California Law Could Backfire Hurting Disabled Workers
As seen in the ModestoBee and written by Garth Stapley (gstapley@modbee.com)
A California law meant to lift disabled workers could end up hurting them.
The premise of Senate Bill 639, which by 2025 will phase out so-called sheltered workshops, is noble: All people have a right to minimum wage and must not be exploited.
It’s a worthwhile aim in theory. But it’s a lot more complicated in practice.
That was evident in a visit to Howard Prep, Modesto’s premier nonprofit employer of the disabled for more than 60 years, formerly known as the Howard Training Center. Its kitchen and warehouse hum with happy, busy, productive workers making minimum wages.
Bustling between huge sinks and drying racks was DJ Yarbrough. He started 18 years ago, when California’s minimum wage was $6.75 an hour, and he was paid $2. No one — not his parents, not his employer, not even DJ — considered that disrespectful. Everyone saw him walk a little taller. He had gained purpose, friends, and a paycheck.
DJ, 40, has Fragile X syndrome, which causes intellectual disability. He is kind and has a great memory, while he’s not good with stress, public transportation or money. He would rather have five $1 bills than two $20 bills, for example.
But boy, can he wash dishes.
The 4,000-square-foot commercial kitchen at Howard Prep provides a sense of self-worth more than income. The sheltered workshop is a big, big part of DJ’s life.
“It’s the same to him if he makes $1 an hour or $7.50 an hour,” said his father, David. “He doesn’t care. He doesn’t need to bring home any money. He needs to be happy.”
Ashley Montez, 30, says she’s over the moon cooking and baking on the other side of the kitchen at Howard Prep. Thirty disabled workers like her churn out three meals a day for four mental health facilities.
“I’m a very hard worker,” Ashley said. “I do whatever my job coach wants. No arguments from me! I love coming to see all my coworkers. It’s like a big family.”
In the adjacent warehouse, workers cut zippers and install pulls for body bags used in coroner offices. Others remove crooked labels from wine bottles for local wineries. On other lines, workers — some, in wheelchairs — affix reflective material to highway markers, or sort linen going to a thrift store that benefits a local hospice.
Some of Howard prep’s 70 workers have cerebral palsy, Down syndrome or an autism disorder. Some high-functioning workers do tricky jobs; others thrive in tedious but predictable routine.
“I wouldn’t trade this for anything,” said Raeanna Rios, 32, who cleans bathrooms and does laundry.
Still others venture to Turlock and Westley, where they maintain freeway rest areas in two shifts, seven days a week.
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