Presidential Document2021-22877
Blind Americans Equality Day, 2021
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
October 19, 2021
Signed
October 14, 2021
Issuing agencies
Executive Office of the President
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 199 (Tuesday, October 19, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 199 (Tuesday, October 19, 2021)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 57749-57750]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-22877]
Presidential Documents
Federal Register / Vol. 86 , No. 199 / Tuesday, October 19, 2021 /
Presidential Documents
___________________________________________________________________
Title 3--
The President
[[Page 57749]]
Proclamation 10288 of October 14, 2021
Blind Americans Equality Day, 2021
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Thirty-one years ago, our Nation moved closer to
fulfilling its foundational promise of equal dignity
and opportunity for all with the enactment of the
landmark Americans with Disabilities Act. This
bipartisan legislation--which I proudly co-sponsored as
a member of the United States Senate--has made a
profound difference in the lives of blind Americans,
paving the way for greater opportunity, self-
sufficiency, independent living, and equitable
participation in all aspects of life. On Blind
Americans Equality Day, we recognize the rights,
talents, and contributions of blind and visually
impaired Americans who represent every segment of our
diverse population.
My Administration is committed to building on the
foundation of the Americans with Disabilities Act by
ensuring that blind and visually impaired Americans
have equitable opportunities for employment and career
advancement. That is why I signed Executive Orders to
advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility
within the Federal workforce and to raise the minimum
wage of Federal contractors to $15 an hour--orders
which will directly impact our many Federal contractors
who are blind and visually impaired. These actions will
further enable Federal workers with disabilities to
access reasonable accommodations and gain greater
economic self-sufficiency while spurring the Federal
Government to be a model employer in providing
equitable, accessible, and inclusive work environments
for employees with disabilities.
My Administration is also providing funding
opportunities across agencies to advance competitive
integrated employment opportunities for disabled
workers. And to provide much-needed financial relief
during the COVID-19 pandemic, my Administration
recently awarded $20 million through the Randolph-
Sheppard Vending Facilities Program to assist blind
entrepreneurs and provide opportunities for blind
vendors to operate vending facilities on Federal
property.
Building an accessible, equitable Nation for all
Americans is a key part of building back better, and
for many families, fulfilling that commitment begins in
America's classrooms. When we invest in education, we
advance equity and opportunity for millions of
students, including children who are blind and visually
impaired. My American Rescue Plan has made over $3
billion available to help State educational agencies
recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This
funding is supporting special education, early
intervention, and related services for children with
disabilities and their families. While the American
Rescue Plan increased the amount of the Federal
Government's financial contribution to the education of
children with disabilities, my Administration is also
working with the Congress to fully fund the Individuals
with Disabilities Education Act--so that disabled
students can receive an education that is tailored to
their individual needs.
This is about who we are as Americans--and these
actions are helping us move our country closer to the
fulfillment of our highest ideals of equity and
opportunity for all. On Blind Americans Equality Day,
we recommit to ensuring freedom, equality, and
opportunity for all blind and visually
[[Page 57750]]
impaired Americans, whose contributions continue to
make our Nation stronger.
By joint resolution approved on October 6, 1964 (Public
Law 88-628, as amended), the Congress authorized
October 15 of each year as ``White Cane Safety Day,''
which is recognized today as ``Blind Americans Equality
Day,'' to honor the contributions of blind and visually
impaired Americans.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of
the United States of America, by virtue of the
authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws
of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 15,
2021, as Blind Americans Equality Day. I call upon all
government officials, educators, volunteers, and all
the people of the United States to mark this day with
appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
fourteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord two
thousand twenty-one, and of the Independence of the
United States of America the two hundred and forty-
sixth.
<GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT>
(Presidential Sig.)
[FR Doc. 2021-22877
Filed 10-18-21; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3395-F2-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on October 19, 2021.
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