Monday, September 30, 2019
The nation’s first settlement agreement to address the rights of individuals with disabilities to receive integrated employment services, U.S. v. Rhode Island and City of Providence, successfully concluded as to the City of Providence today. The U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island terminated the settlement a year earlier than expected. The City rapidly and fully implemented all 45 agreement requirements for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) at Mt. Pleasant Public High School. Prior to the agreement, students with IDD at Mount Pleasant spent school days bagging, labeling, and collating jewelry and similar tasks in an in-school sheltered workshop, apart from their classmates without disabilities. Upon exiting school, most of these students did similar work for sub-minimum wage at a sheltered workshop near the school, despite their ability and willingness to work in integrated settings. But as a result of the City’s success under the agreement, students with IDD no longer spend school days in a sheltered workshop. Instead, they receive services to prepare them for integrated work in careers that match their interests and abilities, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
To read the press release, please click here. For more information about the ADA, call the Department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 (TTY 800-514-0383) or access ADA.gov. (9/26/19)
Article Credit: U.S. Department of Justice
Contributor Credit: CASI's Staff provided this story; if you know of an article that is relevant to CASI, please share by sending an email to info@casinstitute.