The National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) congratulates Marty Walsh on his confirmation to be the next U.S. Secretary of Labor (DOL).
DOL plays a critical role in the lives of people with disabilities, specifically offices such as the Office of Disability Employment Policy. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, people with disabilities faced major barriers to employment. Unfortunately, the pandemic has only exacerbated the already high unemployment rate among people with disabilities.
“We look forward to working with Secretary Walsh on the range of issues and policies DOL oversees that impact people with disabilities,” said NDRN Executive Director Curt Decker. “With unemployment rates steadily increasing for people with disabilities, now is the time for focused leadership at DOL to begin addressing disparities that existed even before the pandemic,” continued Decker.
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 establishes competitive integrated employment as a clear national priority and builds on the goal of economic self-sufficiency established in the Americans with Disabilities Act. DOL has a leading role to play in helping achieve the goal of competitive integrated employment which must include eliminating subminimum wages permitted under the Section 14(c) program for people with disabilities. NDRN and the Protection and Advocacy Network will continue to work with DOL to ensure people with disabilities have the support needed to succeed in the workplace and achieve economic self-sufficiency.
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The National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) is the nonprofit membership organization for the federally mandated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) Systems and the Client Assistance Programs (CAP) for individuals with disabilities. Collectively, the P&A/CAP Network is the largest provider of legally based advocacy services to people with disabilities in the United States.
