19th Anniversary Celebration of the Americans with Disabilities Act
July 26, 2009
[As Prepared]
Thank you, it’s an honor to share this day with you. I want to recognize all of the organizations who are here that work so hard, day in and day out, on behalf of our neighbors with disabilities. And I know everyone is looking forward to hearing from John Kemp later in the program, so I promise I’ll be brief.
It is both inspiring and humbling to think of what took place in America nineteen years ago today, when our nation took an important step in protecting the civil rights of citizens with disabilities. On that day, more than 54 million Americans with disabilities were guaranteed the same basic freedoms that all citizens claim as their birthright – independence, equal access, freedom of choice, and inclusion. At the end of the day, a civil rights act was signed into law – proudly declaring that we are all God’s children. And that each of us deserves the opportunity to make a positive difference in this world.
It’s an idea that’s central to our mission statement in Maryland, which is: to strengthen and grow the ranks of an upwardly mobile middle class, including our family-owned businesses and farms; to improve public safety and public education in every part of our State; and to expand opportunity.
Frederick Douglass said that “We are one. Our cause is one. And we must help each other if we are to succeed.”
United in our belief in the dignity of every individual, and that there is no such thing as a spare Marylander…
- Working together, we increased funding for our Infants and Toddlers Program by $4.6 million in FY 2009. And even during these tough economic times, we remained committed to level-funding the program this year.
- Together, we signed the Fitness and Athletics Equity Act for Students with Disabilities, requiring that every single child be allowed to try out for their school sports teams.
- Together, we’ve committed over $2 million to our Division of Rehabilitation Services – reducing its waiting list by over 54% in just 6 months.
- Together, we've added $46 million to the DDA budget in the past three years. And we were able to leverage those dollars with federal funds for an additional $46 million.
- And together, we secured $1.6 million for the Access MD Program – so that our State buildings, parks and college campuses will be more accessible to more Marylanders. In fact, when you came into the building we’re in today, you saw some of that money at work in the new walkway and entryway are being constructed here.
Let me conclude just by saying again, thank you to all of you. Thank you for coming here today to celebrate this important anniversary. Thank you for the progress that we make together as one Maryland. Thanks for the partnership and the hard-work of so many of people here today.
I’ll be signing an Executive Order that will recognize October as Disability History and Awareness Month. Delegate Justin Ross has been a tremendous advocate on behalf of this matter, and I want to recognize his leadership and hard work.
Thank you all once again for everything you do to choose that better, that more inclusive more just future that all of us prefer. God bless.
