U.N. DECADE OF DISABLED PERSONS TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 1983 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SUBCOMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, Washington, D.C. The subcommittee met at 2:10 p.m., in room 2172, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Gus Yatron (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding. Mr. YATRON. The Subcommittee on Human Rights and International Organizations meets this afternoon to consider House Concurrent Resolution 39, cosponsored by Congressmen Larry Winn and Tony Coelho, and over 80 other Members of Congress. The resolution, if adopted, would express the sense of Congress that the President should take all steps within his authority to implement within the United States the objectives of the U.N. Decade for Disabled Persons, 1983 to 1992. We are pleased to welcome to the subcommittee the principal sponsor of the resolution, Congressman Larry Winn of Kansas, a senior member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. I would like to say, before I ask Congressman Winn to give us his testimony, that we would like to invite him to come up here and join the other members of the subcommittee for the rest of the hearing this after noon. I want to apologize to the people who took the time out to come here today that more members are not here. Unfortunately, because Congress is not in session today, many members are attending meetings back in their respective congressional districts. It is not because of a lack of interest. Before I call on our colleague, I would like to call on the ranking minority member of the subcommittee, the gentleman from Iowa, Mr. Leach, for an opening statement. Mr. LEACH. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to express my appreciation to you for holding this hearing and to acknowledge your longstanding concern for and leadership on this issue. In addition, I want to welcome Mr. Winn, who is the chief sponsor of this resolution. Before we begin, I would like to read one brief item into the record. This is from an editorial in the Washington Post dated March 16, 1983, about Peace Corps volunteers which relates to the subject before us very specifically. Let me just read a couple of paragraphs. A blind volunteer, recently returned from Ecuador and now working in Peace Corps headquarters here in Washington, not only completed his tour with distinc (1) tion, he also organized and ran a special Olympics for the mentally retarded, the first such event held in Latin America. Eight deaf volunteers-trained here at Gallaudet College-set up a program for teaching deaf children in the Philippines. One volunteer, a graduate of Gallaudet, who is both deaf and a victim of cerebral palsy, spent her tour on the island of St. Vincent teaching two dozen deaf 6-to-18-year-olds. Before she arrived, these children had no knowledge of sign language and no hope for education. Now they can communicate, read and write, and use basic math skills. Twenty-four children have been given hope, and their country has been given a model for teaching the handicapped. More than 100,000 Americans have served in the Peace Corps. All deserve praise, but none more than those special volunteers who overcame their own physical handicaps to help others far from home. That spirit is America's finest export.1 That is just one small example of what Americans have been doing in this area, and I certainly join with you in hoping that this resolution on the U.N. Decade of Disabled Persons can receive prompt and sympathetic treatment in the Congress. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. YATRON. Thank you, Mr. Leach. STATEMENT OF HON. LARRY WINN, JR., A REPRESENTATIVE IN Mr. WINN. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate the fact that the chairman and the ranking minority member of the subcommittee are holding these hearings. I realize that many members have not returned from their Easter break yet because of lack of business on the floor of the House. I really appreciate the opportunity to present testimony in support of House Concurrent Resolution 39, which requests that the President of the United States implement within this country the objectives of the U.N. Decade of Disabled Persons, designated as the years 1983 to 1992. The objectives of the decade are set forth in the United Nations World Program of Action adopted by the General Assembly on December 3, 1982. A summary of the program's long-term goals is included in House Concurrent Resolution 39, which I introduced on January 27 of this year.2 I am pleased that over 80 of my colleagues have already joined me as cosponsors of this resolution, and I am confident that many more of my fellow members will join me in this important expression of support for the half-billion persons around the world who are disabled. My colleague and fellow Kansan, Senator Robert Dole, has introduced a similar resolution in the Senate, which is now considering the measure. House Concurrent Resolution 39 recognizes the important steps recently taken on behalf of disabled persons by the United Nations. Amid growing international awareness and concern for the world's disabled, the General Assembly last December unanimously approved a resolution adopting a world program of action for disabled persons, and a companion resolution on the Decade of Disabled Persons. The purpose of the United Nations call for a Decade of Disabled Persons is to improve public awareness around the globe about the unique situation of the disabled and the opportunities available to them. In addition, the Decade seeks to promote over its 10-year period the full participation in society of the half-billion persons, 10 percent of the world's total population, who are physically or mentally disabled. The U.N. declaration calls upon member governments, international organizations, private enterprise, and individuals everywhere to work toward increased participation of disabled persons in national business and community life. During the decade, U.N.