Department of Labor representatives gave $100,000 to
Tennessee, Oregon, and Iowa to increase efforts for jobs for people with
physical/mental challenges. This money
was given to the states for people to become employed in their area rather than
employment by sheltered workshops.
Sometimes sheltered workshops offer employment income less than the
minimum wage.
"It’s time to
move past the stereotypes and misconceptions that people with disabilities are
unable to work," said Kathy Martinez, Assistant Secretary of Labor of
disability employment policy, to announce the new initiative. "Research
clearly shows that people with significant disabilities may work in the
community and earns the minimum wage."
Representatives of the Labor Department are accommodating
with regard to what states can do with the money. The $100,000 given to these three states will
be used to ensure that work within the community can become the first goal
among people with mental/physical challenges.
This is the first round of this type of financing.
Washington will become a mentor for the other states in the
program. It will collect the money as
well and the state is seen as being at the forefront for these types of
services. Oregon, Tennessee, and Iowa
will collect money through 2014, and other states will apply soon.
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