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REMARKS BY:	DONNA E. SHALALA, SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
PLACE:		Employment of  People with Disabilities Event, Washington, DC
DATE:		September 28, 2000

Going for the Ultimate Gold

As some of you know, I've just returned from Australia where I had the privilege of heading our Olympic delegation. While I certainly enjoyed watching so many of the world's finest athletes go for the gold-it was actually a silver medal performance that I'll always remember. The moment that South African swimmer Terence Parkin hit the water in Sydney, it was truly history in the making. Parkin is deaf. He communicates with his coach in sign language. And he won a silver medal in the 200 meter breaststroke because the International Olympic Committee had made an accommodation. Terence couldn't hear the starter's pistol, so a special strobe light was installed in the pool to let the young swimmer know when to begin the race.

Terence showed the world that he not only had a disability-but a rare talent. And he proved that people with disabilities have much to give-if we allow them the opportunity.and if we help them access that opportunity. That's a sentiment shared by the "President's Task Force on Employment of Adults with Disabilities"-on which I proudly serve. As most of you are aware, recommendations from the Task Force led to a government-wide plan for employing adults with disabilities-a plan that President Clinton directed federal agencies to implement as soon as possible.

Today, I'm proud to unveil our blueprint for meeting the President's mandate. Developed by many of you here today, the HHS "Plan for Employment of People with Disabilities" will help guarantee that no American is left out, left behind or left on the sidelines.it will help shatter barriers and stereotypes.and it will help ensure that the doors to employment are opened and made accessible to everyone.

One of the Plan's action items calls for the "HHS Committee for Employees with Disabilities" to be reconstituted-and we'll be appointing the new members later in this program. In a few minutes, Kevin and John are going to tell you much more about this plan, its specific goals and objectives, and why it's so important to the HHS family-and the larger American family.

But all of us already know two important truths. First, we know that, through work, we not only make a living-we make a life. Work provides more than a financial lifeline. Work provides self- expression.self-fulfillment.self-esteem.self-worth. It's more important than any gold medal or blue ribbon. That's why Americans with disabilities don't want a hand out-they want a hand-up. They want the same responsibilities and rewards of work that the rest of us enjoy-and that's not just a fundamental truth, it's a fundamental right.

Second, we know that, as a nation, we are hurt when narrow doorways-or narrow minds-keep people with disabilities from fully participating in the American workforce. Talent is lost. Ideas are squandered. Potential remains untapped. Contribution is denied. And our country is the lesser for it. None of us will arrive at the American dream unless we all arrive together.but even during this longest economic expansion in our nation's history, three out of four adults with disabilities are unemployed. We cannot tolerate this situation-not if America is to be both good and great.

Of course, I know that I'm preaching to the choir-just look at the record that so many of you have helped compile. Under the leadership of John Callahan, Bob Williams and Sue Swenson, we're getting families the information, support and services they need to help loved ones with disabilities become more independent and enter the work force. We've participated in the "National Workforce Recruitment Program for College Students with Disabilities"-and several students who were interns under this program returned to us as fulltime employees. We fought for the "Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act," which allows people with disabilities to work and keep their Medicare benefits for eight-and-a-half years- and we're hoping to extend those benefits for life. We're working to ensure that the full promise of the ADA-and its vision of a society without barriers-becomes a reality for people with disabilities. And today we're unveiling a new plan that will ensure that the "Help Wanted" sign at HHS is always out for people with disabilities.

These are great accomplishments-but this isn't the time to take a victory lap or rest on our laurels. Even now, we must redouble our efforts to remove any roadblocks on the road to employment for all Americans.and-for those of you who will still be here at HHS-you must continue these efforts in a new administration. We must work to implement the recommendations of the plan we're unveiling today. And, in the words of President Lyndon Johnson, "We must throw open the doors of opportunity."

Johnson's words remind me of another Sydney Olympian-American runner, Marla Runyan. Legally blind-and the first paralympian in history to make the difficult transition to Olympian-Marla wrote that, for her, the real race was just getting to the starting line. She knows that-in life-real victory isn't about taking the gold-but about taking part. Let's ensure that more Americans with disabilities are able to take part.that they can get to the starting line.stay in the race.and win the ultimate gold: Access to the American dream.

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