September 5, 2024
The Boost News
An investigative report on the subminimum wage program, some parents turn to magnetic therapy to help kids with autism, and more developmental disability news for the week ending Sept. 6, 2024.
Spotlight: Employment
Some disabled workers in the U.S. make pennies per hour. It’s legal.
This Washington Post analysis looked at 14 years of federal inspection data, examined the work practices of 228 certificate holders, and spoke with nearly 60 current and former workers and staff members to investigate 14(c) subminimum wage programs. (Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act allows employers to apply for a certificate and legally pay disabled workers less than the $7.25 federal minimum wage.)
It found that at least 38% of current employers have violated compensation and other rules, and cheated disabled workers out of millions in pay.
Additionally, it reports that when states have ended 14(c) subminimum wage programs, overall employment of adults with cognitive disabilities has increased; and about one in three current 14(c) employers have failed to correctly pay wages, but that is probably an undercount.
Read the article here.
New York
Rockville Centre home to first certified sensory police department in N.Y. Here are the tools officers use. To parse this a little bit, I think what’s really happening here is it’s the first department to be certified by KultureCity. Regardless, sensory awareness is always good news. (CBSnews.com)
Judge mandates that all new NYC taxis be accessible to wheelchairs (Gothamist)
Elderly and disabled subway riders fight MTA over ‘hazardous’ platform gaps The lawsuit, which accessibility rights advocates filed in 2022, alleges the MTA violates the city’s Human Rights Law. The case is due back in court come October. (Gothamist)
D.A.: Staten Island special ed teacher’s ‘gross actions’ scammed DOE for over $6K She billed for hours she didn’t work, “pilfering funds that were meant for children with special needs. (SIlive.com)
Outside of New York
Pennsylvania Skincare company creates inclusive workplace for those with disabilities Cleanlogic is creating an inclusive workplace for employees with disabilities. (NBCnews.com)
Services for people with disabilities could be eliminated under Louisiana governor’s plan Unbelievable: A projected state deficit makes health care programs vulnerable. (Louisiana Illuminator)
Opinion: Buyer beware — KY’s Amendment #2 is not “choice” it may seem for students with disabilities The amendment would allow state funding to be allocated to private schools for the first time in Kentucky. Private schools are not required to provide educational and other services spelled out in an IEP or 504 Plan. (Lexington Herald Leader)
Governors State Univ. in Illinois allows students with disabilities to ‘find their place’ The university created a curriculum that focuses on helping kids with mild to moderate cognitive disabilities and their parents, kids “who, when high school ended, they just stayed home.” (Chicago Tribune)
Oklahoma Seeks Specialized Foster Care Parents For Children With Developmental Disabilities About one in 10 people in need of foster care in Oklahoma need specialized care. (news9.com)
Autism
Desperate parents turn to magnetic therapy to help kids with autism. They have little evidence to go on Magnetic e-resonance therapy, or MERT, is a magnetic brain stimulation therapy by a Newport Beach-based company called Wave Neuroscience. “Wave has not conducted any studies on whether its signature product works for autism. A Wave executive argued that the need for new autism therapies is strong enough to justify moving forward with commercial solutions before rock-solid evidence is available.” (Los Angeles Times)
Alert Issued After Record Drownings of Kids with Autism “It’s been the worst summer on record for autism and wandering in terms of fatalities,” said Lori Mcllwain, co-founder of the National Autism Association. (From a press released posted on misskids.org)
SSI
Social Security Administration Announces New Efforts to Simplify SSI Applications (Disability Scoop)
Housing
HUD Takes Action to Support Community Living for People with Disabilities HUD guidance creates alternative requirements and waivers that enable public housing agencies to better utilize Mainstream Vouchers to help persons with disabilities transition from and avoid institutional settings. (hud.gov)
Employment
Health
Opinion: I’m Embarrassed to Admit I Have No Idea How to Care for Patients With Disabilities This physician-in-training argues that Medical educators “must do a better job at building a curriculum that adequately prepares physicians to meet the complex needs of patients with disabilities.” (MedPage Today)
Travel
Only 39% of Americans view national parks as accessible options. There’s a simple fix. (USA Today)
Disney no longer magical to guests denied Disability Access Service Its new policy has been nothing but a headache for the giant resort. (Los Angeles Times)
Sports
Venues fall short on invisible disability needs An ESPN survey finds that professional sports teams have largely moved to accommodate the needs of fans with sensory issues, but many venues still fall short when it comes to addressing a range of other needs for fans living with invisible disabilities. (ESPN)
Entertainment with a Message
‘Patrice: The Movie’ To Premiere On Hulu It documents the relationship of a disabled couple and the marriage penalty they face thanks to limits on their government benefits. (Deadline)
You Love to See It
Cow Tipping Press in Twin Cities Is Changing the Narrative on Disability The publishing house-meets-writing workshop offers three semesters of writing classes for adults with developmental disabilities throughout the year. (Mpls.St.Paul Magazine)