Section 14(c) National Online Dialogue Vision for the future of work and workplaces; the landscape over the next five to ten years

A relic from the Great Depression and largely unchanged since 1938, 14(c) belonged to the world in which goods were produced in a factory with much simpler technology. Those days a worker's productivity, a simple measurement of output during a finite time period, was the primary factor employers used to determine his/her wage.

In the twenty-first century, a worker's contribution to his/her employer or workplace is multi-dimensional;... more »

I am the mother of an almost 12 year old daughter with Down syndrome. I often engage in advocacy on her behalf, while making sure she is prepared to take over when she asks me to step aside. I think about her future a lot, and almost everything I'm fighting for now is because I want her to have a meaningful, self-directed adult life.

Though I've been successful in getting our school system to keep her in the general... more »

The Center for Disability Rights supports legislation that would disallow disabled people employed by "charitable" organizations from being paid a subminimum wage. Below is our legislative policy statement on the issue:

End Subminimum Wages for New Yorkers with Disabilities A7077 (Steck)/ S4018 (Skoufis)
Federal law allows organizations holding Department of Labor 14(c) certificates to pay workers with disabilities pennies... more »

I have a brother with a developmental disability and mental illness. I have also worked as a job coach and job developer for adults with disabilities. My brother needs entry level work, as do many other people with an intellectual disability. With minimum wage increasing, employers will expect more and more from employees, and some will turn to automation to reduce labor costs.
Entry level jobs will come with more expectations... more »

14c certificates are a poor excuse for supporting the development of real work opportunities for disabled workers. As a sibling of a person with Intellectual Disability and advocate, I have seen firsthand how disabled workers are shortchanged by providers with 14c certificates. It is time for a complete phase-out of the use of 14(c) certificates and sub-minimum wage for ALL people with disabilities. Why is it that people... more »

My son does currently work 2 hours a week in competitive integrated employment because Group settings are suppressed and difficult to access in Washington state. However, he works more independently, interacts in a more social way and is more motivated in a group setting. His favorite activities, and those where he needs the least one on one coaching are Special Olympics and other small group settings with his peers.... more »

I have had the opportunity to create opportunities for provider agencies to build capacity in providing customized employment and building community-based services, and while it is difficult because the funding methodologies have not changed, the training and TEchnical assistance has increased their knowledge and ability to support people in the community that had otherwise been labeled as "unemployable" or only being... more »

People with disabilities deserve fair pay. They are able to work in what they are interested in with employment supports. More attention and funding needs to be put into job skill training and support staff to allow people with disabilities to do the jobs they want to do and receive payment equal to that of their peers.

In the next five to ten years, I hope to see more and more industries hiring people with disabilities at competitive wages. I think every organization focused on disability issues must hire more people with disabilities. We should think differently about work - not everyone needs to get a 40 hour a week job making $100,000 per year. We all have to start somewhere. It's the contribution that matters, but contribution cannot... more »

We've made a lot of progress over the decades, in part due to inclusive education, to bring the skills and talents of people with disabilities to business at their prevailing wage worth. This should be the norm in the future as more businesses need and desire a diverse workforce, and more talent with business experience are interested in working on this mission

I am the mother of a 24 year old daughter with significant developmental disabilities. We live in Oceanside, CA.
In California, the American Community Survey reports that in 2017, the employment rate of working-age people (ages 21 to 64) with disabilities living in the community in California was 36.8 percent compared to 77.3 percent of working-aged people without disabilities living in the community. In 2016, the California... more »

End subminimum wage and segregation now. Everyone has skills and talent and can work. Match individuals' skills and interests to real jobs in the community. Everyone can benefit from work, especially employers. We have evidenced based practices, which show it can be done. Now we need to do it!
Competitive wages are the only route out of poverty and poverty is not what we want for people with disabilities.

It is... more »

People with disabilities have gifts, talents , dedication and desire to work. They can undergo training to get required skills to help achieve the goals and objectives of the workplace.

IF YOU ELIMINATE 14(C) THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WILL LOOSE THEIR ONLY OPPORTUNITY TO FEEL SENSE OF PRIDE FOR WHAT THEY HAVE DONE. THE REWARD OF EARNING THEIR OWN MONEY. BEING PART OF A SOCIAL NETWORK MADE UP OF THEIR FELLOW EMPLOYEES.

As the mother of a 5 year old daughter (with a disability) and her twin brother (without a disability), on the brink of entering kindergarten, I have so many dreams for their futures. I am excited about the endless possibilities that I believe can be and should be open to BOTH of them, regardless.

I believe that when, in 1938, Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act began, it was with positive intent. The intent... more »