Letter to the editor: Help our special-needs workers

Parents of special-­needs adults and facilities like Clelian Heights workshop must relentlessly fight for their children, while the government attempts to force them into a position that’s unsafe.

My son brought home papers stating that a coalition had to be formed and experts in policy development needed to be hired at a huge cost to help Clelian Heights fight a bill designed to make companies and private entities who send work to the workshop pay minimum wage.

The Build Back Better agenda wants to phase out Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act, which keeps adults with disabilities at a workshop that’s safe and gives them purpose. If Section 14(c) is phased out, where will these young adults work? Some can’t work in the community because of their disabilities. The work these companies sends encourages them to use their minds and physical abilities. If this bill passes, the companies won’t send work.

These young adults get paid for “production.” It’s not much, but it’s worth it. Help put a stop to this by writing your congressman or sending a small donation to help special-needs adults at Clelian Heights fight this and keep Section 14(c) intact. This won’t only affect Clelian Heights, but workshops and licensed facilities all over the country.

For more information or if you want to help, visit the Coalition to Preserve 14C website, preserve14c.org.

Ironically, everyone wants to sit home, collect free money and not work. Then there are our special-needs adults who want to be productive and work. Enough already!

Debbie Buffer

Youngwood