Increasing Quality Employment Outcomes for People With Disabilities: Insight from Agencies who have Successfully Transformed from Subminimum Wage to Competitive Integrated Employment

Background Individuals with disabilities are still legally allowed to be paid below the U.S. federal minimum wage through the use of 14(c) certificates. This practice overwhelmingly impacts individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and very few ever transition from subminimum wage work to competitive integrated employment. Efforts to reduce and eliminate subminimum wage practices continue at the state and federal levels to differing degrees of success. Objective The purpose of the article is to review the current state of 14(c) subminimum wage practices in the United States and identify steps to helping agencies providing subminimum wage work transform to fully integrated service models. Methods An interview panel of representatives from agencies that successfully transitioned from 14(c) certificates to competitive integrated services share insight into what is necessary to transition away from subminimum wage practices. Results The interview panel identifies important topics related to transformation efforts including how to address safety concerns, transportation barriers, and the decision to change. Conclusion Implications for how to successfully eliminate 14(c) certificates and help agencies transform into competitive integrated employment service models are discussed.