[Ct-nfb] Data Request

[Justin Salisbury]

This gentleman is truly committed.  He responded at 8:16 PM on a work email account.
________________________________________
From: Lewis, Anil [ALewis at nfb.org]
Sent: Thursday, June 21, 2012 8:16 PM
To: Justin Salisbury
Subject: RE: Data Please

Justin:

I don't have a specific number t give you, but I can offer the following.

By far, the largest percentage of people employed under a Special Wage certificate are classified as Intellectually Disabled, over 75%. The rest is divided into other disabilities including blindness.  It is important to note that this is the reported disability, meaning sometimes the classification is arbitrary.  For example, the individual making $1.44 per hour listed in our press release of the Goodwilll boycott was stated to be deaf.  In our meeting with Jim Gibbons of Goodwill he stated that surely this person has another disability.  We don't know whether this is true because the FOIA request does not provide us with a name.  however, it is safe to say that if we only removed the ability to pay blind people subminimum wages, we would see a sudden transition of classification from blind to intellectually disabled.  This is why we fight for the repeal of the entire discriminatory provision.

If you need a specific number, I can attempt to find it.


Anil
Mr. Anil Lewis, M.P.A.
Director of Strategic Communications

"Eliminating Subminimum Wages For People With Disabilities" 


-----Original Message-----
From: Justin Salisbury [mailto:PRESIDENT at alumni.ecu.edu]
Sent: Thursday, June 21, 2012 6:34 PM
To: Lewis, Anil
Subject: Data Please

Hi Anil,

I've got the Connecticut affiliate discussing the boycott and subminimum wages now, and our 2nd Vice is asking for a piece of data.

What percentage of workers earning subminimum wages are not blind?  He estimates 80%.

Thanks in advance,

Justin


Justin M. Salisbury
Class of 2012
B.A. in Mathematics
East Carolina University
president at alumni.ecu.edu

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."    -MARGARET MEAD