Employment Resources for People with Disabilities, from SCDD

October was National Disability Employment Awareness Month and we celebrated with trainings, workshops, and discussions around the State. Click Read more to see the recordings

SCDD was instrumental in the passage of Senate Bill 639, eliminating subminimum wage for people with disabilities. It was signed into law by the Governor on September 27th, 2021.

Without a doubt, this was a milestone event for civil rights in California. The elimination of the practice of paying individuals with disabilities less than minimum wage is a huge accomplishment; however, to ensure the bill’s success, there is a lot of work yet to do.

SB 639, authored by Senator Maria Elena Durazo and co-authored by Senator Sydney Kamlager and Assemblymembers Lorena Gonzalez, Cristina Garcia, and Isaac Bryan, prohibits the payment of less than minimum wage to people with disabilities through section 14(c) of the Federal Fair Labor and Standards Act. There are three very important milestones in the bill’s language. First, as of January 1st, 2022, no new 14(c) certificates may be awarded, meaning only providers who already had a certificate can continue to pay subminimum wage past January 1st of next year. The second significant milestone is January 1st of 2025. This is the cut off date where subminimum wage will be completely prohibited in the state. To get to that date, though, the bill asks for a multi-year phaseout plan to help the current 14(c) certificate holders become compliant with the new law.

The State Council is responsible for leading the group assigned to create the multiyear phaseout plan in 2022. This will include bringing together different stakeholders with an interest in creating a well thought out plan that will ensure the transition away from subminimum wage is complete by 2025.

The process of creating the report starts with multiple meetings with the stakeholders – discussing the pros and cons of different strategies for the rollout of SB 639’s plan. After gathering information from all interested parties, the plan describing the two-year phase-out process must be submitted to the Legislature by January 1st, 2023. These next three years, including stakeholders meetings and development of the phase out plan, will

require considerable effort for the State Council and our allies. In the end the effort will be worth it as people with developmental disabilities will be free to earn real wages for real work.

Wondering what services and supports in the greater Sacramento region support you or your loved one to find, train for, and keep a job?

Recorded trainings on Competitive Integrated Employment hosted Fall 2020, are still available at www.scdd.ca.gov/sacramento

Employment Services from ACRC, Employment First Legislation and Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE): Cindy Le, Employment Services Specialist, Alta California Regional Center (ACRC) will discuss Employment Services from ACRC, Employment First Legislation and Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE). https://youtu.be/mNIdC-kdDxE

Employment Services through the Department of Rehabilitation (Jose Garcia, Senior Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, DOR) and Career Exploration supports through Golden Sierra Job Training Agency (Jessica Conant, MS, Disability Resource Coordinator) are explored. https://youtu.be/yAQdbg77Cws

Steve Ruder, BAC Program Coordinator at the UC Davis MIND Institute, discusses how the Business Advisory Council reaches out to educate businesses, connects them with other businesses who have hired individuals with disabilities as well as to supported employment agencies. Dee Gavaldon, Program manager and Benefits Counselor, Crossroads, A Pride Industries company, discusses Benefits Counseling for those transition to work who receive public benefits. https://youtu.be/0yGGt78IDzc

Let’s Celebrate our Stories! Nine self-advocates (and parents) shared stories about their employment experiences before, during, and after the Pandemic. They shared about how their work duties changed, and in some cases, how their employment goals have changed due to the current work climate. Progressive Employment Concepts – PEC, Pride Industries, and Strategies to Empower People – STEP, shared how they assisted these individuals to obtain their jobs, provide on-the-job training, and ongoing employment supports and coaching as job duties change. https://youtu.be/j1eb8_jee3Q

Work More, Earn More! Learn about the Ticket to Work Program and how you can work more while protecting your Social Security and medical benefits. https://youtu.be/e8IaVcXOsk0

CalABLE. Individuals with a disability that occurred before age 26 are eligible to open a CalABLE account. If you meet this age of onset requirement, and receive benefits under SSI (Supplemental Security Income) and/or SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance), you are automatically eligible to open a CalABLE account. https://youtu.be/CtS5jthzQx0

Through a Grant from SCDD, the California Transition Alliance created Let’s Work! California Networking Activity Guide and Resources. You can locate them online here, or request hardcopies from our office by emailing [email protected].

Let’s Work! California videos

English Lets Work Networking Guide