Testimony on H.R. 8395

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survive their early injuries. The case for this early care has been well documented by the medical profession. It is well known that rehabilitation must start at the earliest moment possible if we are to salvage constructive human beings from this greatest of all living wreckage. Such care can only be provided in an experienced center which applies its programs to the whole person. It is this type of center for which the two organizations I represent urgently plead. Pehaps someday, after these Centers are well established, they may administer programs of public education and prevention, and provide emergency pick-up and transportation service from the scene of the accident.

Good health and a vocation can be all for naught if that healthy, trained individual can't find a home that is accessible and usable, and within his personal economic means. And both home and ability mean nothing if there is no transportaiton which he can use to seek and maintain employment. Yet these are two of the severest drawbacks that the wheelchair-bound individual faces in trying to maintain himself or his family, and in trying to become a taxpaying member of society. It is hoped that quick implementation of Section 413 of the bill, creating a National Commission of Transportation and Housing for the Handicapped. would alleviate the shortages in these areas. We are particularly pleased to see that the Commission will also include representatives from the consumer groups. It is hoped, however, that there would be close cooperation between the Commission and the proposed National Information and Resource Center.

The proposal of Section 410 to establish a National Information and Resource Center for the Handicapped would benefit far more than the disabled themselves.

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Testimony on H.R. 8395

It has been a frustrating experience of organizations trying to service the severely disabled, attempting to collect and index the myriad data on the disabled which is so essential to these service programs. It has been suggested that there are some 24 Federal Agencies conducting 88 separate programs for the handicapped. Only one who has tried to wrest information from these agencies knows how closely and jealously they guard that information. The establishment of a Center would go far toward efficiency and economy in government operation but, more important, it will bring more quickly to the disabled the most newly devised techniques and equipment. Toward this end, it is our hope that, among the duties assigned to the National Information and Resource Center, will be the science of bio-medical engineering. It should be the duty of this center to maintain an un-tothe-minute index of newly developed engineering concepts to technology henefitting the disabled. There is an impressive array of mechanical and electronic systems, spin-offs of the defense and aerospace industries, which could dramatically hasten the physical restoration of the disabled and handicapped. But a tenacious resource is necessary to overcome the great time lag between development and application.

Finally, we most strongly submit that present programs purporting to provide medical care and rehabilitation for the spinal cord injured fall woefully short in both number and in funding. Whatever the vehicle for the delivery of services to this group, much more money is needed. Me urge your generous attention to this matter.

I deeply appreciate the time you have given me, r. Chairman. very much.

Thank you

REHABILITATION ACT OF 1972

TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 1972

U.S. SENATE,

SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE HANDICAPPED,

COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND PUBLIC WELFARE,

Washington, D.C. The subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 9:30 a.m. in room 4232, New Senate Office Building, Senator Alan Cranston presiding pro tempore.

Present: Senators Cranston and Stafford.

Committee staff members present: George E. Lawless, professional staff member; Robert R. Humphreys, special counsel; Jonathan R. Steinberg, counsel; and Roy H. Millenson, minority professional staff member.

Senator CRANSTON. The hearing will please come to order. This morning we conclude our hearings on H.R. 8395 and bills amending the Vocational Rehabilitation Act. With the assistance of our excellent and highly knowledgeable witnesses, I hope we have built an enlightening and extensive hearing record.

We will keep the hearing record open until June 19 for submission of additional views by our witnesses and written statements by those who were unable to appear personally. In addition, I am asking HEW to submit for the record any appropriate comments and reactions to each of the suggestions and recommendations made during our 5 days of hearings pertaining to possible legislation.

Finally, I want to thank my good friend, Senator Randolph, the distinguished chairman of this subcommittee, for giving me the opportunity to chair these hearings and to work on the pending legislation. I look forward now to reviewing all of the testimony and submissions from these hearings and to working closely with Senator Randolph, with Senator Williams, chairman of the full committee, with Senators Javits and Stafford, ranking minority members of the full committee and subcommittee, respectively, and with Senator Taft, who introduced the administration bill S. 3368, to work out the best possible legislative approaches to the pervasive problem of providing realistic, comprehensive and accessible rehabilitation services and programs to our Nation's handicapped persons.

Our first witness this morning is the Honorable Joseph Garrahy, Lieutenant Governor, State of Rhode Island.

I have a statement from Senator Pell, which he would have made had he been present. He asked me to read it in his absence:

I regret very much that my official duties as a Senate adviser to the United States delegation at the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm prevents me from participating in the hearing this morning.

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