Charlie McGrory, left, who has Down syndrome, and his brother Andy, who can also be his job coach, bag groceries at Hy-Vee in Winona, Minn. in 2018. Charlie McGrory beforehand labored at a sheltered workshop, however transitioned to built-in employment because of a 2014 federal legislation that prioritizes serving to individuals with disabilities discover jobs in the neighborhood. (David Joles/Star Tribune/TNS)
Federal officers are sending $177 Million to states in a significant push to shift individuals with disabilities away from subminimum wage work in favor of aggressive built-in employment.
The funding will go to 14 state vocational rehabilitation businesses over the following 5 years as a part of what’s generally known as the Subminimum Wage to Aggressive Built-in Employment demonstration challenge.
“These grants will assist revolutionary efforts underway throughout the nation to offer instructional alternatives to youth and adults with disabilities to allow them to safe better-paying jobs, construct financial safety, and lead extra fulfilling, impartial lives,” stated U.S. Secretary of Schooling Miguel Cardona whose company consists of the Rehabilitation Providers Administration, which is doling out the funds.
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The pilot program was established in a authorities spending invoice for the 2021 fiscal yr. Initiatives funded by the trouble are geared toward reducing the usage of subminimum wage and rising entry to aggressive built-in employment.
With the grants, state vocational rehabilitation businesses will deal with utilizing novel approaches to hyperlink individuals with disabilities to inexperienced jobs and alternatives in important employee industries, the transportation trade and the humanities the place they may work alongside their friends with out disabilities for comparable wages, the Division of Schooling stated.
The tasks will function collaboration between state and native suppliers, private and non-private employers and advocates, officers stated.
At the moment, below a legislation courting again to the Nineteen Thirties, employers can receive particular certificates from the Division of Labor permitting them to pay employees with disabilities lower than the federal minimal wage of $7.25 per hour. However, the apply generally known as subminimum wage, is more and more falling out of favor with a number of states and cities phasing it out and some federal lawmakers searching for to do the identical nationwide.
“Far too many individuals with disabilities want to work however reside in poverty as a result of they haven’t had the chance to discover a profession in a aggressive built-in employment,” stated Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Va., who chairs the Home Committee on Schooling and Labor and has launched laws to get rid of subminimum wage. “This historic funding in assist of revolutionary actions geared toward rising aggressive built-in employment will assist be certain that individuals with disabilities have significant alternatives not solely to work however to thrive of their communities.”
Grants from the brand new program will go to vocational rehabilitation businesses in California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia.
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