For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
February 12, 2003
Memorandum for the Secretary of Education, Health and Human Services, Labor, and the Commissioner of Social Security
SUBJECT: Interagency Working Group on Assistive
Technology Mobility Devices
When President George H. W. Bush signed the Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990, America opened its door to a new age for
people with disabilities. Although much progress has been made since
then, significant challenges remain for individuals with disabilities
who seek full participation in American society.
My Administration is committed to increasing education and
employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. My New
Freedom Initiative strives to provide people with disabilities
increased opportunities to lead more independent lives by expanding
education and job opportunities, and by ensuring that the latest
technologies, which often make education and employment possible, are
readily available.
Often, individuals with disabilities require assistive technology
mobility devices -- such as powered wheelchairs and scooters -- in
order to access education, training, and competitive employ-ment.
While there are several Federal programs, as well as State and local
efforts, that help individuals with disabilities obtain these and other
assistive technologies, they are not adequately coordinated. Other
Federal programs provide funding of assistive technology mobility
devices for medical purposes, but the intent of these programs has
always been, and should remain, medical rather than educational or
vocational.
Consistent with my interest in improving the coordination of the
Federal programs that help provide individuals with assistive
technology mobility devices, I hereby direct the following:
Section 1. Establishment of the Interagency Working Group on
Assistive Technology Mobility Devices. (a) There is hereby
established, within the Department of Education for adminis-trative
purposes, the "Interagency Working Group on Assistive Technology
Mobility Devices" (Working Group). The Working Group shall consist
exclusively of:
(i) the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Health and Human
Services, the Secretary of Labor, and the Commissioner of Social
Security; and
(ii) such other Federal officials as the Assistant to the
President
for Domestic Policy from time to time, on my behalf, may
designate.
(b) The Secretary of Education shall serve as Chairman of the
Working Group. The Chairman shall convene and preside at any meetings
of the Working Group, determine its agenda, direct its work, and, as
appropriate to particular subject matters, establish and direct
subgroups of the Working Group, which shall consist exclusively of
Working Group members.
(c) A member of the Working Group may designate, to perform the
Working Group or Working Group subgroup functions of the member, any
person who is part of the members agency and who is an officer
appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate,
or a member of the Senior Executive Service.
Sec. 2. Functions of the Working Group. The Working Group shall:
(a) identify existing Federal Government programs and resources that
are designed to help individuals with disabilities obtain the assistive
technology mobility devices that they need for education and
employment; and (b) work with State, local, and tribal governments, as
appropriate, to identify State, local, and tribal programs that are
designed to help individuals with disabilities obtain assistive
technology mobility devices for education and employment. The
Secretary of Education shall take the lead in coordinating these
efforts.
Sec. 3. Report. In performing its functions the Working Group
shall present to me, through the Assistant to the President for
Domestic Policy, a report not later than 180 days from the date of this
memorandum. The report shall include the specific steps that each of
the agencies represented on the Working Group will take to: (a)
improve coordination among their existing programs; (b) train
vocational rehabilitation counselors, other service providers, and
individuals with disabilities, as provided by law; and (c) inform
individuals with disabilities about these oppor-tunities. The report
shall also include a description of how individuals with disabilities
can pool funding from existing resources to obtain the assistive
technology mobility devices that they need to pursue their educational
and employment goals.
Sec. 4. Termination. The Working Group shall terminate 30 days
after the date of the submission of the report as described in section
3 of this memorandum.
Sec. 5. General. (a) Agencies shall assist the Working Group and
provide information to the Working Group consistent with applicable law
as may be necessary to carry out the functions of the Working Group.
To the extent permitted by law, the Department of Education shall
provide funding and administrative support for the Working Group.
(b) As used in this memorandum, the term "agency" means an
executive department or agency of the Federal Government.
(c) Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or
otherwise affect the functions of the Director of the Office of
Management and Budget relating to budget, administrative, or
legislative proposals.
(d) This memorandum is intended only to improve the internal
management of the Federal Government and is not intended to, and does
not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural,
enforceable at law or equity by a party against the United States, its
departments, agencies, instrumentalities or entities, its officers or
employees, or any other person.
GEORGE W. BUSH
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