Presidential Document2023-23099
Blind Americans Equality Day, 2023
Primary source
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Published
October 18, 2023
Signed
October 13, 2023
Issuing agencies
Executive Office of the President
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 200 (Wednesday, October 18, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 200 (Wednesday, October 18, 2023)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 71729-71730]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-23099]
Presidential Documents
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 200 / Wednesday, October 18, 2023 /
Presidential Documents
[[Page 71729]]
Proclamation 10655 of October 13, 2023
Blind Americans Equality Day, 2023
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
On Blind Americans Equality Day, my Administration
celebrates the contributions that people who are blind
or low vision have made to our country, and we recommit
to creating a more accessible Nation where everyone has
the opportunity to realize their full potential.
More than 33 years ago, the United States Congress
passed the Americans with Disabilities Act, a landmark
civil rights law that banned discrimination against
people with disabilities in many areas of public life.
I was proud to co-sponsor that historic bill as a
United States Senator, and I am proud of its lasting
impact today.
Despite the progress we have made, we have more work to
do to uphold the rights of Americans with visual
disabilities. Less than half of blind or low vision
Americans are employed. Public services--including
online resources--are often designed in ways that make
them inaccessible to this community. These are but a
few of the many obstacles blind and low vision
Americans still face.
As President, I have made it a priority to end
discrimination, increase independence, and expand
opportunity for everyone, including Americans who are
blind or low vision. Soon after taking office, I issued
an Executive Order to establish a Government-wide
policy of diversity, equity, inclusion, and
accessibility in the workplace to promote fairness in
the labor market for Americans with disabilities. This
Executive Order directs agencies to find and remove
barriers to hiring and promotion for job applicants and
employees who are disabled. Further, my Administration
ended the practice of paying people employed through
the AbilityOne Commission--which creates opportunities
for people who are blind or have significant
disabilities--less than minimum wage. I have also named
the first-ever White House Disability Policy Director,
whose team is working every day to defend and advance
the rights of Americans with disabilities. I awarded
Jos[eacute] Feliciano the National Medal of Arts,
recognizing his immense contributions as a guitarist
and pioneering artist who has bridged cultures and
styles, won Grammy Awards, and opened doors for
generations of Latino artists and the heart of our
Nation.
My Administration has also taken steps to increase
accessibility for blind and low vision Americans.
Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we are
reducing the barriers that blind Americans face in
their daily lives by investing $1.75 billion to improve
the accessibility of transit stations across America.
Under my direction, the Department of Transportation is
working to expand access to transportation for people
with disabilities. Meanwhile, the Department of Justice
has proposed a new rule that would make State and local
governments' web and mobile apps more accessible,
enabling those who are blind or low vision to access
critical online resources. Additionally, the National
Institutes of Health designated people with
disabilities as a population with health disparities,
which will encourage research specific to the health
issues and unmet health needs for blind and low vision
Americans. I am also proud to have secured billions of
dollars to expand educational opportunities for
students with disabilities.
[[Page 71730]]
This Blind Americans Equality Day, let us rededicate
ourselves to defending and strengthening the rights of
blind and low vision Americans so each and every person
in our Nation has the chance to achieve the American
Dream.
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 low
vision 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,
2023, as Blind Americans Equality Day. I call upon all
the people of the United States--including all
government officials, educators, and volunteers--to
mark this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies,
and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
thirteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord two
thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the
United States of America the two hundred and forty-
eighth.
<GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT>
(Presidential Sig.)
[FR Doc. 2023-23099
Filed 10-17-23; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3395-F4-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on October 18, 2023.
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