[Ct-nfb] scoop

[Elizabeth Rival]

On Behalf Of Fredric Schroeder

FYI. This was published today in Disability Scoop:

Congress Passes Bill Limiting Sheltered Workshop Eligibility

By Michelle Diament
<http://www.disabilityscoop.com/author/michelle-diament/>  

July 10, 2014 

A bill that would significantly limit young people with disabilities from
entering sheltered workshop programs is headed to President Barack Obama's
desk.

The U.S. House of Representatives voted 415 to 6 Wednesday to approve the
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. Included in the bill are major
changes to the path from school to work for those with disabilities.

Specifically, the measure would prohibit individuals age 24 and younger from
working jobs that pay less than the federal minimum of $7.25 per hour unless
they first try vocational rehabilitation services, among other requirements.

What's more, the legislation would require state vocational rehabilitation
agencies to work with schools to provide "pre-employment transition
services" to all students with disabilities. And, such agencies must
allocate a minimum of 15 percent of their federal funding to help
individuals with disabilities in transition under the measure.

While the bill mandates that most young people try competitive employment
before they could work for less than minimum wage, there are exceptions for
those deemed ineligible for vocational rehabilitation and to allow
individuals already earning so-called subminimum wage to continue to do so.

The measure, which was approved
<http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2014/06/26/sheltered-eligibility-limited/194
81/>  by the U.S. Senate last month, is now on its way to the White House
and Obama said he will sign it.

"This bipartisan compromise will help workers, including workers with
disabilities, access employment, education, job-driven training and support
services that give them the chance to advance their careers and secure the
good jobs of the future," Obama said in a statement.

The workforce bill is the product of years of negotiation
<http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2014/05/23/deal-discourage-sheltered/19389/>
on Capitol Hill and was approved with broad bipartisan support.

U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, who spearheaded the components of the
legislation specific to people with disabilities, called the changes
"groundbreaking" and said they will "raise prospects and expectations for
Americans with disabilities so that they receive the skills and training
necessary to succeed in competitive, integrated employment."

Nonetheless, the issue of submininum wage remains highly contentious within
the disability community, with some advocates arguing the legislation does
not go far enough while others say moving away from sheltered workshops may
simply leave people with disabilities fewer options for meaningful daytime
activity.

Copyright C 2014 Disability Scoop, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

 

 

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