Workforce Investment Act
Currently, most students with disabilities are referred to
sub-minimum wage jobs (often times substantially
less than the $7.25 minimum wage rate) at workshops when they graduate
from high school. There is new legislation under consideration in both Houses
of Congress that would alter their pathway into the workforce. Under Section
511 of the Workforce Investment Act, people under 24 years of age could not be
employed by workshops unless they have sought employment in other settings
first. This legislation also requires that state vocational rehabilitation
agencies provide “pre-employment services” to students at schools in their
area.
Pros/Cons
There are many who are supportive of passing this
legislation. They believe it will re-route youth into more fulfilling career
paths who may have otherwise been automatically steered toward subminimum wage
employment. Christopher Danielsen, a spokesman for the National Federation of
the Blind, is quoted as saying that this proposal is an “important first step
toward eliminating wage discrimination against people with disabilities.”
However, there are those who fear the passage of this
legislation will only hurt the disability community. Parents and caregivers of
individuals with severe cognitive and developmental disabilities feel that
sheltered workshops are the only option for certain individuals because of the
limitations their disability puts on them. By taking away the option of
workshops, Congress is taking away these individuals’ ability to “have
something to do”, be out in society, make friends and have a sense of
self-worth.
Desegregation
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I’d be interested to see exactly how this would work. In my
opinion, this proposal has great potential for getting people with disabilities
into society in a very real way. At Forward RISE, we are committed to inclusion, and the passage of
a proposal like this is a great step towards this goal. There is a significant
segregation between the two communities of people with and people without
disabilities and the only way to fix this is through real inclusion. State vocational rehab agencies can begin their
work with students when they reach high school age so that they can prep for
transition to life after school. This school in New Jersey has a great program
for its students with developmental disabilities that offers real-life skills
and industry certifications to help them land a job or to succeed in college.
When I was in high school, I remember taking a questionnaire
that narrowed down my interests into possible career paths. There could be a
modified version of this for people with disabilities. If a person only has one
option – sheltered workshops – they will never learn if they have the potential
to do something different.
Why is this so important? We have to consider the bar that
we set for people with disabilities. Are we setting the bar too low by assuming
that the best place for anybody with a disability is a sheltered workshop? I
say yes! Too often, assumptions are made on people with disabilities. It is presumed that they are incapable of making decisions, keeping a schedule or
following directions, let alone having higher-thinking qualities needed for
employment. Destination Desserts changes the game by assuming that people with
disabilities do have the ability to
hold down a job outside of a sheltered workshop.
But we also have to realize that there are certain
individuals for whom sheltered workshops would be the best environment. Taking
away that option completely would devastate many individuals and families who
rely on these places.
As with anything, change can be scary and difficult,
especially when we are talking about a community with such a varied group of
people. This proposal can be the beginning of the desegregation of disabled and
able-bodied people. I can’t wait until the word “inclusion” is no longer a part
of our conversation because at that point, it will just be.
