American Association of People with Disabilities’ Post

While decades-long progress has been made in disability employment protections and civil rights, an unsettling truth persists – it remains legal to pay individuals with disabilities less than the minimum wage, simply because they are disabled. Under Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act, disabled workers can be paid an hourly wage average of $3.34 — many are paid close to $1 or less. It's time for this practice to end. In a promising development, the Department of Labor has initiated a comprehensive review of Section 14(c) to assess its future viability. Join us in calling on the Department of Labor to end subminimum wages. Sign the petition today at: endsubminimumwage.com #EndSubminimumWage #ShortChanged #DepartmentOfLabor

Disabled people are underrepresented in the workplace and a disability employment gap of around 30 percentage points has persistent for many years, despite a multitude of support and job-retention initiatives..... In subsequent weeks I will summarise the evidence base on individual-led and employer-wide schemes aimed at increasing the employment rate of individuals.

The rights of a worker with a disability vary by jurisdiction but generally include: 1.Non-discrimination: A disabled worker has the right not to be discriminated against in the workplace based on their condition. 2. Reasonable accommodations: Employers may be obligated to make reasonable accommodations to enable the worker to perform their job duties. 3. Access to benefits: Workers with disabilities may have access to additional benefits, such as disability leave, under labor and social security laws. 4. Protection against unjust dismissal:Disabled workers have the right to protection against unjust dismissal related to their condition. It's important to consult the specific labor laws of your location for detailed information on the rights of disabled workers in that area.

This conversation raises the question of who has the incentive to keep subminimum wages going (Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act)? Marissa Ditkowsky, an attorney who focuses on disability economic justice with the National Partnership for Women & Families, says that subminimum wages are "not relevant to our present-day standing of disability or work. It really views disabled work as less valuable even though productivity can vary among nondisabled workers too." Several states have laws against this practice, and recently the Dept. of Labor has been reviewing 14.c and taking public comment. https://lnkd.in/eVamgZzH #SupportedEmployment #DisabilityRights

Here's a great read on Labour's policy promises made on disability and accessibility:

Let's stop putting disabled individuals in a box. People with disabilities experience higher rates of unemployment and underemployment, workplace discrimination, exclusion...and don't even get us started on subminimum wages. October is Disability Employment Awareness Month, and we need to use this opportunity to collectively bring light to the variety of experiences within the disabled community as well as the things they are capable of contributing in the workplace. Employers, are you creating an environment in which disabled employees can thrive? #disabilityemployment #disabilityemploymentawarenessmonth #NDEAM

Hi Everyone! Take a moment to watch my TedTalk on Bridging the Gap in Disability Employment. Liking and commenting on the video can boost its visibility, spreading awareness about this prevalent societal issue. #DisabilityEmployment #BridgingTheGap #TedTalk

Employment and disability in Australia: Improving employment outcomes for people with disability https://lnkd.in/gFngAjK5

Does your work cater to the needs of older, disabled workers? This #DisabilityPrideMonth, commit to ensuring your older workers with disabilities are supported and sign the Age-friendly Employer Pledge. Find out more here: https://lnkd.in/egcAnn_3 #Ageing #OlderPeople #OlderWorkers #PositiveAgeing

Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 is still on the books - allowing employers to apply for waivers of minimum wage requirements when employing individuals with disabilities. According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, there are approximately 120,000 workers employed under this provision, half of whom are earning less than $3.50 per hour! Thankfully, Virginia has eliminated this provision from its own workplaces, but 34 other states still abide by it. This article was written by a disability advocate with Down syndrome who shares her own experience and sheds a light on the broader societal implications that this inequitable law has created and perpetuated. https://lnkd.in/ewKZj5vV #AccessForAll #Inclusion #DisabilityRights