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Data Education Department Launches Historic Real Pay for Real Jobs Initiative for People with Disabilities
                                                          Archived InformationEducation Department Launches Historic Real Pay for Real Jobs Initiative for People with Disabilities
States eligible to compete for Subminimum Wage to Competitive Integrated Employment Grants totaling $167 million
March 18, 2022
**Contact:** Press Office, (202) 401-1576, press@ed.gov
Today, the U.S. Department of Education’s Rehabilitation Services  Administration (RSA) released the notice inviting applications for  the Subminimum Wage to Competitive Integrated Employment (SWTCIE) demonstration  project, aimed at increasing access for people with disabilities to jobs that  pay good wages.
	
The SWTCIE project is the largest discretionary grant  administered by RSA, with $167 million available to State Vocational  Rehabilitation agencies and their partners.
	
“Economic security should be available to all Americans,”  said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “Providing individuals with  disabilities with a high-quality education and the services that they need to  thrive will result in real pay for real jobs, empowering them and leading to  greater social and economic inclusion.”
	
SWTCIE is a step toward ending practices that have  allowed some employers to pay less than the federal minimum wage to people with  disabilities. The new grant program will sponsor innovative approaches that  allow people with disabilities to successfully secure jobs working alongside  their non-disabled peers while earning the same pay.
	
“More than 30 years after the passage of the Americans  with Disabilities Act, far too many people with disabilities continue to be  denied equal opportunity,” said U.S. Rep. Robert C. “Bobby” Scott of Virginia,  chairman of the House Committee on Education and Labor. “The subminimum wage  for workers with disabilities is a relic of a time when people with  disabilities were viewed as unable to work and lacked federal protections. It  is long past time that we help phase out the subminimum wage for people with  disabilities and expand access to fulfilling employment and economic  self-sufficiency. We must continue working to ensure every American can succeed  and earn a fair wage.”
	
To help eliminate subminimum wage employment, this  competition will award grants to as many as 18 State Vocational Rehabilitation  agencies and their partners that will create employment opportunities for  individuals with disabilities. The jobs will be in critical need areas,  including home and community-based services, the arts, or transportation and related  industries. In addition, applicants may submit proposals in other areas that  will transition individuals from subminimum wage employment to competitive  integrated employment.
	
“Some workers with disabilities spend decades earning a  subminimum wage without the opportunity to gain new skills or move to a job  that pays a higher wage. Today, the Department of Education took an important  step to end this discriminatory practice,” said U.S. Sen. Bob Casey of  Pennsylvania. “I applaud Secretary Cardona for his leadership and I will keep  fighting to ensure all workers with disabilities are paid at least minimum wage  and have the opportunity to succeed in the workplace.”
	
The SWTCIE project advances a key Biden-Harris  Administration goal – strengthening the economic security of Americans with  disabilities. This funding opportunity aligns existing and emerging employment  opportunities with the needs of employers and the public infrastructure. Most  notably, activities will ensure people with disabilities are earning real pay  for real jobs.
	
The Department's Rehabilitation Services  Administration web pageprovides additional information about  vocational rehabilitation opportunities for people with  disabilities.
	
The Notice Inviting Applications is available for public inspection at the Federal  Register. The Federal Register will publish the official version of  the notice on Monday, March 21. The deadline for submissions is June 21,  2022.
Tags:    DisabilitiesDisability Innovation FundPress Releases
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