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

[Mike Freeman]

From: nfbnet-members-list-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:nfbnet-members-list-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of David Andrews
Sent: Thursday, October 06, 2011 6:24 PM
To: nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Nfbnet-members-list] Fwd: It is time to fight for Fair Wages for
People with Disabilities, H.R. 3086

 


It is time to fight for Fair Wages for People with Disabilities, H.R. 3086.
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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: 

  

1.	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.  


  

1.	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.



  

1.	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 

 

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

 

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