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Fair and Equitable Employment for Adults with Developmental Disabilities
Introduction to Employment Rights for Adults with Disabilities
On this page, you will find information to help you understand how employment rights help adults with developmental disabilities find fair and equitable employment in their communities.
Understanding Employment Rights for Adults with Disabilities
People with disabilities deserve the same right to work and contribute to their communities as their non-disabled peers. There are several current laws that protect the employment rights of people with disabilities. One of the most important laws protecting people with disabilities from discrimination in employment is the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires employers to consider reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to successfully perform their job duties to the same extent as people without disabilities. The ADA requires three main forms of reasonable accommodation:
- Ensuring equal opportunity in the application process for individuals with disabilities.
- Enabling a qualified individual with a disability to perform the essential functions of a job.
- Making sure an employee with a disability can enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment.
A few examples of reasonable accommodations in practice are:
- Physical changes to make a workplace more accessible.
- Acquiring or modifying equipment to be accessible or compatible with assistive technology.
- Providing sign language interpreters or closed captioning at meetings or events.
In total, there are five federal laws that protect employment access for individuals with disabilities. You can learn more about these laws here.
What are some current employment rights issues affecting people with disabilities?
The average employment rate for people with disabilities remains significantly lower than for those without disabilities. The employment gap is due to several factors, including barriers in hiring, accessibility and workplace inclusion.
Other laws besides the ADA can affect employment opportunities for people with disabilities. In Michigan and many other states, it is still legal for some employers to pay workers with disabilities less than the federal minimum wage due to Section 14[c] of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
The Fair Labor Standards Act allows employers to apply for a 14[c] certificate, which authorizes these employers to pay a subminimum wage to workers with disabilities. This means people with disabilities are allowed to be paid less than the state or federal minimum wage.
A January 2023 report found most people with disabilities working under a 14[c] certificate earned less than $3.50 per hour. On February 21, 2025, Michigan's minimum wage was raised to $12.48 per hour.
Not only are workers with disabilities paid less, but many subminimum wage jobs place individuals in what is commonly referred to as a sheltered workshop. A sheltered workshop is a segregated employment setting where people with disabilities do not interact with their non-disabled peers. According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), only 5% of workers transition to community-based employment because of the limitations of how skills are learned in sheltered workshops.
14[c] certificates and sheltered workshops create a wage disparity for people with disabilities. Sheltered workshops may also limit how people with disabilities learn skills that can set them up for a successful future.
Even when people with disabilities are employed, they may struggle with job retention and career advancement. Lack of reasonable accommodations, discrimination, reliable transportation options and insufficient support in the workplace all play a role in determining if a person with a disability can maintain their employment. Additionally, as young adults transition from school to work, many face gaps in services or lack access to job coaching, internships or vocational training.
All of these issues play a role in creating an environment where people with disabilities struggle to maintain community-based employment.
Why Your Voice Matters
Laws and regulations that affect the employment of people with disabilities can have an impact on workers with disabilities. Policymakers benefit from understanding your experience with the current employment system and the challenges you and your family have faced. By sharing your lived experiences, you can educate your elected officials and help them learn what's working - and what isn't.
Take Action to Educate Your Elected Officials
Your Voice Can Make a Difference
Lawmakers need to hear directly from people who have lived experience. By speaking up, you are making sure your legislators hear from the people who are directly affected by the laws they vote on.