Major Owens: “Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the technology-related assistance for the Individuals With Disabilities Act…”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the technology-related assistance for the Individuals With Disabilities Act Amendments of 1994. The Subcommittee on Select Education and Civil Rights understands the urgency and importance of this legislation to the disability community and has moved to incorporate many of their recommendations in this reauthorization. This bill is the culmination of a bipartisan effort. Moreover, the House and Senate have reconciled the differences in their respective bills, resulting in the strong piece of legislation which I present to the House today. The State programs of technology-related assistance have come a long way since their inception in 1988. At that time, many individuals with disabilities were not aware of the existence of specific assistive technology devices tailored to their specific needs. Today, however, they can dial a 1-800 number in their State and actually get a voice at the other end of the line--a voice of someone who is a specialist in locating funding sources to pay for assistive technology. Additionally, individuals with disabilities can visit their State program at various sites, where they can try out devices and receive training in their use. The development and implementation of these programs have undoubtedly improved the ability of individuals with disabilities to live independently and pursue meaningful careers.”