[Nfbnet-members-list] National Federation of the Blind Releases Analysis of Section 511

[Freeh, Jessica]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Chris Danielsen
Director of Public Relations
National Federation of the Blind
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330
(410) 262-1281 (Cell)
<mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org>cdanielsen at nfb.org

National Federation of the Blind Releases Analysis of Section 511

Former DOJ Official Says Proposal is “Stunning Step Backward,”
Undermines Olmstead

Baltimore, Maryland (August 14, 2013): 
<http://www.nfb.org>The National Federation of 
the Blind today released a legal analysis 
prepared at the organization’s request by Samuel 
R. Bagenstos, Professor of Law at the University 
of Michigan Law School and former Principal 
Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Civil 
Rights at the United States Department of 
Justice, regarding the proposed Section 511 of 
Title V of the Rehabilitation Act included in the 
Workforce Investment Act reauthorization 
bill.  The report, entitled 
<https://nfb.org/images/nfb/documents/word/sam%20bagenstos%20analysis%20of%20section%20511.docx>“Section 
511 is Not a Step Forward,” concludes that the 
provision “entrenches sheltered workshops and the 
subminimum wage­and for the first time recognizes 
them as acceptable under the rights provisions of 
the Rehabilitation Act, our Nation's first 
disability rights law.  This is a stunning step backwards.”

Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National 
Federation of the Blind, said: “Professor 
Bagenstos’s trenchant analysis confirms our 
conviction that Section 511 will not prevent 
young people from being tracked into 
subminimum-wage employment.  Worse yet, as this 
analysis shows, Section 511 will actually 
undermine efforts to enforce the integration 
mandate of the Americans with Disabilities Act, 
with respect to employment, through the landmark 
Supreme Court case of Olmstead v. L.C.  At a time 
when the Department of Justice is seeking to 
prevent the segregation and exploitation of 
Americans with disabilities in sheltered, 
subminimum-wage employment, Section 511 would 
make such employment part of the Rehabilitation 
Act, the nation’s first disability rights 
law.  The National Federation of the Blind and 
our partners are fighting to have this harmful 
provision removed from the proposed Workforce 
Investment Act.  We call upon all Americans who 
are concerned about the future for young people 
and other Americans with disabilities to join us in this fight.”

The Workforce Investment Act (S. 1356) was 
recently reported favorably by the Senate 
Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.


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About the National Federation of the Blind

The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) is the 
oldest, largest, and most influential nationwide 
membership organization of blind people in the 
United States.  Founded in 1940, the NFB 
advocates for the civil rights and equality of 
blind Americans, and develops innovative 
education, technology, and training programs to 
provide the blind and those who are losing vision 
with the tools they need to become independent 
and successful.  We need your support.  To make a 
donation, please go to <http://www.nfb.org/>www.nfb.org.


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