Judy Heumann Congratulates 2014 Paralympians

Hello, my name is Judy Heumann. Today, April 3rd, President Obama welcomes the Paralympians and Olympians of Team USA to the White House.  As Special Advisor for International Disability Rights, I want to congratulate our world class athletes on their achievements.  They are our representatives to the world and they make us very proud. 

The first time I traveled outside the United States was in 1972, when I had the privilege of attending the Paralympic Games in Heidelberg, Germany.  I learned firsthand that, with limited support, paralympic athletes were proving to the world that they could be just as competitive and successful as their non-disabled counterparts. The only real difference was that they received little recognition or financial support for their efforts.

Today, U.S. Paralympians, like Olympians, continue to dedicate their lives to training and preparing for the games.  But these athletes not only endure rigorous training and competition schedules, they also face attitudinal and man-made barriers, such as inaccessible training facilities overseas and discrimination on international airlines and transportation systems.  That is why U.S. ratification of the Disabilities Treaty is so important.  Only by fully joining this important treaty will the United States be fully able to provide valuable assistance to civil society and governments around the world as they strive to improve conditions for persons with disabilities, including Paralympians.

The Paralympics reminds us that everyone, everywhere should have access to opportunity.  The U.S. Department of State remains committed to ensuring that all Americans and all Americans with disabilities can work, study, live, and travel abroad.

As we pay tribute to America's Paralympians, let us renew our commitment to ensuring that all people with disabilities are living Lives Without Limits. To learn more about Lives Without Limits, visit us at www.eca.state.gov/lives-without-limits.