End sub-minimum wages for people with disabilities

[beatrice_otter]

Currently, in the US, federal law allows disabled people to be paid sub-minimum wages under certain conditions. That's right, disabled people can be paid less than the minimum wage, and it's perfectly legal! This exception was carved out of the minimum wage back when it was first implemented, because obviously nobody would ever be willing to pay disabled people a living wage, amirite? And they should be grateful to have any job at all, amirite? 😱

There is currently a bill before congress called the The Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act (TCIEA), which would end the discriminatory practice of subminimum wage, and give states and service providers the resources they need to create better employment support programs.

If you would like to contact your members of congress to encourage them to support TCIEA, the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network has a handy widget to help you email them.

Comments

[chestnut_pod]

Thanks! Emails sent.

[beatrice_otter]

You're welcome!

[otter]

I've worked in such places, and saw the unfairness up close. I'll be signing when I have the spoons to follow through

[beatrice_otter]

👍

[jazzyjj]

This looks interesting and I will definitely consider signing on. I won't bore everybody with my entire employment-seeking saga, or lack thereof depending on whom you talk to. But suffice it to say the nonprofit organization in which I am currently involved is launching a summer "bootcamp" online which could perhaps at least begin to address this issue. I'm going to try and take their course. Wish me luck.

[beatrice_otter]

Good luck!

[fabrisse]

The reasoning was that disabled people would be getting disability and so only needed part-time jobs or lower paying work so they didn't lose their disability. Fortunately, disability services have changed a great deal since the 1970s, so this is no longer an issue.

While getting fair wages for the disabled, let's also work toward getting tipped workers more than the $3.00 (ish) per hour that employers are currently allowed to pay.