"WE HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY"

	August 7, 2001 Presidential Task Force on Employment of Adults with Disabilities U.S. Department of Labor 200 Constitution Ave. N.W., Suite S-2220 Washington, D.C. 20210 Dear Sirs: It appears that the promise of employment for people with disabilities offered by the Americans with Disabilities Act has not been fulfilled. I believe that one of the reasons for this lack of progress is that we have been trying to push people into jobs through legislation. Pushing a product into the marketplace has never worked and will not work with people either. If a manufacturer wants to sell a product, he must inspire a need or want for that product in the marketplace. The same could be said for finding employment for the disabled. To achieve this, the people responsible for hiring need to believe that people with disabilities add economic value to their workforce. Simply stated, we need to make employers want them. Then companies will reach out to people with disabilities and pull them into the workforce. My colleague and I prepared a White Paper on this subject and I would like to share that paper with the Task Force. If we can provide any assistance in your endeavors, please contact us and we will support you with all the resources we have available. Sincerely, Rex A. Hoover President