I am pleased to be here and I wish to give my endorser.ent to this lasturie peice of legislation. First, let me say that in reading the bill I was pleased to see a specified period of time for the promulgation of rules and regulations, I would hop that the regulations would be issued within the designated 12 month time-frame. I say this because I feel that the period between the enactment of the law and the enforcement of the program for employers and all other aspects of the program should be used for not only the training of potential employees, but should encompass a strong of suveranus training component, that enables the individual to accept the person with a disability and to become aware of that person's special needs. In other words, to simply have the law does not insure acceptance nor awareness. Let me give an example.

for

Tuesday afternoon of this past week, an incident occured that illustrates not only the need the law but also a need for a program of awareness. I was on my way to an important meeting regarding in-home care for the elderly and the disabled. Hother was driving my van and when we arrived at the building all of the handicapped parking spaces were taken by what appeared to be non-disabled drivers. We had to park in the ally to reach the ramped entrance. When we got to the designated handicapped entrance, it was locked. de had to wait until someone on the inside opened the door. It's obvious that those in charge of the building had complied with the letter of the law - but they had completely misunderstood the real needs of persons using a wheelchair.

Achieving a positive attitude toward persons with disabilities usually requires ▲ change. But changing attitudes depends on each persons background and previous experience with someone who is disabled. We need to recognize that some persons begin with negative feelings while others quickly accept and soon become aware of the disabled persons special needs.

From my perspective, educational programs fostering positive attitudes towards persons with disabilities is a neosssary component of the Americans with Disabilities Act in order for it to become a reality.

Thank you, Hr. Chairman and Members of the Committee for this opportunity to testify before the Select Sub-Committee on Education of the House Committee on Education and Labor regarding H.R. 2273, The Americans with Disabilities Act.

I am Mrs. Ralph Lee of Nashville, Indians. I serve on the Governor's Planning Council for Persons with Disabilities and I am the Immediate past Chairman of COVOX, the Council of Volunteers and Organizations for the the Handicapped in Indiana. Both of these organizations comprise a cross section of all groups representing persons with disabilities. Both groups endorse the Americans with Disabilities Act. However, my role today is to assist my son, Christopher Lee, in presenting his testamony. Chris is severely disabled by cerebral palsy and requires assistance in all activities of daily living. His perspective on the Americans With Disability Act comes directly from his own experiances as a writer, a student at Indiana University, a playwrite for the Christopher Puppet Theater and as an informed and knowledgeable space enthusiast!. He accesses a computer by the click of his tongue. He has had several newspaper and magazine articles published. He was given an award this Fall by the Indiana Department of Educa tion for his video program, "Always a Chance for Change." The video program has been shown in schools and community groups throughout Indiana, Illinois, Ohio and Michigan. The "Always a Chance for Change" program uses puppet characters to portray both negative and positive attitudes toward persons who are disabled. Christopher asks the the "Always a Chance for Change" video program be included in the report from these hearings.

I take pride in presenting my son, Christopher Lee.

UNDERSTANDING THE PROGRAM

A BIT ABOUT CHANGING ATTITUDES.

Attitudes appear to develop and change as a result of actual or vicarious experiences which are both positive and pleasurable. The program, ALWAYS A CHANGE FOR CHANGE, can begin this process of change. It provides an enjoyable experience that allows for sympathetic and imaginative participation.

Regardless of the stimulus

a video tape, role playing or visits with persons who are handicapped changes in attitude appear to go through a sequence of responses:

First, the individual is exposed to a new idea, i.e.

the new value which is or is not accepted;

Second, the individual will react impulsively or

mechanically to the idea;

Third, the individual will voluntarily respond to the

acceptance of the new value; and

Fourth, the individual will decide and begin to

take positive action.

Depending upon one's present attitude, based on background and experiences, a person may move quickly or slowly through the four responses to a new idea.

Thus, it becomes important to determine the experiences of the persons viewing the program, i.e. their entry level. What do they already know about persons with disabilities? What have they experienced? What attitudes are present? What degree of change can or should be

expected?

Whatever the entry level, if a positive change is to occur each person will generally experience all of the four responses. Some will move quickly through a response while others may not be ready or able to respond in a positive fashion.

Each character in the program, ALWAYS A CHANCE FOR CHANGE is at a
different entry level. Each responds in a different fashion:

Honey Bunny and Mr. Mantoni represent caricatures of various
negative attitudes toward persons with disabilities. Their
entry levels may or may not allow them to experience all
four responses to a new idea.

J.B. and Gretchen have an entry level which is positive and
receptive to change.

The functional attitude desired is for each of them to become aware
that persons with disabilities have talents and abilities like their
own, and for each to interact positively with them.

