[Nfbf-l] #FixWIA Wednesday

Sat Feb 8 23:50:44 UTC 2014

I called Sen. Bill Nelson's office, Wed., and tried to contact Sen. Rubio's office, Wed. Could not get theough. I told the aid in Sen. Nelson's office that I would follow up with an Email. Things got overwhelming and could not complete that task. I will try this weekend.

Is there any reminder about the Vision Caucus this Thursday.

For those who might see this from Alachua County, or the rest of the state, March 13, 2014 is TD Day in Tallahassee. This is the day set aside for the Transportation Disadvantaged Commission and the Community Transportation Coordinators, providers, etc. to inform their Florida Legislators of transportation.
Great job, Denise!
Judy

-----Original Message-----
>From: Denise Valkema <valkemadenise at aol.com>
>Sent: Feb 6, 2014 11:40 AM
>To: NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
>Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] #FixWIA  Wednesday
>
>It is not too late to Facebook, email, tweet, or call our senators. Please take a moment to voice your opinion. The more that do, the better!
>
>I emailed a letter and sent tweets to our Florida senators. Please share if you did. Appreciate all Florida can do! Go Florida.
>
>Sincerely, Denise Valkema by iPhone 
>
>> On Feb 5, 2014, at 11:15 AM, Denise Valkema <valkemadenise at aol.com> wrote:
>> 
>> Below is a sample letter from Rose that you can edit and email to senators. 
>> 
>> Let us do our part.
>>>  
>>> 
>>>  
>>>  
>>> February 5, 2014
>>>  
>>> Dear Senator,
>>>  
>>> I am writing to express my strong opposition to Section 511 of Title 5 of the reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act (S. 1356).  My main concern is that Section 511 introduces subminimum wage employment into the Rehabilitation Act for the first time ever.  Even more importantly, the title of Section 511 is not reflected in the text of Section 511.  While the title claims to put limitations on employment of individuals with disabilities at subminimum wage, Subsection a (4) of the bill text allows anyone to enter subminimum wage sheltered employment.
>>>  
>>> Senator, I have done my homework with respect to the impact of subminimum-wage sheltered employment on people with disabilities.  Studies show that people with disabilities who enter sheltered workshops rarely transition into competitive, community-integrated employment.  Even though the stated goal of WIA is to ensure community-integrated employment, subminimum wage employment is not a viable path to that goal.  Less than five percent of people with disabilities in subminimum wage sheltered employment receive a job in community-integrated employment.  Please strike Section 511 from WIA.
>>>  
>>> Additionally, I am concerned about the proposed move of the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) from the Department of Education to the Department of Labor.  Just as sheltered workshops focus on what people with disabilities cannot do, the Department of Labor looks at what a person can currently do without taking into consideration their potential to build further skills.  The role of the Department of Education is to educate, or teach people new skills.  I fear that if RSA is moved to Labor, people with disabilities will not be able to reach their full potential.  Furthermore, there is no research that shows that moving RSA to the Department of Labor will be more efficient for people with disabilities.  Why not save the money that would be spent to make the move, and put it towards improving the services that RSA provides? 
>>>  
>>> I hope that I can count on your support.  I sincerely feel that if you took the time to review Section 511 for yourself that you will realize that people with disabilities will be hindered by the current language in WIA.  Please offer an amendment that will strike Section 511 and will remove the language that moves RSA from the Department of Education to the Department of Labor.
>>>  
>>> I look forward to hearing back from you.  I fear that WIA may be coming to the floor soon.  Please contact me at Rsloan at nfb.org.
>>>  
>>> Thank you,
>>>  
>>> Rose Sloan
>> 
>>> On Feb 2, 2014, at 6:58 PM, Denise Valkema <valkemadenise at aol.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Please share with others to call, email or use social media to Florida senators.
>>> Nelson, Bill - (D - FL)    Class I
>>> 716 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
>>> (202) 224-5274
>>> Contact:www.billnelson.Senate.gov/contact/index.cfm
>>> 
>>> Rubio, Marco - (R - FL)    Class III
>>> 284 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
>>> (202) 224-3041
>>> Contact:www.rubio.Senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact
>>> 
>>> 
>>>> This Wednesday, February 5, 2014, we will host #FixWIA Wednesday—a social media campaign that will alert our Senators about our concerns with the Workforce Investment Act.  
>>>> We have two main concerns with WIA.  First, we are concerned with Title 5, Section 511.  If the Senate bill passes as written, subminimum wages for workers with disabilities will be a part of the Rehabilitation Act for the first time ever.  Ultimately, we would like to phase out Section 14 (c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act, but keeping this antiquated provision out of WIA is an important first step. 
>>>> 
>>>> Second, we do not want to see the Rehabilitation Services Administration move from the Department of Education to the Department of Labor.  No research can illustrate how this move will improve services for people with disabilities.  In fact, we fear that services will become less efficient.  The Department of Education focuses on educating, or training, people to become employed, whereas the Department of Labor only takes into consideration the existing skills.  People with disabilities need training. 
>>>> 
>>>> If you would like more information please read our blog athttps://nfb.org/blog/vonb-blog/fix-wia. 
>>>> 
>>>> If you prefer to call your Senators on Wednesday, please find the appropriate phone number by visiting www.senate.gov or by visiting your Senators’ websites. 
>>>> 
>>>> I hope you find this information helpful.  Together, we can #FixWIA. 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> Nfb-legislative-directors mailing list
>>>> Nfb-legislative-directors at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-legislative-directors_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Nfb-legislative-directors:
>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-legislative-directors_nfbnet.org/valkemadenise%40aol.com
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Nfbf-l mailing list
>>> Nfbf-l at nfbnet.org
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Nfbf-l:
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org/valkemadenise%40aol.com
>_______________________________________________
>Nfbf-l mailing list
>Nfbf-l at nfbnet.org
>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org
>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Nfbf-l:
>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org/jrhamilton51%40earthlink.net