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<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica" size=4><b>FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE<br><br>
</b></font><font face="Helvetica, Helvetica" size=5> <br><br>
</font><font face="Helvetica, Helvetica"><b>CONTACT:<br><br>
</b>Chris Danielsen<br><br>
Director of Public Relations<br><br>
National Federation of the Blind<br><br>
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330<br><br>
(410) 262-1281 (Cell)<br><br>
<a href="mailto:cdanielsen@nfb.org">cdanielsen@nfb.org</a> <br><br>
<br><br>
Sean Darcy<br><br>
Round World Consulting<br><br>
</font>(609) 610-0543 (Cell)<br><br>
<a href="mailto:roundworldconsulting@gmail.com">
roundworldconsulting@gmail.com</a> <br><br>
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</font><div align="center"><h1><font size=4><b>Former New York Governor
David Paterson Comments <br>
on Subminimum Wages for Disabled Workers</b></font></h1></div>
<b>New York City, New York (July 25, 2011):</b> In advance of planned
protests by the National Federation of the Blind against the payment of
subminimum wages to people with disabilities and the proposed Workforce
Investment Act, Former New York State Governor David A. Paterson, a
member of and consultant to the National Federation of the Blind, said:
“On the eve of the twenty-first anniversary of the Americans with
Disabilities Act, it is more than appropriate that we call for the
language that would reauthorize the practice of paying subminimum wages
to Americans with disabilities to be stricken from the Workforce
Investment Act. We have progressed so far as a nation since 1938,
when the original Fair Labor Standards Act denied people with
disabilities the workforce protection of a federal minimum wage.
Today, we recognize our neighbors’ different religions, different
ethnicities, and different backgrounds and embrace the fact that these
differences don't justify discrimination. On August 3,<sup>
</sup>when this legislation is scheduled to be considered by the members
of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, they
should strike the language from the bill that discriminates against
Americans with disabilities and ensure that there is equal pay for equal
work.”<br><br>
<br><br>
The National Federation of the Blind has announced that its members,
along with other organizations of Americans with disabilities, will be
conducting informational protests across the United States to raise
awareness about the practice of paying wages below the federal minimum
wage to disabled workers. The protests will take place on July 26,
the twenty-first anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, at
the primary district office locations of United States senators serving
on the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (the
HELP Committee). <br><br>
<br><br>
On August 3, the HELP committee is scheduled to vote on the Workforce
Investment Act. Title V, Section 511 contains language
reauthorizing the payment of wages below the federal minimum wage to
people with disabilities. <br><br>
<br><br>
For more information on the National Federation of the Blind and fair
wages for workers with disabilities, please visit
<a href="http://www.nfb.org/">www.nfb.org</a>. <br><br>
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<br><br>
<br><br>
<b>About the National Federation of the Blind<br><br>
</b> <br><br>
With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind is
the largest and most influential membership organization of blind people
in the United States. The NFB improves blind people’s lives through
advocacy, education, research, technology, and programs encouraging
independence and self-confidence. It is the leading force in the
blindness field today and the voice of the nations blind. In
January 2004 the NFB opened the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan
Institute, the first research and training center in the United States
for the blind led by the blind.<br><br>
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