Investing in Independence: Transition Recommendations for President George W. Bush.

This paper presents rationale, strategies, and recommendations that the National Council on Disability believes are essential to how President George W. Bush and the new Administration can fulfill America's promise to its 54 million citizens with disabilities. President Bush is urged to install a disability friendly Administration, give disability issues high visibility in the Administration, exercise bold leadership in developing federal strategy, require federal agency accountability, particularly for compliance, monitoring, and enforcement responsibilities, and oppose any legislative or judicial weakening of disability civil rights protections by U.S. Congress or the courts. Specific recommendations are provided for strengthening compliance with disabilities civil rights laws and address: (1) the Americans with Disabilities Act; (2) the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; (3) the Air Carrier Access Act; (4) cultural diversity; (5) independent living; (6) the Assistive Technology Act; (7) health care; (8) housing; (9) transportation; (10) expanding work opportunity; (11) teleworking; (12) the Ticket To Work-Work Incentives Improvement Act; (13) youth with disabilities; (14) access to community living; (15) access to the political process; (16) mental health services; and (17) foreign policy. (CR)