-sponsored activities will address primary health care, disability prevention, rehabilitation and training, counseling, and special technical aid development to help disabled persons participate more fully in society. Private enterprise, labor, and other groups will also be actively involved, working with United Nations and national agencies and using these agencies as models for their own programs. The specialized U.N. agencies will be involved deeply in identifying activity areas and program objectives, and in carrying out particular program operations. Each member country also is asked to formulate its own objectives and programs, bearing in mind that the best programs are those sensitive to the particular needs of the society and its own stage of development. The problem of disability is indeed global, but most of the solutions must be specific and tailored to fit regional and local situations. It is thus important for the United States to renew its own national commitment and leadership in increasing opportunities for disabled persons through congressional affirmation of the Decade of Disabled Persons. This country has been the world's leader in broadening opportunities for the 35 million disabled Americans, but a great deal remains to be done. The Congress acts of involvement in proclaiming 1981 the International Year of Disabled Persons and 1982 the National Year of Disabled Persons were important actions, and I was proud to sponsor both of these initiatives and see them become law. During the national and international years, many local, regional, and national initiatives were begun as a direct result of congressional action. Congressional affirmation of the Decade of Disabled Persons is needed to insure the continuance of these private sector and local governmental initiatives, and to assure further progress for disabled Americans. Mr. Chairman, the past decade has been one of great beginnings. During the 1970's, America began to see physical barriers come down. Ramps and curb cuts are more common sights in these major cities, and even smaller towns. Transportation systems adapted for persons with disabilities are providing increased mobility and independence. Education and employment opportunities are expanding for both the physically and mentally handicapped. Medical and technological breakthroughs are improving the human condition. As a matter of fact, I do not need to remind the members of the subcommittee that even on our own elevators just within the last year we had the touchtone for the various floors so that blind people, who come to see us often and to speak their words to us, could find our offices and could find our floors where we have our offices. Technology especially can be used to aid disabled persons. A recent national news program highlighted the ground-breaking research being done with computers in helping partially paralyzed individuals regain the ability to move once immobile limbs. With further work, this research may one day enable some persons confined now to wheelchairs to walk again. As a senior member of the Science and Technology Committee, I am deeply interested in technological applications to the problems confronting disabled persons. The greater Kansas City, Kans., area, which I have the privilege of representing in Congress, has made great progress in the last decade in issues of concern to disabled persons through the Whole Person Center in Kansas City, Kans. The center serves physically disabled persons living in the area. Its purpose is twofold: to assist disabled persons in developing and maintaining independent lifestyles and to encourage greater accessibility in the community so disabled persons can become active participants. Many restaurants, hotels, and public facilities have been designed in consideration of the disabled. Efforts have been made to have government buildings more accessible. The area has a paratransit service to transport disabled persons to the doctor, to work, and to run errands. The State of Kansas has recently implemented a personal care assistance program for people who are eligible for medicaid to assist with the cost of in-home care. Many persons faced with the institutional care or dependence on family can now lead fairly independent lifestyles. So, Mr. Chairman, progress has been made, but the last decade is a beginning that is by no means complete. Private businesses can be encouraged to train and employ disabled persons, many of whom are capable and eager to work. Communities and local governments need further encouragement to increase the access disabled persons deserve. Congress can help encourage others to do their part to help them bring down the remaining barriers to full participation by disabled persons in our society. I am confident that this hearing will give encouragement, Mr. Chairman, to those of us involved and committed to helping the disabled participate more fully in society, and will serve to increase the awareness of the condition of those disabled persons who are friends and neighbors of us all. As a nation committed to human rights, to the dignity of all persons, to equality of opportunity, especially in the areas over which our citizens have no control, we as a nation should not fail to set the example that we have traditionally set and to take the lead as we always have, symbolized in this case by our full participation in and the observance of the U.N. Decade of Disabled Persons. Mr. Chairman, I strongly urge my colleagues to support House Concurrent Resolution 39, and again, I appreciate your allowing us to be heard. [Mr. Winn's prepared statement follows:] PREPARED STATEMENT OF HON. LARRY WINN, JR., A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF KANSAS Mr. Chairman and Members of the Subcommittee, I appreciate the opportunity to present testimony in support of House Concurrent Resolution 39, which requests that the President of the United States implement within this country the objectives of the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons, designated as the years 1983-1992. The objectives of the Decade are set forth in the United Nations "World Program of Action" adopted by the General Assembly on December 3, 1982. A summary of the Program's long-term goals is included in H. Con. Res. 39, which I introduced on January 27 of this year. I am please that over eighty of my colleagues have already joined me as cosponsors of this resolution, and I am confident that many more of my fellow Members will join me in this important expression of support for the half-billion persons around the world who are disabled. My colleague and fellow Kansan, Senator Robert Dole, has introduced a similar resolution in the Senate, which is now considering the measure. H. Con. Res. 39 recognizes the important steps recently taken on behalf of disabled persons by the United Nations. Amid growing international awareness and concern for the world's disabled, the General Assembly last December unanimously approved a resolution adopting a "World Program of Action for Disabled Persons" and a companion "Resolution on the Decade of Disabled Persons. The purpose of the U.N. call for a Decade of Disabled Persons is to improve public awareness around the globe about the `unique |