Bob Dole: “Sunday, April 14, was a special anniversary for me. It was on that date during World War II I was wounded and joined the…”

“Sunday, April 14, was a special anniversary for me. It was on that date during World War II I was wounded and joined the ranks of America's disability community. We are a large, diverse community, from all walks of life, of every race and creed, and with the same hopes and dreams as other Americans. Since joining the Senate, it has been my custom to remember this anniversary each year by speaking about an issue important to Americans with disabilities. So today I will discuss a revolution in technology for the disabled-- a quiet but extraordinary revolution that is bringing us closer to our national goals of independence and full participation. New Technologies for the Disabled Mr. President, today's technologies for the disabled are yesterday's science fiction pipedreams. For my friend Kyle Hulet in Hutchinson, KS, technology provides a new world of independence. Kyle has only limited use of his hands, and has had to depend on others for the simplest things--even turning the lights on in his room. But with a new environmental control unit strapped to his wheelchair, which operates much like a TV remote control, Kyle can run 16 appliances, including lights, TV, and stereo. Jenni Koebel of Topeka, who cannot speak and has limited use of her hands, taps out words on the keyboard of a communication device--that then speaks with a voice synthesizer. Sure, the voice is a little mechanical, but Jenni's intelligence and charm shine through.”