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Presidential Documents
Federal Register Vol. 86, No. 199
Tuesday, October 19, 2021

Title 3

Proclamation 10288 of October 14, 2021

The President
Blind Americans Equality Day, 2021
By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Thirty-one years ago, our Nation moved closer to fulfilling its foundational promise of equal dignity and opportunity for all with the enactment of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act. This bipartisan legislation which I proudly co-sponsored as a member of the United States Senate has made a profound difference in the lives of blind Americans, paving the way for greater opportunity, self-sufficiency, independent living, and equitable participation in all aspects of life. On Blind Americans Equality Day, we recognize the rights, talents, and contributions of blind and visually impaired Americans who represent every segment of our diverse population.
My Administration is committed to building on the foundation of the Americans with Disabilities Act by ensuring that blind and visually impaired Americans have equitable opportunities for employment and career advancement. That is why I signed Executive Orders to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility within the Federal workforce and to raise the minimum wage of Federal contractors to $15 an hourorders which will directly impact our many Federal contractors who are blind and visually impaired. These actions will further enable Federal workers with disabilities to access reasonable accommodations and gain greater economic self-sufficiency while spurring the Federal Government to be a model employer in providing equitable, accessible, and inclusive work environments for employees with disabilities.

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My Administration is also providing funding opportunities across agencies to advance competitive integrated employment opportunities for disabled workers. And to provide much-needed financial relief during the COVID
19 pandemic, my Administration recently awarded $20 million through the Randolph-Sheppard Vending Facilities Program to assist blind entrepreneurs and provide opportunities for blind vendors to operate vending facilities on Federal property.
Building an accessible, equitable Nation for all Americans is a key part of building back better, and for many families, fulfilling that commitment begins in Americas classrooms. When we invest in education, we advance equity and opportunity for millions of students, including children who are blind and visually impaired. My American Rescue Plan has made over $3 billion available to help State educational agencies recover from the impact of the COVID19 pandemic. This funding is supporting special education, early intervention, and related services for children with disabilities and their families. While the American Rescue Plan increased the amount of the Federal Governments financial contribution to the education of children with disabilities, my Administration is also working with the Congress to fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Actso that disabled students can receive an education that is tailored to their individual needs.
This is about who we are as Americansand these actions are helping us move our country closer to the fulfillment of our highest ideals of equity and opportunity for all. On Blind Americans Equality Day, we recommit to ensuring freedom, equality, and opportunity for all blind and visually
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