Wednesday, January 13, 1999

Economic Opportunities for All Americans

Increased access to health care; more assistance at home and in the workplace; remarkable new technologies: that is how we will make sure that all Americans, no matter what their abilities, can take their place in the workplace. -- President Bill Clinton

On January 13, 1999, the President unveiled a historic new initiative that will remove significant barriers to work for people with disabilities. This three-part budget initiative, which invests $2 billion over five years, will help provide better health care options for people with disabilities who work, a $1,000 tax credit for work-related expenses, and invest in technology that can enhance their ability to participate in the workplace.

Removing The Barriers That Stop People With Disabilities From Going To Work. Since the President and Vice President took office, the American economy has added 17.7 million new jobs, and unemployment is at a 29-year low; however, the unemployment rate among working-age adults with disabilities is nearly 75 percent. People with disabilities often become ineligible for Medicaid or Medicare if they work, putting them in the difficult position of choosing between health care coverage and work. In addition, advances in technology and communications are often not accessible to people with disabilities.

A Historic Plan To Improve Economic Opportunity For Americans With Disabilities. The President's budget proposal will include a three-part initiative to bring greater opportunity to Americans with disabilities:

• Funding the Work Incentives Improvement Act. Health care, particularly prescription drugs and personal assistance, is essential for people with disabilities who work. The President's budget fully funds the Work Incentives Improvement Act, that would improve access to health care by:
  • Expanding states' ability to provide a Medicaid buy-in to people with disabilities who return to work;
  • Extend Medicare coverage, for the first time, for people with disabilities who return to work;
  • Create a new Medicaid buy-in demonstration to help people with a specific physical or mental impairment that is not severe enough to qualify for health assistance, but is likely to lead to a severe disability in the absence of medical treatment;
  • Modernize the employment services system by creating a "ticket" that will enable SSI or SSDI beneficiaries to use a range of public or private providers for vocational rehabilitation. If the person goes back to work and achieves substantial earnings, providers would be paid a portion of the benefits saved; and
  • Create a Work Incentive Grant program to provide benefits planning and assistance, facilitate access to information about work incentives, and better integrate services to people with disabilities working or returning to work.
• Providing a $1,000 Tax Credit For Work-Related Expenses For People With Disabilities. Under the President's proposal, workers with significant disabilities would receive an annual $1,000 tax credit to help cover the costs associated with employment, including, special transportation and technology;
• Improving Access to Assistive Technology. This new initiative will accelerate the development and adoption of information and communications technologies that can improve the quality of life for people with disabilities and enhance their ability to participate in the workplace.

Source: The White House at Work Archives: http://www.whitehouse.gov/WH/Work/011399.html

President's Initiative to improve economic opportunities for people with disabilities

On January 13, 1999,the Director of the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), participated in the White House announcement of a major new multi-faceted initiative to improve economic opportunities for people with disabilities. As a part of the event selected NIDRR grantees set up displays in the Grand Foyer of the White House highlighting examples of assistive/adaptive technologies and universal design for people with disabilities. The announcement included a technology initiative for people with disabilities that was presented by the President to the Congress in the FY 2000 Budget.

NIDRR has a long history of work to support assistive technology and universal design for people with disabilities through its Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) Program. In addition, NIDRR manages the State Technology Assistance Program funded through the Assistive Technology Act of 1998 and NIDRR has funded special projects to heighten awareness of assistive/adaptive technologies through efforts such as ABLEDATA. Despite these efforts, new technologies often remain difficult to access by some people with disabilities. A part of the President's Initiative is designed to increase access to needed technologies. The President's Initiative accelerates the development and adoption of new information and communications technologies that can improve the quality of life for people with disabilities and enhance their ability to participate in the workplace.

Source: http://www.ncddr.org/news/1_13news.html

[ Note: White House photo in print version not available in other formats. ]

Photo caption: Judith Harkins, Ph.D., (Gallaudet University) Co-Principal Investigator of the Rehabilitation Engineering and Research Center on Universal Telecommunications Access, shows the President the accessibility features on a telephone handset. Looking on are Vice President; Director, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR); and Gregg Vanderheiden, Ph.D., (Trace R&D Center) Co-Principal Investigator of the RERC on Universal Telecommunications Access

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