Proclaiming the Month of October 2011 as "Disability Awareness Month."

The City Council of Philadelphia designates the Month of October 2011 as “Disability Awareness Month” in Philadelphia and encourages all Philadelphians with and without disabilities to continue to work together to insure that citizens with disabilities participate fully in every aspect of life in this City.

WHEREAS, In 1945, President Harry S. Truman signed into law and designated the first week in October as “National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week” which was later expanded in 1988 to “National Disability Awareness Month; and

WHEREAS, “National Disability Awareness Month” empowers individuals with and without disabilities and their families to aspire to achieve equal access and inclusion in all aspects of life; and

WHEREAS, In 1986, Mayor W. Wilson Goode created The Mayor's Commission on People with Disabilities (MCPD) for the City of Philadelphia to focus on people with disabilities in employment, housing, transportation, voter access, health and human services, arts and culture and education, by hosting the Annual Access Achievement Awards breakfast; and

WHEREAS, The goal of this event is to encourage and offer financial support to people with disabilities to further their education and to honor private businesses, public agencies, nonprofit organizations, and individuals that have made outstanding efforts to improve and increase access for persons with disabilities; and

WHEREAS, President Barack Obama stated in his 2010 National Disability Employment Awareness Month Proclamation: “This year marks the 20th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) the landmark civil rights legislation that established a foundation of justice and equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities; and

WHEREAS, President Barack Obama declared that, “Individuals with disabilities are a vital part of our Nation and their contributions have impacted countless lives. People with disabilities bring immeasurable value to our workplaces and we will continue to address the challenges to employment that must be overcome; and

WHEREAS, Citizens with Disabilities are an integral segment of the community who deserve equal access to all the community has to offer and we believe that each citizen with a disability is an individual person with unique talents and abilities who must be appreciated and valued.

WHEREAS, Each person with a disability has and will continue to make contributions that add to a diverse fabric of a vibrant Philadelphia and we shall continue to promote and bring awareness for all people with disabilities; now therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PHILADELPHIA, That the Month of October 2011 shall be proclaimed as “Disability Awareness Month” in Philadelphia and encourage all, both Public and Private, to take serious action and outreach so that people with disabilities that seeks access may enjoy all the same things that people without disabilities enjoy.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Roger A. Margulies, Executive Director and Assistant Deputy Mayor of The Mayor's Commission on People with Disabilities, as further evidencing the sincere admiration and gratitude of this legislative body.

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