[nfbmi-talk] It is about time this is done nationwide

[Terry D. Eagle]

Lawmakers Want to Close the Loophole That Pays Disabled Workers Pennies An
Hour

By Mike Elk

 

Disabled Americans are paid a subminimum wage, which makes it more difficult
for them to work their way out of poverty. (Photo: Charles Dharapak/AP)

 

Recently released

Census data reveal that, in 2015, the poverty rate dropped significantly for
most demographic groups. One of the only groups who didn't see an
improvement were people

with disabilities: the percentage of disabled Americans (age 18-64) living
in poverty increased from 25.9% to 26.5%. For Americans without
disabilities,

the poverty rate decreased from 14.1% to 12.8%.

 

The data suggest the challenge disabled people face in trying to escape
poverty.  But there is hope that an emerging bipartisan consensus on
disability

employment may mark an important step in the right direction.

 

Currently, under the Fair Labor Standards Act, a certified "

sheltered workshop

" can pay disabled Americans less than the minimum wage-sometimes as little
as pennies per hour. As a result, approximately

400,000

disabled Americans are paid a subminimum wage, which makes it more difficult
for them to work their way out of poverty.

 

"It's a relic from a time when our politicians embraced other draconian
ideas like eugenics."

 

For decades, activists were unable to get even

top labor Democrats

like former Senator Tom Harkin-a key sponsor of the Americans with
Disabilities Act-to challenge this labor law. Harkin,

like many Democrats,

argued that it was a key policy that helped people with disabilities get
needed training for better jobs.  However, studies

show

that rather than finding higher-quality jobs, the overwhelming majority of
these disabled workers spend their careers continuing to earn the subminimum

wage.

 

Ari Ne'eman, who was appointed by President Obama to the National Council on
Disability, says the subminimum wage is an outdated idea. "It's a relic from

a time when our politicians embraced other draconian ideas like eugenics,"
says Ne'eman. "This is 1930's thinking."

 

Fortunately, a movement to extend the minimum wage to disabled workers has
now spread to four states and has reached the federal level as well.

 

In 2003, Vermont was the first state to eliminate the subminimum wage for
persons with disabilities. Instead of paying nonprofits to employ these
workers

at a subminimum wage, the state invested those funds in wraparound services
to help employers accommodate workers with disabilities. Rather than
reducing

the number of jobs for disabled workers, as critics of the policy had
predicted, the employment rate for disabled workers rose-it is now

double the national rate.

In the last five years New Hampshire, Oregon, and Maryland have followed
Vermont's lead.

 

At the federal level, President Obama raised the minimum wage for

tens of thousands

of disabled federal contractors working in "concessions and concession
industries;" and Labor Secretary Tom Perez

has said

that he wants all states to eliminate the usage of the subminimum wage to
employ persons with disabilities.

 

Now there is also bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate for
the TIME Act, which would ban the subminimum wage and provide funding to
help

transition disabled workers into mainstream employment.

 

Republican Congressman Gregg Harper, whose son has Fragile X syndrome, is a
cosponsor of the legislation. Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI), who is
paralyzed,

and House Republican Conference Chairwoman Cathy McMorris-Rodgers (R-WA),
whose son has Down syndrome, are also supporting the push to pass the bill.

 

"For many of these people, it's because they have family members with
disabilities," says Allison Wohl, Executive Director of the Association of
People

Supporting Employment First.  But she says education also plays a role.
"It's universal-the reaction you get when you tell a hill staffer about the
subminimum

wage. Their face drops and it's clear they don't know what to say."

 

Ne'eman hopes that the space created on both sides of the aisle to tackle
low wages among disabled workers will lead to more creative thinking about
how

to raise wages for all workers.

 

"We call it the curb effect," he says.  "Just like the [ramp at the] curb
also makes it easier for [pedestrians with] a piece of luggage or a
stroller.

It ends up helping everyone."

 

So far it's unclear if the legislation is going to move in this Congress,
but advocates remain hopeful. These days, even the possibility of
Republicans

and Democrats coming together to support pro-worker legislation is a rare
thing. And many in the disability and labor communities hold out hope that
passing

this bill will be the first of more victories that lie ahead.

C 2016 TalkPoverty.org

 

Source:

http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/10/16/lawmakers-want-close-loophole-p
ays-disabled-workers-pennies-hour