President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities

On December 11, 2008, President-elect Barack H. Obama unveiled his plan to ensure that Americans with disabilities have an equal opportunity to achieve the American Dream and pledged to make implementing this plan an Obama administration priority. Now President, Barack Obama believes the United States should lead the world in empowering people with disabilities to take full advantage of their talents and become independent, integrated members of society. In addition to reclaiming America�s global leadership on this issue by becoming a signatory to � and having the Senate ratify � the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the President�s plan has four parts that are designed to provide Americans with disabilities the greatest possible access to the same opportunities as those without disabilities: (1) provide Americans with disabilities the educational opportunities they need to succeed, (2) end discrimination and promote equal opportunity, (3) increase the employment rate of workers with disabilities, and (4) support independent, community-based living for Americans with disabilities.