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<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite=""><font color="#000080"><br>
</font>It is time to fight for Fair Wages for People with Disabilities,
H.R. 3086. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><br>
<font color="#000080"><br>
</font> <br>
<font color="#000080"><br>
</font>We need to mobilize and gain quick cosponsor support. Call
and/or schedule meetings with your Member of Congress immediately and
express your support for H.R. 3086, the Fair Wages for People with
Disabilities Act of 2011. Our success is dependent on our efforts
to respectfully educate all Members of Congress so that they understand
the true employment capacity of people with disabilities. Many of
our talking points are listed in the Findings section of the Fair Wages
for People with Disabilities bill. The text of the bill can be
found at:
<a href="http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c112:H.R.3086:">
<font color="#800080">
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c112:H.R.3086:#</a></font>.
If you secure an opportunity to speak with the Member or the appropriate
staffer, begin the education by sharing the following three points with
them: <br>
<font color="#000080"><br>
</font>
<ol>
<li>The Tools Exist for Competitive Employment of People with
Disabilities. Most people still believe that people with
disabilities cannot be competitively employed at or above the federal
minimum wage. Rehabilitations services, employment strategies, and
adaptive technologies make it possible for people with even the most
significant disabilities to obtain employment at the federal minimum wage
or higher.
</ol><font color="#000080"><br>
</font>
<ol>
<li>It is Illogical for Doubters to Provide Training and/or
Employment. For years, those entities that have doubted the
capacity of people with disabilities to be competitively employed have
been responsible for providing employment at subminimum wages. This
is extremely backward logic. Employers that cannot provide the
proper training and support for people with disabilities to obtain
competitive employment at competitive wages should not be providing
training or employment for people with disabilities.
</ol><font color="#000080"><br>
</font>
<ol>
<li>Removing the Misconception of Incapacity Provides More Employment
Opportunities. Employment of people with disabilities at subminimum
wages supports the misperception that people with disabilities are not
productive enough to earn competitive wages. This misperception is
the largest barrier to the real employment of people with
disabilities. By eliminating the legal contention that people with
disabilities lack capacity for competitive employment, it is affirmed
that when given the proper training, support, and opportunities, people
with disabilities can be competitively employed in a variety of
vocational environments at competitive wages.
</ol><font color="#000080"><br>
</font> <br>
<font color="#000080"><br>
</font>We need you to schedule visits in your local districts immediately
and to make your calls to the Member’s local and D.C. offices right
now. If they are willing to cosponsor, refer them to the following
staffers: <br>
<font color="#000080"><br>
</font> <br>
<font color="#000080"><br>
</font>Office of Representative Cliff Stearns (Republican, Sponsor)<br>
<font color="#000080"><br>
</font>James Thomas, Legislative Director/O&I Policy Coordinator<br>
<font color="#000080"><br>
</font>Phone: (202) 225-5744<br>
<font color="#000080"><br>
</font> <br>
<font color="#000080"><br>
</font>Office of Representative Tim Bishop (Democrat, Lead
Cosponsor)<br>
<font color="#000080"><br>
</font>Joanna Sara, Senior Legislative Assistant <br>
<font color="#000080"><br>
</font>Phone: (202) 225-3826<br>
<font color="#000080"><br>
</font> <br>
<font color="#000080"><br>
</font>After you have had your visit or made your call, please provide me
with the following information: <br>
<font color="#000080"><br>
</font>Which Member of Congress?<br>
<font color="#000080"><br>
</font>Which State?<br>
<font color="#000080"><br>
</font>Who did you speak to?<br>
<font color="#000080"><br>
</font> <br>
<font color="#000080"><br>
</font>Ask the question, “Will the Member cosponsor the Fair Wages for
People with Disabilities legislation?” What was their
response? <br>
<font color="#000080"><br>
</font>( ) I was only able to express my support.<br>
<font color="#000080"><br>
</font>( ) The Member would like to co-sponsor<br>
<font color="#000080"><br>
</font>( ) The Member needs to research the issue.<br>
<font color="#000080"><br>
</font>( ) The Member can not support this legislation.<br>
<font color="#000080"><br>
</font>( ) Other: Explain________________________________<br>
<font color="#000080"><br>
</font> <br>
<font color="#000080"><br>
</font>Please contact me if you have any questions. Also, feel free
to refer the staffers directly to me (my contact information is at the
end of this e-mail). <br>
<font color="#000080"><br>
</font> <br>
<font color="#000080"><br>
</font>We have been working toward this goal since the founding of our
organization. The time is now for us to fight for Fair Wages for
People with Disabilities, H.R. 3086. <br>
<font color="#000080"><br>
</font> <br>
<font color="#000080"><br>
</font>Sincerely,<br>
<font color="#000080"><br>
</font> <br>
<font color="#000080"><br>
</font><i>Anil<br>
</i><font color="#000080"><br>
</font><a name="_MailAutoSig"></a> <br>
<font color="#000080"><br>
</font>Mr. Anil Lewis, M.P.A.<br>
<font color="#000080"><br>
</font>Director of Strategic Communications<br>
<font color="#000080"><br>
</font> <br>
<font color="#000080"><br>
</font>“Eliminating Subminimum Wages for People with Disabilities”<br>
<font color="#000080"><br>
<a href="http://www.nfb.org/nfb/Fair_Wages_For_Workers_With_Disabilities.asp">
http://www.nfb.org/nfb/Fair_Wages_For_Workers_With_Disabilities.asp</a>
<br><br>
</font> <br>
<font color="#000080"><br>
</font>NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND<br>
<font color="#000080"><br>
</font>200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place<br>
<font color="#000080"><br>
</font>Baltimore, Maryland 21230<br>
<font color="#000080"><br>
</font>(410) 659-9314 ext. 2374 (Voice)<br>
<font color="#000080"><br>
</font>(410) 685-5653 (Fax)<br>
<font color="#000080"><br>
</font>E-mail:
<a href="mailto:alewis@nfb.org"><font color="#000080">alewis@nfb.org</a>
<br><br>
</font>Web:
<a href="http://www.nfb.org/"><font color="#000080">www.nfb.org</a><br>
<br>
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