Friday, April 10, 2020

Subminimum Wage: Exploitation or Lifesaving?


I interrupt coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic with some nostalgia from way back in January 2020 ...

This is from the National Council on Severe Autism (NCSA) blog: 

Disability Advocates Discriminate Against the Severely disabled by Harris Capps, 1/16/20
 

[This commentary is based on a response to the above video, “Exploitation OR Lifesaving? The Controversy Around Disabled People Being Paid Pennies An Hour,” by Philip DeFranco.]

See more on this issue in The DD News Blog
 

1 comment:

Jill Barker said...

[This is a comment I received on another page of The DD News Blog, but I thought it belonged here as a recent comment on community work centers - JRB]

Sorry Can not find a way to get this to you This could be a beginning of a Hand book I have not heard anyone dealing with the RIGHTS We hear about what they claim are rights but ours are real to say the least Tom Spellman call me with questions 414 403 1341

RIGHTS OF ALL DISABLED INDIVIDUALS including those who work at Community Rehab Programs (CRP) (Sheltered Workshops).

It is up to each disabled individual to exercise any or none of these RIGHTS.

Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standard Act of 1938 as amended in 1986 grants all disabled individuals (6,000+ in Wisconsin) who work at CRP’s (Sheltered Workshops), the RIGHT to WORK for less than the minimum wage.

Section 14(c) also provides all disabled individuals with “the RIGHT to WORK itself” with two conditions 1) that their behavior is socially acceptable and 2) that there is an opening at the local CRP (workshop). As we know all working age individuals have the right to apply for any job that they want to. It is only if they are hired, that they will have a job and be able to work for at least the minimum wage. Whereas all disabled individuals who meet the 2 conditions listed above will be able to WORK.

All disabled individuals have the right of association. What is special about CRP’s (workshops) is that with time, true friendships develop with both the other workers as well as with the staff. What is critical to understand is that personal individual associations are part of what defines us as individual human beings. These relationships, in large part, will be with others much like ourselves. To shut down CRP’s (workshops) because Disability Rights Wisconsin claims that CRP’s are segregated denies disabled individuals this most basic human right of associating with whomever they choose to be with. Of the 50 individuals in Rosa’s workshop she has significant relationships with 4 or 5 of them and recognizes almost all of her co-workers and staff.

The fourth right. All disabled individuals have the right to a Person-Centered Service Plan as granted in SS 441.725. The Person-Centered Service Plan is a specific plan for each disabled individual that establishes what is least restrictive for that person and most beneficial for them as well. While the regulation is poorly written, and written as if some disabled individuals do not exist, it does provide all disabled individuals the right to a Service Plan that is specific to their needs and desires and dreams. Every disabled person has the right to a plan and that plan is all about them.

Although there may be others for the interest of this case these are the ones to focus on.

Disability Rights Wisconsin has a duty, and a responsibility, to represent the RIGHTS of those who work at CRP’s. As we know DRW is NOT doing that. On the contrary they are working against those disabled individuals who benefit from working by eliminating the RIGHT to work for less than the minimum wage.
April 11, 2020 at 2:20 PM