A call to action

There are members of our community who are facing an unprecedented threat to their way of life, and they are powerless to stop it. Their jobs will either be moved or lost. Worse yet, they are unable to raise their own voices to stop this or to ask for help.

They are special needs persons - our family members, friends, co-workers and neighbors - who have some level of intellectual disability or developmental disability (ID/DD) that limits their ability to fully participate in the competitive job market. The range of their capabilities is wide - some have significant limits (cognitive, physical, behavioral, or other), and others have just a few. No matter their limits, the common thread with all ID/DD workers is their desire to work.

Many have jobs in sheltered workshops, some in integrated settings in businesses. The workers at sheltered workshops are the most severely threatened. They are being squeezed by three powerful forces.

The first force is a movement to protect them from undesired segregation on the job, which is clearly important. We cannot allow anyone to be segregated because they are different. Many of these workers, however, prefer to work in the sheltered environment with their friends and skilled staff.

A sheltered workshop is exactly what the name implies, sheltered. The intent is to provide a secure place where they can be safe, and be productive.

The second force is the relentless tightening of state and federal budgets. Budget shortfalls are eroding the ability to provide staff to assist and coach in either the sheltered or integrated workplace.

Third is a movement to abolish federally granted waivers, which allow these workers to be paid less than minimum wage when their productivity level does not support it. The ID/DD worker is typically paid at piece rateso. If he/she cannot produce at the rate you or I would, then pay is less.

At face value this appears unfair, but upon deeper analysis, it makes sense. Without the waiver, the workers would be forced to compete with all workers. Imagine if we abolished the Special Olympics and forced those athletes to compete at the 'normal” Olympics.

This call to action has three dimensions:

First, our legislators must offset funding shortfalls that threaten jobs. Many of these workers rely on trained team leadersor job coaches. These staff positions are generally funded through Medicaid, which is not keeping pace with costs.

Second, local business leaders need to actively support ID/DD workers. They should send work to local sheltered workshops, such as Options of Linn County, or find jobs at their business operations for these workers. The workers may not be capable of doing highly skilled jobs, but they can perform many valuable tasks.

Third, the community must raise its expectations of elected officials, the governments they lead, business leaders and itself.

Can we watch members of our community be swept aside because they cannot adequately express themselves? Take a stand now on behalf of these workers. Don't let the history books record silence.

' Craig Harwood lives in Cedar Rapids and has a special needs son who works in a sheltered workshop. Comments: optionsadvocate@gmail.com