Bush spotlights disabled workers

WASHINGTON, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- October was declared National Disability Employment Awareness Month by U.S. President George W. Bush Thursday.

The president, in a special proclamation, said disabled Americans "must have the opportunity to develop the skills they need to compete and obtain jobs in the 21st Century workforce and called for greater cooperation and dialogue between the business and disabled communities on hiring and skills acquisition.

"The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 has brought about important progress in our nation," he said. "Under my administration's New Freedom Initiative, we continue to work to ensure tat people with disabilities can participate fully in the workplace and all aspects of community life."

Bush said the initiative has invested in technology research and development that would aid disabled Americans. Among measures taken has been expansion of the Department of Defense's Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program to give disabled federal workers greater access to electronic and information technology.

The administration, he said, has also implemented initiatives to educate small businesses on the benefits of hiring the disabled and to give the disabled the skills and resources to start small businesses of their own.