Section 14(c) National Online Dialogue Search Ideas

My mentally handicapped daughter works in a sheltered workshop. It provides her will meaningful work that gives her a purpose. She has difficulty performing work in other environments. The amount of money she earns is sufficient and not as important as the satisfaction she gets going to work where she can perform.

I have worked in this field for over 43 years as a section 14(c )certificate holder and as an option for a lot
of people with the most significant disabilities it a lot of value.
I have also ran a community inter grated employment program side by side with it and that is the best of both worlds for people with disabilities.
Using both of these employment opportunities side by side gives that person the chance to use... more »

My daughter is mentally disabled. She lives at a facility with a sheltered workshop. She read not successful working at places in the community. She is successful working in the sheltered workshop. She loves going to work and is very proud of the job she performs. Get pay is insignificant compared to the joy she has being successful in an appropriate job.

As a member of the A-Team USA advocacy group and an employee at a sheltered workshop, I want you to understand that Section 14(c) certificates are a VITAL part of the full array of choices that people with developmental disabilities need and deserve! It is important to note that it is actually a commensurate pay rate, which is based on the current minimum wage and their abilities to do the required work. Some do make... more »

I appreciate all parent advocates, on both sides of this issue. If you took the time to reply to this dialogue, there is no doubt that you do want what's best for your family member. I do want to address a pattern of concern I saw from several of the family advocates, expressing their concerns and frustration with ineffectiveness of 14c programs. The reality is the elimination of 14c programs is not the answer to poor... more »

I am a mother of an adult daughter with Autism. She stays home with me and does some of my typing because I do not want her in the local Habilitation Center, furthermore, I went to work there for two years as the Coordinator of Employment Services when I heard that they were reconstituting their Supportive Employment Program. This was after they received the notification from the Dept of Labor that they needed it to... more »

Developmentally disabled individuals range widely in physical and mental capabilities. There cannot be "one size fits all" mentality, whether we are looking at their work options or their living options. What is best for those with higher functioning abilities is often not at all best for those with more limiting disabilities. The sheltered workshop options are all that many individuals will be able to master. It is... more »

I work with individuals who are involved in 14 c programs. They work in several micro-businesses including a bakery, coffee packaging, recycling and some other jobs. This is very meaningful work for them and they are very proud of themselves. Individuals with severe intellectual disabilities are very often unable to be employed in a regular job generally due to lack of supports once people age out of education programs.... more »

People with developmental disabilities deserve to have meaningful employment - it gives them a sense of dignity and pride. Misericordia home provides a number of work opportunity programs including a bakery, laundry facility, coffee packaging program, and restaurant to name just a few. If 14(c) was phased out, the cost of these programs would triple and Misericordia would be forced to reduce the number of persons employed... more »

Very few adults with intellectual disabilities can read, as special education classes nationwide have traditionally focused on daily living skills rather than academics. If the 14c sub minimum wage scale allowance is abandoned, there is no way in hell that the entire adult population of individuals with ID will possibly be able to compete in the general marketplace for "ordinary" jobs by being twice ostracized: disabled... more »

Most people don't read legal documents. Admittedly, these documents tend to be long and dry. When debating a law, however, close review of the law itself can help shed light on an issue.

Take, for instance, The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. According to the act itself, it was established because "...labor conditions detrimental to the maintenance of the minimum standard of living necessary for health, efficiency,... more »

Disabled people face far higher living expenses than abled people - they deserve the same wages, not less. Stop exploiting them for sub-minimum-wage labor!

Within a sheltered workshop developmentally disabled individuals are compensated at a percent of the rate they produce compared to a "normal" worker. In my sons case, about $3 per hour. From this compensation he has learned the relationship between production and compensation in a safe and protected environment. It has been extremely challenging for the workshop to acquire and maintain projects from local businesses... more »

My daughter works in a workshop currently and is thriving! She has CP and a quadriplegic. With limited ability to use her extremities she does find a way to work with an aides assisting her. People need to know sometimes it's not about the amount of pay an individual receives it's about feeling like you belong, it's about feeling like you have a job like your brother and sister! My daughter is proud of getting up everyday... more »

Our daughter Maggie, who is 32 years old and intellectually disabled, participates in Easter Seals programs on each weekday. Easter Seals provides a safe, secure, and loving environment for Maggie and other participants in this program. Each weekday, Maggie visits Easter Seals and Easter Seals sends Maggie into the community to provide volunteer services at nearby churches or take field trips into the community for... more »