Disability Groups To Rally Against Sen. Kirk Today
On the 21st anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act, a coalition of disability groups is pulling together to protest sub-minimum wage jobs for those with disabilities, which they say U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk supports. Disabled Americans Want Work Now (DAWWN) and the National Federation of the Blind will team up at 1 p.m. this afternoon to protest legislation being considered by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions that would permit sub-minimum wage payments to people with disabilities. Sen. Kirk is part of the committee considering the legislation.
"We are extremely pleased that these organizations are joining us to advocate for equal pay for equal work and an end to the outrageous practice of paying subminimum wages to workers with disabilities," said Dr. Marc Maurer, president of the National Federation of the Blind. "We hope that other members of the disability rights community will join us in speaking out against this unfair, discriminatory, and immoral practice and opposing any legislation that authorizes and perpetuates it."
The rally will take place from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Federal Building in Chicago at 77 W. Jackson, Blvd.
"We’re pleased to join the NFB and other disability rights organizations to stop the exploitation of workers with disabilities," Earl Smith, a DAWWN organizer, said. "It is time for our political leaders to take a stand against exploitation and to fight for true equality for American workers with disabilities."
# Posted in Progress Illinois at: http://progressillinois.com/news/content/2011/07/26/disability-groups-rally-against-sen-kirk-today
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