National Federation of the Blind Applauds National Council on Disability Report

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Chris Danielsen Director of Public Relations National Federation of the Blind (410) 659-9314, extension 2330 (410) 262-1281 (Cell) cdanielsen@nfb.org National Federation of the Blind Applauds National Council on Disability Report NCD Recommends Phasing Out Subminimum Wage Payments Baltimore, Maryland (August 23, 2012): The National Federation of the Blind, the nation's leading advocate for fair wages for workers with disabilities, today applauded the National Council on Disability (NCD) for recommending a phase-out of the practice of paying wages below the federal minimum to workers with disabilities. The NCD, an independent federal agency that advises the President, Congress, and the federal government on matters of disability policy, has released a report calling for a phase-out and repeal of Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act, which exempts certain employers of people with disabilities from paying their workers the federal minimum wage. Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said: "We applaud the National Council on Disability for its strong affirmation of the value, equality, and dignity of workers with disabilities, and for its recommendation that Section 14(c) ultimately be repealed. We will thoroughly review the NCD report and its forthcoming legislative proposal in order to find ways to work toward our common goal of eliminating the unfair, discriminatory, and immoral practice of paying workers with disabilities less than the federal minimum wage." About the National Federation of the Blind With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind is the largest and most influential membership organization of blind people in the United States. The NFB improves blind people's lives through advocacy, education, research, technology, and programs encouraging independence and self-confidence. It is the leading force in the blindness field today and the voice of the nation's blind. In January 2004 the NFB opened the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute, the first research and training center in the United States for the blind led by the blind.