- Vision [1]
- The United States of America will be a stronger country when its 54 million citizens with disabilities are fully integrated
into all aspects of American life. The United States has made significant progress in recent years in furthering opportunities
for education, employment and independent living for people with disabilities through a broad range of programs that protect
the rights of individuals with disabilities from discrimination in education, employment, housing and transportation. Yet
significant barriers to achieving the goals of independence, inclusion and empowerment for all persons with disabilities still
remain. Conflicting, poorly designed or outdated government programs and policies combine with service gaps and continued
negative attitudes toward people with disabilities to marginalize the 54 million Americans with disabilities. The effects
of these barriers on both people with disabilities and society are enormous. Physical and spiritual isolation rob individuals
of energy, creativity and productivity. Society loses by not enjoying the benefits of their talents and by incurring large
costs to support them. Through collaboration with its stakeholders, the National Council on Disability (NCD) will pursue a
focused agenda that will promote government programs and policies in support of full inclusion of all people with disabilities
into the educational, economic and social fabric of the American community. NCD will use the expertise of its diverse membership
and well-trained and well-managed staff to identify barriers to inclusion and independence and to develop solutions. NCD will
listen to people with disabilities across the country to identify emerging issues that need a response. As the only agency
in the Federal Government that addresses the issues of all people with disabilities, regardless of type or severity, NCD will
be aggressive and resolute until the day arrives when people with disabilities in every corner of the land no longer are distinguished
by a disability label, but are known as students, workers, parents, neighbors and friends.
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