THE WHITE
HOUSE
Office of the Press
Secretary |
For Immediate
Release |
November 29,
2000 |
STATEMENT BY THE
PRESIDENT
Today I join millions of Americans in
celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) -- a landmark civil rights law
that opens the doors to education and success for more than six
million American children each year. As we recognize this milestone,
we know that education is the key to our children's future, and it
is the IDEA that ensures all children with disabilities have access
to a free appropriate public education. We have seen tremendous
progress over the past 25 years -- students with disabilities are
graduating from high school, completing college, and entering the
competitive workforce in record numbers -- and we must continue this
progress over the next 25 years and beyond.
The benefits of the IDEA stretch far
beyond just those with disabilities. The new technologies and
teaching methods developed to assist students with disabilities are
improving education for all students. Three-quarters of children
with disabilities are learning in classrooms alongside their
non-disabled peers, contributing to the diversity that is one of
America's greatest strengths. This level of success would not be
possible without the dedicated involvement of parents and educators
who are committed to a strong educational system for all children,
and I salute their dedication and accomplishments.
In this time of record prosperity,
with more opportunities for success than ever before, we must ensure
that all of our children have the education that will allow them to
go to college, get good jobs, and play active roles in their
communities. America's ongoing commitment to this principle,
embodied in the IDEA, is both an economic and moral imperative for
our future.
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