Mr. OWENS. Let me begin by responding to that observation and recommendation.

Number one, the fact that the Americans With Disabilities Act is a comprehensive and sweeping piece of legislation which puts an emphasis on rights is an educational process itself.

It is saying to the American people that although we have been quite generous and compassionate in the past and can be proud of some of the programs that do exist for people with disabilities, we are going one step further. We are saying that every human being has the right to be able to realize their own capabilities to the maximum.

The government, the power and the authority of the government, should be behind each individual. It does not guarantee it. A right is not a handout. A right is an opportunity.

And the individual still must go forward to implement his rights, but he has behind him the power of the law and the power of the government.

There is a debate out there, people who never thought about the problem before are being forced to think about it.

So we are going to raise the level of awareness. Hopefully it will mean that people will not park in those reserved spaces for the handicapped because their level of awareness will be raised.

The passage of the bill will be the beginning. It is not the end of the process. It is a beginning of empowerment for people with disabilities so they can fight for their own rights with the government behind them 100 percent.

And it will make it less likely that you will arrive at a building which has a ramp, but the doors are locked. You cannot get in because they don't want you to. They only want to comply with the letter of the law.

We hope that the spirit of the law, as a result of this effort to pass ADA, will be impressed upon people and they will act more in accordance with the spirit of the law.

The bill that was passed by the Senate contains a provision for technical assistance to sensitize and help those who have to comply with the law.

Of course, persons who provide public accommodations would be among the largest number given some help in complying with the law. And some of that help may not be technical assistance on how to change the physical place of business rather, technical assistance on how to change the attitudes of the custodians and the people who work at the particular facility or place of employment. So, that type of assistance provision is in the Senate bill now and we hope to have it remain in the bill that passes.

So I am quite grateful for your observation and your recommendation. We certainly will go forward in that respect.

Now, if I may turn to the other panelists, I am pleased to note that all of you support and endorse the ADA quite enthusiastically. I would like your opinion on some of the things that we find ourselves up against at this point. And everyday that goes by is a dangerous day in my opinion because there are more and more people who come out and find reasons for not wanting to pass it.

Perhaps some of you saw the editorial in the New York Times on September 6 which was entitled, "Blank Check for the Disabled."

Prior to that, I had seen an article by a congressman who said that the people with disabilities were trying to come under the banner of Civil Rights and create a welfare state for the disabled. So there are a lot of attitudes that are quite negative in terms of costs. And two of you specifically addressed the matter of cost.

I do not think the American people know how much they are paying right now in terms of subsidies for people with disabilities; how we probably will decrease rather than increase the costs. But even if we do not decrease costs, we will change them around so that we will be paying to help people to become productive citizens and also become taxpayers.

So I would appreciate a comment on the idea that we are facing tremendous costs. Mr. Fehribach.

Mr. FEHRIBACH. I think a big problem is a fear of the unknown by the people that are being adverse to the legislation at hand.

People have grown accustomed to want to put things that they do not want to see aside. And therefore, they are willing to pay for the fact that they put something that is not comfortable to them on a shelf.

I think that as a result, ADA is not only causing them to think well, it is more costly to have disabled person in society, but moreover, it is a situation where people do not want to have-I do not understand a disabled person in society is also a contributor.

Therefore, it is cheaper to educate somebody, get them a job, and have them paying taxes than it is to have them educated not having a job and institutionalized.

Since 1972, Mr. Chairman, we have educated and trained people with disabilities and that is good. But we have not really taken the next step forward in order to allow them to have a job or to actually pay back the state and the United States for the money that we have spent on educating and training these people.

Once again we have just used that as kind of a baby sitting type of situation. It is time that the American citizens quit paying for baby sitting and ask for the people that we have paid for to be trained and educated to go out there and do a job.

And I think that is all ADA is doing, is asking that we are allowed to do a job that we have been trained to do, and thereby contribute to America as a whole.

Mr. OWENS. But I might note that Senator Tom Harkin pointed out in a letter answering the New York Times editorial that taxpayers are now paying about $57 billion on taking care of people with disabilities. Most taxpayers do not know that and it is important to get that fact out there.

Mr. Chambers.

Mr. CHAMBERS. A Lou Harris poll told us that two-thirds of all people with disabilities are unemployed. That same poll told us that two-thirds of those people unemployed want to work.

And in large part, the reasons people are not working is because of the lack of accessibility of the workplace, the lack of accessibility of society.

Our agency also has the responsibility on behalf of social security for determining which people who apply for Social Security Disability Benefits or Supplemental Security Income Benefits in fact meet the definition of disabled.