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[Music]

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Craig Fugate: Whether it's
a person with a disability

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traveling through the airport,

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crossing into our country
at the border,

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naturalizing to become
a U.S citizen,

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or a survivor of a disaster

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going about rebuilding
their life --

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at the Department
of Homeland Security

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we have a common obligation

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to ensure nondiscrimination

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and equal opportunity
for that individual.

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Brian Parsons: The
Rehabilitation Act

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is a foundational piece
of civil rights legislation.

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It commits the
federal government

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to nondiscrimination
in employment,

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as well as in all
of its conducted

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and assisted programs
and activities.

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Tom Ridge: I think
there are a lot

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of stereotypes and fears

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associated with people
with disabilities.

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Like: how do I act around them?

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How will they react to me?

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We live in a society
and a culture

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where your sense
of self-worth --

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the value that you have
about yourself

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and about your life --

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is not what other
people do for you,

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it's what you do for yourself.

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And I concluded a long time ago

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that we're not as
committed as a society

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to giving people with
disabilities an opportunity

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to establish their worth,

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to derive that sense of pride
and sense of self-worth

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by what they did for themselves.

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Brian Parsons: Here at the
Department of Homeland Security,

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we welcome the contributions

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of people with disabilities.

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Dedicated efforts exist
in every Component

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to support equal employment

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for individuals
with disabilities.

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Our commitment is
characterized not only

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by what is done
or our employees,

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but also importantly what we do

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for the public we serve --

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working to ensure
program access,

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physical access,

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effective communication,

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and reasonable
accommodation.

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These are the key concepts.

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Craig Fugate: When
communities integrate

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the needs of children and
adults with disabilities

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and others with access
and functional needs

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into their community-wide
planning initiatives,

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they optimize resources,

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meet their obligations

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and strengthen their ability
to prepare for,

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protect against, respond to,

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recover from and
mitigate all hazards.

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Brian Parsons: We plan
for the whole community

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because disasters are
always inclusive.

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FEMA works to ensure
equal access

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for everyone to the
same response,

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recovery, and planning services.

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Whether it is equipment
and signage

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in a Disaster
Recovery Center,

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home visits in a
disaster-struck area

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by the Community Relations Team,

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or a Disability Integration
Specialist

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attending a local planning
meeting,

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educational and outreach
efforts,

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information and tools are made
available and accessible.

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THIS is program accessibility.

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We seek to ensure physical
access as well,

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in places where DHS programs
serve the public,

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whether under ordinary
circumstances

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or during emergencies.

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We seek to give individuals
with disabilities

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the same information
provided to everyone

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using methods that
are accessible,

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understandable
and timely.

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For example, at US Citizenship
and Immigration Services,

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effective communication
for deaf

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or hard of hearing
individuals is accomplished

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through qualified sign
language interpreters

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and other auxiliary aids
and services.

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We strive to treat
all persons equally

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and with the dignity, respect,
and courtesy they deserve,

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regardless of their personal
situations and needs.

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Although every person and
item must be screened

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before entering each
secure boarding area,

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individuals with disabilities
are reasonably accommodated

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by the Transportation Security
Administration (TSA).

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This includes making it easier
to fly with service animals.

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In support of these efforts,

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DHS Components have
put in place policies

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and processes for
ensuring compliance

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with the Rehabilitation Act,

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and avenues for
individual to file complaints

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to ensure accountability.

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But we can and
we will do more

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for the individuals
we serve

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through our missions and
our day-to-day activities.

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Going forward, we will
re-double our commitment

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to hearing directly from the
disability community.

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Claudia Gordon: I think
it's important

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that the government engages

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the voices of individuals
with disabilities.

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This is because they know best

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what works and
what doesn't work.

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So we gain a lot from
their knowledge,

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their expertise regarding
accommodations,

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about their culture, their
unique circumstances.

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And so when we incorporate that

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in our policy making
and development,

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I think it's a win-win for all.

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It will help us
serve them better

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and help us better comply
with our legal requirements

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under this important law.

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Ari Ne'eman: If disability
rights mean anything,

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they mean that we
are talking about

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including all members of
our shared community,

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not just when things
are going well,

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not just when times are
good and easy

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and it's a relatively
simple thing to do,

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but also in times of crisis,

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in times of danger.

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And the work that
FEMA and NCD

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and other parts of
the federal government,

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as well as civil society,

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has been doing
to prioritize the needs

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of people with disabilities

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in natural disasters

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speaks to that principle.

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We believe in equality
for everyone.

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We believe in protecting
the safety

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and civil rights
of everyone.

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Not just sometimes,
but all the time.

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Brian Parsons: We are
laying a foundation

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for ensuring that
the many thousands

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of individuals
with disabilities

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we serve every day

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have equal access to
the Department's

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programs and activities.

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Carrying out the provisions

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of the Rehabilitation Act

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is a vital DHS
responsibility.

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It cannot be viewed

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as something separate from our
purpose; as an afterthought.

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It is part of
the mission of DHS.

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It is part of
protecting the rights

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and freedoms we cherish
as Americans.