September 9, 1992 PRESIDENT BUSH: CHAMPIONING THE RIGHTS OF DISABLED AMERICANS Summary: o President Bush was a leading force in passage of the landmark 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act, the most sweeping civil rights legislation in over a quarter century. Passage of the ADA was a bipartisan effort, supported at every step by the President. o On July 12, 1988, speaking before the NAACP, President Bush pledged his "strong commitment" to "ensure the full participation of all Americans in our economy and our government." Through 1989 and 1990, Administration officials worked in consultation with Republican and Democratic members of Congress to fashion legislation to protect disabled Americans. With the signing of the ADA on July 26, 1990 and the beginning of its implementation yesterday, the President has kept his personal commitment to ensure full participation. o The Americans with Disabilities Act will extend to the nearly 43 million disabled Americans the same protections and rights enjoyed by every other American. With these protections, every disabled American will be able to participate fully in the social and economic mainstream of American life. o In his FY93 Budget, the President ensured that funds would be available to hire Justice Department and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission employees to respond to ADA enforcement needs. This includes a $32 million increase in the EEOC budget, (an increase of 15%), and creation of an ADA technical assistance revolving fund, to offer employers and others technical assistance in compliance with the ADA. What the ADA provides o The ADA specifies that a business employing 25 or more people must make "reasonable accommodations" for qualified disabled people seeking a job or a promotion unless the employer can show that the accommodation would put an "undue hardship" on its operations. Businesses with 15 or more employees must comply with the law by 1994. o The ADA covers anyone with a mental or physical impairment that limits a major life activity. Employment decisions must be based on the abilities of individual applicants or employees, and not on the basis of presumptions or generalizations about what individuals with disabilities can or cannot do. o A company still has the right to hire the most qualified applicant who fits the job description. The ADA ensures that individuals, rather than groups of individuals are protected, so that each individual has the fullest opportunity to participate in American society. The Americans with Disabilities Act does not impose, nor will it result in, hiring quotas. # # #