This is a message to all social services agencies that provide employment programs to individuals with disabilities.
A bill (HR 3086) is moving through Congress which will phase out and repeal Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act for people with the most significant disabilities if enacted.
On October 4, Congressmen Cliff Stearns (R. FL) and Timothy Bishop (D. NY) introduced HR 3086, The Fair Wages for Workers with Disabilities Act of 2011, and the bill was referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. On October 14 Congressman Glenn Thompson (R. PA) signed on as a cosponsor of the bill.
If enacted, many individuals with disabilities that have lower productivity in their work will not be able to maintain employment. If employers are faced with paying those with varying degrees of abilities a higher wage than those who work at a higher productivity levels, they will not hire those with disabilities.
We are hoping that people can be encouraged to contact their representative and nicely ask them to not sign on to co-sponsor the legislation.
You and your friends and family should call your Representative at the House switchboard (202-224-3121) or directly through their offices (here is the directory listing)
Make sure you tell the people you talk to that you are a provider of employment services for people with disabilities. Give them a story about your participants who have benefited from working and how it was made possible by their commensurate wages. Let them know that their facility will likely be shut down and/or many would lose their employment opportunities if this were to pass.
Share with the team members your concerns with the HR 3086 – it will have the effect of denying individuals with the most significant disabilities, who cannot meet the productivity standards, the chance to work and earn money. Those working in a center- or community-based employment program at wages that reflect their productivity must have the opportunity to find jobs and continue to work at them.
Contact via phone and follow up with a written letter or email to the person or people you spoke with. We understand it can be a lot of work and can up precious time but we must speak up for the people who are our most vulnerable.
Please do what you can and forward this information to as many as possible!
You can also weigh in, with your opinion, on PopVox.
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), and businesses of all sizes and in all industries are encouraged to participate. Held annually, NDEAM raises awareness about disability employment issues and celebrates the many and varied contributions of America’s workers with disabilities.
