[Nfbmt] Disability Rights Ohio, National Federation of the Blind, and Autistic Self Advocacy Network Celebrate Landmark Decision Ordering Fair Pay from Sheltered Workshop

[Breslauers]

From: Kuhnke, Kristian 
Sent: Wednesday, February 03, 2016 8:06 PM
Subject: Disability Rights Ohio, National Federation of the Blind, and
Autistic Self Advocacy Network Celebrate Landmark Decision Ordering Fair Pay
from Sheltered Workshop

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Media Contacts:

Stacy Brannan-Smith

Communications Specialist

Disability Rights Ohio

800-282-9181, ext. 101

sbrannan-smith at disabilityrightsohio.org

 

Chris Danielsen

Director of Public Relations

National Federation of the Blind

410-659-9314, ext. 2330

cdanielsen at nfb.org

 

Samantha Crane, J.D.

Legal Director, Director of Public Policy

Autistic Self Advocacy Network

202-509-0135

scrane at autisticadvocacy.org

Disability Rights Ohio, National Federation of the Blind, and Autistic Self
Advocacy Network 

Celebrate Landmark Decision Ordering Fair Pay from Sheltered Workshop 

 

February 3, 2016

 

COLUMBUS, OHIO – In a precedent-setting opinion
<http://www.disabilityrightsohio.org/sites/default/files/sites/default/files/
u62/Decision_and_Order_from_the_ALJ_re_Seneca%20Re-AD.pdf>  issued by an
administrative law judge from the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL), three
clients have been awarded minimum wage going forward and back pay from Seneca
Re-Ad, a sheltered workshop run by the Seneca County Board of Developmental
Disabilities. The original petition
<http://www.disabilityrightsohio.org/sites/default/files/sites/default/files/
u62/Seneca_Re-Ad_ALJ_Petition_SIGNED.pdf>  was filed by Disability Rights
Ohio (DRO) <http://disabilityrightsohio.org/> , the National Federation of
the Blind <https://nfb.org/> , the Autistic Self Advocacy Network
<http://autisticadvocacy.org/> , and the Baltimore law firm of Brown,
Goldstein & Levy, LLP.

Joe Magers, Pam Steward, and Mark Felton had been paid an average of $2.50 an
hour for more than three years and are among the first workers with
disabilities ever to invoke the petition process to seek a review of their
wages by the USDOL. The administrative law judge found that Seneca Re-Ad has
not proven that the petitioners’ disabilities keep them from accomplishing
the work. Further, the decision holds that their wages have not been
calculated correctly. Therefore, Seneca must pay at least the minimum wage. 

“The opinion highlights that each of our clients brings valuable employment
skills to the Seneca Re-Ad facility, and their value as workers should be
respected,” says DRO Attorney Barbara Corner. “People with disabilities are
full and equal members of society and should be paid fairly."

 

“Many people are shocked when they find out that it is legal to pay people
with disabilities less than minimum wage," said Samantha Crane, Legal
Director and Director of Public Policy at ASAN. "But what's even more
surprising is how rare this type of enforcement action has been until now. We
hope this decision puts other workshops on notice that they won't get away
with this sort of exploitation."

Mark A. Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said:
"This decision cuts through the low expectations based on stereotypes and
misconceptions that undergird the antiquated and discriminatory
subminimum-wage employment model. The National Federation of the Blind is
proud of our role in helping these workers to earn compensation that reflects
the skilled work that they perform. We believe that this decision sends a
strong signal that subminimum wages are an idea whose time has long since
passed."

---

About Disability Rights Ohio: Disability Rights Ohio is the federally and
state designated Protection and Advocacy System and Client Assistance Program
for the state of Ohio. The mission of Disability Rights Ohio is to advocate
for the human, civil and legal rights of people with disabilities in Ohio.
Disability Rights Ohio provides legal advocacy and rights protection to a
wide range of people with disabilities.

About the National Federation of the Blind: The National Federation of the
Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your
future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low
expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can
live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.

About the Autistic Self Advocacy Network: The Autistic Self Advocacy Network
(ASAN) is a national, private, nonprofit organization, run by and for
individuals on the autism spectrum. ASAN provides public education and
promotes public policies that benefit autistic individuals and others with
developmental or other disabilities. Its advocacy activities include
combating stigma, discrimination, and violence against autistic people and
others with disabilities; promoting access to employment, health care and
long-term supports in integrated community settings; and educating the public
about the access needs of autistic people. ASAN takes a strong interest in
cases that affect the rights of autistic individuals to participate fully in
community life and enjoy the same rights as others without disabilities.




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