Every worker should be paid fairly. But people with disabilities do not always get fair pay. They can even be paid less than minimum wage. In July, we talked about fighting for the right to live in the community. We must also fight for the right to fair pay for people with IDD. 

Meaningful Work

Meaningful work builds on people’s talents and skills. It lets them be part of a larger community. It pays them fairly for their work. This is often called competitive integrated employment. Some people with IDD need extra help to find and keep this kind of job. That’s where supported employment comes in. Support can include a job coach, planning, or help talking to your boss. It’s a way to make sure people with IDD get good jobs with fair pay.

Fair Pay for People with IDD

Many people with disabilities get stuck in jobs that don’t pay minimum wage. These jobs are often called sheltered workshops. They are sometimes called sub-minimum wage jobs. They can pay much less than minimum wage. Sometimes, that’s less than $1 per hour. That’s not fair. It’s also not good for our economy. 

James was put in a sheltered workshop in high school. He made just 50 cents an hour, even though minimum wage was $3.35. He talks about the struggle he had to get meaningful work. James shares how many people believed in him and made sure he had a chance to show his worth.

Check out the full video on our YouTube channel.

Meaningful Work Is Better for Everyone

Sheltered workshops are not just unfair. They hurt people. It is easier for employers to take advantage of employees. People cannot earn enough to live on their own. They have worse mental and physical health.

Sheltered workshops are also bad for the economy. Imagine if James’s employer had paid him minimum wage. He would have earned almost 7 times more than he did at 50 cents an hour. That money could have gone back into the economy. He could have used it for rent, food, bills, or savings. He would have paid almost $200 in payroll taxes in just one year. That would be over $1,200 today. Imagine $1,200 multiplied by tens of thousands of workers over 30 years. That’s a lot of money to help the community!

End Sub-Minimum Wage

In 2004, the U.S. Department of Labor had a plan to end sub-minimum wage. Now, they have cancelled that plan. That is a mistake. We need policies that help people grow, not hold them back. We need more people earning and spending to fuel our economy.

Do More & Learn More

Get in touch with your lawmakers. Tell them to end sub-minimum wage. It is also called Section 14(c). You can also:

James said that people with IDD are “hungry for work.” He’s right. We need to give them a chance to show their talents and skills. We also need to pay them a fair wage. That’s better for everyone!