News Release

NCD #03-422
July 25, 2003
Contact: Mark S. Quigley
202-272-2004
202-272-2074 TTY
mquigley@ncd.gov

National Council on Disability Says People with Disabilities Made Progress: More Needs To Be Done

Americans with Disabilities Act signed into law July 26, 1990

WASHINGTON-The new report issued today from the National Council on Disability (NCD) concludes that people with disabilities made some progress, but more needs to be done.

NCD's annual report, National Disability Policy: A Progress Report, reviews federal policy activities by issue areas and covers the period from December 2001 through December 2002.

As noted in the report, NCD has observed many examples of progress in disability policy. Among these are enactment of the Help America Vote Act for increasing access to elections for Americans with disabilities; establishment of the Presidential Commission on Mental Health to examine and recommend changes in our nation's mental health system; and the Supreme Court's ban on execution of persons with mental retardation.

Despite reforms in disability policy intended to improve the lives of people with disabilities, many challenges remain for our citizens with disabilities who wish to be more independent, more productive and more engaged in their families and communities. Far too many Americans with disabilities are undereducated and unemployed. Many of them are desperately trying to improve the quality of their lives, but they are frustrated by a lack of affordable and accessible housing, transportation, personal assistance services, medical rehabilitation and job opportunities.

The Administration's New Freedom Initiative provides a road map to increase investment in and access to assistive technologies and a high-quality education, and to help integrate Americans with disabilities into the workforce and into community life. NCD will continue to work with the Administration and Congress to ensure that every individual with a disability has access to the American dream.

In the past year, NCD has undertaken and completed a number of projects that support the New Freedom Initiative and that respond to NCD's statutory mission. In particular, NCD has completed a series of policy evaluations intended to measure progress toward implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

We encourage all government agencies and Congress to use NCD's work as a reference point and source of data for recommendations, and as a basis for further examination of issues that impact the lives of people with disabilities. NCD stands ready to work with the Administration, Congress and the public to ensure that public policy is shaped so it will provide the greatest possible opportunities for people with disabilities as they strive to be fully productive, contributing citizens.