Supporting Opportunities for Those with Disabilities

Remarks by Bruce I. Knight, Chief Natural Resources Conservation Service, at NRCS/FSA Disability Awareness Event

Washington, D.C.
October 13, 2005


NRCS has been pleased to join FSA in co-sponsoring this morning’s program to help make us all aware of the need to be sure our programs and our staff include those with disabilities.

President Bush has provided strong support and leadership to expand opportunities for Americans with disabilities. We want everyone to develop the skills they need to fully participate in our society. And as a society, we need to support all members, including those who may need some extra help.

In proclaiming October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month, the President reminds us, “Across America, individuals with disabilities are making important contributions in the workplace. This month, we celebrate their accomplishments and reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that the opportunities of America are available and accessible to every citizen.”

Most us have struggled with something. Maybe it’s simple—like eyes that didn’t come with 20/20 vision—which may be corrected easily. Or it may be a more difficult problem that requires an additional accommodation.

Some disabilities are obvious; some less noticeable. As many of you know, I worked a while for Senator Bob Dole. That experience taught me that many of us need a helping hand to make the best contribution to society that we can. And it is in all of our best interests to do everything we can to support and enable every American to overcome challenges that disabilities can pose.

For seven decades, NRCS has been helping people help the land. We have a strong commitment to partnering with landowners to benefit the environment. We want to use every resource available—including employees with disabilities—to encourage producers to develop conservation plans and participate in conservation programs.

Like most other federal agencies, we have a large number of employees who will be eligible to retire over the next five years. We will need to replace them, and we cannot afford to overlook the pool of workers with disabilities.

To recruit persons with disabilities, we

• Hire college students with disabilities that USDA recruiters have interviewed on college campuses

• Use special hiring authorities to bring aboard veterans with disabilities

• Hold a poster contest featuring workers with disabilities.

In fact, the back cover for today’s program is the winning poster!

In addition, along with other USDA agencies, NRCS participates in the National AgrAbility Project, which helps farmers with disabilities.

National Disability Employment Awareness Month reminds us that more than 54 million people in the U.S. have disabilities. That’s one-fifth of our population.

Some people are born with a disability. Some people get sick or have an accident that results in a disability. And some people develop a disability as they age.

The reality is that just about everyone—of every race and background—will experience a disability sometime during his or her lifetime. If you’re only 25, that may not have occurred yet. Those of us who are a little older understand this well.

As we age, the likelihood of experiencing a disability increases. For example, nearly 23% of 45 to 54 year-olds have a disability. For those 65 to 69, it’s 45%, and for those over 80, it’s approaching 75%.

Our focus this month, and throughout the year, should be on the abilities people have, not their disabilities. And where folks need accommodations, we should provide them.

One of my heroes is Teddy Roosevelt, president, conservationist and philosopher.
He understood the inherent value of every American, including those who needed a little extra help. He put it this way, “This country will not be a permanently good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a reasonably good place for all of us to live in.”

It’s a simple truth. Increasing opportunities for those among us who have disabilities makes the U.S. a better place for everyone.

Our agencies share in this celebration and acknowledge the value of all USDA employees with disabilities.