ANY EMPLOYER ENGAGED IN AN INDUSTRY AFFECTING
COMMERCE, ANY EMPLOYMENT AGENCY, OR LABOR UNION; 5.) ANY SELLER,
LANDLORD, OR OTHER PROVIDER OF HOUSING COVERED BY TITLE VIII OF THE
CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1968; 6.) ANY PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION COVERED BY
9
TITLE 11 OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964; 7.) ANY PERSON, COMPANY,
OR AGENCY THAT ENGAGES IN THE BUSINESS OF INTERSTATE TRANSPORTATION
OF PERSONS, GOODS, DOCUMENTS, OR DATA; 8.) ANY PERSON, COMPANY OR
AGENCY THAT MAKES USE OF THE MAILS OR INTERSTATE COMMUNICATIONS AND
TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES FOR SELLING, ARRANGING OR PROVIDING
INSURANCE; AND 9.) ANY STATE, OR AGENCY OR POLITICAL SUBDIVISION
OF A STATE.
THE COUNCIL'S PROPOSES TO SPELL OUT THE SPECIFIC TYPES OF ACTIONS
WHICH CONSTITUTE ILLEGAL DISCRIMINATION. FROM EXISTING SECTION 504
REGULATIONS, THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS WOULD BE FORMS OF
DISCRIMINATION:
1) INTENTIONAL EXCLUSION; 2) UNINTENTIONAL
EXCLUSION; 3.) SEGREGATION; 4.) UNEQUAL OR INFERIOR SERVICES,
BENEFITS, OR ACTIVITIES; OR 5.) LESS EFFECTIVE SERVICES, BENEFITS,
OR ACTIVITIES. IN ADDITION, THREE OTHER FORMS OF UNLAWFUL
DISCRIMINATION WOULD BE DELINEATED:
FAILING TO REMOVE
ARCHITECTURAL, TRANSPORTATION, AND COMMUNICATION BARRIERS;
REFUSING TO MAKE REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS TO ENABLE A PARTICULAR
PERSON WITH A DISABILITY TO PARTICIPATE; AND IMPOSING
DISCRIMINATORY QUALIFICATIONS STANDARDS, SELECTION CRITERIA, AND
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA.
SOME POLITICAL WAGS AND OTHER CRITICS HAVE SAID THE DISABLED
10
COMMUNITY DOES NOT HAVE THE NEED, THE DESIRE, THE POLITICAL SAVUY,
THE ORGANIZATIONAL ABILITY, OR THE SIMPLE DETERMINATION TO PULL
THIS OFF -- TO DEVELOP AND SEE PASSED THIS TYPE OF COMPREHENSIVE
LEGISLATION. WELL, I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT. I BELIEVE WE DO HAVE
THE NEED, THE DESIRE, THE SAVUY, THE ORGANIZATIONAL ABILITY, AND
THE DETERMINATION TO SUCCEED IN ACHIEVING OUR GOAL OF CLEAR
PROTECTION AGAINST DISCRIMINATION UNDER THE LAW.
LET'S BE DISABILITY PROUD! LET'S BE STRIDENT IN OUR VIEWS ABOUT
EQUALITY! LET'S REFUSE TO COMPROMISE OUR BASIC RIGHTS AS CITIZENS!
LET'S MARCH FORWARD IN UNITY AND STAND AS ONE, REGARDLESS OF OUR
DISABILITY TYPE AND OF OUR OTHER DIFFERENCES! LET'S DEMAND EQUAL
OPPORTUNITY, EQUAL RIGHTS, EQUAL PROTECTION AND EQUAL
PARTICIPATION!
WE HAVE PROVEN WE CAN WORK; WE HAVE PROVEN WE CAN LEAD; WE HAVE
PROVEN WE CAN BE PRODUCTIVE; AND WE HAVE PROVEN WE CAN CONTRIBUTE.
NOW, LET US PROVE WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO DEVELOP A CONSENSUS
APPROACH TO LEGISLATING NONDISCRIMINATION. LET US PROVE THAT WE
CAN STAND TOGETHER IN UNITY TO SEEK OUR RIGHTS; AND LET US STAND
TOGETHER AS ONE UNTIL WE SUCCEED ONCE AND FOR ALL IN ESTABLISHING,
BY LAW, EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND EQUAL RIGHTS FOR PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES!
11
THANK YOU.
IL spore
making decasions
ReProvictive
solving problems
assuming responsibility
recognizing oppurtunity
alone or together
via IL Cs - services, peersupport, advocacy
200 centers - NCIL-legislation - statefunding
being shaped 8.4
some older drifting toward institutionalization Is
must sustain growth, enthusiasm
must preserve advocacy orientation (beyond ILC)
must reach out to new groups and individuals
education
commitment organization
leadership
action
must be prepared to assume responsibility control
must be willing to assume risks
must be firmly commited to the ultimate goal:
inclusion, equality independence
act
Mare City
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