Office of the Mayor

Proclamation

Lawrence, Kansas

WHEREAS:   The Javits-Wagner-O’Day program provides more than 42,000 people who are blind or who have other severe disabilities with rehabilitation, training, and job coaching necessary to receive good wages and benefits and gain greater independence and quality of life; and

WHEREAS:   The Javits-Wagner-O’Day program empowers people with disabilities who traditionally face a national unemployment rate of nearly seventy percent and rely heavily on social support programs; and

WHEREAS:   Through the Javits-Wagner-O’Day program, community based nonprofit organizations, such as Cottonwood, Inc., provide employment opportunities to people with disabilities while providing quality, on-time goods and services to the federal government at a competitive price; and

WHEREAS:   In Lawrence, Kansas, Cottonwood, Inc. provides employment opportunities and training for more than 300 people who are blind or have other severe disabilities, enabling them to lead more productive and meaningful lives, support for their families, and develop skills necessary for long-term employment; and

WHEREAS: Lawrence, Kansas recognizes the important contributions of Cottonwood, Inc. to the community and its citizens;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Mike Rundle, Mayor of the City of Lawrence, Kansas, do hereby proclaim the month of October 2004 as

“NATIONAL DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT AWARENESS MONTH”

in Lawrence, Kansas and hereby commend all persons who are committed to and work toward enhancing employment opportunities for people with visual and other severe disabilities.

                                                                   Mike Rundle, Mayor

October 12, 2004