Section 14(c) National Online Dialogue Search Ideas

I work for a CRP that offers a full range of employment services and supports to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Section 14(c) is one of our options that can provide employment opportunities for those with the most significant disabilities. Let's not reduce an individual's options for choice. Each individual is unique and all types of opportunities for work should be available for their... more »

14c certificates are not creating 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. There is little creativity for supporting disabled workers to build their skill set and I have yet to see a provider that aims to get disabled workers to GRADUATE with skills from... 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 »

In observing and speaking with differently abled people and their families, some do not feel safe out in the community or having their family member left to fend for themselves in an environment that doesn't understand their needs. The choice should be theirs and theirs alone to make. Wage differentiation allows them to have work they otherwise wouldn't get hired for and have a level of self worth to earn and spend their... more »

You're going to hear from a lot of people that defend 14c and want to keep it available as an option to ensure continued work opportunities, and you will also hear from a lot of people that say 14c is exploitative and everybody deserves minimum wage. How do you figure out what's right? Here's my experience - I've worked at a DD provider for 34 years, as CEO for the last twelve years. I'm also a CPA, so I understand... 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 »

In my experience of working with transition age youth and young adults, because of the limits the WIOA regulations have implemented to mitigate sheltered work being a primary experience, educators, indivividuals and families are realizing what is possible. It is important to provide wrap around supports if a person is not able to work 30-40 hours per week, this is often why individuals and families want these segregated... more »

I have worked in behalf of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities for over 20 years and while I respect people's choices I have never met a person who had real options provided with multiple experiences that matched their skills, interests and talents that are working in segregated, sub-minimum wage settings. I have been involved in multiple instances where people were not getting opportunities to make... 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.

by closing work center it will eliminate the most important aspect of consumers choices staying where they are.

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 »

My sister has a great memory, is resourceful, great with kids and animals, thoughtful, determined to learn, helpful, responsible, and kind. I can think of many jobs she would be good at - pet care, child care, working at a library, tour guide at a historical site, receptionist, advocate for people with disabilities, or even working at a clothing store. If my sister were truly supported to explore jobs, I'm sure we could... 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 »