[Nfbsatx] Fwd: [Nfbnet-members-list] Fwd: It is time to fight for Fair Wages for People with Disabilities, H.R. 3086

[Jose Martinez]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: David Andrews <dandrews at visi.com>
Date: Thu, 06 Oct 2011 20:23:54 -0500
Subject: [Nfbnet-members-list] Fwd: It is time to fight for Fair Wages
for People with Disabilities, H.R. 3086
To: nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.org


>
>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" />
>
>
>
>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:
><http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c112:H.R.3086:>http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c112:H.R.3086:#.
>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:
>
>
>    * 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.
>
>
>    * 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.
>
>
>    * 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.
>
>
>
>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:
>
>
>
>Office of Representative Cliff Stearns (Republican, Sponsor)
>
>James Thomas, Legislative Director/O&I Policy Coordinator
>
>Phone: (202) 225-5744
>
>
>
>Office of Representative Tim Bishop (Democrat, Lead Cosponsor)
>
>Joanna Sara, Senior Legislative Assistant
>
>Phone: (202) 225-3826
>
>
>
>After you have had your visit or made your call, please provide me
>with the following information:
>
>Which Member of Congress?
>
>Which State?
>
>Who did you speak to?
>
>
>
>Ask the question, "Will the Member cosponsor the Fair Wages for
>People with Disabilities legislation?"  What was their response?
>
>(  ) I was only able to express my support.
>
>(  ) The Member would like to co-sponsor
>
>(  ) The Member needs to research the issue.
>
>(  ) The Member can not support this legislation.
>
>(  ) Other: Explain________________________________
>
>
>
>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).
>
>
>
>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.
>
>
>
>Sincerely,
>
>
>
>Anil
>
>
>
>Mr. Anil Lewis, M.P.A.
>
>Director of Strategic Communications
>
>
>
>"Eliminating Subminimum Wages for People with Disabilities"
>
><http://www.nfb.org/nfb/Fair_Wages_For_Workers_With_Disabilities.asp>http://www.nfb.org/nfb/Fair_Wages_For_Workers_With_Disabilities.asp
>
>
>
>NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
>
>200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place
>
>Baltimore, Maryland 21230
>
>(410) 659-9314 ext. 2374 (Voice)
>
>(410) 685-5653 (Fax)
>
>E-mail: <mailto:alewis at nfb.org>alewis at nfb.org
>
>Web: <http://www.nfb.org/>www.nfb.org
>
>