TOEFL托福課外閱讀：奧巴馬在《美國殘疾人法》周年日紀念演講
美國殘疾人法案(英語：Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990)是由美國國會在1990年7月通過的一項法案，經由老布希總統簽署生效。2008年小布希總統又簽署了殘疾人法案修正案，這些修正案在2009年1月1日生效。它規定了殘疾人所應享有的權利，特別是就業方面不應受到歧視。殘疾人法案修正案還明確規定了主要生活行為與實質限制等詞彙的含義。
Anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act
2012年《美國殘疾人法》周年日紀念
By the President of the United State of America
美利堅合眾國總統
A Proclamation
公告
July 26, 2012
2012年7月26日
Since our earliest days, America has measured its progress not only by the growth of our borders and the breadth of our economy, but also by how far we reach toward fully realizing the fundamental rights, protections, and freedoms afforded to each of us by our Nation's founding documents. For generations, many Americans with disabilities lived as second-class citizens who were denied those most basic opportunities. Not content to accept the world as it was, they marched and organized and testified, coupling quiet acts of persistence and perseverance with vocal acts of advocacy. And step by step, progress was won. Protections were put into law. And a wave of change swept across our country, tearing down the barriers that kept persons with disabilities from securing their fullest measure of happiness.
從建國以來，在衡量自己取得的進步時，美國不僅依據邊界的開拓和經濟的廣度，還審視我們在何種程度上實現了立國檔賦予我們每個人的基本權利以及各項保護與自由。在很長時間裡，一代接一代的美國殘疾人過著二等公民的日子，被剝奪了這些最基本的機會。由於不願接受這個世界的現狀，他們走上街頭、組織起來、公開作證;他們有時默默努力，鍥而不捨，有時大聲疾呼，爭取權利。他們漸漸地贏得了進步。各項保護內容被納入法律之中。改革的浪潮席捲美國，摧毀了各種使殘疾人無法充分享受幸福的障礙。
Today, we mark the 22nd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) -- a historic piece of civil rights legislation that affirmed Americans with disabilities are Americans first. When many wrongfully doubted that people with disabilities could participate in our society, contribute to our economy, or support their families, the ADA asserted that they could. Under this landmark law, America became the first Nation to comprehensively declare equality for its citizens with disabilities -- an accomplishment that continues to guide our country toward fulfilling its most essential promises not just for some, but for all.
今天，我們紀念《美國殘疾人法》通過22周年——這是一部具有歷史意義的民權法律，它明確宣告有殘疾的美國人首先是美國人。當許多人錯誤地懷疑殘疾人能否參與我們的社會、對我們的經濟作出貢獻或養活自己的家庭時，《美國殘疾人法》斷言他們能夠這樣做。根據這個具有里程碑意義的法律，美國成為世界上第一個全面宣告殘疾人公民享有平等權利的國家——這項成就繼續引導我國去履行最基本的承諾，不僅是為了某些人，而且是為了所有的人。
Yet, despite the gains we have made, independence and freedom from discrimination remain out of reach for too many individuals with disabilities. That is why my Administration continues to build on the legacy set forth by the ADA. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, insurance companies can no longer deny coverage to children with disabilities because of pre-existing conditions, medical history, or genetic information -- a provision that will be extended to all Americans in 2014. We have fought to protect and strengthen Medicare and Medicaid by improving benefits and opposing proposals that would shift costs to seniors and persons with disabilities. And earlier this year, we established the Administration for Community Living at the Department of Health and Human Services to help ensure people with disabilities have the support they need to live with respect and dignity in their communities, and to be fully included in our national life.
然而，儘管我們取得了上述成就，對於許多殘疾人來說，獨立和不遭受歧視仍然遙不可及。這就是為什麼本屆政府繼續要在《美國殘疾人法》給我們打下的基礎上發揚光大。由於《合理醫療費用法》的緣故，保險公司不能再因為原有病症、病史或遺傳信息拒絕給殘疾兒童入保——這項條款將在2014年擴大至所有的美國人。我們一直為保護和加強聯邦老年醫保計畫和醫療補助計畫而鬥爭，改善了服務，並反對那些把費用轉嫁給老年人和殘疾人的種種建議。今年早些時候，我們在衛生與人類服務部設立了社區生活局，以確保殘疾人能夠獲得他們在生活中所需要的支援，在自己的社區內受到尊敬並有尊嚴地生活。
Because every American deserves access to a world-class education, we have worked to make learning environments safer and more inclusive. Last September, the Department of Education implemented new standards for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act that will help measure and improve outcomes for infants and toddlers with disabilities. Moving forward, we will continue to take action to help all children learn, develop, and participate in instructional programs that equip them with the tools for success in school and beyond.
鑒於每個美國人都有權獲得世界一流的教育，我們致力於使學習環境更加安全和更具包容性。去年9月，教育部實施了《殘疾人教育法》新標準，這些標準將有助於測驗並提高殘疾嬰兒與幼童的各項能力。未來，我們將繼續採取行動幫助所有兒童學習和成長，並開設必要課程，使他們能夠掌握各種工具，在學校內外都取得成功。
As we mark this milestone and reflect on the barriers that remain, we also pay tribute to the courageous individuals and communities who have made progress possible. Because so many advocates understood injustice from the depths of their own experience, they also knew that by allowing injustice to stand, we were depriving our Nation and our economy of the full talents and contributions of tens of millions of Americans with disabilities. Today, those Americans are leaders not only in every field and throughout every part of our national life, but also in the journey to bring the American dream within reach for our next generation. On this anniversary of the ADA, we celebrate the contributions Americans with disabilities have made to our Nation, and we rededicate ourselves to empowering every individual with those most American principles of equal access and equal opportunity.
當我們紀念這個里程碑法案及反思依然存在的障礙之際，我們同時要表彰那些促成進步的勇敢人士和社區。許多維權者通過自己的切身體驗對不公正狀況有所理解，他們也知道，如果讓不公正狀況存在下去，我們就會在我們的國家和我們的經濟中剝奪千百萬美國殘疾人充分發揮其才能並做出貢獻的機會。今天，這些美國人不僅是各個領域和國家生活各方面的領導人，而且帶頭走在為我們的下一代爭取讓“美國夢”觸手可及的征途上。值此《美國殘疾人法》周年紀念日，我們慶祝美國殘疾人對我們國家作出的貢獻，同時我們再度承諾要賦予每個人那些最具美國特徵的平等參與和機會均等的原則。
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim July 26, 2012, the Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. I encourage Americans across our Nation to celebrate the 22nd anniversary of this civil rights law and the many contributions of individuals with disabilities.
為此，我，美利堅合眾國總統巴拉克•歐巴馬，謹以憲法和法律賦予我的權力，特此宣佈2012年7月26日為《美國殘疾人法》周年紀念日。我籲請全美國人民慶祝這項民權法通過22周年及殘疾人作出的諸多貢獻。
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-sixth day of July, in the year of our Lord two thousand twelve, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-seventh.
我謹於西元2012年，即美利堅合眾國獨立第237年之7月26日，親筆在此簽名為證。
BARACK OBAMA
巴拉克•歐巴馬
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