Clyde Terry Ad Hoc Committee Chair National Council on Disability

NCD recognizes the current Department of Labor sub minimum wage 14 (c) program needs to be transformed to meet the needs and expectations of todays persons with disabilities. And respect the support the existing program has given to those who have relied upon it for many years.

Principles of the Americans with Disabilities Act

Non discrimination Inclusion Integration Equal opportunity

The time to address this issue is now. There are over 420,000 persons with disabilities in 14 (c) programs.
Policies must match:

Technological Advances Improvements in Health Care Inclusive Education Changing Attitudes

It is time to change an outdated public policy that Discriminates Segregates and excludes Denies Economic Opportunity Promotes Stereotypes Denies a Basic Right to Minimum Wage

Spoke with Experts Reviewed Literature and History Acknowledged Diverse Community Opinions Noted That Similar Conversations Have Occurred Around Closing Institutions and Nursing Homes

New York Ohio Vermont South Dakota Oregon Washington State Louisiana

Workers with Disabilities Families 14 (c) Program Operators Supported Employment Operators State Policy Makers Employers

Unequal Approaches Across the Nation Workers with Disabilities Want to Earn More Workers Did NOT Know They Could Earn More People with Disabilities Can Be Successful in Competitive Employment Providers of Employment Support Need Training Leadership Must Come From the Top In Some States System Change is Needed Incentives Exist for Sheltered Employment Wages Are Often Very Low

Availability of Benefit Planning Workers with Disabilities Must Learn They Can Work, Earn a Wage and Not Lose Benefits Expanded Peer Support for Workers with Disabilities Talk About Workplace Issues, Supervisors and Attitudes of Coworkers

Expanded Family Support To Help Families and Workers Through the Transition Learn How To Solve Problems Together

Notification of Available Supports Require Providers in 14 (c) Programs to Inform Workers about Supports and Opportunities in the Community

To transform the system we need to have a supportive employment infrastructure so workers with disabilities can be successful
Money Follows The Person Approach to Provide Employment Program Support System Change Grants to a Consortium of State Developmental Disabilities, Vocational Rehabilitation and Other Agencies to Work Together to Make Necessary Changes Enhanced Medicaid Match Shifted to Supported Employment Programs

Closing the Front Door by Preventing Additional 14(c) Certificates From Being Issued
Six Year Plan for Transformation Completion Workers in the program for 10 years or less must be converted to a supportive employment within 2 years Workers who have been in a 14(c) program for 10 to 20 years must convert to supportive employment within 4 years Workers who have been in a 14(c) program for more than 20 years must be converted to being supported in a supported environment program within 6 years

Support Greater Opportunity Building on a Culture of Higher Expectations Prohibit Placements in Sheltered Workshops as a Goal in an IEP Work as a Career for All Students Including Those with Disabilities Eliminate Barriers to Financial Aid

Department of Justice shall

Monitor movement from14 ( c) to supported employment programs

It is time to end this discriminatory program so all persons with disabilities have the same right as others to earn at least minimum wage and seek greater economic opportunity. The Time Is Now.

National Council on Disability 1331 F Street NW #850 Washington, DC 20004 202-272-2004 http://www.ncd.gov

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