President's Committee on Employment of the Physically Handicapped
This recording marks [the first?] meeting of the President's Committee on Employment of the Physically Handicapped. Arde Bulova, Chairman of the Special Employer Subcommittee, invites several speakers to the microphone to discuss the importance of hiring disabled workers, with emphasis on those disabled on the job or in combat.
Speakers:
Melvin J. Maas, Chairman of the Committee
General Omar Nelson Bradley
Harvey V. Higley, Administrator of Veterans Affairs
Beardsley Ruml
Mary E. Switzer, Director of Vocational Rehabilitation
Dr. Howard Rusk
Phillip D. Reed, General Electric
Henry (Hank) Viscardi, Abilities, INC.
Robert Freelander, Come Play Products
Leonard W. Mayo, Association for Aid of Crippled Children
The economic benefits of rehabilitating the disabled are discussed, especially in the face of "that godless religion of Satan calling itself Communism," according to Maas, and that it is up to the business community to find solutions. The meeting concludes with the adoption of a formal resolution, read by Leo Mayo, urging employers to provide job opportunities for disabled workers.
There is a short question and answer period; however, speakers recorded off mic are barely audible.
According to the Law Library of Congress, "In 1947 President Truman established the 'President's Committee on National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week.' This Committee assumed the responsibility of coordinating events and generating publicity for the week. Subsequently, in 1949, Congress authorized an annual appropriation for the committee, and in 1954 in the Amendments to the Vocational Rehabilitation Act Congress directed the Committee to work with state and local authorities to promote job opportunities for the physically disabled. In 1955 President Eisenhower issued Executive Order No. 10640, which established the committee as a permanent organization and renamed it the 'President's Committee on Employment of the Physically Handicapped."
https://www.loc.gov/law/help/commemorative-observations/disability-awareness.php
Audio courtesy of the NYC Municipal Archives WNYC Collection
WNYC archives id: 150714
Municipal archives id: LT6597
