Ending low wages for workers with disabilities

A special education professor at Washington State University is helping with national efforts to improve job opportunities and fair pay for people with disabilities.

Josh Taylor with WSU's College of Education visited Capitol Hill this spring to advocate for new bi-partisan legislation introduced in Congress that would help accomplish those goals. Among other things, the proposal would end the practice of paying people with disabilities less than their peers while also providing funding to help states and organizations switch to proven methods that ensure fair job opportunities for workers with disabilities.

"We don't pigeonhole any other group into areas of jobs or careers they're not good at," Taylor said. "But for too long we've limited people with disabilities to jobs that aren't suited for their strengths, as well as paid them wages that reflect disrespect for their capability of benefitting businesses in their communities."

Taylor was representing the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) in their Division on Career Development and Transition (DCDT), where he serves as the chair for its policy and advocacy committee.

Taylor said it's important to give individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities a chance to use their strengths to contribute to their communities. He said it's vital that this be done in strength-based ways.

Fellow WSU special education researcher Holly Whittenburg said decades of research have identified successful approaches to helping people with disabilities, including those with significant support needs, in finding and maintaining employment.

"We know that supported and customized employment interventions work in helping individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are most often impacted by subminimum wages," Whittenburg said.

Although advocating for the legislation as private individuals, WSU's special education faculty have earned national recognition for the university's pioneering programs that advance educational and other opportunities for disabled students.

"Competitive integrated employment means real pay for real work in the community alongside folks without disabilities," Taylor said, highlighting how this shift is crucial for giving people with disabilities equal pay and job opportunities.

The Capitol visit came at a pivotal time as Congress is reviewing the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which just celebrated its 10th anniversary. Taylor said WIOA aims to help students with disabilities prepare for the workforce, but there are ongoing challenges in implementing these services effectively.

"These are big systemic changes that are complicated to implement in practice," Taylor says. "The research we've conducted shows that many states and communities are starting and growing innovative approaches to improving outcomes for this group, but these changes require resetting expectations, building relationships with new partners and agencies, developing research-based programming, and cultivating relationships with businesses - to name just a few."

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