<html>
<body>
<br>
Federation Family,<br>
<br>
Tomorrow is our second #FixWIA Wednesday. We had a very good campaign a
few weeks ago, but unfortunately our Senators do not understand our
concerns with WIA yet. <br>
<br>
During our last campaign, we had just over 150 tweets with the hash tag
#FixWIA. When we set our minds to something, there is nothing the
Federation cannot accomplish. I am setting the goal of 250 tweets with
the hash tag #FixWIA. When tweeting, do not forget to use your Senators’
handles. You can find them, along with their Facebook pages here:
<a href="http://govsm.com/w/Senate">http://govsm.com/w/Senate</a>. <br>
<br>
For those of you who prefer to e-mail your Senators, I have attached the
letter I plan to send to my Senators. Please consider using this as a
template. For those of you who prefer to call your Senators, feel free to
use this email as a guide for your call. <br>
<br>
If you would like even more information about our concerns with WIA,
please see our blog post at:
<a href="https://nfb.org/blog/vonb-blog/fix-wia">
https://nfb.org/blog/vonb-blog/fix-wia</a>.<br>
<br>
Thank you to everyone who helped out with our first #FixWIA campaign. We
have invited other disability organizations to help with this
efforttogether I know we can come up with 250 tweets that embed the hash
tag #FixWIA. Let your concerns about WIA be heard! Through our
efforts, we can ensure that fewer people with disabilities are subjected
to detrimental subminimum wage sheltered employment. <br>
<br>
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me at
<a href="mailto:rsloan@nfb.org">rsloan@nfb.org</a> or by calling
410-659-9314 extension 2441. <br>
<br>
Thanks everyone,<br>
<br>
Rose<br>
<br>
<br>
February 5, 2014<br>
<br>
Dear Senator,<br>
<br>
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. <br>
<br>
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. <br>
<br>
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 <i>currently </i>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?
<br>
<br>
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. <br>
<br>
I look forward to hearing back from you. I fear that WIA may be
coming to the floor soon. Please contact me at
<a href="mailto:Rsloan@nfb.org">Rsloan@nfb.org</a>. <br>
<br>
Thank you,<br>
<br>
Rose Sloan <br>
<br>
<br>
<b>Rose Sloan<br>
</b>Government Affairs Specialist<br>
<br>
“Eliminating Subminimum Wages for People with Disabilities” <br>
<a href="http://www.nfb.org/fair-wages">http://www.nfb.org/fair-wages</a>
<br>
<br>
<b>National Federation of the Blind<br>
</b>200 East Wells Street <br>
Baltimore, MD 21230<br>
rsloan@nfb.org<br>
(410)-659-9314 ext 2441<br>
<b> <br>
</b>The National Federation of the Blind needs your support to ensure
blind children get an equal education; to connect blind veterans with the
training and services they need; and to help seniors who are losing
vision continue to live independent and fulfilling lives. To make a
donation, please go to <a href="http://www.nfb.org">www.nfb.org</a>.<br>
<br>
</body>
</html>