Workers with Disabilities in Georgia
Source By: Staff Writer | April 8, 2024
Georgia is poised to become a notable example in the movement to end the subminimum wage for disabled workers, with a significant legislative effort led by Republicans, a departure from the commonly Democrat-led initiatives in this arena. The state’s recent legislative actions include the passage of a bill by the Georgia House aiming to abolish the practice that allows employers to pay disabled workers less than the minimum wage, affecting some 40,000 individuals across the country. This bill, championed by GOP state Rep. Sharon Cooper alongside bipartisan support, highlights a shift in the political landscape concerning disability rights.
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In a decisive move to improve services for the elderly and people with disabilities, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has enacted the Tennessee Disability and Aging Act. This landmark legislation, which garnered unanimous bipartisan support, merges the Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability (TCAD) with the Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (DIDD) to create the new Department of Disability and Aging (DDA).
In 2019, Mary Hauff and fellow parents founded the Minnesota Inclusive Higher Education Consortium to advocate for students with intellectual disabilities, like her daughter Jean. Their efforts led to the allocation of $2 million, by the Minnesota Legislature in 2023, for inclusive higher education, ensuring equal access and meaningful credentials for these students.
Juno, the trailblazing company in the U.S. child disability insurance market, has successfully completed an $8.5 million Series A funding round. Led by Spero Ventures and joined by Floating Point, Newark Ventures, and WVV Capital, this funding round increases Juno’s total capital to $12.5 million.
The study indicates that 12.5 million Americans may experience changes in their lung impairment classification. For instance, an additional 430,000 Black people would be diagnosed with moderate to severe COPD, while 1.1 million fewer white patients would receive such diagnoses.
National Siblings Day, celebrated each year on April 10th, is a day set aside to honor the unique relationships between siblings. It’s an opportunity to reflect on the bonds of love, friendship, and the deep connections that develop over a lifetime. For families with a sibling who has a disability, this day carries additional significance, offering a chance to acknowledge the distinctive experiences these relationships bring, as well as the mutual support and understanding that flourishes within them.
An article by Hansi Lo Wang with NPR is a must read for everyone with a disability. The recent Census Bureau proposal aims to modify the methodology for estimating the number of people with disabilities in the United States. The proposal has sparked debates among disability advocates who express concerns about potential changes to the disability questions on the annual American Community Survey, fearing it could impact the accuracy of government statistics and allocation of federal funding.
At a Minor League Baseball game in South Carolina, 13-year-old Sawyer McCarthy moved the audience to tears with his rendition of the national anthem. Sawyer’s performance at the Columbia Fireflies on April 28 went viral, amassing over 5.5 million views on Facebook. His mother, Brianna McCarthy, expressed immense pride as Sawyer’s voice resonated globally, uniting people from various countries.
Different colors evoke different emotional and physical responses and, perhaps, especially so among certain people with disabilities. Maybe that’s why color therapy, also known as chromotherapy, has become an increasingly popular alternative wellness method. But beyond the walls of color-coded medical facilities and therapy centers, the concept of intentionally tapping into colors can easily be applied at home. So, grab a paint brush and coat your walls with the best paint colors for people with disabilities.
Discriminatory comments made last year by Candace Owens, a popular political analyst, have resurfaced following fresh criticism by actress Christina Applegate. Applegate, who has been vocal about her multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis, just recently discovered the previously released video-commentary of Owens spewing disparaging remarks about Kim Kardashian’s Skims’ adaptive undergarment line and, more specifically, the entire disability community.
Disability advocates are encouraging allies and the community at-large to put their best foot forward on World Down Syndrome Day. The call-to-action is simple: just wear colorful, mismatched socks on March 21. The purpose of this fun fashion statement is to create much-needed conversations surrounding Down syndrome. About 1 in every 800 babies is born with Down syndrome, according to Down Syndrome International.